Harmful Effects of Weed

Weed, or as it is also known by other names such as grass, pot and marijuana, is a crude drug which is made from a plant known as Cannabis Sativa. Also known as hashish in India and Pakistan, this drug is quite capable of altering mental and physical health, and definitely not for good! Before knowing more about the harmful effects of weed and drug abuse, one needs to know why this weed is harmful to health. Marijuana or weed contains a mind altering ingredient, known as THC (also called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), whose levels factor the side effects of the weed on the person. Now, read on to know the harmful aspects of this drug.

Negative Effects of Weed

Drug is after all, a drug and is bound to have some major side effects, especially if it is a pot or a weed! Below listed are some harmful effects of marijuana. Just scroll through!

On the Brain
Weed has antagonistic effects on brain and central nervous system by impairing memory, moods, coordination and thought process. The THC content in weed/marijuana is a highly intoxicating substance, which does substantial damage to brain cells and pituitary gland, that regulates metabolic activities like hunger, thirst, blood pressure and sexual behavior. This ingredient clogs in synapses of the nerve cells, thereby hampering the proper flow of critical information. Over a period of time, the brain stops production of necessary chemicals required for the hormonal balance (the person loses out on the feel good factor) and metabolic activities. Effects of weed on the brain can be so severe, that the person can get severely addicted to the consumption of this drug. Hallucinations and delusion are strong symptoms of marijuana's effect on the brain.

On the Heart
Heart is the vital organ of the body, which pumps blood to all organs. However, a person severely addicted to weed, may experience heart palpitations, high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm and shortness of breath. People already suffering from hypertension, may face severe cardiovascular complications due to this addiction.

On the Endocrine System
Endocrine system of the body is the sole player in controlling hormone secretions. And hormones are such that, any less or any more secretion than normal, can alter the mental and physical health of a person. Harmful effects of marijuana on this system, leads to damaging important glands as listed below:

• Pituitary gland
• Thyroid gland
• Pancreas
• Adrenal Glands
• Duodenum
• Stomach

On the Reproductive System
Reproductive system of the person is the most affected system of the body, and this happens to be the most known side effect of this crude drug. In men, marijuana can decrease the sperm count and can induce a low sex drive, by altering the hormone levels. In women, it can suppress ovulation, disrupt menstruation and damage the eggs. Eventually, in both, the drug causes infertility. Harmful effects of weed during pregnancy, can be extremely dangerous, causing abnormalities in the child (like small head and retarded growth). Besides, it hampers the genetic structure of the chromosomes, resulting in many impaired functionalities in the unborn child.

On the Central Nervous System
Central nervous system gets most affected because of weed addiction, with the following symptoms:

• Distortion of perception and cognitive thought process
• Utter confusion
• Erratic mood swings
• Depression, followed by anxiety and paranoia
• Aggression
• Loss of focus

On the Respiratory System
In the respiratory system, marijuana can cause cancer in esophagus and larynx and can inflame the bronchial tubes, leading to chronic bronchitis. Besides, it also damages the air sacs of lungs, impairing the function of lungs to purify oxygen (causing Emphysema). Lung cancer is one of the most probable result of a prolonged drug addiction.

There are different types of weeds and their effects are quite disastrous. People who are chained to this addiction often have bloodshot eyes with dilated pupils. The immune system also gets severely compromised, causing the body to become more susceptible to infections. Immediate medical attention must be sought for these people, before the medical condition culminates into a life-threatening case. As I end this article, I would like to share the below lines of a teen who was a part of drug rehab for quite some time:

"It was a close call. I almost let my dreams go up in a cloud of sweet-smelling smoke."

Years back, these were the lines of this brilliant college teen (then just 14 years old) who for once, just tried smoking a pot under peer pressure and got hooked to it, only to enter the most traumatic phase of her life. What followed later, was plummeting grades at school, extreme form of drug abuse and eventually a close dance with death! All because of an overdose of weed!