Although HTTP cannabis has a pleasant effect of ‘relaxation,’ if higher amounts are consumed, it can have the opposite effect by increasing anxiety. Some users may experience psychotic symptoms with hallucinations and delusions lasting a few hours, which can be very unpleasant. Even though these effects do not last long, the drug can stay in the system for some weeks so the effect can be more long-lasting than users realize. Long-term use can have a depressant effect and reduce motivation.There are about 400 chemical compounds in an average cannabis plant. When marijuana is smoked, its compounds rapidly enter the bloodstream and are transported directly to the brain and other parts of the body. The feeling of being‘stoned’ or ‘high’ is caused mainly by the delta-9-THC binding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain which are found in the parts that influence emotion, pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception. Cannabis compounds can also affect the eyes, the ears, the skin and the stomach. Those who use cannabis particularly at a younger age, such as around the age of 15, have a higher than average risk of developing a psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
A study in Australia recently showed that those who used cannabis could develop the disease about 2.70 years earlier than those who did not. Professor Heather Ashton of Newcastle University, England, says: “Cannabis affects almost every body system. It combines many of the properties of alcohol, tranquilizer, opiates, and hallucinogens.”In the 1960’s, one marijuana cigarette typically contained 10 milligrams of THC, a chemical affecting the brain. Now, with more sophisticated cultivation and plant breeding, a joint may contain 150mg of THC and up to 300mg if it is laced with hashish oil. Cannabis can also interfere with a person’s capacity to concentrate, organize, and use information. An extensive study in New Zealand shows that cannabis use in adolescence was linked to poor school performance. Cannabis users who work reported that this drug interfered with their work by leaving without permission, spend work time on personal matters or just simply daydream.
