Effects of Early Marijuana Use1

Effects of Early Marijuana Use Leading to Future Health Problems Katherine Tran English 301, Novak 18 November 2013

Effects of Early Marijuana Use2 As I was growing up, one popular phrase I can recall states above the influence. Many commercials and advertisements through the media as well as through the public make an emphasis to be above the influence. I remember there were programs, such as D.A.R.E, standing for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, which educated students on preventing drug abuse and many more. However, those programs are not so popular nowadays and it has caused problems for the newer generations. By this, I am trying to state that the newer generation is being corrupted at an early age all due to the purpose of fun. And to have this fun that we speak of, many go against the saying of being above the influence andbecome under the influence. Whether it is due to alcohol, or drugs, they are having their own ways of being under the influence. To clarify, the specific group that I am addressing aims at preteens and teenagers. It is during these years where being popular as well as being cool is important to ones self esteem. One of the ways to be cool and have fun is to do drugs, which will have an effect on ones social skills and lead to popularity. The question that comes up about this topic is if its healthy for their body. Drugs are good for your body, but just up to a certain extent. When it is being used for the wrong reason such as for fun or used in the wrong dosage, it will be a bad thing and may have an effect on the person digesting it in their body. There are many different types of drugs but one of the popular drugs that teens are under the influence of is of marijuana. Early marijuana use may be an important issue because it will lead to future health problems and many negative side effects for adolescents. Along with that, with the brain still developing during those preteen and teen years, marijuana will possibly impair or effect its development. The drug itself should first be introduced along with its history. Marijuana is also called medical cannabis or cannabis for short. It comes from a plant that is called Cannabis sativa. This plant contains a major psychoactive ingredient called -9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short

Effects of Early Marijuana Use3 (World Health Organization, 2013). One of the benefits to THC is that it relieves pain and this is by the euphoria caused by the dopamine release by the brain cells (Cox, 2012). With every pro comes its cons and the cons to THC is that gets in the way of processing information in an area of the brain called the hippocampus, which is responsible for forming new memories (Cox, 2012). Along with that, THC can cause one to hallucinate, change their way of thinking or even cause them to have delusions (Cox, 2012). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, intake of THC can get serious and even cause schizophrenic symptoms (Cox, 2012). Marijuana has many medical uses as well as personal or fun uses. One of the many uses includes an aid to those that face problems of depression. This is done through ways such as how marijuana consumption promotes a state of well being and self assertiveness which leads to one feeling more alive as compared to the feeling of being dead before the drug kicked in (Kenewell, 2012). It is also said that it will lessen ones mood and allow them to expand their thoughts (Disabled World). By personal fun uses, I am talking about personal preference as to ways of having fun. Some people like to intake marijuana for its effects. The effects of taking in marijuana in ones system include results such as the feeling of euphoria and relaxation (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2012). These reasons are the main reasons to why teens tend to turn to this drug. Although it has its benefits, there are also some consequences that come along with consuming marijuana. The downfalls include addictiveness as well as harmful effects. One way that makes smoking marijuana bad for people is due to the fact that peoples lungs were not built to take in hot and noxious gases, leading up to problems that range from cancer, bronchitis or emphysema (Knowcannabis.org.uk). Some people think that inhaling in deeply or holding in the smoke longer will get them at a better state but they are not aware that it does not do that, it

Effects of Early Marijuana Use4 actually causes one to take more toxins into their body. Not only is smoking bad for your lungs but it also gives some unpleasant effects such as causing smokers to have anxiety or panic attacks until the marijuana has worn off. Along with that, some people think it is cool to have fun when you are young and in response they start smoking at a young age. It is said that the younger one starts to smoke marijuana, the higher chance they will have at developing mental problems sometime in their near future. For those that smoke but already have a mental problem, this may make things worse. Mental problems are not the only type of problems associated with smoking marijuana but social and personal life problems may also develop. People will tend to be more isolated, lifeless and maybe even boring to be around which all affects ones personal life (Knowcannabis.org.uk). Impairment is one other problem marijuana smokers tend to face. White matter in the brain is a very important factor that deals with how ones brain is able to learn and work. For those that start smoking early, they tend to have less white matter and a smaller brain as opposed to those who do not smoke (Emmett, 2013). Along with that, their ability to form new memories weaken and their ability to focus gets shifted and they cannot concentrate at all (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2012). The areas of the brain that helps one balance and coordinate is also effected causing the smoker to not be able to do things such as participate in activities or even drive (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2012). Regarding driving, marijuana is actually able to last in ones urine for about 3 weeks so if an accident occurs or if they were to take a drug test within those 3 years, the tests would come out positive for intoxication. Lower IQ scores and memory disabilities are also some other problems those that smoke at an early age face (Emmett, 2013).

