PDHPE Assessment Essay

Submitted By natalie_b
Words: 538
Pages: 3

Good Morning Mr Manthopolous and fellow class mates.
For many centuries drugs have been used for medical, religious and recreational purposes. However, some drugs, particularly those used socially such as tobacco, alcohol and cannabis, have caused great harm to individuals and communities as a result of people abusing them.
The drug I have chosen is the most commonly abused illicit drug in Australia, with one in three people having used it at least once in their lifetime. The name of my chosen drug is Marijuana also known as Cannabis.

Marijuana is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds and leaves derived from the plant called Cannabis sativa. This drug contains more than 400 different chemical compounds however the main active chemical in marijuana is THC, the drug that makes you feel high.
Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette joint or in a pipe. It is also smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with a mixture of marijuana and tobacco.

The effects of Marijuana vary from person to person. How marijuana affects a person depends on many things including their size, weight and health, also whether the person is used to taking it and whether other drugs are taken around the same time. The effects of any drug also depend on the amount taken. For example, a person who has been taking drugs their whole lifetime may not be as affected as a teenager who takes it for the first time.

The short-term effects of Marijuana on the body can include, loss of coordination, blurred vision, sleepiness, reddened eyes, increased appetite, and relaxed muscles. Marijuana makes it hard to keep track of time and concentrate. People who use it often have difficulty with memory and find it hard to solve problems and learn.
Marijuana increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The drug can also make some people paranoid and sometimes cause hallucinations.

On the other hand, long-term marijuana use can have many effects on an individual’s body and health. If you take marijuana