Abstract
This paper is about marijuana and how it can have a negative effect on the cognitive processes in the brain, as well as in the body. The paper first gives an introduction on the origins of marijuana and its general effects on the body. The remainder of the paper goes in to great detail, discussing marijuana's effects on the brain, various body parts, memory deficits associated with the drug, attention deficits associated, other cognitive deficits associated, and ends with possible follow-up studies that could be done to further look into marijuana's effects.

From the Paper
"The Cognitive processes of the brain are a very important topic for many scientists and psychologists alike. They are interested in the topic because of its crucial responsibility for controlling the human body's overall functions. The human body would not be able to survive if the brain did not have these high order functions, such as the ability to learn, remember and memorize things, sense, and perceive. It is because of these cognitive processes working with the body that we are able to function normally. However, there are various things that can cause a temporary or even permanent impairment of these cognitive processes, such as head-injuries, sicknesses, or as in the case of this research paper, drugs, in particular Marijuana. Marijuana is a Schedule 1 narcotic drug that has been known to have temporary but yet profound negative effects on select cognitive functions. "

Tags:cannabis, ganga, hashish, weed

Abstract
This paper examines the impact of marijuana use on memory and the brain. It presents evidence that research is inconclusive in the area of long-term memory although short-term memory and cognitive abilities while under the influence of the drug are impaired. It concludes by questioning the philosophical ideological basis of these claims.

Abstract
This paper discusses the much-debated topic of legalized marijuana. The paper begins by providing background information on marijuana and its effects on the body and then proceeds with a discussion of the positive side-effects of marijuana and how these side-effects can be effective in the treatment of certain ailments. Different types of diseases that the medicinal use of marijuana could help treat are cited, and the need for public awareness about the usefulness of medicinal marijuana is also discussed.

From the Paper
"Currently, many controversial topics divide the nation, giving rise to debate and argument amongst the people. Gun control, abortion, and the death penalty are such prevalent subjects that the slightest news related to them can be seen in newspapers, magazines, and other sources of media. National debates have been waged over such issues, and national organizations have been founded to gather supporters for their cause. These subjects are important of course, but they overshadow other issues that could find resolution with more publicity. In the cases of many controversial topics, the facts are not presented in a manner which clarifies people's common misconceptions. One issue with many of these misconceptions is the legalization of medical marijuana."

Tags:illegal, psychoactive, drug, doctors, patients, illnesses, american, medical, association

Abstract
This paper explains that the study of marijuana and its effects on memory has been characterized by a lack of standardization, which makes it difficult to find any conclusive results. The author states that research has confirmed the generalization that marijuana impedes the brain's ability to encode messages for long term memory storage; however, there were wide differences as to the amount or duration of THC (9-tetrahydrocannabinol) that was necessary to cause permanent damage. The paper relates that both early and later studies did not control for co-morbidity, which is a serious fault because marijuana is often the entrance path to more serious and more lethal compounds, such as alcohol use, cocaine, methamphetamines and other drugs.

Table of Contents:
How Marijuana Acts on the Brain
Marijuana and Memory
Marijuana and Verbal Learning
Marijuana and Visuospatial Recall
Marijuana and Long Term Memory
Marijuana Use and Consistent Long Term Retrieval
Marijuana Use and Delayed Recall
Marijuana Use on Attention and Concentration
Marijuana Use on Information Processing Speed
Marijuana Use on Semantic Retrieval
A History of Marijuana Use and Its Future
Neurotoxicity
Imaging Studies and Marijuana
Other Concerns and Developments
Cognitive Deficits and Daily Functioning
Future Research
Conclusions

From the Paper
"These studies indicate that regardless of the time spent smoking over one's lifetime, the effects of use stop after the 28th day. Cognitive functions have the ability to heal, but it is not known it they will ever return to their levels before marijuana use began. However, this cannot be completely attributed to marijuana use and there are many variables, such as age that could account for such a decline as well. The most important thing is that improvement can be made if the person remains marijuana free for at least 28 days. This research represents a major breakthrough in understanding ..."

