How to Stop Smoking Pot – Marijuana & the Brain
When you embark on your search to learn how to stop smoking pot one of the things that you must be keen to understand is how marijuana affects the brain and how this in turn affects your addiction and your choices surrounding smoking and quitting.
Marijuana has a chemical component called THC which most pot smokers know of. It is this chemical that causes the feelings of a high that can mellow you out and can also cause paranoia and panic in some users also. It is the chemical that you are etste3d for in a drug test also. THC in marijuana however is NOT addictive like nicotine from cigarettes are or others chemicals from harder drugs.
So how do people become addicted to a non-addictive substance then?
When we do any activity that causes a high of some sorts we stimulate the reward center of our brain which controls what we believe is rewarding and fulfilling. Over a long period of time smoking marijuana often we become wired to treat marijuana as a needed ‘reward’ so when you feel down it will be the first thing you think of to get you out of a funk. It also becomes habitual just as other rewarding acts become in people’s lives.
So what happens when you try to quit smoking Pot?
Without this reward you will feel something is missing and you get a mental if not a physical craving for marijuana; you want it but you do not NEED it. This does not mean you are weak willed but it can often be confusing when you consciously know pot is not good for you anymore but you feel that without it you might be even worse off.
To this effect you must ‘rewire’ your brain to realize that you can be rewarded and fulfilled through other things. Exercise, hobbies, social interaction and many other things can replace this nagging voice that keeps telling you to smoke pot. This is a major part in plotting out your plan to stop smoking weed.
For more information on How to Stop Smoking Pot click below for a review of a guide by an ex-addict who knows what you are going through and exactly how to beat it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Porteous
Marijuana: Easily Accessible, But Very Dangerous
Affecting individuals of all ages, marijuana has become an easily accessible and in some social circles, easily acceptable drug known by a wide-range of nicknames and references. Marijuana may be green or gray in color, consisting of dried, shredded flowers or leaves that come from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. While the drug is commonly smoked as a cigarette (joint), it may also appear in a pipe, bong, inside tobacco paper, or is mixed with other drugs, food, or beverages. There are more than 200 slang terms associated with marijuana, ranging from “pot,” “weed,” and “Mary Jane.”
Effects of Marijuana Abuse
There are many different parts of the body that marijuana has an effect on. The chemicals found in the drug have been known to alter sensory reactions in the brain. Also, long-term use of the drug may produce unfavorable changes in the brain. Over time, the lungs begin to show signs of respiratory damage from regular use of marijuana. As the lung tissue becomes damages, the worst cases evolve in a loss. Smoking marijuana also affects the heart rate and blood pressure of an individual. In regards to learning and functioning in society, the attention span, reaction time, and memory of a marijuana user also suffers damage, which can show at home, school, or work.
Getting Help for Marijuana Addiction
Although breaking the habit of using marijuana seems difficult since it is one of the most readily available drugs to get a hold of, it is not an impossible task. One of the main factors regarding the success of conquering a drug addiction is to have the positive support of family, friends, and others in a patient’s life.
For some, both inpatient and/or outpatient drug addiction treatment is needed to break the dependency on a drug. More than 120,000 will enter a drug treatment facility to help end marijuana addition and identify the problems that cause this sort of drug use. A big part of this process involves constant counseling. Many users develop a physical dependency on marijuana, which they perceive as their way of coping with the daily stresses of life. To locate a suitable course of action on how to eliminate marijuana addiction, contacting a physician, local clinic, or substance abuse center from the Yellow Pages is one way to start.
How to Stop Smoking Pot – Marijuana & the Brain
When you embark on your search to learn how to stop smoking pot one of the things that you must be keen to understand is how marijuana affects the brain and how this in turn affects your addiction and your choices surrounding smoking and quitting.
Marijuana has a chemical component called THC which most pot smokers know of. It is this chemical that causes the feelings of a high that can mellow you out and can also cause paranoia and panic in some users also. It is the chemical that you are etste3d for in a drug test also. THC in marijuana however is NOT addictive like nicotine from cigarettes are or others chemicals from harder drugs.
So how do people become addicted to a non-addictive substance then?
When we do any activity that causes a high of some sorts we stimulate the reward center of our brain which controls what we believe is rewarding and fulfilling. Over a long period of time smoking marijuana often we become wired to treat marijuana as a needed ‘reward’ so when you feel down it will be the first thing you think of to get you out of a funk. It also becomes habitual just as other rewarding acts become in people’s lives.
