Similarity in structure allows the body to recognize THC and to alter normal brain communication.Įndogenous cannabinoids such as anandamide (see figure) function as neurotransmitters because they send chemical messages between nerve cells ( neurons) throughout the nervous system. THC’s chemical structure is similar to the brain chemical anandamide. These unpleasant but temporary reactions are distinct from longer-lasting psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, that may be associated with the use of marijuana in vulnerable individuals.Īlthough detectable amounts of THC may remain in the body for days or even weeks after use, the noticeable effects of smoked marijuana generally last from 1 to 3 hours, and those of marijuana consumed in food or drink may last for many hours. People who have taken large doses of marijuana may experience an acute psychosis, which includes hallucinations, delusions, and a loss of the sense of personal identity. These effects are more common when a person takes too much, the marijuana has an unexpectedly high potency, or the person is inexperienced.
Instead of relaxation and euphoria, some people experience anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic. Pleasant experiences with marijuana are by no means universal. Because of the delayed effects, people may inadvertently consume more THC than they intend to. Eating or drinking marijuana delivers significantly less THC into the bloodstream than smoking an equivalent amount of the plant. If marijuana is consumed in foods or beverages, these effects are somewhat delayed-usually appearing after 30 minutes to 1 hour-because the drug must first pass through the digestive system. Other common effects, which may vary dramatically among different people, include heightened sensory perception (e.g., brighter colors), laughter, altered perception of time, and increased appetite.
Many people experience a pleasant euphoria and sense of relaxation. The person begins to experience effects almost immediately. When marijuana is smoked, THC and other chemicals in the plant pass from the lungs into the bloodstream, which rapidly carries them throughout the body to the brain. The mixture typically is green, brown, or gray in color and may resemble tobacco.
Marijuana is a dry, shredded green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves from the Cannabis sativa plant. It can be cultivated in both outdoor and indoor settings.Īunt Mary, BC Bud, Blunts, Boom, Chronic, Dope, Gangster, Ganja, Grass, Hash, Herb, Hydro, Indo, Joint, Kif, Mary Jane, Mota, Pot, Reefer, Sinsemilla, Skunk, Smoke, Weed, and Yerba. Marijuana is grown in the Caribbean, South America, United States, Canada, Mexico, and Asia. The plant also contains more than 500 other chemicals, including more than 100 compounds that are chemically related to THC, called cannabinoids. The chemical is found in resin produced by the leaves and buds primarily of the female cannabis plant. The main psychoactive(mind-altering) chemical in marijuana, responsible for most of the intoxicating effects that people seek, is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These resins are increasingly popular among those who use them both recreationally and medically. Stronger forms of marijuana include sinsemilla (from specially tended female plants) and concentrated resins containing high doses of marijuana’s active ingredients, including honeylike hash oil, waxy budder, and hard amberlike shatter. Vaporizers are also increasingly used to consume marijuana. 1 Marijuana can also be used to brew tea and, particularly when it is sold or consumed for medicinal purposes, is frequently mixed into foods ( edibles) such as brownies, cookies, or candies. Some people smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints in pipes, water pipes (sometimes called bongs), or in blunts (marijuana rolled in cigar wraps). Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried flowers of Cannabis sativa.