The Effects of Marijuana on Visual Spatial Memory, Attention and Decision Making

THE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA ON VISUAL SPATIAL MEMORY, ATTENTION AND DECISION MAKING
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Marijuana is a drug obtained from virtually all the parts of the cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana is a drug with many names, such as bang, weed or ganja. It is a drug that alters an individual’s mood .Just like any drug; it has many long-term and short-term effects. The most hard-hitting effects of cannabis use goes to the impact on an individual’s memory. It contains a chemical known as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) The use of marijuana has different effects on different people(NIH,2015). There are those who quickly get intoxicated by a minimal amount of the drug, while there are those heavy users, who have to consume large amounts of the same to be intoxicated. Over time, it has been used by various cultures for its medicinal purposes or for intoxication. Just like any other drug, marijuana affects logical thinking. The United States has got a huge number of people taking marijuana on a daily basis. The figure stands at approximately one million for any single day(Bolla et al.2002).The proof that marijuana has an impairment effect on the cognitive ability of a human being has been piling up over time. This paper aims at analyzing the effects of marijuana on visual spatial memory, attention and decision making of a person.
T o understand better how marijuana affects memory attention and decision making of an individual, it is important to understand how the brain works. The brain contains neurons, which are the information processors. In order for them to communicate with each other, they are facilitated by neurotransmitters between them. These neurotransmitters have got protein receptors which control the operations of the various body organs in relation to the brain.THC interferes with normal operations of the brain(Bonsor & Gerbis,n.d).The brain has cannabinoid receptors at different parts, which affect coordination, problem-solving, and posture. These receptors are activated by anandamide .The hippocampus, which is responsible for short-term memory, contains high density of these receptors. Hence, when THC agglutinates with the receptors in it, then there is interference of short term memory.
The basal ganglia which is responsible for muscle movement on the other hand, just like the hippocampus, has got high density of the receptors. When THC interferes with these receptors, then there is an interference of motor coordination. This is also the case when it comes to the cerebellum, which controls coordination. Thus it can be said that the use of marijuana interferes with motor coordination, memory and general body coordination (Bonsor & Gerbis, n.d).
As earlier mentioned, the effects of marijuana stem from the presence of THC in it. The chemical plays a huge role in the human brain, which itself has some natural chemicals that have a resemblance to THC. When marijuana is used, it introduces THC into the body. The THC manipulates the brain into the production of dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical that generally relaxes the mind and the individual, creating that ‘feel good’ aura usually experienced by most marijuana users. It is the chemical that is usua...