Marijuana Addiction Treatment for Women

With the legalization of Marijuana in many states and the pending legislation in more to come, marijuana as a “problem” drug can lead to many debates with varying opinions. Keeping to the facts: Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis Sativa or Cannabis Indica plant. It contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other related compounds.

People use marijuana by smoking, eating, drinking, or inhaling it. Smoking and vaping THC-rich extracts from the marijuana plant (a practice called dabbing) is on the rise.

THC over-activates certain brain cell receptors, resulting in effects such as:

• Altered senses
• Changes in mood
• Impaired body movement
• Difficulty with thinking and problem-solving
• Impaired memory and learning

Marijuana addiction and usage can have a wide range of health effects, including:

• Hallucinations and paranoia
• Breathing problems
• Possible harm to a fetus’s brain in pregnant women

The amount of THC in marijuana has been increasing steadily in recent decades creating more harmful effects in some people. It’s unlikely that a person will fail a drug test or get high from passive exposure by inhaling second-hand marijuana smoke and there aren’t any reports of teens and adults dying from using marijuana alone.

Marijuana addiction and usage can cause some very uncomfortable side effects though such as anxiety and paranoia and, in rare cases, extreme psychotic reactions. Overuse can lead to a substance use disorder which can develop into an addiction in severe cases.