Mark Myers Expert Answer to: I Am Addicted to Marijuana and Want to Stop."

From your description, you have two issues you are dealing with, depression and dependency on Marijuana. Both of those issues should be considered. There is a likelihood, they both may be contributing to each other, creating a feedback loop. If you are depressed you could enjoy the escape that comes from the high. The residual effects of the pot use leave you feeling lethargic, unmotivated, and in a "fog", which contribute to feeling depressed. Click here to find out more.

4-20 and Cannabis use

Today is April 20th. This day takes on special significance for individuals immersed in Cannabis use . It is used to identify oneself with Cannabis use culture. 420(pronounced four-twenty) is based on the number as well as the event. Although that are different beliefs of it’s origins, the most consistent theory is the term was first used by a group of teenagers in California. Their designated hang out was a wall outside their school. The term was used for the time of day that they would indulge in marijuana use. The term has evolved into a counterculture holiday in North America, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis. The term is used also as code to disguise dialogue from those who do not smoke marijuana.

Skunk Cannabis;Use increases risk of Psychosis.

Growing numbers of people in the South East are using a form of cannabis believed to put users more at risk of psychosis than other forms of the drug click for more

Q&A About Marijuana 2

Continued Q&A about Marijuana Use provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institutes on Health.

Q: How does marijuana affect the brain?

A: THC affects the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed. This makes it hard for the user to recall recent events (such as what happened a few minutes ago). It is hard to lean while high-a working short-term memory is required for learning and performing tasks that call for more than one or two steps. Among a group of long-time heavy marijuana users in Costa Rica, researchers found that the people had great trouble when asked to recall a short list of words (a standard test of memory). People in that study group also found it very hard to focus their attention on the tests given to them. As people age, they normally lose nerve cells in a region of the brain that is important for remembering events. Chronic exposure to THC may hasten the age-related loss of these nerve cells. In one study, researchers found that rats exposed to THC every 8 months (about 1/3 of their life span) showed a loss of brain cells comparable to rats that were twice their age. It is not known whether a similar effect occurs in human. Researchers are still learning about the many ways that marijuana could affect the brain. 

Q: Can the drug cause mental illness?

A: Scientists do not yet known whether the use of marijuana causes mental illness. Among the difficulties in this kind of research are determining whether drug use precedes or follows mental health problems; whether one causes the other; and/or whether both are due to factors such as genetics or environmental conditions. High doses of marijuana can induce psychosis (disturbed perceptions and thoughts), and marijuana use can worsen psychotic symptoms in people who have had schizophrenia. There is also evidence of increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thinking in chronic marijuana users. However, it is not yet clear whether marijuana is being used in an attempt to self-medicate an already present, but otherwise untreated, mental health problem or whether marijuana use leads to mental disorders (or both).

Q: Do marijuana users lose their motivation?

A: Some frequent, long-term marijuana users show signs of a lack of motivation (sometimes termed "amotivational syndrome"). Their problems include not caring about what happens in their lives, no desire to work regularly, fatigue, and a lack of concern about how they look. As a result of these symptoms, some users tend to perform poorly in school or at work. Scientist are still studying these problems.

Q: Can a person become addicted to marijuana?

A: Yes. Although not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, when a user begins to seek out and take the drug compulsively, that person is said to be dependent on the drug or addicted to it. In 2004, more than 298,317 people entering drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse, showing they needed help to stop using. Some heavy users of marijuana show signs of withdrawal when they do not use the drug. They develop symptoms such as restlessness, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, weight loss, and shaky hands. According to one study, marijuana use by teens who have prior serious antisocial problems can quickly lead to dependence on the drug. That study also found that, for troubled teens using tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana, progression from their first use of marijuana to regular use was about as rapid as their progression to regular tobacco use and more rapid than the progression to regular use of alcohol. 

Q: What is "tolerance" for marijuana?

A: "Tolerance" means that the user needs increasingly larger doses of the drug to get the same desired results that he or she previously got from smaller amounts. Some frequent, heavy users of marijuana may develop tolerance for it.

Q: Are there treatments to help marijuana users?

