Effects and Consequences of Marijuana Use

Marijuana use is associated with numerous detrimental health effects, including frequent respiratory infections, increased heart rate, impaired memory and learning, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Effects on the Brain

Marijuana's effects begin as soon as the drug enters the brain and can last from 1 to 3 hours. As THC enters the brain, it causes the user to feel high by stimulating brain cells to release the chemical dopamine. When the euphoria passes, the user may feel sleepy or depressed and may also get feelings of panic, anxiety, paranoia or distrust.

Marijuana can cause short-term memory damage because of how THC alters the way information is processed by the hippocampus. THC disrupts coordination and balance by binding to parts of the brain that regulates balance, coordination of movement, posture, and reaction time.