By: Ghanem Al

Dekes.

MARIJUANA
Its effects on the nervous system, side-effects, effects on society, and how it benefits the medical field.
What is marijuana?
◦ According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, cannabis (marijuana) is one of the most used
drugs in the United States, and its use is widespread among young people.

◦ Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis
indica plant. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other related compounds. People
use marijuana by smoking, eating, drinking, or inhaling it.
How does marijuana take effect on the
level of the nervous system?
◦ Using marijuana causes impaired thinking and interferes with a person’s ability to learn and perform
complicated tasks. THC also disrupts functioning of the cerebellum and basal ganglia, brain areas that
regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time.

◦ THC stimulates neurons in the reward system to release the signaling chemical dopamine at levels higher
than typically observed in response to natural rewarding stimuli. The surge of dopamine “teaches” the
brain to repeat the rewarding behavior, helping account for marijuana’s addictive properties.
What are the side-effects marijuana users
suffer from?
◦ Marijuana produces both short-term and long-term effects on its users; short-term effects are: changes in
mood, altered senses, and impaired memory
◦ While long-term effects include, respiratory problems, intense nausea and vomiting and increased heart
rate

◦ And a few mental effects are: temporary hallucinations and temporary paranoia
How does marijuana benefit the medical
field?
◦ The medical field benefits greatly from marijuana extracts, one of which being CBD (canabidiol)
◦ The most common use for medical marijuana in the United States is for pain control. Marijuana is said to
be a fantastic muscle relaxant, and people swear by its ability to lessen tremors in Parkinson’s disease. It
is also known to be successful for fibromyalgia, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and most other
conditions where the final common pathway is chronic pain.
What are the effects of marijuana on the
level of society and social relationships?
◦ Marijuana has affected society greatly ever since its been widespread, and it has shown changes in
school, work, and general social life.

◦ Someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at a reduced intellectual level most or all of
the time. Considerable evidence suggests that students who smoke marijuana have poorer educational
outcomes than their nonsmoking peers. For example, a review of 48 relevant studies found marijuana use
to be associated with reduced educational attainment.

◦ Several studies have also linked heavy marijuana use to lower income, greater welfare dependence,
unemployment, criminal behavior, and lower life satisfaction.