By James Burns, Guest Column

Frequently we hear marijuana advocates promoting this chemical as benign. They want legalization of marijuana.

Over the past 20 years a marijuana reefer concentration of cannabis (THC) has gone from 10 mg to 150 mg with 300 mg if laced with hashish. These increased concentrations have exacerbated the effects of marijuana.

The younger the smoker the greater is the risk of addiction. However, not everyone who smokes becomes addicted.

In my opinion the addiction-susceptible novice user has significant underlying anxiety/depression. Marijuana is a chemical that offers a release from one&8217;s day-to-day anxiety/problems and allows the user a temporary escape from their problems. The addictive personality would be in this group.

Those who smoke marijuana at an earlier age are more likely to get into using other drugs. In many of these cases marijuana is a gateway drug for other addictive chemicals.

Also at risk are those who search for the &8220;high&8221; from chemicals. These individuals seem to get a greater amount of pleasure and satisfaction from the &8220;high.&8221;

Marijuana (THC) reaches the brain in minutes after inhalation. THC is also deposited in fatty tissue. Because of slow release from fatty tissue peak blood concentrations occur in four to five days. The THC tissue half life is seven days and a single reefer may take 30 days.

Thus, the higher potency reefers affect the body&8217;s physiology to a higher degree.

THC causes the release of dopamine. This release of dopamine also occurs with heroin, cocaine, amphetamine and nicotine.

The pharmacologic effects of THC are similar to alcohol, narcotics and hallucinogens. The user experiences decreased: anxiety, depression, alertness, and tension. They also become more sociable. The &8220;high&8221; comes on within minutes and lasts two hours or more depending on the dose.

However, THC can also cause panic, paranoia, severe anxiety and psychosis. No deaths have been reported with acute intoxication.

Psychophysiological changes of a reefer includes: colors seem brighter, music more vivid and emotions more accentuated.

Hallucinations may occur with higher doses.

THC impairs cognitive and psychomotor performance e.g. slowed reaction time, motor coordination, short-term memory defects and impaired concentration.

The above effects alter the user&8217;s ability to operate machinery, drive a car or motorcycle.

THC is the most common drug except alcohol in fatal accidents or impaired driving arrests.

Performance is still impaired 24 hours after usage.

Chronic or long-term use of THC causes impairment of attention, memory and ability to process complex information. These impairments can last for weeks, months or even years after cessation of THC usage.

Tolerance and withdrawal has been demonstrated with chronic users. Tolerance leads some THC users to escalated dosage and can lead to other illicit drug dependence.

The smoke from a reefer contains all the same constituents as tobacco smoke (except nicotine).

The tar from a reefer contains carcinogens as well.

Chronic THC usage is associated with

bronchitis and emphysema. Long-term smokers will likely be at risk for lung cancer.

So we now know that tolerance develops in some THC users.

This leads to more frequent use and higher potency reefers. Tolerance may also lead to other illegal drug usage.

– Potency of marijuana cigarettes has increased.

– The younger the user the greater is the risk for dependency or abuse. Those individuals who have significant anxiety, depression, psychologic and behavioral issues have higher risk.

– Marijuana is a gateway drug, but it involves a subset of users.

– Marijuana causes dopamine release, which is similar with cocaine, heroin, amphetamine and nicotine.

– Marijuana usage can affect memory, attentiveness and the ability to process complex information. At risk are school-age users who use marijuana.

– Tolerance develops with chronic users. Tolerance is the development of less &8220;high&8221; and thus the user moves on to higher potency marijuana or cocaine, amphetamine and heroin.

– Thus, gateway effect occurs with tolerance.

Maybe we have to rethink our concepts of the benign effects of marijuana. For some individuals the &8220;high&8221; experienced by marijuana may not have been worth it.

James Burns is a semi-retired medical doctor with Albert Lea Medical Center.