So what happens when you try to quit smoking Pot?
Without this reward you will feel something is missing and you get a mental if not a physical craving for marijuana; you want it but you do not NEED it. This does not mean you are weak willed but it can often be confusing when you consciously know pot is not good for you anymore but you feel that without it you might be even worse off.
To this effect you must ‘rewire’ your brain to realize that you can be rewarded and fulfilled through other things. Exercise, hobbies, social interaction and many other things can replace this nagging voice that keeps telling you to smoke pot. This is a major part in plotting out your plan to stop smoking weed.
For more information on How to Stop Smoking Pot click below for a review of a guide by an ex-addict who knows what you are going through and exactly how to beat it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Porteous
Marijuana: the Harmful Impacts and the Testing Methods
Marijuana is one of the commonly used illegal drugs. Marijuana is made from the plant called Cannabis sativa. There is a chemical called “delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol” or “THC” in the drug. This THC is the chemical that makes the person using the drug to feel high. The consumption of marijuana is usually done through smoking.
Impacts of marijuana: Marijuana has a very negative impact on the human beings. It has its effect on the human beings both physically and mentally.
Effects on brain
· Marijuana is a very powerful drug that initially causes pleasure. Its consumption then affects the brain cells that control the thinking, emotions, mood and the memory. The drug even has its effects on the pituitary gland and thereby regulates hunger, thirst and the release of sexual hormones.
· The drug has its effect on the synapses i.e. the brain connections and there by cause the person to get addicted to the drug.
· Long term use of the drug can even cause the brain to stop producing the chemicals which will be responsible for making the person feel good and then the person gets chemically addicted to the drug.
The types of tests for marijuana: There are different types of tests for detecting consumption of marijuana in the human body. They are
· Hair testing: The detection of marijuana consumption can be done by testing the hair. At the roots of the hair, it shows the symptoms of marijuana consumption. The marijuana can be detected from through the hair test even after fifty to ninety days.
· Blood testing: The blood test is a costly test for detecting the marijuana consumption which could be a long procedure which may last for about four to six days.
· Saliva drug testing: This method is a short-term procedure that can detect the consumption of marijuana that has been used recently. Detection of marijuana can be detected in a person’s saliva 1 hour after ingestion, up to 14 hours.
· Urine drug testing: The detection of the marijuana consumption by testing the urine sample is one of the inexpensive ways of detecting the presence of marijuana in the human body. Marijuana can be detected even after five to six days of consumption through the urine test.
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Ways To Quit Smoking Marijuana – Cannabis Coach
There are various reasons why individuals resort to smoking marijuana, it may be family problem, depression, lost of a loved one or have experienced emotional trauma. There are ways to quit smoking marijuana a user can take, if one has decided to finally get rid of it. However, having the willpower is not enough; you’ve got to deal with your personal issues that are driving you to smoke weeds at the same time. Once you’ve dealt with your emotional problems, it will be less difficult for you to quit.
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Upon reaching a decision to quit, since most of marijuana users have circle of friends that are also grass smokers, it will be best if you change your group of friends and keep away from situations and events where marijuana is involved. It may be easier said than done, but the thing is if you will still go on spending time with other weed users who smoke in front of you, the odds of you relapsing are great.
Now the next important thing to do is to throw away all marijuana stuffs that you have, such as rolling papers, lighters, matches, pipes, bongs, ash trays, incense, and anything else that you have used in the past to smoke grass. To help you out in reducing stress as well as to relieve thoughts about smoking marijuana, you can do some exercises like walking, yoga or meditation and other physical activity that you have interest in. Aside from being physically busy, you can also make some breathing exercises, which can be very helpful especially when there’s craving.
If in case that you are still thinking of using grass, try to solve it by replacing marijuana with something else like chewing gum, for instance; it will greatly aid in satiating the oral fixation that grass use represents. However, it will be better for you to seek health centers or organizations, such as marijuana support group who can lend a hand in keeping you away from the substance.
As a writer’s point of view, for me probably one of the best ways to quit smoking marijuana is to have a family and real friends beside you to support you on what you are going through. It is never really easy quitting and it’s never too late to quit, so these people that truly care for you will be there for you anytime you need them. You can do it!
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This author writes about Cannabis Coach and How To Quit Cigarette Smoking.
