| Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug | | | | Effect on Lungs |
| in United States and is obtained from dried flower, | | | | Smoking Marijuana can deposit 4 times more tar |
| stem, leaves, and seeds of female cannabis plant. | | | | in lungs than smoking normal cigarettes. Marijuana |
| Marijuana is a psychoactive drug and abused as it | | | | smoke is damaging to lungs as it also contains |
| gives a sense of high or euphoria and relaxation. | | | | more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco |
| Marijuana contains 400 chemicals, of which 60 are | | | | smoke. Carcinogens are chemical substances that |
| cannabinoids. The most active psychoactive | | | | can cause cancer. Marijuana smokers normally |
| cannabinoid in Marijuana is | | | | inhale the smoke deeply and hold their breath for |
| delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC that leads to | | | | longer time. Thus, the carcinogenic smoke remains |
| harmful health effects like increased heart rate, | | | | in contact with epithelial lining of lungs for longer |
| low blood pressure, respiratory and immune | | | | time and damages it. Also, Marijuana smokers |
| system problems, anxiety, and can even cause | | | | suffer from other respiratory ailments like cough |
| cancer. | | | | and phlegm production, acute chest illness, |
| Effect on Brain | | | | increased risk of lung infections, and other |
| When Marijuana is smoked, THC, the active | | | | respiratory illnesses. |
| chemical ingredient in Marijuana gets immediately | | | | Effect on Liver |
| dissolves in blood and carried to brain and other | | | | The effects of Marijuana abuse on liver are still |
| parts of body. The THC affects the activity of | | | | being researched. Marijuana alone can not be |
| brain by binding to the cannabinoid receptors in | | | | credited to cause liver damage but the impurities |
| brain. Since cannabinoid receptors have higher | | | | and other plant residues that come along with |
| density in parts of brain that control | | | | Marijuana can be detrimental to the liver. Marijuana |
| concentration, pleasure, memory, coordinated | | | | abuse can severely affect the liver function if the |
| movements and more, the person abusing | | | | person is suffering from ailments like Hepatitis C |
| Marijuana suffers from memory loss, lack of | | | | infection, HIV, Cirrhosis, Hepatomegaly and more. |
| coordination, distorted perception, problems in | | | | Effect on Daily Life |
| cognitive abilities, thinking and problem solving | | | | Marijuana abuse has severe implications on health, |
| difficulties etc due to affected receptors. Chronic | | | | mental well-being, family life, social relations, and |
| Marijuana use is also associated with increase in | | | | on career of the individual. Marijuana abuse can |
| anxiety, suicidal tendency, depression, and | | | | disturb the daily life as the person suffers from |
| schizophrenia. | | | | memory loss, health complications, decreased |
| Effect on Heart | | | | thinking and problem solving abilities etc. Marijuana |
| Smoking Marijuana can increase the heart rate | | | | abuse leads to increased absenteeism, inability to |
| suddenly and this effect can last for 3-4 hours. | | | | concentrate, accidents, tardiness, job turnover, |
| The increased heart rate further increases the | | | | cognitive impairment and more. |
| chances of heart attack in the first hour after | | | | Marijuana abuse especially among college students |
| smoking Marijuana. The risk of Marijuana abuser | | | | and adolescents needs to be curbed as it can lead |
| suffering from heart attack also increases due to | | | | to abuse of more severe illicit drug and act as a |
| disturbances in heart rhythms that lead to | | | | gateway drug. Dependence on Marijuana can be |
| palpitations and arrhythmias. The aged people | | | | effectively treated through proper behavioral |
| having heart complications stand at greater risk of | | | | interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy, and |
| suffering from heart attack due to Marijuana | | | | motivational incentives. |
| abuse. | | | | |