Tags:visuospatial, 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, neurogenesis, learning, confounding

Abstract
This paper discusses the legalization of marijuana and gives reasons why it should be made legal. One of the points used by the author is that there are no critical side effects proven that are linked to the use of marijuana. The author also discusses effective approaches for legalizing the drug and describes how marijuana has shown in some cases to help those with glaucoma and cancer patients undergoing chemo-therapy.

From the Paper
"Driving under the use of marijuana could prove possibly dangerous. I would propose that if marijuana were legalized it be regulated similarly to cigarettes and alcohol. The sale of marijuana should be restricted to those who are 18 or 21 depending on what the state felt necessary. Also I believe there should be legislation prohibiting driving while under the influence of marijuana. Like alcohol, marijuana can affect judgment and reaction time. Just because marijuana should be legalized doesn't mean it should not be regulated."

Tags:illegal drug use, side effects

Abstract
This paper takes the view that medicinal marijuana should be legalized in all 50 states. The paper compares marijuana to other more conventional forms of medicine, and exposes some of the borderline unconstitutional medicinal marijuana programs in place today. The paper reveals how it has been scientifically proven that marijuana is an effective treatment for some chronic diseases, and passionately argues that legalizing marijuana medicinally and federally regulating the process will possibly even save lives.

From the Paper
"The medical community has made many scientific breakthroughs over the past few decades. There are machines that use magnets to view our internal organs, vaccines that can prevent certain types of cancer, and pain medications that can numb intense pain in an almost otherworldly fashion. Yet, the medical world has left one marvelous resource virtually untapped. The resource being referred to here is Cannabis. Cannabis goes by various names: Marijuana, Weed, Pot, Mary Jane, etc... and although it carries a variety of names, one thing is certainly true about this substance; it heals. Marijuana has been scientifically proven to diminish tumors, and stimulate appetites in Cancer and AIDs patients, but is only recognized as legal, for medical use, in thirteen states, including California, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont (Frost). Other states have certain laws in place that don't actually legalize Marijuana for medicinal purposes but instead allow those who are deemed "sick enough" to either grow or obtain the drug on their own accord. Law enforcement officials rarely understand these laws, and innocent law-abiding citizens are often penalized for trying to access their medicine. Legalizing medicinal Marijuana in all 50 states will not only be beneficiary, but will hopefully end the use of other more toxic means of healing."

Tags:legalizing medicinal marijuana, unconventional medicine, poor medical programs, alternative medicine, marijuana, pot, mary jane

Abstract
This paper explains that marijuana, which is a Schedule 1 drug in the U.S. government, has a high potential for abuse, induces dangerous side effects and is not currently accepted for medicinal use, is not only a hallucinogen but also acts as both a depressant and a stimulant. The author points out that the marked increase in drug use after the legalization of drugs in the Netherlands supports the theory that marijuana is a gateway drug, which leads to harder drug use. The paper states that supply reduction through law enforcement and programs, which address why teenagers turn to marijuana, are effective ways to reduce the demand for drugs.

From the Paper
"Long-term use of marijuana causes serious damage to physical and mental health. For example, smoking three to five joints is equal to about smoking approximately twenty cigarettes, and the marijuana smoke leaves three times more tar on a person's lungs. Therefore, daily marijuana-only smokers have a nineteen percent higher rate of respiratory complaints than non-smokers. Because marijuana degrades short-term memory, concentration, judgment, and coordination at complex tasks including driving, daily pot users have a thirty percent higher risk of injuries from accidents."

Tags:teens, hallucinagen, netherlands, education, tar

Abstract
This paper is an in-depth look at why marijuana's use for medical application is a purpose important enough to legalize the substance with pharmaceutical control by the government. The author examines scientific and historical background of marijuana, and the lack of public information on marijuana.