Myths And Facts About Marijuana
Marijuana is a psychoactive drug extracted from flowering tops of female plants of cannabis sativa. Marijuana has a synthetic form of chemical THC, and used to treat few medical complications. In the United States, FDA has approved marijuana as a treatment option for cancer, and the symptoms of HIV, and influenza. According to Monitoring Future Survey 2007, among the students of 8th, 10th, and 12th grades observed a decline of 20% in marijuana drug abuse compared to last year.
Myths and Facts
Marijuana is popular drug among teens, and has adverse effects on health. The widespread perception about marijuana is a benign natural herb used in treatments, distracts the serious message that marijuana abuse is not good for everyone, especially for young teens. Therefore, it is good to know the myths and facts about the marijuana abuse.
Myth: Marijuana is harmless
Fact: Marijuana abuse is harmful in many ways. Memory loss, distorted perception, trouble in problem solving, and many more short-term effects of drug abuse. Potential ability of a student is disturbed with marijuana abuse. Poor academic performance, and cognitive deficits are few long-term effects of this abuse.
Myth: Marijuana is not addictive
Fact: Many people believe that marijuana is not addictive, but recent studies revealed that students are depending more on this drug. If the abuser of marijuana is not used the drug for a period then he can develop withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, difficulty in sleeping etc., and these makes it difficult to stop the abuse. Marijuana addiction is three times more serious than any other illicit drug addiction.
Myth: Marijuana offense is not severely
Fact: Many people considered police arrest the marijuana law violator but they did not give any imprisonment. In 2007, more than 2 million people were arrested for marijuana offense, and about more than 10,000 members are in prison. Despite of many criminal, and civil sanctions, marijuana is easily available.
Myth: Marijuana is not harmful than tobacco
Fact: The abuser assumes that abusing marijuana is not harmful than tobacco. Smoking marijuana is five times more harmful than tobacco. With both tobacco, and marijuana abuse, abuser observes the similar effects, but the affects of Marijuana drug abuse on body are more dangerous than effects of tobacco.
Myth: Marijuana is not popular as MDMA
Fact: According to National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2.1 million Americans, age 12 and older had abused MDMA at least once in a year. The same report reveals, 25 million Americans age 12 or older abused marijuana once in their lifetime. These figures convey a clear message that marijuana abuse is more than MDMA abuse.
The above information helps you in knowing seriousness of Marijuana drug abuse. By discussing these facts, you can discuss and prevent kids from the drug abuse.
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Marijuana and the “European Model”
Proponents for legalizing marijuana cite Europe as a good model for America to emulate. However, there is no uniform policy in Europe about the use of drugs. Although some countries in Europe have relaxed their laws regarding marijuana and other drugs, others have strict regulations in effect. Here are some examples of how individual countries in Europe are handling drug related issues and how successful their policies are.
The country many consider to have âled the way in the liberalization of drug policyâ is the Netherlands. As early as 1976, âcoffee shopsâ began selling marijuana in small doses. Officially possessing and selling marijuana is illegal, but shops are allowed to offer marijuana with some restrictions, such as no more than three grams, no minors, no alcohol, and no advertising. Proponents of legalized drugs often claim that drug dealers would lose all their business once marijuana is legalized, but this has not been the case for the Netherlands. The illegal drug trade is still thriving, since coffee shops must purchase their marijuana from illegal sources. Another popular argument is that if marijuana were legalized the demand would decrease. Since the relaxation of regulations in the Netherlands, marijuana use has doubled.
Switzerland also has liberal drug policies. âIn late 1980s, Zurich experimented with what became known as Needle Park, where addicts could openly purchase drugs and inject heroin without police intervention.â The number of drug dealers and addicts quickly went from a few hundred to several thousand and crime in the area skyrocketed until officials and law enforcement closed down the park and reinstituted drug restrictions.
Portugal has also been highly publicized for their decision in 2001 to legalize âminor possession of all drugsâ. Critics and skeptics alike prophesied huge increases in addiction and drug use. The Cato Institute recently published a study they did on the results of the policy. â[N]one of the nightmare scenarios from rampant increases in drug usage among the young to the transformation of Lisbon into a haven for âdrug touristsâ has occurred.â Instead, drug use, deaths, and sexually transmitted diseases have all decreased. Although possession is no longer illegal, drug use remains so and people may still be stopped for having drugs. If they have less than a ten day supply however, they go before a âhealth commissionâ who recommends them to treatment rather than jail time. In short, Portugal has chosen to treat drug addiction as a disease rather than a criminal act.
