Drug Facts Marijuana

Information on the effects of marijuana on memory judgment and perception.

THE LOWDOWN

It’s a plant, so it’s natural, and natural is always good—right? Think again, because both natural and syntheticversions of marijuana can cause a long-lasting, negative impact on your developing brain.

AKA:

Blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, bud, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, green, trees, smoke, sinsemilla, skunk, weed, hash, tea, chronic, 420

WHAT IS IT:

A green and brown mix of dried flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical is THC (tretrahydrocannabinol), which moves quickly through the bloodstream to the brain and other organs throughout the body. Marijuana is a mild hallucinogen that can also act as a depressant or a stimulant.

THE RISKS:

You may hear people ask, “If it’s dangerous, why do so many people have medical marijuana cards?”  It’s true that scientists have determined that the cannabis plant has the potential for addressing a range of medical conditions. But it’s also…