Psychology

Marijuana has been one of the most rampant drugs since time immemorial, yet there are various effects or inscrutability concerning its health effects on the intake in relation to human nature. Marijuana can also be referred to as Cannabis sativa is a preparation of a crushed flower and buds of feminine hemp plant. In resent reports it is indicated that the plant has been in existence as early as 1500-1200 BC. In some countries like China the plant (marijuana) has been described as an analgesic as early as 200 AD. Since its conception or intake through the general flow of generation it has been made clear that it ha varied effect on human beings. The effects of cannabis sativa or marijuana have been categorized to be either psychological or physical in relation to the health status of human beings.

Psychological effects of smoking marijuana or cannabis sativa
Generally the effects of marijuana to the health of human beings nave passed a great deal of criticism since the when it was banned in the year 1937. Harry J. Anslinger, who is the head of Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (FBNDD) as from 1931 to 1962 and his  associates as William Randolph used a research that has been termed as  yellow journalism  in the process of spreading news about the effects of marijuana ingestion in the human body.

This journalism has basically been interested in exploring on the bad or ill effects of marijuana which in general perspective develops and hence damages parts of human body as well as the mind. Through this process of carrying out this research it was evident that marijuana is one of the most addictive drugs of all time and cause psychosis and also induced violent behaviors.

As time moved, people who were against the intake of marijuana came up with various ill effects that were geared towards making it illegal. The section that is discussed below will basically view marijuana as it goes through the body to the lungs from its intake, to the effects it has in the lungs, then its effects on heart and finally the diversified effects that are spread all through the body to the human brain. Particularly this section will address the effects, forbearance, addiction prospective, cancer and anti-motivational disorder.

Methods of ingestion
In discussing the effects it is also of great significance to basically look at some of the methods of ingestion. I this case smoked marijuana have been always viewed to be more effective medicine for an assortment of ailments in comparison to orally ingested capsules. There are various methods of smoking marijuana, some of which helps in reducing the inhalation of the inherent demerits of hot haze that contains particulate matters. Some of the common methods include the pipe that at times is usually similar to tobacco pipes, rolled joint that resembles cigarette, and some of several types of water pipes.

According to Aronow  Cassidy (1974) in most of the studies pertaining to the psychological effects of cannabis sativa have use the method of joints in administering the smoke. This is a method that is applicably used by lower grade or casual users of marijuana, but it is generally incompetent. Studies show that about 10 to 20 per cent of the contents that are evident in the original marijuana is then converted into the mainstreams that eventually flow to the body of human beings. Fortunately, not all the contents are immersed in the lungs of the person smoking.

However, the most appropriate means of smoking has been proved to through the water pipes as they posses a several advantages over the conventional pipes. In the onset, virtually none of the smoke is lost to the air or  side-stream smoke . This is realized through the act of loading the bowl a it can be done through inhalation in one breath.

The process involves the smoker drawing all the smoke into the chambers of the water pipe and in the due course leads to combustion of marijuana which is thereafter cleared by the chambers in one breath. This is an advantageous method as the hot smoke is then passed through cool water before it reaches the throat of the person smoking. The advantage is two folded as the smoke is first cooled and then passed through water and then filtered through the water.

A study is currently underway at the Institute for Smoking and Health in New York, which is headed by Dr, Hoffman. The study is basically aimed at reducing the intake as well as the absorption of the drug in the human body (Benowitz  Jones, 1975). It is also aimed at opposing other methods of smoking and only recommends the use of water pipes.

This study will also determine the most effective water pipe to be used and thus determining the smoke that it provides the smoker with. It will also look at the feasibility and the effectiveness of the vaporizer. In general, the device does not have diverse effects on the smoker and that is why it recommended by the researchers.

Effects of Marijuana Smoking in the Lungs
There is a basic argument that has been presented by those people who oppose the legalization of medical marijuana. They say that smoking anything not only marijuana is even more harmful a compared to tobacco. They claim that there are over 450 chemicals in  crude  cannabis sativa and therefore sick people should be prohibited in using such drugs. They also claim that there are more than 800 carcinogens that are present in marijuana smoking victims as compared to tobacco smokers. One of the adversaries of the intake of marijuana to sick people is Gabriel Nahas who claims that therapeutic marijuana is a brutal hoax.
 
The National Institute on Drug Abuse also said in its 1990 report on pulmonary effects of marijuana and they found that there are no differences in the prevalence of chronic cough, production of sputum, was noted between marijuana and tobacco. The ill effects of marijuana and tobacco are viewed to have difference in the manner in which it affects the lungs. Tobacco smoking causes the degeneration of peripheral airways and some of the alveolated regions of the lungs while on the other hand marijuana affected the main pathways in the lungs.

Brill  Nahas (1984) state that the other different study was also carried out in determining the misuse or chronic use of marijuana. The experiment was carried by using 62 rhesus monkeys on various effects on heavy exposure which was estimated as more that twice a week and chronic or heavy daily smoking. Thereafter after a year elapsed, some of the monkeys were sacrificed to autopsies.

The research that was carried out by National Center for Toxicological Research made a conclusion that the expose monkeys did not experience diverse effects. It also indicated that the general health of monkeys was not compromised through a year of marijuana smoke exposure as indicated by weight gain, carboxyl-hemoglobin and clinical hematology. This is referred to as the study of the oxygen-carrying capacity in the red blood cells.

