Marijuana, also called weed, is a plant that is dried, shredded and smoked in a pipe or rolling paper. It can also be consumed by putting it into food or brewed in tea. Absorption of the drug is slower when ingested with food or tea than it is when it’s smoked. It contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which alters the mind during Marijuana use.
Memory: Your memory and ability to problem solve are impaired when you use Marijuana. The way you perceive things is also distorted, and you may find that you are slower to learn than when you are not on it.
Motivation: Studies show that you are more likely to drop out of school or quit your job if you are a Marijuana user. You will incur more absences, be prone to on-site injuries and file more Workers' Compensation claims than your non-using counterparts. Employers notice these behaviors.
Physical effects: Using Marijuana can raise your heart rate by 20-to-100 percent for as long as three hours after using. The heart rate does not increase until shortly after using, therefore, you may not realize it is happening until you have ingested quite a bit of Marijuana. One medical study showed that a person is almost five times more likely to have a heart attack within the first hour after smoking Marijuana. You may also develop heart palpitations and arrhythmia as a result of using the drug.
Driving Issues: Being under the influence of Marijuana while driving roughly doubles your chances of being in a wreck. If you combine alcohol with Marijuana use, the dangers are even greater.
Lungs: You are at risk for many of the same respiratory issues that someone who smokes tobacco must face. Chest illnesses, frequent infections and lingering coughs can all be brought on by Marijuana use. It is a lung irritant much like tobacco.