Although there are several active substances in marijuana, THC is the main cause of many of the effects of marijuana. From the lungs, THC quickly passes into the blood and from there reaches the brain and the rest of the body. In brain, it attaches to the cannabinoid receptors in nerve cells and affects the way these cells work. These receptors are more numerous in certain areas of the brain like gladness, memory, concentration, judgment, learning and coordination, which are the areas most affected by the use of marijuana.
In the brain, there are chemicals called endocannabinoids or endogenous cannabinoids that help control various brain functions. For this reason, there are specific receptors for these substances in brain. THC artificially stimulates cannabinoid receptors and their over-stimulation may eventually alter their functioning. This alteration, along with other effects in brain, is the one that can end up creating addiction and withdrawal syndrome.
When THC reaches the brain, it produces a sensation of euphoria, as it affects the center of pleasure and causes a substance called dopamine to be released. There is also a feeling of relaxation. After euphoria, there is sleep or depression. Sometimes marijuana use can lead to fear, anxiety, panic or mistrust. As the potency of marijuana consumed has progressively increased over the last three decades, the consequences of its use may be much greater, especially in adolescents whose brains are still developing.
Acute Reactions
They are the reactions that occur at the time that marijuana is consumed and can last from one to three hours.
Impaired short-term memory
Problems of attention and problems to think and solve problems
It impairs coordination, balance and reaction time. Therefore, the ability to play sports, perform complicated tasks or
drive a vehicle is affected.
High-dose users may experience acute psychosis, hallucinations, delirium, and loss of sense of self-identity.
Persistent Effects
They last longer than the previous ones but are not always permanent.
Impairment of memory, making it difficult to create new memories, so the learning capacity is reduced.
Deterioration of sleep
Long-Term Effects
They are permanent or persisting effects for a long time.
Addiction
In the preadolescents, who habitually consume marijuana, irreversible impairment of cognitive abilities i.e. memory, learning, judgment and decreased intellectual capacity can occur.
People who are more sensitive to marijuana are more likely to develop schizophrenia in the future.
When a person ages, he loses neurons in hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for memory, which diminishes ability to learn new things. Chronic exposure to THC may accelerate this loss of neurons in hippocampus.
It can increase the risk of anxiety, depression, panic attacks and suicide.
Lack of motivation and apathy
