Marijuana Facts - Information about Marijuana and THC

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Information about Marijuana and THC

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By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

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What Is Marijuana?
Marijuana is one of the names given to the Cannabis sativa plant
when it is used as a drug. The active ingredient in marijuana is
tetrahydrocannabinol or THC.
What Does Marijuana Look Like?
The appearance of marijuana depends on how it will be used, but it
often resembles tobacco. Higher quality marijuana is made using
only the flowering buds of the plant, while other marijuana may
include leaves, stems, and seeds. Marijuana may be green, brown,
or grayish in color.
How Is Marijuana Used?

Photo of marijuana or cannabis

leaves.
Dohduhdah, Wikipedia
Commons

Marijuana may be smoked as a cigarette, in a pipe, in a blunt, or using a vaporizer. It may be consumed as a tea or in food.
Why Do People Use Marijuana?
Marijuana is used because its primary active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), produces a relaxed state and may heighten the senses.
What Are the Effects of Marijuana Use?
The effects from smoking marijuana are felt as soon as the THC enters the bloodstream and last from 1-3 hours. Absorption of THC is slower if marijuana
is ingested, typically producing effects 30 minutes to an hour after exposure and lasting up to 4 hours. Marijuana increases the heart rate, relaxes and
enlarges bronchial passages, and dilates the blood vessels in the eyes, which may cause them to appear bloodshot. THC causes dopamine release, which
produces euphoria. Colors and sounds may seem more intense, time may appear to pass more slowly, and pleasant sensations may be experienced. Dry
mouth is common, as are intense thirst and hunger. After the euphoria passes, a user may feel sleepy or depressed. Some users experience anxiety or
panic.
What Are the Risks Associated with Marijuana Use?
Smoking marijuana results in many of the same risks associated with smoking tobacco, including coughing, increased susceptibility to lung infections,
airway obstruction, and probably an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Other methods of taking marijuana are not associated with respiratory
damage. Even low doses of marijuana impair concentration and coordination. Long-term heavy marijuana use may impair short-term memory long after
the drug has been metabolized.
Street Names for Marijuana
Grass
Pot
Weed
Bud
Mary Jane
Dope
Indo

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Marijuana Facts - Information about Marijuana and THC

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Hydro
420
Acapulco Gold
BC Bud
Buddha
Cheeba
Chronic
Ganja
Green Goddess
Herb
Homegrown
KGB (Killer Green Bud)
Kindbud
Locoweed
Shake
Sinsemilla
Skunk
Wacky Tabacky

Top Related Searches Cannabis Sativa Plant

Active Ingredient In Marijuana

Why Do People Use Marijuana

Intense Thirst

Quality Marijuana

Effects Of Marijuana

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