Effects Of Heavy Use Of Marijuana

Up until recently, marijuana was a banned substance in Canada however, now with the legalization and government control, advocacy groups are concerned about how it will affect the public’s physical and mental health. Marijuana is the dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant which contains mind-altering compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, as well as cannabidiol shortened to CBD. There are two variations of the cannabis plant that contain different doses of THC and CBD. The sativa plant contains a higher dose of THC and lower CBD counts whereas the Indica plant contains a lower dosage of TCH than CBD. The various dosages affects the mind and body in many ways, it alters the thought process, memory, senses, and perception. Many Asian populations use cannabis to view reality from a different perspective, to alter ones state of mind. Altered states of consciousness are ones that oppose an ordinary waking consciousness, such as sleep deprivation, hypnosis, meditation, mind-altering drugs that cause hallucinations and other effects. The over abused drug marijuana, alters the ordinary state of consciousness by providing either a sense of deep relaxation when the Indica cannabis is inhaled, or produces a more energized experience when the sativa plant is inhaled. Both variations cause different chemical reactions in the brain which causes the mind and body to react in certain ways that could be both harmless or harmful, however it has a wide range of medicinal benefits to multiple illnesses as well as a wide array of symptoms varying from person to person.

Marijuana inhalation causes activation in many different brain regions where there are cannabinoid receptors including “the substantial nigra, the hippocampus, the cerebellar cortex, and the cerebral cortex”. These receptors mediate the effects of the drug through two types of cannabinoid receptors - CB1 which is found in the nervous system and CB2 which is found prominently in the immune system, are also G-protein-coupled metabotropic receptors. Disruption to the CB1 receptor causes mice to be unresponsive to rewarding properties of cannabinoid drugs. Most CB1 receptors are along the GABA-ergic axon terminals while the endocannabinoid such as anandamide act on receptors and cause GABA release. Endocannibinoids work by regulating the production of neurotransmitter, cannabis mimics the effect causing effects such as alternations of memory formation, appetite stimulation, etc. According to researchers Bhattacharyya et al. (2010) THC and CBD have opposing neurophysiological effects on the brain in four distinct categories: “verbal memory, response inhibition, sensory processing, and emotional processing”. THC was correlated with psychotic symptoms, anxiety, and opposite affects in speech from CBD. Interestingly enough, half of the subjects experienced psychotic symptoms when given THC while CBD diminished the emergence of psychotic symptoms, which proves the inhalation of THC causes psychotic consciousness. Additionally, Koethe et al. clarified that THC induces “perceptual impairments that are comparable to those occurring already in the prodromal states of psychosis”.

Neuropsychological effects of heavy use of marijuana cause intensive clarity of perception and senses. Users, will see more vivid colors by the blood pressure causing pupils to dilate and more light to enter, the olfactory bulb is stimulated so sounds become much more distinct, taste and smell are more enhanced as well. Skin receptors are also effected in a more unusual way, when focused on an area which is burned or cut a more intense pain arises, whereas if there is no awareness of the pain the sensitivity is reduced. The deafening of the senses is caused by the blockade of pain receptors which in some cases will help with illnesses but other cases could be harmful since pain warns us if we are in harm’s way. Also, the awareness of the individual enhances; small movements and muscle tensions are more focused on rather than other events going on around the individual.

Short-term memory is very important in our everyday lives, however it is impaired in marijuana users. They often forget the beginning of their conversations or beginning of their sentences. However, some memories such as emotions are strengthened due to the increase in dopamine levels. Additionally, because of the increase in dopamine, the drug induced altered state of mind may steer away from ordinary thinking and associations towards altered perceptions, which causes divergent thinking leading to more creative thoughts and ideas. The reason that creativity comes so easily to cannabis users is because the drug causes a break in transmission after a neuron is fired .which allows individuals to intensify their ideas and imagination leading to creative thinking.

Another way this particular drug alters perception and reality is the intense paranoia that comes with the use of marijuana. Cannabinoids specifically THC, bind to receptors in the amygdala which is involved with emotional processing and regulating responses such as fear and paranoia. As previously stated, higher dosage of THC is energy inducing which can increase in anxiety levels. However, this symptom is dependent on the person using the drug. Long-term users may experience psychosis under similar neural activity. Since long-term users have been continuous in usage for many years they’re brains are prone to the increased levels of dopamine causing anxiety and depression when not high.

Marijuana is a controversial drug because it alters the state of consciousness through physiological and neurophysiological ways by affecting the senses which in turn affects the mind and body. This dopaminergic drug causes feelings of mental relaxation with the use of Indica, and feelings of energetic experiences when sativa is used. Although there is no solidified evidence that marijuana could cause extensive harm, researchers could agree that higher doses of THC could have a more potential harmful effect on an individual than the use of Indica which has a higher dose of CBD. In the near future there could be speculation about using CBD for medication for pain reducing of arthritis or inflammation. However, because marijuana affects each individual slightly differently, it has the potential to aid in all sorts of illnesses and diseases such as schizophrenia, cancer, and pain-inducing illnesses. This could potentially be caused by the blockade of pain receptors and calming of the nerves. It could also be evolve into a form of medication for veterans or others with post-traumatic stress disorder because of the increase in dopamine levels and low dose of THC. Sativa however, doesn’t seem to have the responses that are needed to treat illness and diseases, in fact because it is a psychotic drug the correlation proposes it will enhance psychosis in adulthood especially when used by adolescents. The serotonin neurotransmitters causes regulation of mood, sleep, anxiety, and appetite which could be the antidote to individuals who have a hard time in those areas in particular. Unfortunately, because there is no concrete evidence as to whether marijuana, or cannabidiol in specific, will cure or prevent particular diseases to occur there is a correlation between pain relief and medicinal marijuana. However, there is a correlation between marijuana usage and mind-altering states. Marijuana causes an euphoric high which causes thinking and perception to be unordinary, causing an altered state of consciousness.