Marijuana and hashish remain the most commonly used illicit drugs in the United States. There were an estimated 2.1 million people who started using marijuana in 1998. According to data from the 1998 NHSDA, more than 72.0 million Americans (33 percent) 12 years of age and older have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, and almost 18.7 million (8.6 percent) had used marijuana or hashish in the past year. In 1987, 56.5 million Americans, (29 percent) had tried marijuana at least once in their lifetimes, and 26.1 million (13.6 percent) had used marijuana within the past year.
People who smoke marijuana often have the same respiratory problems as cigarette smokers. These individuals may have daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds. They are also at greater risk of getting lung infections like pneumonia. Marijuana contains some of the same, and sometimes even more, of the cancer causing chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
It is usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint or a nail) or in a pipe or bong. In recent years, marijuana has appeared in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied or tobacco and refilled with marijuana, often in combination with another drug such as crack. Some users also mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew tea. The main active chemical in marijuana is “THC”. Marijuana’s effects on the user depend on the strength or potency of the THC it contains. THC has been used to treat wasting syndrome in AIDS patients.
The short-term effects of marijuana or hashish use include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception (weights, sounds, time, touch); difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks. THC in marijuana is strongly absorbed by fatty tissues in carious organs. Generally, traces of THC can be detected by standard urine testing methods several days after a smoking session. In heavy chronic users can sometimes be detected for weeks after they have stopped using marijuana.
Marijuana or hashish affects memory, judgement and perception. Learning and attention skills are impaired among people who use marijuana or hashish heavily. Longitudinal research on marijuana use among young people below college age indicated those who use marijuana have lower achievement than the non-users, more acceptance of deviant behavior, more delinquent behavior and aggression, greater rebelliousness, poorer relationships with parents, and more associations with delinquent and drug-using friends.
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