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ARE YOU IN THE "KNOW" ABOUT MARIJUANA?

KNOW THE SLANG
Weed, Pot, Grass, Reefer, Ganja, Mary Jane, Blunt, Joint, Roach, Nail, Aunt Mary , Boom , Chronic , Dope ganja, Gangster, Hash, Herb, Kif, Sinsemilla, Skunk ,

KNOW WHAT IT IS
Marijuana, the most often used illegal drug in this country, is a product of the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The main active chemical in marijuana, also present in other forms of cannabis, is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Of the roughly 400 chemicals found in the cannabis plant, THC affects the brain the most.

KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).

KNOW HOW IT IS USED
Most users roll loose marijuana into a cigarette called a "joint". It can be smoked in a water pipe, called a "bong", or mixed into food or brewed as tea. It has also appeared in cigars called "blunts".

KNOW THE FACTS
Marijuana affects your brain. THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) affects damages the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed, making it hard to remember things.

Marijuana affects your self-control. Marijuana can seriously affect your sense of time and your ability to do things that require coordination-like driving. In 1998, nearly 77,000 people were admitted to emergency rooms suffering from marijuana-related problems. This was an increase of more than 373 percent since 1991.

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. It can increase your heart rate and lead to frequent chest colds. Some research even shows that long-term marijuana use can increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses.

Marijuana is not always what it seems. Before it is sold, 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 to them.

Marijuana can be addictive. As with alcohol and many other drugs, not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, but some users do develop signs of dependence on the drug. They may experience such withdrawal symptoms as loss of appetite, sleep problems, weight loss, and shaky hands. In 1995, 165,000 people entered drug treatment programs to kick their marijuana habit.

KNOW THE RISKS
Know the law. It is illegal to buy or sell marijuana. In most states, holding even small amounts of marijuana can lead to fines or arrest.

Get the facts. There is NO proof that smoking marijuana is healthy and tons of evidence that it is not healthy. Smoking any substance--tobacco, marijuana, or crack cocaine--increases your risk of developing pneumonia and other illnesses.

Stay informed. It has not yet been proven that using marijuana leads to using other drugs. But, the fact is very few people use other drugs without first using marijuana. 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.

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

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

Look around you. Most teens aren't smoking marijuana. According to a 1997 study, four out of five 12- to 17-year-old youth had never even tried marijuana.

KNOW THE SIGNS
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, he or she may be using marijuana:
Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking
Having red, bloodshot eyes
Having a hard time remembering things that just happened
Acting disinterested in school, family, or activities he or she used to enjoy
Acting silly for no apparent reason
What can you do to help someone who is using marijuana or other drugs? Be a real friend.
Encourage your friend to seek professional help. For information and referrals, call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at (800) 729-6686.

DID YOU KNOW?
Q. Isn't smoking marijuana less dangerous than smoking cigarettes?
A. No. It's even worse. One joint affects the lungs as much as four cigarettes.

Q. Can people become addicted to marijuana?
A. Yes. Research confirms you can become hooked on marijuana.

Q. Can marijuana help cure cancer?
A. No. Some people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases claim to experience relief from pain and other symptoms that they attribute to marijuana use. However, scientific research has not yet confirmed these benefits and more research on this topic is being done. What is known is that smoking marijuana can cause lung damage.

KNOW ITS SHORT-TERM EFFECTS
Short-term effects of marijuana include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch), trouble with thinking and problem solving, loss of motor coordination, increased heart rate, and anxiety. These effects are even greater when other drugs are mixed with marijuana. A user may also experience dry mouth and throat.

KNOW ITS LONG-TERM EFFECTS
Marijuana smoke contains some of the same cancer-causing compounds as tobacco, sometimes in higher concentrations. Studies show that someone who smokes five joints per week may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day.

KNOW ITS FEDERAL CLASSIFICATION
Marijuana is a Schedule I drug.

INFORMATION
To learn more about marijuana or obtain referrals to programs in your community, contact:

Governor’s Commission for a Drug-Free Indiana,
a division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
www.in.gov/cji
or
SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
800-729-6686
TDD 800-487-4889
linea gratis en español 877-767-8432
Web site: http://www.health.org/

Curious about the TV ads of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign? Check out the Web site or visit the Office of National Drug Control Policy Web site.

The bottom line: If you know someone who smokes marijuana, urge him or her to get help. If you're smoking marijuana--stop! The longer you ignore the real facts, the more chances you take with your health and well-being.

It's never too late. Talk to your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher, or another adult you trust.

Do it today!

• OPO Database

More Online Services »

1. Find out more about Indiana Point of Youth.
2. Inquire about the Governor's Council on Impaired & Dangerous Driving.
3. Know about the youth services that CJI has to offer.
4. Read about the new meth law.
5. Find out more about drug recovery.
6. Contact CJI and its divisions.
7. Find out about the Governor's Commission for a Drug Free Indiana.