{"id":36294,"date":"2012-12-29T20:35:00","date_gmt":"2012-12-30T02:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=36294"},"modified":"2021-07-02T20:51:40","modified_gmt":"2021-07-03T01:51:40","slug":"what-makes-marijuana-work-does-it-lead-to-using-other-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-makes-marijuana-work-does-it-lead-to-using-other-drugs\/","title":{"rendered":"What makes marijuana work? Does it lead to using other drugs?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Question:<\/h2>\n

I have some questions about marijuana. What are the ingredients in pot that produce that “high”, mind-altering feeling that users crave and the “munchies”? Does pot use eventually lead to the use of more hardcore drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, LSD, etc.? I would venture to guess that regular pot users would want bigger and longer-lasting highs, so they would move on to other dangerous drugs, but I could be wrong.<\/p>\n

I hope you don’t think I’m going to start smoking pot, they are just questions I’m curious about.<\/p>\n\t

Answer:<\/h2>\n

The main active ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is very close, molecularly, to some of the body’s chemicals called endocannabinoids, especially one that is called anandamide. These chemicals are involved in the communication between nerve cells and play a role in brain development and function. Because it is like, but not the same, THC interferes with the development and function of the brain.<\/p>\n

“The highest density of cannabinoid receptors is found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. Marijuana overactivates the endocannabinoid system, causing the high and other effects that users experience. These include distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory.” [Drug Facts: Marijuana<\/a>].<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Marijuana doesn’t directly lead to using other drugs. What happens is that a person who is high on marijuana doesn’t think clearly and makes poor decisions. While high, they are easily persuaded to try other drugs. In addition, the rationalization that allows a person to convince himself that there is no harm to smoking marijuana is easily extended to other drugs. In addition, there are drug dealers who lace their products with other drugs to increase their addictive qualities (they wanted users coming back for more). Thus, a marijuana user can be exposed to other drugs without realizing it. There are confirmed stories of PCP laced and even Meth laced marijuana being circulated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: I have some questions about marijuana. What are the ingredients in pot that produce that “high”, mind-altering feeling that users crave and the “munchies”? Does pot use eventually lead to the use of more hardcore drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, LSD, etc.? I would venture to guess that regular pot users would want bigger…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[387,372,540],"class_list":["post-36294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-addiction","tag-drugs","tag-marijuana"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20099,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-marijuana-be-used-for-legitimate-medical-purposes\/","url_meta":{"origin":36294,"position":0},"title":"Can marijuana be used for legitimate medical purposes?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is using marijuana or components of marijuana for legitimate medical diagnoses biblical? Answer: While it is popular for promoters of marijuana to talk about \"medical marijuana,\" there currently does not exist any known medical uses for marijuana that there isn't a superior drug already on the market that doesn't\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35917,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/illogical-reasons-for-decriminalizing-marijuana\/","url_meta":{"origin":36294,"position":1},"title":"Illogical Reasons for Decriminalizing Marijuana","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 20, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Source: Paul Hammel, \"Ideas to ease pot laws just blowin' in the wind,\" Omaha World-Herald, 20 November 2012. People continue to promote illogical fixes to problems. Iowa Representative Bruce Hunter wants to decriminalize marijuana possession. His reason? \"He is pushing decriminalization of pot because sending users to prison contributes to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10266,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-do-you-think-about-a-woman-who-smokes-pot-while-pregnant\/","url_meta":{"origin":36294,"position":2},"title":"What do you think about a woman who smokes pot while pregnant?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 5, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I'm interested in a girl, interested enough to get serious about her. She's pregnant with another boy's baby (he dumped her), but that's all right with me, I've made similar mistakes. But she smokes -- mostly cigarettes, but sometimes pot. I'm not certain, but I really like her. What\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54151,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/not-what-they-told-you-marijuana\/","url_meta":{"origin":36294,"position":3},"title":"Not What They Told You – Marijuana","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 5:21-31 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It sounds noble \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We need to legalize medical marijuana! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But instead of controlled studies where the effectiveness of a derivative drug is analyzed for its benefits versus its harm, the door is thrown wide open. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There is an oil extract from marijuana\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51917,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/consequences-of-marijuana-legalization\/","url_meta":{"origin":36294,"position":4},"title":"Consequences of Marijuana Legalization","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Source: Colorado Springs Gazette Opinion, \"Five years later, Colorado sees toll of pot legalization\",\u00a0The Oklahoman, 14 November 2017. \"Five years of retail pot coincide with five years of a homelessness growth rate that ranks among the highest rates in the country. Directors of homeless shelters, and people who live on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54433,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/car-crashes-linked-to-marijuana-rises\/","url_meta":{"origin":36294,"position":5},"title":"Car Crashes, Linked to Marijuana, Rises","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Source: Paul A. Eisenstein, \"Legalized marijuana linked to a sharp rise in car crashes,\" NBC News, 18 Oct 2018 \"There has been an increase by up to 6 percent in the number of highway crashes in four of the states where the recreational use of marijuana has been legalized, according\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Issues"","block_context":{"text":"Issues","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36294\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}