MARIJUANA

WHAT WE KNOW

Marijuana negatively affects how your brain works.

• Marijuana contains THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which affects the nerve cells in the part of your brain where memories are formed, making it hard to remember things.
• Marijuana can affect your sense of time and your ability to do things that require coordination, such as driving.
• Marijuana affects your judgment, drains your motivation, and makes you feel anxious.
• Some research shows that long-term marijuana use can increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses.
• Marijuana can be addictive. As with alcohol and other drugs, not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, but some users do develop signs of dependence and experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop.

Marijuana can negatively affect your health.

• Smoking marijuana increases your risk of lung disease. A single joint contains four times as much cancer-causing tar as a filtered cigarette does.
• Marijuana can limit your body’s ability to fight off infection, increase your heart rate, and lead to frequent chest colds.

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