Effects essay örneği Effects of Marijuana

Effects of Marijuana

 Marijuana is one of the most widely known illicit drugs. It is made from the plant Cannabis sativa and usually smoked as a cigarette (joint, nail), or in a pipe (bond). It can also mixed with food or drinks. In the street, it is called pot, herb, weed, grass, and many other names. Because of THC, the chemical in it, marijuana gives the user a "high" as soon as it is taken. Although it apparently gives pleasure to the user, it is actually very harmful, with severe effects to the brain and lungs, as well as to learning ability.

     The effects of marijuana on the brain are very serious. As soon as marijuana is taken, THC passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which crries it to organs throughout the body, including the brain. In the brain, THC connects to nerve cells that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement, and influences the activity of those cells negatively. The short-term effects of marijuana can include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, and increased heart rate. (Causal chain with examples)

     A study has found that marijuana users have more health problems than somers, mostly due to problems with lungs. The least serious but still annoying problem marijuana causes is burning and stinging sensations in the mouth and throat, often accompanied by a heavy cough. People who use marijuana rarely might experience these. For regular smokers, the problems are similar to those experienced by tobacco smokers. They have daily cough and phlegm production, and more frequent acute chest illness. The risk of lung infection is also higher. At its worst, marijuana may cause cancer of the lungs, because it contains irritants and carcinogens.

     In addition to physical problems, marijuana impairs learning ability. Because it affects the part of the brain responsible for learning and remembering information, regular users fall behing in their studies. Moreover, its effects last long after the drug is used. Abusers also have problems with attention. They cannot concentrate for long, and have trouble shifting their attention, as well as understanding and organizing information. Finally, an indirect effect on learning emerges due to deteriorating student attitude. Marijuana abusers are late to class or absent from class more often, and are not mentally in class even if they are physically there.

     To sum up, marijuana is a very harmful drug that causes problems with the brain, lungs and learning ability. Unfortunately, it is also addictive. Long-term use leads to mmore and more serious problems, so young people should be careful choosing friends and avoid contact with circles where marijuana is used.

quote:bogazici university, writing booklet-8; spring-2013