Introduction
Individuals who use Marijuana believe they will be able to satisfy their leisure needs. Some medical researchers have pointed out that Marijuana can be used as a medicinal drug to cure several diseases. The drug is addictive, just like any other addictive drug. The drug needs to be avoided despite having some medicinal benefits to people. Understanding Marijuana and its effects on the brain and body is essential for treating and managing long-term and short-term negative consequences. Marijuana contains cannabinoids that activate distinct neurotransmitters, making it both a depressive and a stimulant and influencing the reward system to induce addiction.
Drug Description
Marijuana is a Schedule II drug that is taken by smoking. It is also known as weed/ cannabis, a psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis sativa plant. It comprises more than 100 chemical components referred to as cannabinoids, and one of the notable examples is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Grassa et al., 2019).
The primary cause for the psychoactive effects of Marijuana is THC. THC is an oil that, when smoked, reaches the lungs and enters the bloodstream, where it moves to the brain. The drug is classified as a stimulant and a depressant, as its impact varies from excitement to relaxation. The effects of the drug may vary based on the brain of the specific individual using it. It can also be found in refined THC, which can be applied as a patch or inhaled to produce the drug’s effects.
Effects on the Brain
Smoking Marijuana has multiple effects on the brain of the abusers. The first influence is that it modulates the glutamate-GABA systems and dopamine pathways. Cannabidiol (CBD) increases the levels of GABA in ordinary people and increases in subcortical areas and the cortical region (Gugliandolo et al., 2020). The increase of GABA causes relaxation, but the impact of THC on the CB1 and CB2 could accelerate dopamine production, resulting in excitation. Therefore, the impact of smoking Marijuana may depend on the different levels of the various components of cannabinoids in it. High CBD levels are related to its depressant features, while high THC levels are associated with excitation.
Effects on Sensation, Perception, and Consciousness
One of the short-term impacts of the drug is a reduction in cognitive abilities. For example, guys who smoke weed become slugging because of the increased GABA activities associated with relaxation. The other side effects of using Marijuana comprise delusions and hallucinations in extreme cases. Poor memory is also linked to excessive drug use, and this has been evident with most users. Most individuals who smoke become forgetful about most things (Kuc et al., 2021).
The drug’s long-term impacts on sensation include decreased cognitive capacities over time. Chronic use, for example, may result in long-term amnesia. In addition, Marijuana lowers IQ levels; even after stopping, the IQ does not typically return to normal. People’s verbal talents usually deteriorate over time, and they may have slow speaking.
Aspects of Addiction
Marijuana addiction is caused by its effect on the reward system. Typically, using the medicine causes the brain to flood with dopamine, activating dopaminergic receptors. An over-excitation of dopamine receptors causes a high feeling via the B2 receptors. Excessive drug usage results in widespread activation of the reward system. As a result, users get addicted due to the need to acquire a ‘high.’
Long-term marijuana use lowers dopamine levels, necessitating the use of the substance to increase dopamine and effectively activate dopaminergic receptors (Kuc et al., 2021). The physical elements of addiction include decreased dopamine levels, which cause people to be less active unless they use the substance.
Conclusion
Conclusively, despite its medical use, marijuana harms people’s psychological health. The substance contains many cannabinoids, which alter the reward system to produce the desired effects and addiction. It also has short- and long-term adverse effects that might permanently harm the brain and decrease cognition over time. As a result, where the medicine is legal, consumer education should be provided.
References
Grassa, C. J., Wenger, J. P., Dabney, C., Poplawski, S. G., Motley, S. T., Michael, T. P., Schwartz, C. J., & Weiblen, G. D. (2019). A complete Cannabis chromosome assembly and adaptive admixture for elevated cannabidiol (CBD) content. Web.
Gugliandolo, A., Silvestro, S., Chiricosta, L., Pollastro, F., Bramanti, P., & Mazzon, E. (2020). The Transcriptomic Analysis of NSC-34 Motor Neuron-Like Cells Reveals That Cannabigerol Influences Synaptic Pathways: A Comparative Study with Cannabidiol. Life, 10(10), 227. Web.
Kuc, J., Kettner, H., Rosas, F., Erritzoe, D., Haijen, E., Kaelen, M., Nutt, D., & Carhart-Harris, R. L. (2021). Psychedelic experience dose-dependently modulated by cannabis: results of a prospective online survey. Psychopharmacology. Web.