Outline
Medical marijuana use.
Ancient use of marijuana
Marijuana used for religion and other things.
Facts about marijuana.
Research on marijuana's potential abuse.
Lack of public information on marijuana
"Legal" drugs abuse
Media hype of marijuana
Ethnic tendency towards abuse
Marijuana and cancer chemotherapy
Marijuana and AIDS
Other medical uses of marijuana
Enough medical research.
Cannabis research
AIDS patients and marijuana.
Medical marijuana activists
Voters in favor of legalizing marijuana in many states.
Positive medical applications of cannabis.
Many countries have legalized medicinal marijuana.

From the Paper
"Marijuana has been known for centuries and played a significant role in human history, being used for religious ceremonies, rope, medicine and recreation, among other registered uses. An enormous amount of hypothesis has been developed concerning other uses, or consequences of using dope. Mythologies from many countries speak of numberless gods and deids. It is possible many of these gods were imagined or seen by shaman or oracles that were under the influences of drugs. Cannabis use was mentioned in the fours Vedas (from India), one of the oldest religious manuscripts (Harrison, 70). Such Reginald Campbell and R Everett offer a general overview of marijuana in Substance Abuse in Workplace: " The most common form of marijuana found in the U.S. is Cannabis Sativa... There are about 421 known chemicals in the plant... but the active chemical is believed to be the tetrahydro-cannabinols (THC), oils possessing physiological activity... Some symptoms of marijuana intoxication include confusion, euphoria, hallucinations, hunger, red eyes, ego-inflation, dry mouth, excessive laughing and coma" (42-43). Marijuana intoxication is said to last two to three hours, but the ingredient delta-9-tetrahydro -cannabinol can accumulate in brain and testes tissues (Hubbard, Franco, Onaivi, 1999). Marijuana, pot or weed, among other names, has a variety of practical uses. Hemp is used to built cords and even clothing. There are a number of websites on the Internet that offer a variety of products made out of hemp. Sadly, it is to blame that such a helpful herb be considered illegal due to the bad nature and unconsciousness of humans."

Tags:cancer, effects, legalization, marijuana, medical, hemp, aids, chemotherpay, fda, ms, cannabis, medicine, drug, smoke

Abstract
This paper critiques an article about the use of marijuana by American high school seniors, entitled "The Contingent Effects of Risk Perception on Risk-Taking Behavior: Adolescent Participative Orientation and Marijuana Use". The paper first explains that the authors of the report see marijuana use as an example of risk-taking behavior, and presume that a reduction in marijuana use would mean that the perception of risk has increased and that this is leading to a lower rate of use. The paper then goes on to summarize the report and explain its findings.

From the Paper
"The authors find that risk perception by itself accounts for about 21% of the variation in risk-taking behavior of marijuana use. Using the four participative orientations - sports, fun, school, and creative - the explained variance of marijuana use was increased to 33%, and all activity orientations except creative significantly affected marijuana use. Sports and school showed relatively small negative effects, while fun activities had a distinctively large and positive effect on marijuana use. The authors also find after analysis that the net effect of risk perception on marijuana use was statistically insignificant. "

Tags:marijuana, adolescent, risk, perception, risk, taking, behaviour

Abstract
This paper studies the belief that marijuana is superior to other anti-emetic drugs that are available for chemotherapy patients. The paper looks at the qualities, benefits and effects of marijuana. The writer looks at evidence for marijuana's effects on nausea and concludes that there is no experimental evidence to date, that shows it is more effective than the available legal anti-emetic drugs.

From the Paper
"Medical marijuana has been shown to reduce the nausea associated with chemotherapy for cancer and the nausea associated with AIDS or from the use of AIDS medications. It has also been found beneficial in the treatment of glaucoma to reduce intra ocular pressure in multiple sclerosis to limit muscle pain, to prevent epileptic seizures in some forms of epilepsy and for the relief of chronic debilitating pain in many disorders and injuries. Medicines containing marijuana were legal prior to the Marijuana Tax Act which prohibits ... "

Tags:marijuana, D9-THC, nausea, chemotherapy