1. Marijuana
Danielle Dion

2. What is Marijuana?
 Marijuana
is dried leaves, flowers, stems,
and seeds from the plant Cannabis sativa
 Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the
component that is illegal.
 Although it is considered an illegal
substance by the federal government,
some states recently have recently
legalized it for medical treatment.
Source 1

3. Quote:
 Marijuana
is a drug that has existed in
society for hundreds of years.
 “Some
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of my finest hours have been spent
on my back veranda, smoking hemp and
observing as far as my eye can see.”
Thomas Jefferson

4. Common Street Names
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Blunt
Dope
Ganja
Grass
Herb
Joint
Bud
Mary Jane
Pot
Reefer
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Green
Trees
Smoke
Skunk
Weed
Hash
Tea
Chronic
Loud
Source 3

5. How is it used?
 Smoked
(cigarettes, joints, pipes, bongs)
 Eaten (mixed in foods)
 Drank (brewed as tea)
Source 1

6. Common Myths… NOT Facts
 Marijuana
is harmless
 Marijuana is not addictive
 Marijuana is not as harmful to your health
as tobacco
 Marijuana makes you mellow
 Marijuana is used to treat cancer and
other disease
 Marijuana is not as popular as ecstasy
and other drugs among teens today
Source 2

7. Discussion Point #1
 Do
any of these myths presented above
surprise you? And did you previously think
any of these myths were actually facts?
_________________________________________
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8. Effects of Marijuana
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Targets brain (cannabinoid receptors)
Disrupts normal brain development and
function
Altered perceptions and mood, impaired
coordination, difficulty thinking and problem
solving, disrupted learning and memory
Can have permanent detrimental effects on
thinking/memory in a young developing brain
Source 1

9. Short Term Effects
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Feeling a “high” or pleasant sensation
Loss of coordination
Memory, judgment, and pereception
impairment
Inadequate memory
Increases heart rate within a few minutes after
intake of marijuana
Bronchial passage relaxation and
enlargement, blood vessels in eyes expand,
eyes appear red
Source 5

10. Health Effects
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Smoke irritates lungs
Increases heart rate by 20-100 percent after
smoking
Increases risk of heart attack
Temporary psychotic reactions (hallucinations
and paranoia)
Impairs judgment and motor coordination
Respiratory problems
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Ex: daily cough, phlegm production, acute
chest illness, increased lung infections
Possibly increases risk for lung cancer
Source 1

11. Risks in the Youth:
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Impairs coordination and judgment. More than
double’s a driver’s risk of being in an accident
Decreases a teens cognitive abilities for as long as
several weeks after usage
If used during youth, it often results in chronic
weakened verbal communication and learning
difficulties with shortened attention span
Associations with use in the youth and
development of mental illness and psychosis later
in life
Early use has also been linked to depression,
anxiety, and suicidal thoughts amongst teens
Source 4

12. Discussion Point #2
 With
all these health risks and negative
side effects of marijuana, why do you
think it is such a common drug used
amongst teens? Do you believe the youth
is educated enough about the effects of
marijuana on the body?
_________________________________________
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13. Medicinal Marijuana
 Used
in treating pain, nausea, cancers,
epilepsy, cannabidiol, and in other
medical conditions
 While its therapeutic effects are not
known to out weigh the risks, marijuana is
FDA approved for treating conditions
Source 1 and 4

14. Medicinal Marijuana
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Started to be legalized in California and has
continued to be legalized in 20 other US states
as well.
California = “Cannabis Capital”
Obtained by going to a pain clinic
Over 1,000 medical marijuana dispenser
companies in just Los Angeles, CA alone
1 g costs between 25-75 dollars. This dose lasts
usually one day
Flavors: butter, brownies, banana, blueberry
Source 4

15. You Tube Clip
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQ-
87OrTtY
Source 4

16. Discussion Point #3
 What
is your opinion on the legalization of
medicinal marijuana? Do you believe the
benefits of treating diseases and pain out
weight the negative side effects or no?
_________________________________________
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17. Marijuana and Addiction
 Marijuana
IS addictive!
 About 9 percent of users become
addicted
 Withdrawal symptoms: irritability,
sleeplessness, decreased appetite,
anxiety, drug craving etc.
 No medications are available for
management of withdrawal symptoms
Source 1

18. Effects of Marijuana on Daily
Life
 Heavy
users usually report lower
satisfaction, poor mental status, poor
physical health, relationship problems,
and less academic success
 Has been shown to be associated with
increased absences, tardiness, accidents,
workers’ compensation claims, and job
turnovers.
Source 1

19. Gateway Drug ??
 Studies
show the risk of using cocaine is
much greater for those who have used
previously tried marijuana
 Using marijuana puts individuals in
contact/more exposed to users of others
drugs
Source 5

20. Discussion Point #4
 Have
you seen in high schools or in your
life individuals who have started using
marijuana and it has become a gateway
drug for them?
_________________________________________
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21. Quitting using Marijuana
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Researchers currently do not have a drug to
help treat marijuana addiction
Behavioral therapy programs for drug abusers
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
(1-800-273-TALK)
Treatment Referral Helpline
(1-800-662-HELP)
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Refers substance abusers to treatment facilities,
support groups, and other local organizations
for help and treatment methods
Source 5

22. Marijuana Statistics
 According
to NIDA’s 2012 Monitoring the
Future Study:
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The following are percentages of individuals
who had used marijuana in the current
month of the survey
 6.5%
of 8th graders
 17 % of 10th graders,
 22.9% of 12 graders
Source 5

23. Discussion Point #5
 What
do you think about the statistics
listed on the previous slide about the
percentage of individuals using marijuana
per grade? Are you surprise by the
statistics? Do you find this to be an
accurate representation of what you
see?
_________________________________________
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24. Resources:
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Source 1: National Institute on Drug Abuse: The Science of Drug Abuse &
Addiction. Drug Facts: Marijuana. (2014). Retrieved on February 8, 2014
from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
Source 2: Office of National Drug Control Policy: Myths & Facts. The Truth
Behind 10 Popular Misperceptions. (2013) Retrieved on February 8, 2014
from
https://www.ncjrs.gov/ondcppubs/publications/pdf/marijuana_myths_f
acts.pdf
Source 3: Above the Influence: Marijuana. Retrieved on February 8, 2014
from http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/drugsmarijuana
Source 4: Medical Marijuana: How it Works in California. (2010). You Tube
Videos. Retrieved on February 8, 2014 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQ-87OrTtY
Source 5: NIDA for Teens: Drug Facts Marijuana. (2014). Retrieved on
February 8, 2014 from http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana

25. THE END