Marijuana

• Marijuana's (scientific name is Cannabis sativa) leaves, seeds, stems and/or roots are consumed by marijuana users for the purpose of feeling intoxicated.
• THC, or tetrahydrocannibinol, is one of the hundreds of compounds within marijuana that has major intoxicating effects.
• Marijuana that is consumed for medical purposes, like for patients with nausea or poor appetite associated with AIDS or cancer treatment, is legal in a few states of the United States.
• Possession of marijuana, regardless of its purpose, is illegal in most jurisdictions.
• Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal substance worldwide.
• While the number of people who use marijuana at any one time does not seem to have recently increased, the number of people who have a marijuana-related disorder has risen significantly. This is more or less true depending on age and ethnic group.
• Medical marijuana, also called marinol (Dronabinol), is a synthetic form of marijuana.
• There are many ways of referring to marijuana itself, as well as for how it is smoked.
• The history of marijuana goes back for thousands of years. It was only made illegal in many countries during the 20th century.
• The use of medical marijuana is currently legal in 15 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. In those jurisdictions, people for whom medical marijuana has been specifically recommended by a physician must carry a (medical) marijuana card that indicates their use of the substance for a clear medical purpose.
• Attempts to completely legalize the use of marijuana, whether for medicinal purposes or not, remain strongly contested in most jurisdictions.
• There are a variety of marijuana types, also called strains.
• Numerous research studies show that marijuana is indeed an addictive substance. The symptoms of addiction to marijuana are similar to those of any other addictive substance.
• The symptoms of marijuana withdrawal are similar to those of other drugs and include irritability, anger, depression, insomnia, drug craving, and decreased appetite.
• The negative physical, psychological, and social effects of marijuana are numerous.
• While most individuals with marijuana abuse or dependence are treated on an outpatient basis, admission to both outpatient and inpatient treatment programs for marijuana addiction has increased over the years.
• Behavioral and family based treatments have been found to be effective for marijuana abuse and addiction.
• There is as yet no medication that has yet been shown to be a clearly effective treatment of marijuana-use disorders.

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/marijuana/article.htm