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As of 1991, about 60% of the people in the United States had smoked marijuana at one time or another; 10% had smoked it within the past year, and 5% within the last month. It is the most popular illegal drug worldwide. A relatively small percentage of those who have smoked marijuana--about 7%, or 4% of the general population-- have met criteria for abuse or dependence at some time in their lives. Only if use of marijuana leads to clinically significant problems is a diagnosis of abuse or dependence justified. Among the symptoms that might lead to such a diagnosis are anxiety, sensations of slowed time, poor judgment, and lack of coordination. Social withdrawal may also occur, and high doses can lead to paranoia and hallucinations. There are many unsolved questions about the
effects of prolonged use of marijuana. It is widely accepted that
"grass makes you lazy," and a decrease in sustained
attention during marijuana intoxication is well established; the
effects on attention are part of the decrement in ability to operate
automobiles or other machinery during the intoxication period, which
can last up to six hours after using marijuana. However, many of the
alleged effects of marijuana may be confounded with concurrent use
of alcohol or other drugs. Last updated 12/19/03 |
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