What is marijuana?
Marijuana (grass, pot, weed) is the common name for a drug made from the plant Cannabis sativa. The main psychoactive ingredient is THC, but there are more than 400 other chemicals in the plant. The potency of marijuana varies widely based upon the THC content, which can range anywhere from 0.05% to 15%. High potency cannabis (> 10% THC) poses more risk of impairment and addiction.
What are the effects of using marijuana?
In the short- and long-term, marijuana impairs your memory, thinking, problem-solving skills, and impairs your ability to learn. Learning problems and memory and attention impairments persist for up to 24 hours after use. There are also impacts on academic performance. Studies show that more frequent use is associated with lower GPA and decreased likelihood of graduating on time.
You should not drive after using marijuana! Impairments in hand-eye coordination, motor coordination, reaction time, and sensory perceptions mean that the risk of getting into a motor vehicle accident doubles after you use marijuana.
Frequent, heavy, or long-term use increases the likelihood of cannabis related health problems and addiction.
What about medical marijuana?
Laws in some states permit the use of marijuana for medical purposes. This is because THC - the active ingredient - is powerful enough to help treat the symptoms of glaucoma and reduce nausea in patients with HIV/AIDS or cancer. Indiana is not one of these states. Federal law considers marijuana as Schedule I Controlled Substance not widely accepted for medical use. As a University, USI is required to follow federal laws regarding marijuana.