Research Paper: The effects of smoking marijuana on the male and female body,

brain, lungs and cardiovascular (heart) system, as well as on individual behavior, on

the family, and on society.

by

Lousine Saakian

Psy 350

Professor Margarita Shina

25 May 2007
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In the present era, drugs have become very common and are often looked upon

as something harmless, but all drugs actually have an effect on the body, and some

also have an effect on the brain. These types of narcotics are called drugs of abuse

clearly because they harm, or abuse, the body (Drug Abuse 769). People often take

drugs to make them feel good for a short period; problems of everyday life are

forgotten for a few minutes but the user realizes the consequences afterwards, when

he or she cannot do without the drugs and is addicted to them (Drug Abuse 770).

Drugs cause addiction in two ways; the effects of taking them may be so pleasant that

the user finds it difficult to function without them, or the body is affected to the point

that it becomes dependent and must have regular doses of the drug (Drug Abuse 771).

Drugs like LCD, amphetamines, and heroin, which may lead to liver disease or the

contraction of AIDS, are very popular, but a number of people that are fearful of the

more devastating consequences of hard drugs have on the body often choose to try

marijuana, which is smoked as simply as a cigarette is, and is considered to be less

harmful (What is Marijuana? 1). Although one may not realize the changes marijuana

may make in a person’s life, there are harmful effects that must be taken into account

before and after trying any kind of drug, and marijuana is no exception. Such effects

occur on both male and female bodies, in the brain, lungs, the cardiovascular (heart)

system, as well as in individual behavior the family, and society. (Marijuana

Addiction-Marijuana Abuse Treatment 1).

Marijuana addiction is perceived as something that doesn’t really exist: the

notion that marijuana is not an illicit drug, although it interferes with bodily functions
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and causes problems in relationships, is what leads pre-teens, teenagers, and young

adults to frequent use (Marijuana Addiction 1). Marijuana addiction is also common

in adults, who often take the usage of marijuana one step further by combining it with

other substances (Marijuana Addiction 1). The effects of marijuana can be detected

individually, in the family, and in society. Individually, they can be detected when the

user realizes that he or she has decreased capability of performing critical skills, such

as learning, remembering and paying attention, and has become prone to delinquent,

rebellious, and aggressive behavior (Marijuana Addiction- Marijuana Abuse

Treatment 2). Individuals who take drugs often experience a number of physical

effects; flashbacks and “unwanted recurrences” of the effects may appear after a

number of weeks or months (Effects of Drug Abuse). Physical symptoms may result

in drowning, or car accident, and may even lead to such of ability to cross streets

safely because of the lack of clear vision, cramps or nausea (Effects of Drug

Addiction 1). Other effects may be “tolerance”, which means that the amounts of the

drug taken must be increased in order for the frequent user to have the initial feeling

of taking the drug (Effects of Drug Abuse 1). Tolerance may often lead to periods of

withdrawal and sickness, which are very painful for the user (Effects of Drug

Addiction 1).

The effects that a user’s addiction has on his or her own family are evident

when mood changes occur; marital problems come up, and then lead to conflict,
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which from the family’s point of view may lead to frustration, and a feeling of

manipulation or financial pressure (Effects of Drug Addiction 1). Financial problems

are a result of the high cost of the drugs; users feel they need to maintain the use of

the drug marijuana, but they do not take into account the fact that bills, food, clothing

or anything else that has to do with quality of life within a family is put aside in order

to fulfill the drug “craving” (Effects of Drug Addiction 2). In society, problems may

occur in the working place; occupational accidents happen more often to those who

smoke marijuana rather than to those who don’t, and at times addicts are not capable

of doing an efficient job, which often to those who smoke marijuana rather than to

those who don’t, and at times addicts are not capable of doing an efficient job, which

often results in dismissal from the working place (Effects of Drug Abuse 2).

Moreover, many addicts are led to violence, and tend to commit crimes in order to

gain money to buy the drug and fulfill their abusive and addictive needs. What is

particularly disturbing is the fact that young children are thrown into delinquency

because of their dependence on such substances (Effects of Drug Abuse 2). Marijuana

users, though, don’t usually have to pay as much money to get hold of the drug

because it is less expensive, and therefore they can avoid stealing to the same extent

as others users do.

