In 2022, medical marijuana is legal in 37 states and recreational marijuana is legal in 18, yet the drug remains illegal at the federal level. Public opinion on marijuana has changed substantially in the last 20 years, and today many young people view the drug as benign or even beneficial. But how exactly does marijuana affect the body and mind, and what are the potential risks of abuse or addiction?
Books in Greenwood's Q&A Health Guides series follow a reader-friendly question-and-answer format that anticipates readers' needs and concerns. Prevalent myths and misconceptions are identified and dispelled, and a collection of case studies illustrate key concepts and issues through relatable stories and insightful recommendations. Each book also includes a section on health literacy, equipping teens and young adults with practical tools and strategies for finding, evaluating, and using credible sources of health information both on and off the internet―important skills that contribute to a lifetime of healthy decision-making.
Author(s): Aharon W. Zorea
Series: Q&A Health Guides
Publisher: Greenwood
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 207
City: Santa Barbara
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Series Foreword
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Guide to Health Literacy
Common Misconceptions about Marijuana
Questions and Answers
The Social Context of Marijuana Use
1. What is marijuana
2. What is the difference between marijuana that people smoke and other products that contain marijuana or marijuana extracts?
3. What compounds are found in marijuana, and which make you feel high?
4. How common is marijuana use in the United States and around the world today?
5. How is marijuana different today than it was in the past?
6. How have attitudes about marijuana use changed over time in the United States?
Marijuana’s Effects on the Body and Mind
7. What are the general effects of THC on the biochemistry inside the human body?
8. How does THC impact motor functions such as physical movement, speech patterns, and reaction times?
9. How does THC impact cognitive functions and the limbic system?
10. Is there a difference in the kind of “high” resulting from marijuana when compared to alcohol and other drugs?
11. How do CBD extracts affect the body?
12. Does marijuana (THC) affect all people in the same way?
13. Does marijuana make people more creative?
Medical Marijuana
14. What were the main maladies that medical marijuana was originally intended to treat?
15. What do most patients actually use marijuana for?
16. What is “off-label” use?
17. Does marijuana provide unique benefits that cannot also be provided through other prescription drugs?
18. How long have researchers studied the usefulness of marijuana as a type of medicine?
19. How confident can patients be about the quality and potency of medical marijuana?
20. Does CBD provide more medical benefits than THC?
21. What other potential uses of medical marijuana are researchers currently studying?
Risks from Marijuana Abuse and Addiction
22. Is marijuana addictive?
23. Is marijuana a gateway drug?
24. What is marijuana abuse?
25. What are the signs of marijuana abuse?
26. How much marijuana can I take without becoming an abuser?
27. How do the health risks of marijuana compare to the health risks associated with alcohol and tobacco?
28. What are the most common social effects of marijuana abuse?
29. Is there a connection between marijuana abuse and mental illness?
30. Can marijuana use and abuse kill you?
31. I want to stop using marijuana. What treatment plans are available?
Marijuana Policy and the Law
32. Why are marijuana policies so controversial
33. When did marijuana (and hemp) become restricted/prohibited by law?
34. My state legalized marijuana, so can I still get arrested for using, growing, buying, or selling it?
35. Is it illegal to buy marijuana products online?
36. Has legalization of marijuana ended the illegal drug trade?
37. How does marijuana policy reflect current political or moral ideologies?
38. Have other drug-related policy movements been affected by the movement to regulate marijuana?
Case Studies
Glossary
Directory of Resources
Index
About the Author
