Marijuana is a psychoactive substance derived from the cannabis plant. Its documented use dates back several thousand years, and it is currently considered the most commonly used illicit substance in the world. It can be ingested in several ways, most commonly being smoked as a cigarette or in a pipe. It can also be smoked as a “blunt” (i.e., a cigar that has been emptied of tobacco and repacked with marijuana and sometimes other drugs), mixed with food, or brewed into a tea. Acute effects of marijuana use may include impaired motor coordination and balance, increased heart rate, short-term memory loss, and other impairments to cognitive functioning. Chronic use may lead to several long-term effects, including respiratory problems such as chronic cough, bronchitis, and emphysema, a weakened immune system, heart problems, and increased risk for some cancers. Marijuana is considered to be addictive and it may also be associated with several mental health conditions, including anxiety,...
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Suggested Readings
Borges, G., Medina-Mora, M. E., Orozco, R., Fleiz, C., Cherpitel, C., & Breslau, J. (2008). The Mexican migration to the United States and substance use in northern Mexico. Addiction, 104, 603–611.
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Johnson, T.P. (2012). Marijuana. In: Loue, S., Sajatovic, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Immigrant Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5659-0_485
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