Long-term effects of marijuanaMarijuana is a drug that divides people. Some consider it the miracle drug of the 90s, capable of relieving the symptoms of many serious illnesses. Others curse the day the cannabis plant was discovered. From relieving pain to stimulating the appetite of chemotherapy patients, marijuana appears to have many benefits as a medicine. The legalization of marijuana is today a great controversy in many parts of the world, but the obvious negative effects that this drug induces have prevented its legalization. Many researchers have a very positive attitude toward marijuana. It has been said that the drug "is worthy of study and even use as a medicine to relieve pain, severe nausea, and stimulate the appetite in seriously ill patients" (Zimmerman 2). On a more negative side, studies have also found that in many cases of pregnant women who smoke marijuana, the chemicals in the drug have terminated an early pregnancy. Scientists have linked the activation of biological receptors that respond to cannabinoids (the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana) to the abrupt termination of pregnancy at a very early stage (Ferguson 71). The short-term effects of marijuana have also been researched and widely known. Some of these effects include memory and learning problems, distorted perception (images, sounds, time, touch), difficulty thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, anxiety and panic attacks (Ferguson 23). A new analysis from Bachman examines how potentially devastating marijuana is for adolescents because it suppresses motivation, drive and commitment to family and school. Although these researchers' studies have covered many topics regarding marijuana, the actual long-term effects caused by inhaled marijuana smoke are a topic that has not been covered in depth. The vast majority of people seem to think that smoking marijuana is just a temporary feeling. and that it has no long-term effect. The exact opposite is true, in that marijuana has long-term detrimental effects on the body. Studies show that when people smoke large amounts of marijuana for years, the drug takes a toll on mental functions (Chopra 37). Researchers are still learning more about the many ways THC (the main chemical found in marijuana) affects the brain. It's very difficult...... middle of paper...... to suggest that marijuana is an immunosuppressant. For chronic users, THC causes the area between nerve cells to widen, leading to poor transmission of nerve impulses between those cells. This “falsification” has several effects on the nervous system including: difficulty understanding complex ideas, memory loss, irregular sleep patterns, insomnia, decreased muscle strength and blurred vision. (Zhu and Sharma 243-244) There is not much information available on the evidence for the harmful consequences of marijuana use, as there have not been many long-term studies, which is necessary. Habitual consumption of marijuana, at the rate of one joint per day, can lead to serious pulmonary, immune and psychological consequences. With chronic use, breathing may be restricted, coughing may increase, and resistance to lung infections such as pneumonia.