Marijuana and Its Significant Effects on a Person

Substance Use
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Introduction- Marijuana
Marijuana is locally known and referred to using several names, such as pot, dope, and weed. It is mostly accessed in the form of dried stems, leaves, seeds, and flowers of the cannabis plant. The plant has several active compounds, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), impairs the mind and alters normal body functioning (CDC, 2021). Marijuana can be consumed in various ways. First, it can be vaped using specific devices such as vape pens. Secondly, it can be missed in drinks and food such as cakes, tea, alcohol, and cookies. Finally, it can be smoked similarly to the way cigarettes are ingested. Marijuana is known to hold significant effects on a person that could either be positive (such as a drastic improvement in activity) or negative (such as loss of cognition, especially when abused over a long term) (DDHS, 2021). Several factors determine how Marijuana will affect a person. These include the amount of the drug consumed, the frequency of use, an individual's biological characteristics such as their DNA or genes, and sex, where women experience more dizziness after using the drug than men (DDHS, 2021).
History of Abuse
The United States (U.S.) has a long history of marijuana rate of use. Originally, the cannabis plant was used as a raw material in the textile industry, later gaining attention as a medicinal component. However, the plant became controversial throughout the years due to its effects on people who consumed it. Between 1900 to 1930, Marijuana was widely used as a medicinal component due to its analgesic properties (DDHS, 2021). It was used as a sedative and in treating muscle spasms during this period. However, Mexican immigrants introduced a new concept in the U.S., where Marijuana started being used for recreation. In the 1930s, research began to link marijuana use to violence and criminal acts and aggressive campaigns to criminalize (DDHS, 2021). Marijuana was started with the claim that it made people go insane. In the 1960s, Marijuana became popular among young college students who abused it and fought laws prohibiting its use. Up to 1999, American presidents, including George Bush and Bill Clinton, fought Marijuana use and invested in television campaigns against Marijuana and other drug use (DDHS, 2021).
Prevalence and Epidemiology in the U.S.
Currently, Marijuana is the most commonly used and abused illegal drug in the U.S. Among people over twelve years of age, approximately 49.6 million people (17.9%) reported having used the drug in the past twelve months (DDHS, 2021). Research shows that in every ten people, approximately three who use Marijuana have Cannabis use disorder (CUD) (CDC, 2021). The risk of getting CUD is higher for people who use the drug before eighteen. Marijuana is known to significantly affect the brain, especially the sections of the brain that coordinate memory, attention, decision-making, emotion, and coordination (CDC, 2021). Children and teens are at a higher risk of the adverse effects of marijuana use. Long-term drug use or frequent use is associated with an elevated risk of schizophrenia or psychosis (CDC, 2021). Additionally, when Marijuana is used during pregnancy, it elevates the person's risk of complications.
Risk Factors/Vulnerable Populations
Anyone can be associated with the abuse of Marijuana. However, some factors increase the likelihood and possibility of abusing the drug. These include the presence of a mental health disorder such as depression (Keyhani et al., 2018). A person who is not in their right state of mind is more likely to abuse Marijuana than one who does not have a mental disorder. Another risk factor is a family history of marijuana abuse. It is common to find specific families known for marijuana abuse throughout several generations. The increased risk could be due to genetic exposure or observational learning that occurs between children and adults (McCabe et al., 2021). Another coherent risk factor is the early use of Marijuana, which alters the brain's functioning and places one at an increased risk of abusing the drug. Other risk factors include the absence of family bonds and parental involvement, the use of other highly addictive drugs, and peer pressure.
Short and Long-term side effects of Marijuana use
When Marijuana is taken, THC rapidly enters the bloodstream and is carried throughout the body, including the brain. Short-term effects are felt almost immediately, and most people experience a calming sense of relaxation and euphoria. While these effects are positive, some people experience negative effects, including panic, sho...