Short Term Effects Of Marijuana Essay

Marijuana, under Indiana drug law, is considered a Schedule 1 drug. A drug that is illegal because it has a high potential for abuse, no medical use, and severe safety concerns, despite the fact that it is used medicinally throughout 23 states in America. The effects of marijuana are almost immediate to the body, and after the initial “high” from consuming marijuana the user will then experience a “down” period where they may feel sleepy or depressed in certain cases. While short term effects of the drug can be euphoric, there are also effects that are not as pleasant. Other short term effects include: anxiety, paranoia, increased heart rate (at risk for heart problems), lack of coordination, and decreased concentration among others. Many people …show more content…
When marijuana is smoked THC, one of the active compounds that produce the “high” for users, is quickly entered into the bloodstream through walls of the lungs and is then directed to the brain. After marijuana is consumed, it raises the dopamine levels in the brain’s Nucleus Accumbens (also referred to as the Reward Center) much like other addictive drugs such as: nicotine, alcohol, opiates, etc. In addition, it alters the rate at which nerve cells fire off (in the Reward Center) in a way that is similar to the other addictive drugs previously mentioned. Chronic consumption of THC eventually modifies both sensitivity and structure of connections within the Reward Center. These chronic connections that are made in the brain are associated with the euphoric feelings of the high and makes users want continuously use the drug for the same reward. It is also interesting to note that the percentage of THC levels found in the cannabis plant have greatly increased in the 21st century compared to marijuana grown in the late 1900s. Higher THC levels are directly related to how powerful the high is for