Marijuana psychological effects

There are probably as many descriptions of the physical and psychological effects of marijuana as there are people who use it. Some of the more common physical effects from smoking or eating marijuana are rapid heart beat, dry mouth, bloodshot eyes, increased hunger, slower coordination,... 

The psychological effects of cannabis vary with personal and social factors. However, some guidance to the essential effects of the drug can be derived from investigations with THC and marijuana in non-user volunteers. Blood concentrations of THC over 75 pg/ml under these conditions are associated with euphoria, and somewhat higher concentrations with dissociation of events and memory and impairment of psychomotor tasks lasting over 24 hours (61). 

Cannabis has been shown to decrease intraocular pressure (Joy et al., 1999), although patients have experienced side effects regardless of whether the cannabis was administered orally, through injection, or by smoking (Hcplcr Petrus, 1976 Merritt, Crawford, Alexander, Anduze, Gelbart, 1980). These side effects include increased heart rate and psychological effects. Some effects dissipate with extended exposure to the cannabis. Of more concern, marijuana may also reduce blood flow to the optic nerve and possibly exacerbate the loss of vision. 

Although cannabis can produce the varied effects previously noted, most marijuana users use the drug to experience its psychological effects, some of which arc reported consistently and others more idiosyncratically. The psychological effects generally experienced by marijuana users can be divided into three domains behavioral, cognitive, and emotional. 

Clearly, there is much more work to be done before the precise health and psychological effects of marijuana use are well understood. In fact, many of these health issues remain the subject of much debate. Undoubtedly, opinions on its risks are polarized along the lines of proponents views on what its legal status should be. This polarization of opinion has prevented the development of any consensus on what health information the medical profession should give to patients who are users or potential users of marijuana. There is conflicting evidence about many of the effects of marijuana use. Readers are referred to an excellent article that attempts to summarize in a dispassionate way the evidence on the most probable adverse health and psychological consequences of acute and chronic use of marijuana. ... 

More than 400 chemicals have been isolated from marijuana. The active components, known as cannabinoids, however, are primarily A -tetrahydrocannabinol (A -THC), A -tetrahydrocannabinol (A -THC), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabidiol (CBD). Among these, the THC and homologs are the psychoactive compounds. The THC content of cannabis varies among plants from less than 1% to more than 10%. Sensemilla, the flowering tops of female cannabis plant, unpollinated and seedless, may contain 6-15% THC. The plant extract, hashish, can contain as high as 20% THC. The psychological effects from cannabis are characterized by euphoria, uncontrollable laughter, and loss of short-term memory. Other symptoms... 

Acute physical and psychological effects. Marijuana intoxication has an adverse effect on attention span, short-term memory, and psychomotor performance. Anxiety and panic attacks can occur, primarily in new users who are not familiar with marijuanas eflFects. At very high doses, some people experience delusions and hallucinations. There are no cases of fatal marijuana poisoning and humans are very unfikely to be able to ingest a fatal dose. The eflFect of marijuana intoxication impairs motor and cognitive abilities necessary to safely drive a car or operate machinery. The extent to which marijuana is involved in auto accidents is unclear. Many motorists intoxicated with marijuana drive more slowly and carefully and take fewer risks. However, there is an increased risk of accidents after using marijuana, but marijuana alone does not appear to contribute a great deal to accidents. Marijuana in combination with alcohol does. 

Cannabinoid Research Methods and Protocols is to provide experimental protocols for scientists interested in marijuana-carmabinoid research from genes to behavior. Although the effects of marijuana use and its medicinal applications may be influenced by multiple genetic factors, the role of environmental factors in the behavioral and psychological effects should not be overlooked, although these may be difficult to replicate in animal models. Nevertheless, animal models are widely used to study the physiological and behavioral correlates of human disorders. Of course, where applicable, humans have been used to study the biochemical, physiological, and behavioral effects of mari-juana-cannabinoids as documented here. 

Most H. are sympathomimetics and cause a rise of blood pressure, higher pulse rate, dilation of the pupils, sweating, palpitation and increased tendon reflexes. Marijuana (the dried leaves of the Cannabis plant) is the weakest, and remains in the body for 2 to 3 hours if smoked, longer if eaten. LSD is the most potent of this group, 25 pg being an effective dose for an adult. It remains in the body for 6 to 8 hours, with the greatest psychological effects at 3 to 4 hours, by which time most of it has disappeared from the central nervous system. 

CB1 and CB2 can be found throughout the human body hence, there are a variety of ways that cannabinoids can physically and psychologically affect the body s systems. As an example, the presence of CB1 receptors in the eye may explain how marijuana eases glaucoma and relieves intraocular pressure. Other research indicates that THC can block receptors in the brain and body to produce dizziness, dry mouth, and altered depth perception— all common effects of marijuana use. There appears to be an... 

The behavioral effects of prenatal cocaine exposure at age 5 years have been studied in 140 children exposed to cocaine, 61 exposed to alcohol, tobacco, and/or marijuana, and 120 not exposed to any drugs (290). They were evaluated with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. There was no association between behavior and intrauterine cocaine exposure. However, the current behavioral health of the mother, including recent drug use and psychological functioning, did affect the child s internalizing and externalizing behavior. 

We should also note that it is a common experience for marijuana users 105 to say they can come down at will, that if they find themselves in a situation they feel unable to cope with adequately while in the d-ASC of marijuana intoxication, they can deliberately suppress most or all the effects and temporarily return almost instantly to the ordinary d-SoC. By psychological methods alone they can disrupt the altered state and pattern their ordinary state into existence yet the same amount of THC is still circulating in their bloodstreams. 

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