Marijuana is a drug made from the flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves of the hemp plant. It is usually smoked as a cigarette or in pipes like a bong (water pipe). Marijuana also can be consumed by mixing with foods, brewing into a tea, or vaping in an e-cigarette device. The main active ingredient is a chemical called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Some artificial chemicals resemble THC (synthetic cannabinoids), but are much stronger than THC. They are sometimes called spice or K2. To learn more about marijuana, take this quiz, based on information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
1. Marijuana is commonly used illegally in the U.S.
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Recreational use of marijuana by adults is legal in some parts of the U.S. The NIDA says marijuana is commonly used illegally. For instance, young people use it.
2. Marijuana smoke contains cancer-causing substances and hundreds of other chemicals.
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The main active ingredient in marijuana is a chemical called THC. This chemical is responsible for the intoxicating effect. Marijuana also contains more than 400 other chemicals, including cancer-causing chemicals. Marijuana smoke contains up to 70% more cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco smoke. Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which increases the lungs' exposure to the smoke.
3. Marijuana may affect a user's attention and short-term memory.
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When marijuana is smoked, its effects begin right after the drug enters the brain and lasts from 1 to 3 hours. THC causes brain cells to release a chemical that makes a feeling of pleasure. THC also likely changes the way the brain processes information. This may be the cause of the short-term memory loss. Research findings for long-term marijuana use show some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term use of other major drugs.
4. Marijuana isn't as strong today as it was in the 1970s.
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The marijuana available today can be 5 times more potent than the marijuana of the 1970s. Marijuana's effect depends on the strength of the THC it contains. Most ordinary marijuana contains well over 15% THC. Sinsemilla is made from just the buds and flowering tops of female marijuana plants. It is about 16% THC, but can range as high as 24%. Hashish is made from the sticky resin from the female marijuana plant flowers. It is about 3.6% THC, but can range as high as 28%. Hash oil is a concentrated tar-like liquid distilled from hashish. It is about 16% THC, but can range as high as 60% to 80%.
5. Short-term effects of marijuana may include a "high" feeling and changes in sensation, thinking, and mood.
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It may also cause difficulty with body movement, trouble thinking and problem-solving, and memory problems.
6. Ganja is a street term for marijuana.
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Other popular street terms for marijuana include weed, widow, herb, pot, and grass. Most people who use marijuana roll the loose plant parts into a cigarette, which is called a joint or nail. Or they smoke it in a pipe, which may be a bong. Some users cut open a cigar, remove the tobacco, and replace it with marijuana. This is called a blunt.
7. Studies of high school students show that many young people try marijuana, as well as alcohol and tobacco.
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Marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco use is common among high school students. The CDC reported in 2019 that more than a third of high school students reported using marijuana during their lifetime. And 1 in 5 high school students reported using it in the past 30 days.
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