What, exactly, happens to your brain when you smoke marijuana?

Question

Chemically, I would like to know what happens and why, in some basic way. Thanks! :)

Answer 1

I'm not exactly an expert, but I can speak from experience ;) When you smoke marijuana, it stimulates the production of natural occurring substances like cannabinoids and THC. These augment your senses by causing your synapses (where nerve impulses are transmitted and received) to fire off at a rapid rate, which is what creates the high. As levels of THC drop, your synapses slow back to their normal rate. No brain damage occurs.

Answer 2

Effects on the Brain

Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC acts in the brain to produce its many effects. When someone smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to organs throughout the body, including the brain.

In the brain, THC connects to specific sites called cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences the activity of those cells. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. Many cannabinoid receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement4.

The short-term effects of marijuana can include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate. Research findings for long-term marijuana abuse indicate some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term abuse of other major drugs. For example, cannabinoid (THC or synthetic forms of THC) withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stress-response system5 and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine6. Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse.

Answer 3

It kills brain cells and thats how you experiecne the high. it could cause a permanent chemical imbalance even after just one use and could lead to the onset of anxiety disorder and panic attacks

Answer 4

Look here:
http://www.whitman.edu/biology/Stuproj/YoungB/physio.html