No, it is not Bob Marley’s birthday! Neither is it a California penal code for
possession of weed, or the number of chemical compounds found in a cannabis
plant.
What 420 is, whether expressed in the form 4:20 (as a time
of day), 4/20 (as a calendar date), or just the unadorned numeral (pronounced
"four-twenty"), is a universal, unofficial symbol for the use and
appreciation of marijuana. In fact, 4/20 (April 20) has come to be known in
certain circles as "Marijuana Appreciation Day”.
Notwithstanding the many and various urban legends that have
grown up around the meaning of "420" and its connection with
marijuana, the true story behind that connection is surprisingly prosaic.
In the early 1970s a small group of hippie stoners at San
Rafael High School in northern California used to meet at a designated location
every day to smoke weed at 4:20 p.m. They did this so regularly that among
members of the group the expression "420" became a general euphemism
for "time to light up."
The catchphrase spread beyond their immediate circle, beyond
the high school they attended, and ultimately beyond California, so that within
a decade or two pot smokers were using it across the country and indeed the
world over. ." (From David Emery a freelance writer and an avid chronicler
of urban legends and popular culture, April 2011)
To be
Blunt….
Although marijuana may be legalized in some places and
decriminalized in others like alcohol and other drugs, research indicates that
marijuana can have negative effects on the brain in areas that have a direct
impact on academic, social, physical and psychological success. Marijuana is
also addictive for some users. The main
active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC for short.
The latest treatment data indicate that marijuana accounted for 17 percent of
admissions (322,000) to treatment facilities in the United States, second only
to opiates among illicit substances.
How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?
Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC acts in
the brain to produce its many effects. THC acts upon specific sites in the
brain, called cannabinoid receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions
that ultimately lead to the "high" that users experience when they
smoke marijuana. The highest density of cannabinoid receptors are found in
parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thinking, concentrating,
sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.(NIDA, 2010)
Marijuana
intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty
with thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory.
Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana's adverse impact on
learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the
drug wear off. The presence of MJ in the brain has also been shown to affect
the brains ability to retain new information. In other words, if you get “high”
on Saturday night and go to class on Monday, your ability to retain new
information is impaired (even if you are not “high”). Someone who smokes
marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all
of the time.
Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction, that is,
compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite the known harmful effects upon
functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational
activities. Estimates from research suggest that about 9 percent of users
become addicted to marijuana; this number increases among those who start young
(to about 17 percent) and among daily users (25-50 percent).
Some people report withdrawal symptoms including:
irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all
of which can make it difficult to remain abstinent.
Marijuana and Mental Health
A number of studies have shown an association between
chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and
schizophrenia.
Effects on Health
Numerous studies have shown marijuana smoke to contain
carcinogens and to be an irritant to the lungs. In fact, marijuana smoke
contains 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Marijuana increases heart rate by 20-100
percent shortly after smoking; this effect can last up to 3 hours.
Medical Marijuana
Scientists have confirmed that the cannabis plant contains
active ingredients with therapeutic potential for relieving pain, controlling
nausea, stimulating appetite, and decreasing ocular pressure.
Help and information at SHU
If you are concerned
about your or someone else’s use of marijuana or other substances, you can
contact Janice Kessler, the Alcohol and Other Drug Intervention and Prevention
Specialist. Janice is located in the
Counseling Center and can be reached at 203-371-7955. All appointments are free
and confidential.