Nowadays, marijuana use is quite a relevant issue as there are an increasing number of people who turn to it at least once. The lack of precautionary information about its usage and correlated side effects seem only to promote marijuana more and more. While it is short term-effects, such as altered senses or changed perception of time, impaired memory and body movement, mood fluctuation and the problem of interpreting or connecting information (National Institute of Drug Abuse), are those why most people use marijuana for, they yet have quite low awareness about its long-term effects. Those who justify marijuana usage often fail to provide a variable source to their statements, the same as the ones who avoid trying it. Therefore this essay aims to analyze the true effects of marijuana basing on the reliable sources, related researches and studies.
According to the scientist Professor Wayne Hall, marijuana "is not as harmful as other illicit drugs.", however "the perception that cannabis is a safe drug is a mistaken reaction to a past history of exaggeration of its health risks," (Blaszczak-Boxe, 2014), he claims, too. While it is a proven fact that the risk to have a fatal overdose from marijuana is "extremely small" (Blaszczak-Boxe, 2014), using marijuana has its unconditioned health consequences, both on the physical and mental levels.
According to National Institute of Drug abuse, the most common mental effects imply temporary paranoia and hallucinations (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2016): according to studies, the risk of such symptoms for marijuana users has doubled (Blaszczak-Boxe, 2014); or even a quite probable case of schizophrenia: the Swedish study revealed that out of those who had used marijuana at least 10 times by age 18 have doubled their likelihood to develop schizophrenia during the following 15 years, comparing to non-users (Blaszczak-Boxe, 2014).
Apart from the described mental effect, the physical ones may involve breathing problems, increased heart rate and thus bigger chance of heart attack, and in case of women - effects on a child's development (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2016). But more importantly, marijuana may probably destroy not just one's health, but the whole life. The research also showed that marijuana users tend to have lower life satisfaction, more problems with relationships and socialization, as well as less academic and career success (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Therefore before coming to experience marijuana the next time it would be highly advised for everyone whether the one would be ready to put one's family, career, and the life itself at stake.
Works Cited
Blaszczak-Boxe, A. (2014). Marijuana and Your Health: What 20 Years of Research Reveals.
LiveScience. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/48171-marijuana-research-health-effects-review.html on September 6, 2016
National Institute on Drug Abuse (2016). Marijuana. Retrieved from
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana on September 6, 2016
