What is cannabis sativa? Also known as marijuana, it is a dried hemp plant containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is a chemical responsible in the high one receives when smoking it, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. For years, there have been many debates on if this drug is a risk to your health and whether it should be legalized or not. There are pros and cons for all three sections of health. Your mental, social, and physical health are all affected if you decide to smoke marijuana. Research has proven that the general effects of smoking this drug includes, mild euphoria, increased sense of well-being, relaxation, relief from anxiety, alterations in perception of time, and infrequent hallucinations and illusions (Rehab).
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When having marijuana in your system it could lead to symptoms such as altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors), altered sense of time, changes in mood, impaired body movement, difficulty with thinking and problem-solving, and impaired memory (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Taking large doses of the drug when inexperienced can lead to severe anxiety and in some cases, panic attacks. In an Australian study, researchers showed that women who used marijuana daily were five times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than those who did not use the drug (Harvard Health Publications). Marijuana can also slow your reaction time, motor skills, coordination, and the way you process information. This isn’t that big of a deal when at home but can be fatal while being in public like driving …show more content…
The inside and outside of your body goes through many changes when marijuana enters the bloodstream. The longest effect it has on your body is your heart rate. Your heart rate can be increased by as much as two times for up to 3 hours after taking the drug (WebMD). Other longer lasting effects include, increase in bleeding, lower blood pressure, and an affect on your blood sugar. Some smaller and more noticeable effects on your body include, dizziness, shallow breathing, red eyes and dilated pupils, dry mouth, and increase in appetite. The most concerning effects marijuana has on the body isn’t even on yours, it’s on who could be inside you. If you are a woman and use marijuana while pregnant it doesn’t just damage your body, but it can hurt the baby as well. Use during pregnancy has been linked to lower birth weight and a higher risk of both brain and behavioral problems in babies. The drug may also affect certain developing parts of the baby’s brain. Some research also suggests that small amounts of THC may be excreted into the breast milk of nursing mothers. If the mother regularly uses marijuana, the levels of THC in the milk could affect in the developing of the baby’s brain
When having marijuana in your system it could lead to symptoms such as altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors), altered sense of time, changes in mood, impaired body movement, difficulty with thinking and problem-solving, and impaired memory (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Taking large doses of the drug when inexperienced can lead to severe anxiety and in some cases, panic attacks. In an Australian study, researchers showed that women who used marijuana daily were five times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than those who did not use the drug (Harvard Health Publications). Marijuana can also slow your reaction time, motor skills, coordination, and the way you process information. This isn’t that big of a deal when at home but can be fatal while being in public like driving …show more content…
The inside and outside of your body goes through many changes when marijuana enters the bloodstream. The longest effect it has on your body is your heart rate. Your heart rate can be increased by as much as two times for up to 3 hours after taking the drug (WebMD). Other longer lasting effects include, increase in bleeding, lower blood pressure, and an affect on your blood sugar. Some smaller and more noticeable effects on your body include, dizziness, shallow breathing, red eyes and dilated pupils, dry mouth, and increase in appetite. The most concerning effects marijuana has on the body isn’t even on yours, it’s on who could be inside you. If you are a woman and use marijuana while pregnant it doesn’t just damage your body, but it can hurt the baby as well. Use during pregnancy has been linked to lower birth weight and a higher risk of both brain and behavioral problems in babies. The drug may also affect certain developing parts of the baby’s brain. Some research also suggests that small amounts of THC may be excreted into the breast milk of nursing mothers. If the mother regularly uses marijuana, the levels of THC in the milk could affect in the developing of the baby’s brain