THC - Marijuana
Drug Test
_____________________
TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL - a.k.a., MARIJUANA - THC - CANNABINOIDS - POT
THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the
primary active ingredient in cannabinoids (marijuana).
This.is the component in marijuana that gets one “high.”
When smoked or orally administered, it produces euphoric
effects. Users have impaired short term memory and slowed
learning. They may also experience transient episodes of
confusion and anxiety.
Marijuana smoke, just like tobacco smoke, has been proven to
cause lung cancer and other forms of cancer as well. Marijuana is also known as
the “gateway drug”, leading many people to other harder and more addictive drugs
down the road.
Short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with
memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and
problem-solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and
panic attacks.
Long term relatively heavy use may be associated with
behavioral disorders. The peak effect of smoking marijuana occurs in 20-30
minutes and the duration is 90-120 minutes after one cigarette. Elevated
levels of urinary metabolites are found within hours of exposure and remain
detectable for 3-10 days after smoking. The main metabolite excreted in
the urine is 11-nor-.9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (.9-THC-COOH).
