The legalization of marijuana in the United States is a controversial issue that has been around for years. Groups have been formed to legalize the drug for medicinal purposes, and other groups have been formed to keep marijuana illegal.

The hemp plant Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana, is a very popular drug in the United States for its unique effects. These effects are caused by the carbon oxide, nitrosamines, benzopyrene, and over sixty other cannabinoid compounds. All of the chemicals are respiratory irritants and potential carcinogens, which are substances that increase the risk of abnormal growth of tissue (drugs.Indiana.edu/publications/iprc/factline/marijuana.html).

Among all these harmful chemicals, there is the main ingred

In low doses marijuana can affect balance, stability, perception, and information processing. Also in low doses there can be an increased heart rate and systolic blood pressure, in addition to reddening of eyes due to dilation of conjunctive blood vessels. In higher doses there can be hallucinations, delusions, feelings of prosecution, increases of anxiety and panic, and thinking becomes confused and disorganized. Marijuana may cause an acute flare up of psychological disturbance in stabilized schizophrenic patients. With long-term use, severe bronchitis may be produced (Jaffe, Encyclopedia Americana, 317-319).

Here in the United States on the streets, marijuana is commonly referred to as airplane, astro turf, aunt mary, black bart, boom, bud, charge, chiba chiba, chunky, dagga, dinkie dow, dope, endo, ganja, grass, haircut, hay, mary jane, matchbox, maui wauie, pot, trees, sezz, weed, yellow submarine, and zambi (science.howstuffworks.com/marijuana6.html).

Other symptoms include hoarseness, coughing, laryngitis, bronchitis, increased pulse and heart rate, menstrual irregularities, reduced sperm production, fetal abnormalities, reduced driving ability, altered perception of space and time, reduced ability to make quick decisions, short term memory loss, mood changes, increased pulse rate, decreased skin temperature, impairment of coordination, and changes to the brain waves (EEG). There are, however, positive reactions. Feelings include euphoria, relaxation, and hilarity. Negative feelings are panic attacks, paranoia, and anxiety (science.howstuffworks.com/marijuana4.html).

There are two ways to take in marijuana. One way is to eat it, baking it into foods and mixing it into beverages seems to be popular. The other way is to smoke it. Smoking marijuana is three times as effective than ingesting it. Though ingesting marijuana will have a longer-lasting effect, it will not be as strong of a high. There are several ways to smoke marijuana. A marijuana cigarette can be made with rolling paper, where 10% to 20% of the THC is transferred to the body. Another way is to remove the tobacco from a cigar and roll it using the cigar wrapper, which is called a blunt. Using a pipe will transfer 40% to 50% of the THC into the body. A bong is similar to a pipe; the only difference is that there is a water bowl built into it (science.howstuffworks.com/marijuana6.html).

Some topics in this essay:
Encyclopedia Americana, History Penalties, Microsoft Encarta, Marijuana Marijuana, Penalties United, Arizona California, Arizona’s Legislatures, Asia China, , Cambodia Thailand, cannabinoid receptors, encarta 2001, marijuana illegal, microsoft encarta, marijuana united, microsoft encarta 2001, encarta 2001 marijuana, marijuana marijuana, 2001 marijuana, drug medicinal purposes, it’s called, united controversial, formed legalize, formed marijuana illegal, medicinal purposes formed,