 Marijuana is a green, brown or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa  Sinsemilla, hash/hashish (resinous form) and hash oil (sticky black liquid) are stronger forms of marijuana

 The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). It is a psychoactive ingredient  When marijuana smoke is inhaled, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream and is carried to the brain and other organs throughout the body

 THC from the marijuana acts on specific receptors in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, starting off a chain of cellular reactions that finally lead to the euphoria, or "high" that users experience  Certain areas in the brain, such as the hippocampus, the cerebellum, the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex, have a higher concentration of cannabinoid receptors

 These areas influence memory, concentration, pleasure, coordination and, sensory and time perception. 1 Therefore these functions are most adversely affected by marijuana use.  Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint or a nail) or in a pipe or bong

 In recent years, it has appeared in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana, often in combination with another drug, such as crack. The “blunts” retain tobacco leaf used to wrap the cigar and therefore it combines marijuana's active ingredients with nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Some users also mix marijuana into food or use it to brew tea.

 rapid heart rate  increased blood pressure  increased rate of breathing  red eyes  dry mouth  increased appetite, or "the munchies"  slowed reaction time

 distorted sense of time  paranoia  magical or "random" thinking  short-term memory loss  anxiety and depression  These psychological signs of using pot also generally ease after a few hours. But residual effects can last through the next day

 Many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have  Cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs may also be promoted by marijuana smoke.  50 percent to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke

 aggression  anxiety  depressed mood  decreased appetite

6.8% of high school students reported using marijuana in the past month most commonly used illicit drug Nearly 69 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime

 Reaction time for motor skills, such as driving is reduced by 41% after smoking 1 joint and is reduced 63% after smoking 2 joints.  average age of first trying marijuana is 14 years old!!!  The daily use of 1 to 3 marijuana joints can produce the same lung damage and potential cancer risk as smoking five times as many cigarettes.