Fernando

Cause and Effect Essays


 * Brainstorm:** marihuana, psychological effects, illnesses, physical effects, green weed, addicted, cannabis, damages, delinquency, smokers.

Thesis Statement. Smoking marijuana affects the human health physically, psychologically and socially.


 * Outline.**

Physical effects.
 * Damage in central nervous apparatus.
 * Tachycardia.

Psychological effects.
 * Amnesia.
 * Hallucinations

Social Effects
 * Suicide attempts
 * Delinquency


 * Marijuana Effects.**

“I now have absolute proof that smoking even one marijuana cigarette is equal in brain damage to being on Bikini Island during an H-bomb blast” **–** Ronald Reagan. Marijuana is a drug that has been used since ancient times. This plant is praised by some and demonized by others. The truth is that it has negative effects on the human body. Smoking marijuana affects the human health physically, psychologically and socially.

Smoking marijuana affects the physical health of humans. According to Curtis, and Remme (2009) “Hallucinogens like marijuana and LSD (an abbreviation of the German words for "lysergic acid diethylamide") cause their effects by disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin” (p.119). The central nervous system is one of the main areas affected because marijuana kills brain cells that are essential to human reasoning. According to Fisher, Dawe and Rudzinsky (2007) ”Marijuana can cause the heart beat to increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute, and can increase even more if other drugs are used at the same time” (p.119). Perhaps this is the reason why the person who smokes marijuana often behaves compulsively and accelerated. Additionally to the physical, mental disorders are particularly associated with cannabis.

Smoking marihuana has harmful effects on mental health. Tetrahydrocannabinol is a substance in marijuana that affects the human cerebral cortex resulting in the temporary memory loss (Ilan, Smith, & Gevins, 2004). For this reason people who smoke cannabis (marihuana) usually do not remember anything after that effect of this substance ends**.** In accordance with Yaffe (2001) “Among case reports associating panic reactions and psychotic states with the use of marihuana, other (possibly) predisposing to the mental disturbance can often be found a severe degree of stress, schizophrenia in the patient or his family, and preexisting psychopathology” (p.140). Over time, the brain power of the marihuana smokers seems to decrease down to what people call " madness ". Amnesia, depression and anxiety are other mental disorders that often occur to people who smoke the green weed.

Smoking marihuana affects profoundly the social life of the addict and family members. According to Gassman, Nowicke and Kung (2005) “More than a quarter of suicide attempts in England are closely related to people who used to smoke cannabis as a suppressor of depressive feelings” (p.88). The search for solitude is a sign which indicates that smoker may be going through a depressive phase; moreover, the social circle of an addict tends to close because a lot of people think this person is not a good influence on them. Three out of five crimes committed in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago are intimately linked to people who were under the influence of drugs like marijuana (Gassman, Nowicke, & Kung, 2005). A nxiety to get more marijuana and job insecurity are factors that lead to a marijuana addict to commit several types of crimes to get “the desired weed". Theft and drug trafficking offenses are the most frequented by smokers of marijuana.

Negative aspects in which marijuana is involved are infinite. For many people this substance is ancient medicine and other is only one way to get high and escape reality. Investigations are still being conducted and doubts are fading. Mental disorders, broken social life and illnesses are examples of conditions caused by smoking green weed. While human beings do not find alternatives to alleviate their aches and pains, people will continue smoking marijuana, even supporting their ill effects.

Curtis, B., & Remme, R. (2009). What are hallucinogens? //Cerebral misbehavior in human, 1//, 302-305.
 * References**

Fisher, B., Dawe, M., & Rudzinsky, K. (2007). Characteristics and predictors of health problems from use among high-frequency cannabis users//. Calgary herald,// //1//, 119-120.

Gassman, R., Nowicke, C., & Kung, M. (2005). Cannabis use and co-occurring psychological problems: Review of the literature and implications for treatment. //Enviromental news network, 1,// 88-95.

Ilan, A., Smith, M., & Gevins, A. (2004). Effects of marijuana on neurophysiological signals of working and episodic memory. //Psychopharmacology,// //1//, 213-214.

Yaffe, S. (2001). Adverse Psychological Effects: Effects of Marihuana on Man. //Journal of Villanova university. American Academic of Pediatrics, 1//, 140-141.