Consequences of smoking marijuana on human health.

It is America’s most popular drug; as evidence, we have the fact that more than 83 million Americans over the age of 12 have smoked marijuana at least once. It has become synonymous with the 1960's drug culture, and it continues to these days. Also, many young people are introduced to it by their peers (usually acquaintances, friends, sisters, and brothers). But, what is it? According to the definition provided by the electronic source Wikipedia, marijuana (grass, pot, or weed) “is the common name for a crude drug made from the plant “Cannabis Sativa”, and its main mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)”. In addition, “marijuana is a dangerous, addictive drug that poses significant health threats to users” (Dr. James Dobson, 1999, page 13). What is it that makes marijuana, so well known and widely used? First of all, smoking and consuming it can relax people and elevate their mood. But, can we just imagine the consequences of smoking marijuana on human health? Well, not really. Actually, many scientific researches have revealed that smoking marijuana produces damage in the mind and body of the user.

Firstly, marijuana causes numerous and complex effects on the human mind. The most serious consequence of it is the loss of memory. It occurs because it reduces the ability to learn information. Moreover, it decreases the capacity to remember information, and also it diminishes the facility to organize and integrate complex information. Loss of control is another consequence that is caused by marijuana. It creates some mental disorders on people such as: uncontrollable aggressiveness, depersonalization, and hallucinations. In psycology and other social and behabioral sciences, uncontrollable aggressiveness refers to behavior that is intended to cause harm or pain. In addition, it “is a mode of communication and behavior where one expresses their feelings, needs and rights without regard or respect for the needs, rights and feelings of others” (Elizabeth Scott n.d.). Depersonalization (loss of a sense of reality) “is also a disorder affecting emotions and behaviour, and it is characterized by a change in how an affected individual perceives or experiences his or her sense of self”  (Elizabeth Scott n.d.). Finally, hallucination is a sensory experience in which a person can see, hear, smell, taste, or feel something that is not there, in the real world. To sum up, smoking marijuana affects the human mind losing their abilities on memory and control of themselves.

Secondly, marijuana also affects the human body. It happens due to smoking marijuana regularly causes many respiratory problems. The main respiratory consequences of it are pulmonary infections, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. In regards to pulmonary infections, one of most terrible and dangerous illness is pneumonia which is an inflammation of the lung caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, and other organisms. In the same way, according to the definition provided by the electronic source Wikipedia, “chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages (bronchi) to the lungs, which results in the production of excess mucous, a reduction in the amount of airflow in and out of the lungs and shortness of breath”. Cancer of the lungs “is also linked to marijuana because the unfiltered pot smoke has more carcinogens than even cigarettes and it forms tumors that can be benign or malignant” (NIDA book, p. 72). Additionally, smoking marijuana can cause some problems in the human reproductive system, too. It occurs because it creates an erectile dysfunction on men, loss of fertility in both men and women, and chromosome damage in babies. An erectile dysfunction or impotence “is a sexual dysfuction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis" (Kolodny, 1974). In regards to fertility, studies have shown that men and women may have a temporary loss of it, if they smoked this kind of drug in a high level. Another difficulty is that smoking marijuana during pregnancy “increases babies' genetic damage, and may increase these babies' chances of getting cancer when they are older or become adults” (Block, 1991). In short, marijuana affects the human body causing respiratory problems, and also some difficulties in the reproductive system.

In conclusion, smoking marijuana can affect the mind and body of the user. On the human mind, drug addicts might lose their abilities on memory-learning, and control of themselves. It will make some mental disorders such as: uncontrollable aggressiveness, depersonalization, and hallucinations. Some respiratory problems such as: pulmonary infections chronic bronchitis and lung cancer can be also caused for it. Additionally, on the human body, marijuana might produce some difficulties in the reproductive system; it occurs because it creates an erectile dysfunction on men, loss of fertility in both men and women, and chromosome damage in babies. So, smoking marijuana during pregnancy may significantly affect the health of these babies when they become adults. Finally, someone who smokes marijuana regularly or maybe in a high level everyday can have many consequences on health as cigarette smokers. 

References:

• Indiana University, located at http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/druginfo/tashkin-       marijuana.html.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erectile_dysfunction.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung_cancer
• http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/depersonalization_disorder.htm
• National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine. Marijuana and Health. National Academic Press: Washington D.C. 1982