A: Up until a few years ago, it was hard to find treatment programs specifically for marijuana users. Treatments for marijuana dependence were much the same as therapies for other drug abuse problems. These include behavioral therapies,  multi systemic therapy, individual and group counseling, and regular attendance at meeting of support group, such as Narcotics Anonymous. Recently, researchers have been testing different ways to attract marijuana users to treatment and help them abstain from drug use. There are currently no medications for treating marijuana dependence. Treatment programs focus on counseling and group support systems. From these studies, drug treatment professionals are learning which characteristics of users are predictors of success in treatment and which approaches to treatment can be most helpful. Further progress set up to help adolescents in particular. Some of these programs are in university research centers, where most of the young patients report marijuana as their drug of choice. Others are in independent adolescent treatment facilities. Family physicians can be a good source for information and help in dealing with adolescents' marijuana problems.

Q: Can marijuana be used as medicine?

A: There has been much debate in the media about the possible medical use of marijuana. Under U.S> law since 1970, marijuana had been a Schedule I controlled substance. This means that he drug, at least in its smoked form, had no commonly accepted medical use. In considering possible medical uses of marijuana, it is important to distinguish between whole marijuana and pure THC or other specific chemicals derived from cannabis. Whole marijuana contains hundreds of chemicals, some of which may be harmful to health. THC, manufactured into a pill that is taken by mouth, not smoked, can be used for treating the nausea and vomiting that go along with certain caner treatments and is available by prescription. Another chemical related to THC (nabilonecannabinoids) may have other medical used. According to scientists, more research needs to be done on marijuana's side effects and potential benefits before it can be recommended for medical use. However, because of the adverse effects of smoking marijuana, research on other cannabinoids appears more promising for the development of new medications.

Q: How can I prevent my child from getting involved with marijuana?

A: There is no magic bullet for preventing teen drug use. But parents can be influential by talking to their children about the dangers of using marijuana and other drugs. and by remaining actively engaged in their children's lives. Even after teens enter high school, parents can stay involved in schoolwork, recreation, and social activities with their children's friends. Research shows that appropriate parental monitoring can reduce future drug use, even among those adolescents who may be prone to marijuana use, such as those who are rebellious, cannot control their emotions, and experience internal distress. To address the issue of drug abuse in your area, it is important to get involved in drug abuse prevention programs in your community or your child's school. Find out what prevention programs you and your children can participate in together.

Resources: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: 1-800-729-6686. Visit NIDA's Web site at www.drugabuse.gov, www.marijuana-info.org, and www.teens.drugabuse.gov

Q & A About Marijuana: Talking to Your Teens About Drugs

ll information is provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institutes of Health

Following a troubling increase in marijuana abuse in the 1900s among U.S.  teens,recent finding have shown more encouraging trends. For example, part-year use has fallen significantly among students in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades since 2001:it has dropped by 24% among 8th-graders,23% among 10th-graders,and 15% among 12th-graders.Perceived risk of harm from smoking marijuana regularly remained stable for all three grades from 2005-2006 and perceived availability of marijuana fell significantly among 10th-graders , from 72.6% in 2005 to 70.7% in 2006. Even with these encouraging trends,marijuana is still the illegal drug most often abused in the United States. Its continued high prevalence rate,particularly among teens, indicates that we still have a long way to go. In addition, because many parents of present-day teens used marijuana when they were in college, they often find it difficult to talk about marijuana with their children and to set strict ground rules against it. This conversation must begin early, as marijuana use today often starts at a young age-with more potent forms of the drug now available to these children and adolescents. Parents need to recognize that marijuana use is a serious threat, and they need to tell their children not to use it. 

Q: What is marijuana? Are there different kinds?

A: Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant. It is the most often used illegal drug in the United States. Cannabis is a term that refers to marijuana and other drugs made from the same plant. Strong forms of cannabis include sinsemilla, hashish and hash oil. All forms of cannabis are mind-altering drugs; they all contain THC (delta-9-tetrahyfrocannabinol), the main active chemical in marijuana. They also contain more than 400 other chemicals. 

Q: What are the current slang terms for marijuana?

A: There are many different names for marijuana. Slang terms for drugs change quickly and they vary from on part of the country to another. Terms from years ago, such as pot, herb, grass, week, Mary Jane and reefer are still used. You might also hear names like Aunt Mary, skunk, boom, gangster, kif, or ganja. There are also street name for different strains or "brands" of marijuana such as "Texas tea," "Maui wowie," and "chronic." 

