Clearing the Smoke: Understanding Cannabis in Today’s Terms

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, is a psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis plant.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, cannabis is one of the most used drugs in the United States. Its use is especially widespread among young people today.

Cannabis contains compounds that are called cannabinoids. There are over 100 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant but the most familiar are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).

THC and CBD both interact with the brain and central nervous system. The primary psychoactive compound is THC which is responsible for the mind-altering effects, whereas CBD does not cause a “high.”

Let’s Break It Down – Cannabis Terminology

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Short Term Effects of Cannabis

When cannabis is smoked, THC passes through the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to the brain and other organs. The body absorbs THC more slowly when someone eats or drinks it.

THC acts on specific brain cell receptors that ordinarily react to natural chemicals. These natural chemicals play a role in normal brain development and function. cannabis takes over those receptors and causes people to feel “high.”

This might look like altered senses, altered sense of time, changes in mood, slow body functioning, difficulty thinking, impaired memory, and difficulty with problem-solving. It is also common for cannabis users to experience nausea, dizziness, and dehydration.

According to the CDC, there are health risks associated with marijuana regardless of how it is used. The risks include poor brain function, increased blood pressure, impaired decision making, damaged lung tissues, social anxiety, and depression.

We’ll dive deeper into the long-term impact of cannabis on mental and physical health in our next blog post. Stay tuned to learn more!

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