As harmful as the individual, family, and social effects may seem, what actually

affects the user most, is what occurs inside his or her body. Marijuana has a number

of effects on the brain, central nervous system, endocrine system and lungs. It also

effects heart rate and blood pressure but can be differentiated in its effects on
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individual men and women. In order to understand how the body is affected, though ,

the term THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) needs to be explained; it is the substance that

marijuana contains, which leads to the users addiction, and the higher the percentage

that enters the body, the harder it is escape it as it is absorbed very quickly(Marijuana

Addiction- Marijuana Abuse Treatment 1). As far as the brain is concerned, marijuana

“alters and damages brain cells”, which ultimately leads to inefficiency in completing

tasks such as thinking, feeling or controlling memory and mood (Harmful Effects of

Marijuana 1). Furthermore, marijuana “accumulates in the spaces between the cells”,

which are called “synapses”; the synapses become clogged and therefore, it is difficult

for “critical information to transfer to the brain” (Harmful Effects of Marijuana 1). All

the information is processed to the hippocampus, which is crucial for humans in order

to perform critical tasks but it is suppressed by THC (What is Marijuana? 1).

In the central nervous system, effects have to do with difficulty in

understanding, perceiving reality, concentrating and they often lead to mental

confusion and changes towards aggressive and hostile moods, as well as depression,

paranoia, and panic attacks (Harmful Effects of Marijuana 1). The endocrine system

damages the glands, organs and hormones, and may lead to development and growth

problems, whereas lung problems may even lead to death (Harmful Effects of

Marijuana 1). Lung problems include respiratory failure, coughs, and chronic

bronchitis, which are caused by tobacco smoking as well (What is Marijuana? 1).

Particularly the air sacks are damaged; thus the lung is unable to bring oxygen and

release carbon dioxide, causing emphysema (Harmful Effects of Marijuana 1). In the
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case of chronic bronchitis, air passages are narrowed and create thickened tubes,

which leave less room for breathing (Harmful Effects of Marijuana 2). Both

emphysema and bronchitis can be found in tobacco smokers but the amount of

damage the lungs go through is much greater when the cigarette’s content is that of

marijuana. It is fascinating that by using marijuana one’s heartbeat can speed up by

50%, increasing blood pressure and creating great risks of heart disease (Harmful

Effects of Marijuana 2). So when a person, smoking marijuana, does something

physically stressful, the risk of “overloading” the function of the heart and blood

pressure may increase (What is Marijuana? 2).

Men and women, smoking marijuana, experience some different negative

effects on the body and brain. Men’s brains are affected in the parts that control sex

and growth hormones; their testosterone levels decrease and their sperm count

decreases or become abnormal and immature. This often leads to infertility in men

(Marijuana Addiction- Marijuana Abuse Treatment 1). Women may face “egg

damage, suppression of ovulation, disruption of their menstrual cycles, and alterations

in the hormone levels” (Harmful Effects of Marijuana 1). Specifically, when women

smoke marijuana, the part of the brain that controls the hormones that determine the

stability of the menstrual cycle is disrupted and testosterone levels rise (Marijuana

Addiction- Marijuana Abuse Treatment 2). Moreover, while breastfeeding the baby,

mothers pass on some of the THC from marijuana to the infants, which often results

in problems of muscular movement (Harmful Effects of Marijuana 2).

All in all, marijuana is perceived as a harmless way to solve problems and feel

better. What the individual smoking marijuana does not understand is that its usage
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will result in a number of effects, whether on male or female mental and bodily

functions or on relationships with groups such as that of the family or the work place

(Effects of Drug Addiction 1). Once the individual realizes the consequences of his or

her addiction, perhaps the long process of clearing the body from all harmful

substances will begin.

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Works Cited

“Drug Abuse”. Young Students Learning Library. Middletown Connecticut:

Newfield Publications 1992 (7): 769-771.

Effects of Drug Abuse/www.drugnet.com.http://www.antidrugs.8k.com/

Effect.htm> 22 May 2007.

Effects of Drug Addiction/Narconon of San Diego. <http://www.drugaddiction.

Treatment.info/effects-of -drug -addiction.htm> 22 May 2007.

Harmful Effects of Marijuana/Narconon Southern California. <http:www.

Marijuanaaddiction.info/harmful-effects-of-marijuana.htm> 23 May

2007.

Marijuana Addiction- Marijuana Abuse Treatment: Marijuana Abuse, Use, or

Addiction and the Need for Marijuana Abuse Treatment/www.Drug-Rehab-

Addiction-Treatment.com.2007. <http:www.drug-rehab-addiction-treatment.

com/Marijuana-abuse.html> 23 May 2007.

Marijuana Addiction/Marijuana Addiction .2007. <http:www.marijuana-addiction-

biz> 24 May 2007.

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-marijuana.htm> 24 May 2007.