Marijuana

Marijuana is often rolled into a cigarette called a joint. It can also be brewed as tea, mixed with sodas or food, or smoked through a water pipe called a bong. Brownies, cookies and candy are common forms of marijuana edibles. Many edible products look like regular candy or snacks that kids recognize, which can create the impression that they are harmless.

Marijuana is one of the most abused drugs. Today, it is often more potent than it used to be. New growing techniques and selective breeding have produced strains with much higher THC* levels, the primary ingredient that causes intoxication. Because of this, there has been a sharp increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits among young users.

According to the World Health Organization, 200 million people worldwide use marijuana each year. In the United States, marijuana is the most commonly used psychotropic drug (a drug that affects mental state) after alcohol, with nearly 12 million young adults reporting marijuana use in a single year. There is a big difference between the latest science on marijuana and the myths about it. Many believe that, because marijuana is legal in some places, it must be harmless. But your body can’t tell the difference between a legal drug and an illegal one.

Street Names:

• Buds
• Dagga
• Dope
• 420
• Ganja
• Grass
• Herb
• Home Grown
• J
• Mary Jane
• Pot
• Reefer
• Skunk
• Trees
• Weed
• * THC: the chemical in cannabis responsible for its mind-altering effects

Short‑Term Effects:

The immediate effects of marijuana include a rapid heartbeat, disorientation and lack of physical coordination, often followed by depression or drowsiness. Some users experience panic attacks or anxiety, which are more likely with large doses or high-potency marijuana.

Long‑Term Effects:

Long-term effects include poor school performance, a higher risk of dropping out, a decline in IQ (up to eight points if prolonged use started in adolescence) and less satisfaction with life. This can lead to financial difficulties and unemployment. About 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted and, for those who start before age 18, the rate rises to 1 in 6.

Updated: 2025