âLike America, the various countries of Europe are looking for new ways to combat the worldwide problem of drug abuse.â Some policies have been more successful than others. Proponents for American legalization are right to suggest the US look to Europe for examples. With the variety of policies and multitudes of research into whether those policies are successful, America has the unique opportunity of observing many examples of possible drug regulations and can emulate the ones that are proven to work.
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The Effects of Marijuana
Marijuana is the common name for the drug obtained from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. Hemp is a tall annual plant that can grow in almost any climate. Native to central and western Asia, hemp is one of the oldest crops cultivated by humans. Hemp’s most common agricultural use has been as a source of linen, rope, canvas, and paper. Hemp contains more than 400 chemicals. The main psychoactive (affecting the mind or behavior) chemical is tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to as THC. For over 3,000 years, the dried ground leaves, flowers, and stems of the plant have been smoked, eaten, chewed, or brewed as a medicine to relieve symptoms of illness. From the seventeenth to the early twentieth century, marijuana was considered a household drug useful for treating such maladies as headaches, menstrual cramps, and toothaches.
In the 1920s, as a result of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution forbidding the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, the use of marijuana as a psychoactive drug began to grow. Even after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, marijuana (along with morphine, heroin, and cocaine) continued to be widely used. In 1937, 46 states banned the use of marijuana. In 1985, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave approval for the use of two psychoactive chemicals from marijuana to prevent nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy in cancer treatment. Medical researchers also propose using marijuana to ease the effects of glaucoma (a serious vision disorder), as a bronchodilator (a drug that helps open the bronchial air passages in the lungs), and as an antidepressant. The origin of the word marijuana is not known, but it appears to be a combination of the Spanish names Maria and Juana (Mary and Jane). The drug slang for marijuana includes such names as Mary Jane, pot, grass, herb, tea, reefer, and weed. Hashish is the highest grade of marijuana. It is made from the resin found on flower clusters and top leaves of the female hemp plant.
The effects of marijuana on a user change dramatically as the dosage increases. Taken at low doses, marijuana tends to make a user drowsy and relaxed. The user may also feel a general sense of well-being. As the dose increases, a user may experience an altered sense of time and awareness, and may have difficulty completing thoughts and taking part in conversation. A user’s sense of balance and short-term memory (remembering very recent events or from one moment to the next) may also be affected. At higher doses, severe psychological disturbances can take place, such as paranoia, hallucinations, and panic attacks. Marijuana affects the cardiovascular system by increasing heart rate and dilating (expanding) blood vessels in the eyes. Difficulty in coordinating body movements and pains in the chest may be other effects of the drug. Scientists believe that long-term use of marijuana damages the lungs in a manner similar to tobacco smoking.
Scientific studies released in mid-1997 indicate that people who smoke large amounts of marijuana may experience changes in their brain chemistry. These changes are similar to those seen in the brains of people who abuse addictive drugs such as heroin, cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol. All addictive drugs increase the amount of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a brain chemical responsible for causing feelings of reward. The new studies found (for the first time) that high doses of marijuana increased the levels of dopamine in the brain. Constant use of addictive drugs, however, can cause the brain to lose its ability to produce high levels of dopamine. When this happens, a drug user feels a greater need for the drug, or for even stronger drugs. Scientists believe this may occur with marijuana.
Users of addictive drugs feel withdrawal symptoms (feeling anxious, edgy, and unable to cope) when they stop taking the drugs. It was previously believed that marijuana users did not suffer feelings of withdrawal. However, the recent studies indicate that heavy users of marijuana smoke not so much for the “high” but to calm their feelings of anxiety brought on by withdrawal from the drug. Since THC is absorbed primarily in the fat tissues and lingers in the bloodstream, withdrawal symptoms are not as evident as with fast-acting drugs like nicotine.
In 1985, the FDA gave approval for the use of two psychoactive chemicals from marijuana to help prevent the nausea and vomiting many cancer patients experience after receiving chemotherapy. For these patients, THC can be prescribed in capsule form. Research suggests that compounds (other than THC) inhaled when smoking marijuana can also be used for medicinal purposes. Marijuana may help stop the weight loss in AIDS patients, it may lower eye pressure in people with glaucoma, it may control spasms in multiple sclerosis patients, and it may help relieve chronic pain.
