Drugs

Marijuana

Marijuana Joints Marijuana Paraphernalia

Slang Names:

grass, pot, weed, bud, Mary Jane, dope, indo, hydro

Description:

A green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. ("Cannabis" refers to marijuana and other drugs made from the same plant.)
Other forms, less common in the United States, are hashish and hashish oil.
Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint) or in a pipe or bong.

Symptoms / Consequences:

May cause frequent respiratory infections, impaired memory and learning, increased heart rate, anxiety, panic attacks, tolerance, and physical dependence.
Use of marijuana during the first month of breast-feeding can impair infant motor development.
Chronic smokers may have many of the same respiratory problems as tobacco smokers including daily cough and phlegm, chronic bronchitis symptoms, frequent chest colds; chronic abuse can also lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissues.
A study of college students has shown that skills related to attention, memory, and learning are impaired among people who use marijuana heavily, even after discontinuing its use for at least 24 hours.