STREET NAMES: You may hear marijuana called by a variety of names such as Pot, Weed, Grass, Herb, Boom, Gangster, Chronic, there are more than 200 slang terms for Marijuana.

Other forms: Sinsemilla, hashish (hash), and hash oil are all stronger more potent forms of Marijuana, they contain a higher concentration of the active ingredient THC.

All forms of marijuana are mind altering; they change the way the brain works. Marijuana, which is made from dried parts of the plant Cannabis sativa, is usually consumed by smoking a marijuana cigarette, or joint. (Hashish is a gum-like substance that comes from the Cannabis flower.) Some persons smoke marijuana every few days, on weekends, or at parties; others smoke marijuana on a regular basis, such as once daily or once every other day, and some of these smokers become so dependent on marijuana that they must smoke it every two to four hours. Although the acute, or immediate, effects can vary, usually there is euphoria (a "high"), combined with a tranquilizing or sedative effect. The immediate affects of euphoria last about two hours. (2)

The primary compound in marijuana that produces euphoria is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which, when it enters the bloodstream, changes to carboxy THC and hydroxy THC; carboxy THC may remain in the bloodstream for five to eight days or longer, during which time it is trapped in fatty tissue. Both carboxy THC and hydroxy THC are deceiving to the user, in that they do not produce much euphoria but may produce such continuous effects on the nervous system as loss of memory, impaired learning, loss of energy and motivation, and decreased visual perception, muscle coordination, and judgment. Carboxy THC and hydroxy THC accumulate in the fat, plasma, and bloodstream when marijuana is used as infrequently as twice a week.

Complications of chronic use include time distortion, manifested by tardiness; staying up late; unusual mealtimes and missed appointments; lack of motivation, manifested by poor hygiene; loss of interest in work and other activities; inadequate diet, resulting in malnutrition; problems in interpersonal relationships and unrealistic perceptions of one's job performance. Alcohol and other drugs multiply the impairment caused by marijuana, and such combinations of drugs commonly cause accidents and injuries.

Marijuana, with chronic use, has been documented to cause physical complications such as repeated respiratory problems, sinusitis, and bronchitis and possible effects on the hormones, liver, immune system and brain. The more potent marijuana currently sold in the United States has led increasing numbers of marijuana addicts to seek medical withdrawal, the symptoms of which can occur for as long as two to eight days after ceasing all use of the drug. Marijuana produces tolerance, and its use may not be recognized even by a drug treatment professional unless a blood or urine test is performed. (2) Chronic marijuana use affects the neurotransmitters and neurohormones in a person's body, specifically producing changes in the levels of norepinephrine, endorphin, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone, which can result in a variety of physical and/or psychological difficulties.

The common withdrawal symptoms from marijuana are aching, headache, dizziness, irritability, insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, depression and craving for marijuana. As noted, these symptoms gradually diminish after the first week of abstinence.

The marijuana user of the 1960's and 1970's typically began using the drug in his or her late teens or early adulthood; today, a user may begin as early as age eight or nine-or even earlier, according to some surveys. And whereas in the 1960's and 1970's the strength of marijuana was 1 to 2 percent THC, today its strength is 5 to 15 percent THC. These two factors-early drug use impacting on an immature nervous system and a much higher potency of marijuana-have the potential to be quite detrimental to normal physical and psychological development.

The marijuana user who consumes the drug less often than once a week is probably not dependent. To cease entirely, this infrequent user usually needs to solve personal problems related to stress, peers, family, interpersonal relations, motivation, self-esteem, or life-style. Persons who use marijuana once a week or more, however, may be addicted, since the secondary compounds remain in the body for several days. Consequently, such persons may require professional medical assistance to eliminate the drug from their bloodstream and to help solve personal problems. In fact, the need for treatment programs has become so great that some communities have established special marijuana rehabilitation programs. Treatment should include a weekly urine test for at least four months following withdrawal, to detect any possible relapse. Relapse is very common. Indeed, professional counselors frequently encounter persons who have been addicted to marijuana off and on for more than ten years, many of them switching off marijuana and becoming dependent on alcohol.

Below is the description used in classification of Cannabis Addiction used in the DSM-IV (3)
304.30 Cannabis Dependence
Individuals with Cannabis Dependence have compulsive use and do not generally develop physiological dependence, although tolerance to most of the effects of cannabis has been reported in individuals who use cannabis chronically. There have also been reports of withdrawal symptoms, but they have not yet been reliably shown to be clinically significant. Individuals with Cannabis Dependence may use very potent cannabis throughout the day over a period of months or years, and they may spend several hours a day acquiring and using the substance. This often interferes with family, school, work, or recreational activities. Individuals with Cannabis Dependence may also persist in their use despite knowledge of physical problems (e.g., chronic cough related to smoking) or psychological problems (e.g., excessive sedation resulting from repeated use of high doses).

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