Facts about marijuana
A fact about marijuana is that it is a plant which comes with so many names that it would be harder to account actually all of the different names. Marijuana seeds, edger and cannabis seeds are the a lot of accepted forms, but it is as well knows as hemp, hemp seed, bhang, Charas, dagga, Ganja, hashish, Sativa Seeds, KIF, Indica seeds, TA MA, conopli, juanita, and Hanf, a part of abounding added names. Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray admixture of dried, disconnected leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp bulb (Cannabis sativa). Cannabis is an appellation that refers to marijuana and added drugs fabricated from the aforementioned plant. Added forms of cannabis cover sinsemilla, hashish, and assortment oil. All forms of cannabis are mind-altering psychoactive drugs.
Marijuana is accepted biologic a part of teens, and has adverse affects on health. The major facts about marijuana is an affable accustomed assemble acclimated in treatments, distracts the austere statement that marijuana corruption is not acceptable for everyone, abnormally for adolescent teens. Therefore, it is acceptable to apperceive the belief and facts about the marijuana. Marijuana altered form is adverse in abounding ways. Memory loss, adulterated perception, and abounding added concise furnishings of biologic abuse. Potential adeptness of an apprentice is abashed with marijuana abuse.
The abuser assumes that abusing marijuana is not adverse than tobacco. Smoking fact about marijuana is that 5 times added adverse than tobacco. With both tobacco, and marijuana abuse, abuser observes the agnate effects, but the affects of Marijuana biologic corruption on physique are added alarming than furnishings of tobacco.
According to biological research and studies on health, age 12 and earlier had abused MDMA at atomic already in a year. There are many facts and solutions available online to cope with this problem, and you will be capable to find one that fits your needs and budget. As an alternative of expending your time trying to estimate how long marijuana will reside in your body, merely discover facts about marijuana, and then purchase the product which is most effectual and suitable for the particular drug test you will be undergoing.
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Marijuana: Bong Hits Can Lead To Lung Cancer!
One way to smoke weed is to use a bong. A bong is a smoking paraphernalia that’s used to make and inhale marijuana smoke. Many cannabis users prefer a bong over other methods of ingestion – and for good reasons. One, a bong cools the smoke down with water. This reduces irritation on your trachea and lungs while you smoke weed. Two, it hits a lot smoother than a joint or a pipe. Third, it’s not as expensive as a vaporizer; it’s a low-cost way to smoke. Compare a one-time $40 investment in a nice bong to $1-$2 for blunt wrappper or rolling paper. There are different kinds of bongs to smoke weed out of; glass ones are usually considered to be the best. They look nice, feel smooth, and are easy to clean. A head shop should sell bongs starting at about $30 and up. Since they all function the same way, some bongs can be a foot tall while others might look a lot like hookahs, at over 3 feet tall. Discrete smokers prefer smaller pot paraphernalia than those who openly tell others of their habitual bud use.
A bong has a few main parts. The first one is the chamber. That’s where all of the smoke comes through while you hit it. The stem of the bong goes out the side, towards the bottom, and represents a pipe where you put your bud in. Oftentimes, a bong requires a screen (a metal screen that keeps the marijuana from falling through the pipe). The last part of the bong is the mouthpiece. That’s where you put your lips to inhale the smoke. You fill up the chamber of the bong with water. Depending on your experience and taste, you might prefer different liquids. In effect, they all cool down the smoke. Things like ice-cold Koolaid and/or orange juice have been used, and people say they give bud a delicious taste. When you smoke weed out the bong, you inhale it through the stem. Crush it up, and put it in the pipe that goes out the side. Make sure the bottom part of the pipe of your bong is covered with water – only then will the smoke pass through the water. No worries: the THC won’t dissolve in water. This process cools down the smoke with air bubbles while you smoke weed. The bong itself is held with your hands as you put your mouth to the mouthpiece.
To take care of your bong and make sure it hits nice every time, make sure to keep it clean. Resin, or left-over buildup that remains in the stem / chamber of the bong, must be cleaned out every once in a while. After every 8-10 times of moderate use, clean your bong with household cleaning solutions. Warm water and soap work well, but might not get all the sticky grime off. Just make sure to rinse it well before using again – no one wants cleaning chemicals in their lungs.
Smoking is bad for you! The author recommends that you quit now. Detox your lungs! http://bit.ly/lungdetox

