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Neuron Effects of the Ganj
By: Benjamin Waller
Did You Know?

Did you know that 83 million Americans over the
age of 12 have used marijuana at least once?
What is Marijuana?

Marijuana is the mind-altering substance
produced from a plant with the scientific name
Cannabis sativa. The drug is used because its
primary active chemical, stereotypically (THC),
may induce relaxation and heighten the senses.
What is a Neuron?

A neuron is a nerve cell that is the basic
building block of the nervous system. Neurons
are similar to other cells in the human body in a
number of ways, but there is one key difference
between neurons and other cells. Neurons are
specialized to transmit information throughout
the body.
How Does Marijuana Affect the Human
Body

Increased heartbeat.

Drop of the pressure in your eyeball.

Change of blood pressure.

Sense of cold or hot hands and feet.

Discoloration of the white of the eye to
somewhat pink because of dilation of the
vessels in the conjunctiva of the eye.

Relaxation of the muscles.

A dry mouth.
How Does Marijuana Affect the Body?

Affects normal cell formation.

Produces feelings of isolation and depersonalization.


Produces shakes, lack of coordination and
headaches.
Makes any mental or emotional problem worse.
How Does Marijuana Affect the Nervous
System?

THC acts on cannabinoid
receptors which are found on
neurons in many places in
the brain. These brain areas
are involved in memory (the
hippocampus), concentration
(cerebral cortex), perception
(sensory portions of the
cerebral cortex) and
movement (the cerebellum,
substantia nigra, globus
pallidus). When THC
activates cannabinoid
receptors, it interferes with
the normal functioning of
these brain areas.
What Neurotransmitters are Affected by
Marijuana?

The neurotransmitters that are affected by
marijuana are dopamine and norepinephrine.
Dopamine has a variety of roles in the brain,
such as attention and gratification.
Norepinephrine, for the most part, affects action
and response.
Is Marijuana Addictive?




Marijuana can be addictive.
You may be able to develop a physical,
psychological or social dependence on it.
Users with a physical dependence may
complain that they feel down and depressed on
a day that they do not use the drug.
Users with a psychological dependence may
use the drug as sort of a crutch in order to get
through almost every event in their life.
Is Marijuana Addictive?


Users with a social dependence on the drug
may be addicted because leaving the drug
would also mean leaving their close friends who
they us the drug with.
Also users with social dependence use the drug
when they are having problems among their
friends to get over it.
What Withdrawal Symptoms Does
Marijuana Cause?

Irritability

Anxiety

Physical tension

Decreases in appetite and
mood

Stomach pain

Physical tension

Restlessness

Anorexia

Insomnia

Increased aggression / anger

Strange dreams
Works Cited
http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs3/3593/index.htm
http://psychology.about.com/od/biopsychology/f/neuron01.htm
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200804210752
25AAPHzwV
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/mari.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_neurotransmitter_is_affected
_by_marijuana
http://www.spiritualriver.com/is-marijuana-addictive/
http://www.marijuanapassion.com/Marijuana-Withdrawal.html