Effects of Marijuana on Social and Personal life

Marijuana is the most extensively used illegal drug across the globe. Marijuana is highly addictive. The users prefer to stick to Marijuana rather than opting for high potency drugs. Lately, Marijuana has been reported as the major reason for high school dropouts and poor academic performances. The idea of Marijuana as a ‘gateway drug’ has not yet been established and is still under research.

Though there are no reports of teens or adults dying from overdose of Marijuana alone, the side effects of Marijuana could sometimes be horrifying, particularly if the THC levels in the dosage taken are high. The addictive substance THC in Marijuana creates compulsive patterns in the users. This drug not only disrupts the health of the users over time but also hinders their day to day life. It can affect the life of an addict physically, mentally and socially too.

Physical effects of Marijuana use
Most people who use Marijuana feel very uncomfortable side effects that include anxiety, paranoia and psychotic reactions among others. Grouchiness, increased cravings, insomnia and decreased appetite are the other side effects that can result from regular use of Marijuana. Marijuana can not only cloud your senses and judgment but also distort your sense of time, hurt your motor skills and make driving more dangerous and Lower your inhibitions so you may have risky sex or take other chances.

Overdoses of Marijuana causes extreme psychotic reactions in some people that include delusions and hallucinations that wouldn’t cease. Emergency Room visits are a must for such people. Research suggests that between 9 and 30 percent of those who use marijuana may develop some degree of marijuana addiction. Age is one major determinant in whether the person is likely to become an addict. For example, People who begin using marijuana before age 18 are four to seven times more likely than adults to develop a marijuana use disorder. Many people who used Marijuana for prolonged periods of time and are trying to quit reported mild withdrawal symptoms such as sleeplessness and irritability that make quitting difficult.

Mental effects of Marijuana Use
Marijuana which is widely used as a recreational drug has been the cause of many unintentional domestic and highway accidents during the recent years. Research has shown that the use of Marijuana effects the mental functioning of the user by hindering the attention span, learning abilities and memory. Therefore, it is evident, that a person who consumes Marijuana daily may be functioning at reduced intellectual level. Also, smoking Marijuana results in an immediate euphoric high and relaxation. People who use Marijuana on a regular basis have been reported to develop dependence, using other drugs and attempting suicide.

Marijuana is not everyone’s cup of tea. Not everyone’s experience with marijuana is as pleasant. It can often result in anxiousness, paranoia, or a panicking situation. Using pot sometimes raises your chances for clinical depression or worsen the symptoms of any mental disorders you already have. Scientists aren’t yet sure exactly why. In high doses, it can make you paranoid or lose touch with actuality, creating hallucinations and delusions.

Social Effects of Marijuana Use
Social effects of Marijuana abuse range from dropping out of school, absenteeism to work, joblessness/poor income, social isolation, welfare dependence, dysfunctional family life, other relationship problems, criminal behaviour to lower life satisfaction.

Marijuana affect’s one’s social life and cognitive abilities, leading to issues with memory, slowed reaction times, anxiety, and panic, as well as social and interpersonal problems. Marijuana use has been associated with increased absenteeism and decreased performance at work. Also, there have been more work accidents, which lead to more workers’ compensation claims. These factors eventually lead to a marijuana user losing his or her job over drug use in most cases.
Though Marijuana has been made legal in some places due to its therapeutic properties, there has been an ongoing controversy about its legality given the ill effects of undue usage.