Effects of Early Marijuana Use5 Some effects are minor and not that big of a deal but there are actually some serious long term consequences. One of the major downfalls of smoking marijuana is that the skills that are critical to life can disappear or deteriorate overtime (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2012). Not only that but the drug can even have a way of increasing the risk of lung cancer, since it contains carcinogens and irritants, as well as increase the risk of ones body producing malignant cells (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2012). Not only are there mental effects for those that smoke, but there are actually some physical effects. In other words there will be some life problems that will possibly be involved. One problem deals with isolation. People that tend to smoke tend to be in their own world and isolate themselves from the rest of society. Another problem that smokers will have to face is problems with getting a job that requires a drug test. Due to the fact that marijuana is able to last in ones body for about three weeks, it may get in the way of obtaining a job if a smoker were to try to get a job within the three weeks after the last time that they smoked. The worst way to get rejected from a job would be due to failing the drug test. With a problem comes a solution, and to this problem, there are many routes to take to make a change for teenagers and their association with marijuana. One way is to go against those pushing or trying to convince the states to legalize marijuana. This can be done by ways such as strikes to inform the public about the consequences of legalizing marijuana such as easier access for teens to get their hands on it. Not only going against legalizing marijuana will make a difference but one may also go against legalizing dispensaries nationwide. People can come up with ways to try to shut down dispensaries since there are so many dispensaries nowadays and this will be a solution to cut down access to get marijuana. Although it is required that you have proof of a medical card in order to get the drug from dispensaries, people can always ask others

Effects of Early Marijuana Use6 to get it for them. So by shutting down dispensaries, supplies will be limited and that will cut down sources of availability for them to get the drug. Although this act will harm those that need marijuana for medical reasons, there should be an alternative for them to access their needs. For those that need it for medical reasons, they would first need a prescription from their doctor. So instead of getting a prescription to get it, I believe the patient should obtain it straight from their doctors instead. This way the prescription cannot be handed to someone else or be misused. Another way to solve this problem is to perform random drug tests on students on school campuses. Students will be chosen by random each day and have to take the test. By having this drug test going on, students will think twice about smoking marijuana because it will stay in their system and show up in the test. They will be scared to smoke and hopefully they end up not taking it into their system. The students that fail this test will have to deal with consequences such as having to enroll in some type of anti-drug program. This will be very helpful to schools because it will ensure that students are above the influence and drug free. There are many other ways but these will probably be the most effective. So to summarize, after presenting all the research and facts, it can be said that smoking marijuana is a common problem among teens that should be brought up. Something should be done to reduce or possibly eliminate this problem. The best way to get this done would be to go against legalizing dispensaries as well as marijuana itself. By doing this, we eliminate the availability to people, especially teens. So without source of the drug, there is no way they could take the drug. It is important to act now because finding a solution to this problem now will prevent future occurrences or problems of this type with future generations. Instead of sitting around and doing nothing, it is time for your turn to get on it this minute and stop this problem as soon as you could.

Effects of Early Marijuana Use7 References Cox, L. (2012). What is THC. Livescience. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/24553what-is-thc.html Disabled world. Medical Marijuana for pain and depression. Retrieved from http://www.disabled-world.com/medical/pharmaceutical/marijuana/ Emmett, G. A.. (2013). Routine marijuana use may damage a teens developing brain. Philly.com. Retrieved from http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/Routinemarijuana-use-may-damage-a-teens-developing-brain.html?c=r Kenewell, A. (2012). What does medical cannabis cure and relieve. The Michigan medical marijuana Association. Retrieved from http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/topic/38775-what-does-medical-cannabis-cure-andrelieve/ Knowcannabis.org.uk. Know cannabis. Retrieved from http://www.knowcannabis.org.uk/cannabis3.htm National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012) How does marijuana use affect your brain and body? Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-abuse/how-doesmarijuana-use-affect-your-brain-body World Health Organization. (2013). Management of substance abuse: Cannabis. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/facts/cannabis/en/