Identifying The Signs of Marijuana Use

What is marijuana?

Marijuana, frequently called cannabis or weed, is a Schedule 1 classified substance. It is currently thought to be the most used illegal drug in the United States. People take marijuana by smoking it, frequently in cigarette or pipe form.

Marijuana is a controversial drug that has been used as a medicine in some states. While advocates argue that it may have medical properties, those opposed to it contend that it is addictive and may lead to use of other drugs. Whatever the case is, mental health professionals agree that the use of marijuana over a repeated time can lead to a decreased in memory function and motivations. Like any drug, marijuana can lead to psychological dependency and addiction.

What Are The Signs of Marijuana Use?

There are several signs of marijuana use. It has to be said that signs of marijuana use may be different depending on the user that has taken the marijuana, how the marijuana has been taken and even how long the user has been smoking marijuana for. Other factors that might affect the signs of marijuana use are the strain of the marijuana and its strength. Every single body reacts differently to the intake of marijuana and there are many factors which can affect the user's experience and therefore the perception of those around the user.

What Are The Immediate Signs of Use?

Immediately after marijuana has been consumed, the user might experience a feeling of excitement, euphoria and happiness. This might lead to increased laughter and enjoyment of experiences which can be considered boring. It might also cause the user to experience uncontrollable laughter. The user might experience more awareness from the senses: for instance, an user that has consumed marijuana might feel like food is more intense. Touching something soft might feel extremely pleasurable and smells and sounds can be much more intense than they are when sober. If an individual indicates these things, there is a chance that he or she could have consumed marijuana. Other signs of use might include a reduction in pain and nausea.

Other signs may include dry mouth, increased appetite and a change in time perception. Users who have taken marijuana may perceive time as going by slow while some objects go by really fast. Some users also slow down considerably what they are using, for instance, walking or driving. The user might feel difficulty following a train of thought and linear story lines, something particularly visible when the user is watching complicated movies or trying to read difficult books. Users will feel lethargic and tired after consuming marijuana, and they might experience tension in the muscles in their face.

In some cases, intake of marijuana can cause intense anxiety and paranoid thoughts. It might also cause racing hearts and dizziness from a drop in blood pressure.

What Are The Eventual Signs of Use?

Some of the eventual signs of use can happen after the user has stopped smoking marijuana. The user might experience something similar to a "hangover" that one might get after a night of drinking. Some of these include dry and itchy eyes, lethargy or difficulty sleeping, slower thinking and difficulty thinking quickly. The user might also feel fatigued and feel stiffness in their bodies. Users may also experience memory difficulty.

What Are The Long Terms Signs of Use?

Marijuana users that have been using the drug for a long time or do it daily are much more likely to become drug dependent and addicted. Although marijuana is not a physically addictive drug, it can become very psychologically addictive.

Smoking marijuana for a long time may also cause irritation to the lungs and upper respiratory disease. If marijuana is taken with tobacco it might be the cause of asthma. Additionally, some marijuana contains the same carcinogens that are found in tobacco. Long term marijuana users may also experience headaches and anxiety when consuming marijuana. This depends on the strain that the user has chosen to take and the level of tolerance that his or her body has built up.

Some Of The Effects of Marijuana Use

Immediately after the user consumes marijuana, his or her heartbeat quickens and he is more likely to have a heart attack. Smoking marijuana might weaken the immune system making the user more vulnerable to common illnesses. Marijuana may cause drug dependency in users. Additionally, when young adults and teenagers consume marijuana, its use has been linked to the development of mental health problems. Researchers are still trying to find how exactly marijuana affects those most mentally vulnerable.

Taking cannabis cannot cause the user death, but taking it with some other substances like alcohol and other drugs may cause the user to have an intensely unpleasant experience. The most common long term effect of cannabis are respiratory and throat problems, including reduced lung capacity, coughing, and increased frequency of infections.

Currently most teenagers in drug addiction recovery centers are there for cannabis dependency and addiction treatment. Although it is illegal, cannabis is very easy to find as it is the most widely illegal used substance in the United States. Due to this and many other factors, users are not likely to know where the marijuana they are smoking has come from. Additionally, marijuana is now much stronger than it ever was with more than 12% thc in U.S produced sinsemilla since the year 1999. There are also several strains of marijuana that the user might use.

Marijuana has been and is currently being researched as a medical treatment for cancer patients. In some states, doctors can prescribe doctors medical marijuana to deal with pain and several other ailments. Right now, the drug is still very controversial and remains a Schedule 1 at country level, which means that it is illegal to possess, manufacture and sell and could carry with it a long jail sentence. There are many mental health professionals that can help a marijuana dependent user ease into a withdrawal and a normal life without having to turn to smoking or consuming marijuana in any other way.