Q: How is Marijuana used?

A: Most users roll loose marijuana into a cigarette called a joint or smoke it in a pipe or a water pipe, sometimes referred to as a bong. Some users mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew tea. Another method is to slice open a cigar and replace the tobacco with marijuana, making what's called a blunt. Joints or blunts sometimes include other substances as well, including crack cocaine called "primos" or "woolies." Joints and blunts sometimes are dipped in PCP and are called "happy sticks," "wicky sticks," "love boat," "dust," "wets," or "tical."

Q: How many people smoke marijuana? At what age do children generally start?

A: A recent government study tells us that marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the U.S. Nearly 98 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once. Over 14 million had used the drug in the month before the survey.  The Monitoring the Future Survey, which is conducted yearly, included students from 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. In 2006, the survey found that 15.7% of 8th-graders have tried marijuana at least once, and among 10th-graders, 14.2%  were "current" users (in the past month). Among 12th-graders, 42.3% have tried marijuana at least once and about 18% were current users. Other researchers have found that the use of marijuana and other drugs usually peaks in the late teens and early twenties, then declines in late years.

Q: How can I tell if my child has been using marijuana?

A: there are some signs you might be able to see. If someone is high on marijuana, he or she might seem dizzy and have trouble walking, seem silly and giggly for no reason, have very red, bloodshot eyes and have a hard time remembering things that just happened. the user than can become very sleepy. Parents should look for withdrawal, depression, fatigue, carelessness with grooming, hostility and deteriorating relationships with family members and friends. Also, changes in academic performance, increased absenteeism or truancy, lost interest in sports or other favorite activities and chances in eating or sleeping habits could be related to drug use. In addition parents should be aware of signs of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including pipes and rolling papers, odor on clothes and in the bedroom, use of incense and other deodorizers, use of eye drops and clothing, posters, jewelry, etc. promoting drug use.

Q: why do young people use marijuana?

A: Children and young teen start using marijuana for many reasons. Curiosity and the desire to fit into a social group are common reasons. Certainly, youngsters who have already begun to smoke cigarettes and/or use alcohol are at high risk

Q:  Does using Marijuana lead to other drugs?

A: Long-term studies of high school students and their patterns of drug use show that very few young people use other drugs without trying marijuana, alcohol, or tobacco. Though few young people use cocaine, for example, the risk of doing so is much greater for youth who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it. Although research has not fully explained this association, growing evidence suggests a combination of biological, social, and psychological factors is involved.

Q: What are the effects of marijuana?

A: The effects of marijuana on each person depend on the type of cannabis and how much THC it contains, the way the drug is taken, the setting where the drug is used and the use of other drugs and/or alcohol. Some people feel nothing at all when they first try marijuana. Others may feel high (intoxicated and/or euphoric). It is common for marijuana users to become engrossed with ordinary sights, sounds or tastes and trivial events may seem extremely interesting or funny. Time seems to pass very slowly so minutes feel like hours. Sometime the drug causes users to feel thirsty and very hungry-an effect called "the munchies."

Q: What happens after a person smokes marijuana?

A: Within a few minutes of inhaling marijuana smoke, the user will likely feel, along with intoxication, a dry mouth, rapid heartbeat, some loss of coordination and balance, and a slower than normal reaction time. Blood vessels in the eye expand, so the user's eyes look red. For some people, marijuana raises blood pressure slightly and can double the normal heart rate. This effect can be greater when other drugs are mixed with marijuana, but users do not always know when that happens. as the immediate effects fade, usually after 2 to 3 hours, the user may become sleepy. 

Q: How long does marijuana stay in the user's body?

A: THC in marijuana is readily absorbed by fatty tissues in various organs. Generally, traces of THC can be detected by standard urine testing methods several days after a smoking session. In heavy, chronic users, however traces can sometime be detected for weeks after they have stopped using marijuana.

Q: can a user have a bad reaction?

A: Yes. Some users, especially those who are new to the drug or in a strange setting, may suffer acute anxiety and have paranoid thoughts. This is more likely to happen with high doses of THC.These scary feeling will fade as the drug's effects wear off. In rare cases, a user who has taken a very high dose of the drug can have severe psychotic symptoms and need emergency medical treatment. Other kinds of bad reactions can occur when marijuana is mixed with other drugs like PCP or cocaine.

