Symptoms of Marijuana Use
The many manifestations of symptoms of marijuana use make the substance easy to detect in people, especially if one knows the symptoms that he or she is looking for. If you suspect that your friend or someone in your family is using marijuana, you must review these symptoms of marijuana use carefully before you can conclude and take action. It is important to know the basic information about marijuana use to educate yourself and your loved ones.
Marijuana is a mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, flowers, and other parts of the hemp plant. There is a wide debate on whether marijuana use poses extreme danger to an individual. Although marijuana itself is illegal, it can be administered by doctors to their patients for medical use. Marijuana is usually smoked much like one would smoke a cigarette by using a pipe or a bong. The main chemical ingredient that poses the greatest threat is Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Once the user inhales marijuana, THC enters into the bloodstream through the fatty tissues in various organs. The intoxication of THC into the body will then trigger reactions that will manifest as symptoms of marijuana use. Symptoms of marijuana use also depend on the length of time.
Different symptoms appear once the user reaches a state of “high.” After continuous use, the user develops dependency on marijuana, which will subject him to long-term effects. The various symptoms of marijuana during the intoxicated state include pleasurable sensations, feeling stoned, extended relaxation and dullness, distorted perception, vivid vision, excessive feeling of thirst and hunger, dry mouth, constant laughing, clumsiness, and dulled sense of time. These immediate symptoms of marijuana use are what users hope to feel. These symptoms are not dangerous when you take them as isolated conditions. However, the combination of symptoms affects the behavior of the user that could cause one to do things that he or she may regret once they come back to normalcy.
The more dangerous symptoms of marijuana use appear once the user becomes dependent on THC. Drug dependence makes the user highly susceptible to the long-term effects of the drug. The long-term symptoms of marijuana use include constant state of anxiety and panic, psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, and confusion. These effects can lead to permanent changes in behavioral patterns that could be perceived as abnormal or rebellious. If you suspect that someone is dependent on THC based on these symptoms, it is best to report the situation to your elder immediately. It is important to develop a support system to help the marijuana user cope with withdrawal symptoms.