is eaten, it is metabolized into a THC metabolite in the liver. The term metabolized simply describes the body’s process of changing and using a substance to best suit its needs — it is the process of digesting food and absorbing vitamins. When THC is metabolized, it changes into a compound called 11-hydroxy-THC. This new compound is at least 15 percent more potent than delta 9 THC. Therefore, when 11-hydroxy-THC hits the brain, a more powerful high is induced. The initial effects can take a long time to set in, depending on how much food is already in the stomach, as well as the strength of the marijuana being used in the recipe. The effects, though, can last for up to five hours, or even longer. Since the food containing the drug may not be broken down all at once, the 11-hydroxy-THC high may surge in phases. When marijuana is eaten, users often report feeling an initial rush, followed by coming down, and then peaking once again. The change in THC’s composition may account for the fact that vivid hallucinations and other wild effects are experienced after eating marijuana, whereas these reactions are relatively rare after inhaling it. The possibility of experiencing an intense buzz is often a favorable argument cited by devoted marijuana eaters. This probably accounts for so many groups using the plant for religious purposes — the experience can be surreal.
Marijuana Mastery: Knowing the Risks
Now that you know how the drug works in your body, you should learn about the short- and long-term effects of marijuana use. One point cannot be stressed enough:
Do not dose people without their knowledge!
Make sure that anyone who is about to consume food containing marijuana is well aware of exactly what is involved. There are obvious reasons for this; the psychoactive properties of marijuana can be overwhelming even for experienced users if they are unaware of the oncoming effects. Also, there are times when being high for six to eight hours may not be convenient or welcome. Another thing to watch out for is inadvertently using too strong a dosage. Make sure that people know if the dish is particularly strong, as they might want to have just a small amount. It is a good idea when cooking cannabis to have some marijuana-free food lying around. Even though you may have just eaten, the munchies do still occur, especially a few hours into the high. At that point you probably will not be looking to become any higher, so eating some regular food would be wise. Plus, eating straight food — and sometimes taking a nap — can help relieve any unwanted reactions to the intensity of the high.
Cannabis highs are slightly unusual, as different strains can mimic the effects of many other psychoactive drugs. Some weed can seem speedy, while other weed is much more mellow. In addition, each person’s reaction can vary according to his or her individual chemical makeup. Although there are distinctions between the sativa (energetic, light) and indica (soporific, tranquil) states, marijuana does not generally fit into any of the normal psychoactive groups of depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens. Instead, users fluctuate between these states, feeling at times energized and at other times sleepy. What will happen at any given time depends on many factors such as: what else has been consumed, how much marijuana was eaten, one’s emotional state before using and so on. Also, the amount of previous exposure to the drug will change how the body functions under the influence. Long-term users tend not to suffer certain side effects that commonly afflict first-time or novice users, such as red eyes. Of course, the chance of experiencing side effects depends on the quality of the pot being consumed. Even though studies have been conducted to determine and identify what takes place within the body, the results are either contradictory or meaningless. Basically, a combination of positive and negative effects will occur. Feelings of euphoria are common, as are increased mental energy and awareness. People seem to be more in touch with their surroundings and may experience a distortion of the senses; people feel as though time is playing tricks on them. They also tend to feel a general sense of mirth — often resulting in fits of laughter.
These effects are not necessarily always positive. The increased awareness of one’s social environment can cause paranoia, and distortion of time may lead to a sense of being out of control. However, it should be noted that a good deal of the paranoia is probably due to the fact that one is committing an illegal act. It can be upsetting to zone out and forget where things are, or forget what you were saying. Inexperienced smokers will often notice an increase in their heart rate. This can be accompanied by anxiety and in some cases panic. Every drug, including alcohol and caffeine, has side effects. It is important to know what effects may occur and to decide whether or not you believe that the drug is worth taking. The answer to this question will differ for everyone, but it is something that should be considered before ingesting any type of drug.
The Truth Is Out There: Marijuana Research
Due to marijuana’s status as a “Schedule I” narcotic, it has been next to impossible to study the drug in a scientific manner for much of the last century. This has lead to contradictory, misleading and often anecdotal information being spread as the gospel truth. In fact, attempts to research marijuana’s long-term effects have produced mostly inconclusive data from sources that have staked out clear positions. However, it can be safely said that repeated long-term use of the drug will have lasting effects on a person’s brain and respiratory system. No one fully understands how the brain reacts to cannabis; however, brain scans show that the brain of a user is different after a few years of marijuana use when compared to that of a nonuser. Exactly what this information implies is unknown. There is no proof that marijuana causes the death of brain cells, and it is unlikely that it does so to the same degree as alcohol because it would therefore be measurable, as is the case when alcohol is consumed. Even if brain cell loss could be proven, there is no further link establishing a fundamental change in a person’s behavior or intelligence. The same can be said about the rumored links between marijuana and mental illness. Though some people definitely “wig out” while on the drug, this behavior subsides as soon as the marijuana has ceased binding to the receptors — when the person has “come down.”
Although marijuana has been never been shown to be physically addictive, there is probably a level of social addiction that occurs. In these cases, users will seek out cannabis because they have habitually done so — not to simply satisfy a physical craving. Some studies have tried to demonstrate that users become more aggressive and irritable when deprived of the drug. This could very well be true; coffee drinkers tend to experience similar reactions when lacking caffeine. However, the rush to ban caffeine has not even begun. Some studies claim that long-term users suffer from what has been labeled “amotivational syndrome.” This probably has as much to do with the particular user as it does with THC levels.
It is often reported that consuming the plant can lead to either a reduced libido and/or impotency. There is no basis to this claim of impotency whatsoever. But, like coffee drinkers, male cannabis users have been shown to produce a relatively higher amount of two-tailed sperm. When viewed as a percentage of the total amount of sperm produced, however, they are statistically insignificant. The typical human male produces millions of sperm in one day, and barring any preexisting conditions, will produce millions more the next day.
• Red eyes
• Increase in appetite
• Altered sense of time
• Dry mouth
• Heightening of senses
• Laughter, general mirth
• Anxiety