Generally, there are inherent risks that are related to inhalation of hot vapor, particularly those that contain particulate matter which are usually found in smoke. This is one of the facts that are undisputed but it is true that dangers associated with intake or inhalation of marijuana is not as harmful as some people might put it. All in all the risks that are related to the intake of marijuana can be avoided through some of the prevalent methods of ingestion.

However when an individual smokes most of the times per day, accumulation of THC in blood-serum may persist. Marijuana can also in most cases lead to postural hypertension. If the blood pressure drops the consequence could be perilous in those persons with compromised blood flow to heart or brain, in cases where there are volume-depleted or in cases when other drugs have led to distortion of reflex power of their blood vesicles or vessels. In older patients treated by delta-9-THC or who had smoked marihuana for glaucoma, orthostatic hypotension has been disabling and a risk factor of cardiovascular complications.

Effects of Marijuana Smoking on the Heart
Primarily, the consequence of marijuana smoking on the heart is tachycardia, which is generally accompanied by an increased blood pressure. The rate or the volume of normal heart remains constant all through exposure, and therefore the ill but net effect of the heart is an increased work that is performed. The consequences are more or less similar to the effects that are usually caused through stress. The prevalent of these consequences prevents the heart from performing its delegated duties which as a result may lead to heart failure.

People with ailments that are related to heart diseases or heart failure may lead to a higher level or an increased ailment on the normal functioning of the heart. These are some of the complications that may arise from smoking of marijuana (Campbell et al. 1971). All the same, the difficulties caused through smoking of marijuana are generally similar to those effects that are induced by nervous tension, which show a discrepancy in composure. For that matter, more studies are supposed to be done so as to curb and assess the risks of people with heart and circulatory problems.

But all the same the there is a very promising g fact that there is nowhere in the medical history has ever died from marijuana related or induced heart failure. The circulatory system is generally affected if one extremely uses marijuana in most of his time which as a result will lead to heart failure.

It is therefore, important to note that heart is on e and the only component that should not be exposed to various threats like smoking of marijuana as this definitely leads can paralyze the functioning of the heart. Marijuana appears to intensify the effects of the sympathetic nervous system on the heart, an undesirable consequence in patients with coronary artery disease.

Effects of Marijuana Smoking on the Brain
According to Chesher et al. (1985) this is the most general part that needs to be looked at as it entails a very much complex understanding on the effects of marijuana. There are various but complicated effects of marijuana on the human brain. The psychoactive constituent of marijuana has consequences on the brain in a more deeply intricate manner as compared to other drugs such as heroine, cocaine among others. These drugs are basically associated with the dopamine pathways in human brain system which happens to be subject to high rate of abuse. This was seen through the self-administration experiment that was carried out with animals.

In the olden days, the research was not regarded as valid and the main way of determining whether the drug has some effects on human brain was through the observation of the behavioral trends of the smokers. This means that the effects of marijuana on brain were made limited by the technology of time. Due to this unlimited knowledge about the consequences of marijuana has therefore led to the cultural biases to persist and maintain fallacies that marijuana acted in the same way as heroine.

The research that was carried out since the inception of THC receptor in the brain has led to counter of these facts in the past decade. The congressional Office of Technology Assessment found that some of the research done through the intervention of Dr. Miles Herkenham of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has led to the justifications tat marijuana does not have consequences on dopamine-related brain system.

What is dopamine This is the in the brain that is biologically associated with pleasure as communicated in the human brain. The neuron-system that runs in connection with dopamine is known as  brain reward system . The system of neural are usually associated with limbic system which is an area in the brain that is mandated with control of behaviors as well as emotions. As it have been mentioned earlier, highly addictive drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroine when absorbed in the body and transmitted to the brain can increase that rate of dopamine in the brain.

Marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines block re-absorption of dopamine which as a result leads to diverse, prolonged, and intensifying effects in the human brain. Marijuana and opiates are used in the activation manufacture of dopamine by blocking the inhibitory signal, gamma-amino butyric acid, which eventually leads to blockage of dopamine manufacturing components in the brain
Research that was conceded on animals in observing addicts in the population indicated that animals are likely to forsake their own good. The though is about whether animals should forego food which to some animal who depend on leaves eat marijuana and water, in order to fuel the brain rewarding structure. Whether or not drugs increase the rate at which dopamine-associated pathways, is largely determined by haw much the drug is addictive. The capacity to producing of producing reinforcement effect is one of the most effective to any drug that significantly has the potential maltreatment to the functioning of the mind. Cannabinoids generally do not lower the rate at which the animal gets stimulated in the brain reward system.

Another signal indicating that a drug has the potential to enhance addiction and abuse is the drug s aptitude to encourage forbearance. Many drugs such as marijuana and cocaine create forbearance by disenabling the dopamine receptor in the brain. In cases when the percentage of the receptors gets worn out with each exposure, the consumer must therefore increase the rate at which he or she takes the drug so as to register the same effect.

In the brain of a mammal, the brain creates equilibrium through the manipulation of the number of the active receptors so as to ensure that effectiveness of the drug is put at a halt. It is also relevant to note that the more marijuana an individual takes the fewer the receptors remain active in the long run. If an individual smokes not frequently, then it is probable that the receptors will remain functioning throughout.

The psychological effects of marijuana are not necessarily based on the Tetra-hydrocanabinol (THC) but the THC remains the main psychoactive component that guarantees the responsibility of the altered sense in the recognition of exhilarated feelings. Euphoric feeling is another component of the smoke that is produced by marijuana which as a result leads to the generation of only the depressant effect in the brain operation system.