Ask Pat

Marijuana has never been proven to increase cardio-pulmonary performance, only decrease it because of the absorbed CO and CO2 as well as the accumulated tars in the lungs and the short-term tachycardia (rapid heart-beat) is not an efficient blood distributor. However, it can decrease pre-race anxiety and jitters which subjectively makes the runner feel better and more relaxed. People in their late teens and early adulthoods can perform well despite the toxic loads put on the system by pot or alcohol, however this is clearly related to the natural vigor of youth and their performance would be better without the toxins. Certainly if this had continued another 5 or 10 years, she'd no longer be competitive-the stuff is too hard on the body and reduces that edge it takes to win. Glad she quit, hope she is too.

At best what will happen is that stimulating effects of Ritalin on the prefrontal cortex (which is what shuts down with ADD/ ADHD) is negated by the sedating effects of THC, that active ingredient in marijuana. At worst, sometimes, interactive effects of the two drugs can occur, resulting in possible panic attacks, paranoia, anxiety, confusion and disorientation. Why and how this occurs is not really well understood as of yet. Overall, it is not a good idea to mix them.

Ephedrine, because it is water soluble, takes a few days. THC, the active ingredient in pot is fat-soluble and can take weeks, and in a heavy smoker, months to leave the system. In chronic smokers THC can take upwards of 1-2 years to be removed from the fatty tissues in the brain. Detox for THC is very slow.

Yes, it can and it is similar to getting the child stoned. Bad practice for the infant! If you continue to smoke you should consider feeding the infant a formula.

Yes and there are a lot of different factors involved, including how much of each substance you are consuming. Alcohol (considered a depressant) mixed with a sedative like marijuana can cause you to feel the intoxication from both. Both alcohol and marijuana impair coordination so concentration or something that requires concentration (like driving) will be greatly impaired. In addition, combining alcohol with marijuana may cause a dangerous state of intoxication since THC (main ingredient in marijuana) turns off the vomit center in the brain. This, of course, increases the possibility of alcohol poisoning.

Pat assumes you are talking about the use of marijuana. Although marijuana use does not make people sterile as some rumors have asserted, long-term use of marijuana does have some effects on reproductive function. Through its effects on the brain, marijuana suppresses the production of hormones that help to regulate the reproductive system. In men this translates to decreased sperm counts, and occasionally erectile dysfunction (impotence) from high doses over a long period of time. A woman who uses marijuana regularly over a long period of time may experience irregular menstrual cycles. Though these effects almost never cause complete infertility, they could decrease the probability of conception.

Since THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) stays in the body and the brain for so long after exposure to marijuana, it is important to know how long term memory and other cognitive functions may be affected. Although researchers have undertaken a considerable number of studies, most of them are flawed because they fail to control for influences such as smoking experience or intelligence that make results difficult to interpret. We need to explain the effects of marijuana in terms of what we do know, and what we think happens to users. In most cases, we simply do no have enough research available to know all the long-term effects that will result with marijuana use. Still, when all the findings are boiled down it does appear that marijuana has residual effects on cognitive functions, including memory for up to 48 hours after smoking. However, there is no good evidence of residual effects on mental functioning lasting beyond two days. We know that marijuana weakens the immune system, and our ability to fight disease. Regular marijuana use in men causes a decrease in testosterone, and a lower sperm count. Both male and female users also report a decrease in their sex drive. Chronic users tend to suffer from a motivational syndrome. They sort of stand still. They talk about just not being motivated to do anything else, and they often have poor grades and poor job performance. Although no one has ever died from an overdose of marijuana, it does impair judgment and the kinds of complex coordination needed to drive a car. So a lot of what you are asking depends on how much you use, attempts to quit, and where you want to go in your life. There are effects which you should be concerned about, and might find it helpful to analyze your habits to decrease your risks. As far as marijuana's similarity to cigarettes goes, tobacco's addictive substance is nicotine. Nine out of ten people who try nicotine will become addicted. Tobacco has thousands of damaging chemicals; potential for damage to mouth, lungs, and heart are high. Tobacco use is seen as one of the leading causes of chronic illness and early death in the U.S. Quitting tobacco use is an important decision for long term health.

Addiction is the repetitive, compulsive use of a substance that occurs despite negative consequences to the user. Because addiction depends on many different factors in the life of an individual, such as family history, personality, mental health, and live experience, most people do not become addicted to drugs. The thing about marijuana (primarily THC) and its metabolites is that they stay in the blood for days, and they stay in the fatty deposits of the body much longer. Lethal overdose is virtually impossible, and although no one has ever died from an overdose of marijuana it does impair judgment and the kinds of complex coordination it takes to drive a car. Ask yourself if your use of marijuana has damaged your relationships, impacted your academic success, ever gotten you in trouble with the law or school officials, and how you feel about the importance it plays in your life. Can you quit smoking and live the life you want to live? If not, Pat encourages you to examine the role smoking has in your life and get help in seeking the answers you need to be successful.

There has been very little work done on the topic of mixing marijuana with other drugs as far as dangerous combinations are concerned. Possible dangers include interactions with heart and blood pressure medications. Having your roommate double check with his physician is the safest route to go. However, there seems to be no known dangers associated with taking Zoloft and occasional marijuana use.

Stopping the use of marijuana will be the best thing you can do for your lungs. To hasten the healing, aerobic exercise will help to clear the accumulated gunk out more quickly. It might also be useful to consult an herbalist or acupuncturist to find out what herbs will assist in the healing. The Center for Drug and Alcohol Education at Hartshorn is available if you need some help or support in quitting--you may call 491-1724 if you are interested in using this resource. Good luck!

Herbal pot by law cannot contain any THC and can be comprised of any of a couple of dozen different kinds of herbs, none of which are regulated for purity or contaminants or effects. Use of herbs with medications is highly not recommended because of the unpredictable interactive effects which are neither known nor regulated as FDA medications are. A risky endeavor at best, potentially lethal at worst.

Pot actually decreases the gag reflex but doesn't necessarily turn it completely off. Many people vomit after smoking weed when they've been drinking because of a mild allergic reaction to the weed, or from the cough reflex from the smoke also triggering the vomit reflex simultaneously.

Blood is filtered through the kidneys and liver and the presence of THC is equally long in both fluids. Only time can facilitate the removal of THC which is the longest detoxing drug people use due to THC's lipid-solubility and extended release from the fatty tissues.

If that was your first time and it was a small quantity it should be out of your system in less than a month.

Depending on how much you've been smoking and over what period of time, it could take anywhere from three to six weeks for you to pass a standard urinalysis test. Drinking water and exercising will dilute the amount of THC in your urine but it does not cause it to be removed any faster, only time and your liver can do that.