Q: How is marijuana harmful?

A: marijuana can be harmful in a number of ways, through immediate effects and through damage to health over time. Marijuana hiders the user's short-term memory and he or she may have troubling handling complex  tasks. With the use of more potent varieties of marijuana, even simple tasks can be difficult. Because of the drug's effects on perceptions and reaction time, users could be involved in auto crashes. Drug users also may become involved in risky sexual behaviors, which could lead to the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Under the influence of marijuana, students may find it hard to study and learn. Young athletes could find their performance is off, timing, movements and coordination are all affected by THC.

Q: How does marijuana affect driving?

A: Marijuana affects many skills required for safe driving: alertness, concentration, coordination, and reaction time. Marijuana use can make it difficult to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road. Studies have shown  that approximately 4-14% of drivers who sustained injury or died in traffic accidents tested positive for THC. In many cases, alcohol was detected as well. When users combine marijuana with alcohol, as they often do, hazards of driving can be more severe than with either drug alone. In a study conducted by the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a moderate dose of marijuana alone was shown to impair driving performance; however the effects of even a low dose of marijuana combined with alcohol were markedly greater than those of either drug alone. In one study conducted in Memphis, Tennessee, researchers found that 150 reckless drivers who were tested for drugs at the arrest scene, 33% tested positive for marijuana and 12% tested positive for both marijuana and cocaine. Data also show that whole smoking marijuana, people display the same lack of coordination on standard  "drunk driver" tests as do people who have had too much to drink.

Q: What are the long-tern effects of marijuana?

A: A group of scientists in California examined the health status of 450 daily smokers of marijuana, but not tobacco. They found that the marijuana smokers had more sick days and more doctor visits for respiratory problems and other types of illness than did a similar group who did not smoke either substance. Finding so far show that the regular use of marijuana may play a role in cancer and problems of the immune and respiratory systems. 

Cancer

It is hard to find out whether marijuana alone causes cancer, because many people who smoke marijuana also smoke cigarettes and use other drugs. 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 day may be taking in as much cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day. Tobacco smoke and marijuana smoke may work together to change the tissues lining the respiratory tract. Marijuana smoking could contribute to early development of head and neck cancer in some people.

Immune system

It is not certain whether marijuana damages the immune system of people. But both animal and human studies have shown that marijuana impairs the ability of T-cells in the lungs' immune system to fight off some infections.

Lungs and airways

People who smoke marijuana regularly may develop many of the same breathing problems that tobacco users have, , such as a daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent chest colds, a heightened risk of lung infection, and a greater tendency toward obstructed airways. marijuana smokers usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer, which increases the lungs' exposure to toxic chemicals and irritants.

Q: What about pregnancy? Will smoking marijuana hurt the baby?

A: Doctors advise pregnant women not to use any drugs because they may harm the growing fetus. Although one animal study has linked marijuana to loss of the fetus very early in pregnancy, two studies in humans found no association between marijuana use and early pregnancy loss. More research is necessary to fully understand the effects of marijuana use on pregnancy outcome. Some scientific studies have found that babies born to women who used marijuana during pregnancy display altered responses to visual stimulation, increased tremors, and a high-pitched cry, which may indicate problems with nervous system development. During preschool and early school years, marijuana-exposed children have been reported to have more behavioral problems and difficulties with sustained attention and memory than non exposed children. Researchers are not certain whether any effects of maternal marijuana use during pregnancy persist as the child grows up; however, because some parts of the brain continue to develop into adolescence, it is also possible that certain kinds of problems will become more evident as the child matures.

Q: What happens if a nursing mother uses marijuana?

A: When a nursing mother uses marijuana, some of the THC is passed to the baby through breast milk. This is a matter for concern, because the THC in the mother's milk is much more concentrated than that in the mother's blood. One study has shown that the use of marijuana by a mother during the first month of breastfeeding can impair the infant's motor development. This work has not been replicated, although similar anecdotal reports exist. Further research is needed to determine whether THC transmitted in breast milk has harmful effects on development.

