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MARIJUANA
Mentioned in a Chinese herbal dating from 2700 BC, the drug has long been used as a sedative or analgesic. The effects of marijuana vary, depending upon the strength and amount consumed, the setting in which it is taken, and the experience of the user. Psychological effects tend to be predominant; the user commonly experiences a mild euphoria. Alterations in vision and judgment result in distortions of time and space. Acute intoxication may occasionally induce visual hallucinations, anxiety, depression, extreme variability of mood, paranoid reactions, and psychoses lasting from four to six hours. Physical effects include reddening of the eyes, dryness of the mouth and throat, moderate increase in the rapidity of the heartbeat, tightness of the chest (if the drug is smoked), drowsiness, unsteadiness, and muscular in coordination. Chronic use does not establish physical dependence, nor, upon withdrawal, does the regular user suffer extreme physical discomfort (such as that associated with narcotics), but its use may be psychologically habituating.