The Truth About Marijuana

CEBU, Philippines - Slang—Weed, Pot, Grass, Reefer, Ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt, Joint, Roach, Nail, Juts, Sagbot.

Marijuana affects your brain. THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) affects the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed.

Marijuana affects your self-control. Marijuana can seriously affect your sense of time and your coordination, impacting things like driving.

Marijuana affects your lungs. There are more than 400 known chemicals in marijuana. A single joint contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as a filtered cigarette.

Marijuana affects other aspects of your health. Marijuana can limit your body’s ability to fight off infection. Long-term marijuana use can even increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses.

Marijuana is not always what it seems. Marijuana can be laced with other dangerous drugs without your knowledge. “Blunts”—hollowed-out cigars filled with marijuana—sometimes have substances such as crack cocaine, PCP, or embalming fluid added.

Marijuana can be addictive. Not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, but some users do develop signs of dependence.

 Before you risk it, get the facts:

• It is illegal to buy or sell marijuana.

• Smoking any substance—tobacco, marijuana, or crack cocaine—increases your risk of developing pneumonia and other illnesses.

• Teens who smoke marijuana are more likely to try other drugs, in part because they have more contact with people who use and sell them.

• Using marijuana or other drugs increases your risk of injury from car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and other accidents.

• Marijuana affects your judgment, drains your motivation, and can make you feel anxious.

How can you tell if a friend is using marijuana? Sometimes it’s tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs::

• Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking

• Having red, bloodshot eyes and smelly hair and clothes

• Having a hard time remembering things that just happened

• Acting silly for no apparent reason

What can you do to help someone who has a drinking problem? Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help. For more information, please feel free to call us at 032-2315229 or 032-2389143. (FREEMAN)