Legal But Not Safe: K2

Some individuals have gone to great lengths to experience altered states or “highs.” When we think of getting high, the images that comes to most peoples mind is illegal drugs or alcohol. That is not always the case. There are legal or easily accessible items that could be used to induce a high. The methods used may include inhaling household products, inhaling gasoline, abusing prescription and over the counter medication, and various products advertised at Head Shops (local retail shops that specialize in drug paraphernalia related to consumption of cannabis and other recreational drugs).

If a product is legal, it may not mean it is safe. A new trend is synthetic marijuana, K2, Spice, or fake weed. It looks similar to marijuana and individuals who use it would not come up positive on hair analysis or urinalysis. This product can be legally obtained over the Internet, Head Shops, or even gas stations. It was first introduced around 1990 but in the last few years has become more popular. The ingredients include a chemical made to mimic THC (the main chemical in marijuana that produces the high). The producers of this imply in their advertisements the drug is organic but that is not the case. The component that produces the high is made in a laboratory.

Due to it’s relative newness, there is not a lot of data out on the long term effects it produces. We do know that some studies indicate the high is similar to that of marijuana but may not have the long term effects of a marijuana high. Some of the side effects may include feelings of paranoia, anxiety, and depression. Just like other potential drugs of abuse, there is the concern that individuals will rely too much on it for relaxation or to reach the desired effects. This prevents individuals from developing their own methods or coping skills to address personal issues.  There are not any legal regulations on making this product , at this time, and some of the chemicals may be mixed in home laboratories resulting in imprecise mixtures that could make the effects of its use unpredictable and even dangerous.

There are some states that have banned it or have introduced legislation to ban it. Parents could help address this issue by talking about it with their children. Rather than focusing on whether or not the product is legal, we may miss the point that the drug is harmful to children. 

Up in Smoke: The Medical Marijuana Debate

Containing over 400 chemicals, the cannabis plant is the source of marijuana, which has been labeled a Schedule 1 controlled substance since 1970. Once treated and dried, marijuana can be smoked (or even eaten!) to induce an altered mood, caused primarily by THC (delta 9 tetrhydrocannabinol). The terms "medical cannabis" and "medical marijuana" refer to the use of the chemicals in the cannabis plant and marijuana (such as THC) as a physician-recommended from of medicine or herbal therapy.

The potency of marijuana has increased over the years, with a 4% increase of THC presence in the drug from 20 years ago. Often taken as a recreational drug, marijuana has some adverse effects: short term memory loss, increased heart rate, weakening of the immune system, raised risk of lung infections, increased risk of lung cancer, decrease in perception and reaction time response (which is especially dangerous when driving), exacerbation of current mental health problems (or the creation of new ones), breathing problems, and addictive qualities (1).

The administration of medical marijuana is most frequently done through vaporizing or smoking dried buds, eating or drinking extracts, and taking capsules. Smoking has fielded the fewest positive outcomes (2).

Medicinal marijuana is a much-debated topic in the medical field, with no clear-cut agreement. Some research indicates that it could be effective for the relief of nausea and vomiting, stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy and AIDS patients, gastrointestinal illness, and lowered intralobular eye pressure (which has been effective for treating glaucoma).

Both pro and con sides of the medical marijuana debate present compelling arguments. It is important to remember that if the legalization of medicinal marijuana does occur, it should have no bearing on the legality of recreational use (which is a fear of many opponents of medical marijuana). As recently as May of 2011, the Illinois House of Representatives failed to pass medical marijuana legislation that came up for a vote. In fact, many legal medical drugs on the market are not only illegal, but also dangerous to use recreationally. Furthermore, there is a wide variety of marijuana with different potencies and additives (over 400 other chemicals), and street marijuana for medical use carries a greater risk than marijuana cultivated specifically for medicinal treatment.

Before an informed decision can be made, it would only be wise to undertake further research. Doctors have no guidelines or standards on when to use, how to administer, and the possible side effects of medicinal marijuana. With more research comes more knowledge, and with more knowledge comes the basis to train doctors to use medical marijuana effectively, and how to draw a distinct line between medical applications of marijuana and recreational use.

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Marijuana: Facts for Teens (http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/MarijIntro.html). NIH Pub. No. 98-4037. Bethesda, MD. NIDA, NIH, DHHS. Revised March 2008. Retrieved June 2009.

2. Wikipedia