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Marijuana Effects On Brain

            Marijuana has been illegal for years because of the thought that it was a drug similar to cocaine, or heroin. Drugs such as cocaine and heroin affect the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter associated with extremely pleasurable sensations. If a drug interferes with its production and causes too much to be produced the result is extremely pleasurable and can lead to severe abuse and addiction. It has recently been proven that marijuana is not a drug that affects the production of dopamine. .
             The average marijuana plant contains over 400 chemicals and when the plant is smoked or vaporized the heat produces many more. Receptors in the nerve cells of the brain receive these chemicals and the chemicals cause the nerve cell to change in some way. The chemical in marijuana that has the biggest impact on the brain is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). .
             THC receptors are abundant in the brain but they are concentrated in certain areas. One region of the brain where THC receptors are highly concentrated is the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the area of the brain that processes memory. When THC attaches to receptors in the hippocampus, it weakens short-term memory. The hippocampus also communicates with other regions of the brain that process new information into long-term memory. So under the influence of marijuana, new information may never register and be lost from memory completely. There is also a dense concentration of THC receptors in the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. Both of these areas affect movement and coordination. One area that does not contain any THC receptors is the medulla. The medulla controls many functions essential to life such as heart rate and digestion so the lack of receptors in this area has prevented any deadly overdoses of marijuana. .
             In addition to having significant effects on the brain and impairing memory and coordination, marijuana has effects on other viscera as well.


Essays Related to Marijuana Effects On Brain

1. Effects of Marijuana

Marijuana has different effects on people, and certain types of cannabis can cause different effects in the same person. ... When marijuana has been in your system a couple of times, the brain does not resist it, allowing the mind-altering effects to take place. ... The effect marijuana can have on the brain and central nervous system is very serious. ... A heavy dose of marijuana can decrease the amount of blood pumped into the brain. Marijuana affects the brain's control over muscles also. ...

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2. The Effects Of Marijuana

When marijuana has been in your system a couple of times, the brain does not resist it, allowing the mind-altering effects to take place. ... The effect marijuana can have on the brain and central nervous system is very serious. ... A heavy dose of marijuana can decrease the amount of blood pumped into the brain. Marijuana affects the brain's control over muscles also. ... Different effects for different people THC Marijuana in the body Other uses for THC Stages of effects V. ...

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3. marijuana use

The Effects of Marijuana on the Brain Marijuana has been illegal for years because of the thought that it was a drug similar to cocaine, or heroin. ... The chemical in marijuana that has the biggest impact on the brain is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). ... In addition to having significant effects on the brain and impairing memory and coordination, marijuana has effects on other viscera as well. ... The effects of marijuana on the heart and other organs can be very dangerous, however this effect is highly insignificant compared to the effects on the brain. ... The brain is quite possibly th...

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4. Drugs and the Human Brain

A teenager's brain is still undergoing many developmental changes so a drunken night out with friends can potentially have long lasting effects on teenager's brain. ... According to the Health Effects of Marijuana Use (2014), marijuana is made from dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds which come from the plant Cannabis sativa which contains a mind-altering chemical called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal (THC). ... However the adults that started smoking marijuana did not show a significant IQ drop compared to the teens who smoked heavily (Health Effects of Marijuana Use, 2014). ... S...

  • Word Count: 2034
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5. Does Marijuana Cause Brain Damage

Does Marijuana Cause Brain Damage? ... Their goal was to determine whether frequent marijuana use can be associated with residual neuropsychological effects. Their findings suggested that although marijuana use may produce some effect in memory functions, that the more significant effects are in the attention-executive system. ... In 2003, Igor Grant, a UCSD professor of psychiatry and the study's leading author, published an article on the cognitive effects of cannabis use. ... The researchers said that smoking marijuana will definitely affect your perception, but it will not cause ...

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6. Marijuana

Marijuana has many harmful effects that most people aren't aware of or don't care to be aware of. ... Marijuana also effects the immune system by killing the T-cells which help fight off infection and destroys brain cells. ... Marijuana also effects short term memory. ... I do not think that marijuana should be legalized because of its damaging effects. ... No good can come from marijuana it causes lung cancer, immune system problems and destroys brain cells. ...

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7. Marijuana

Marijuana's effects on the user depend on the strength or potency of the THC it contains. ... The biggest influence in on the brain. Marijuana is mind altering, in other words it changes how your brain works. ... In addition, marijuana use has many indirect effects on health. ... This is due to a chemical released in the brain that causes hunger. ...

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8. Marijuana

Many people in the United States uses marijuana but do they know the effects. ... The short-term effects of marijuana are having dry mouth and dry throat. ... The long-term effects of marijuana are you can have an increased risk for cancer. ... The effects of marijuana can vary from person to person. ... Marijuana also has a very large effect on the brain. ...

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9. Should marijuana be legalized?

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