The drug is called pot, tea, hemp, grass, and weed; the butt of the marijuana cigarette is called a roach. To be used as a drug, the leaves and flowers are cut, dried, and crushed into small pieces. This grassy-looking product is usually rolled into homemade cigarettes called joints. It can also be smoked in a pipe or baked in food, such as brownies.

The smoke from the joint is harsh, but sweet, most adults don't recognize the smell. It is not uncommon to see teenagers passing joints among themselves while driving down the road. Often they will tell their parents it is a new incense they are burning.

When grass is smoked, the effect usually begins in about fifteen minutes and lasts from two to five hours. The potency of the drug is dependent on the climate in which it is grown, the soil, the time of harvesting, and other conditions. Some marijuana may have no effect whatsoever. The THC content of the plant determines its mind-altering ability .Most of the marijuana grown in the United States is low in THC content. Many teens make do with the poor-quality grade grown in the States and in Mexico. The grade is far below that of the famous "Acapulco Gold" or "Panamanian Red". The states bordering Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico usually have more potent grass.

Because of this practice, teenagers who would ordinarily never experiment with chemicals are putting damaging chemicals into their bodies without realizing it. The user begins to feel high, as he would after a few alcoholic drinks. This can cause him to experience one of two conditions. He may become very happy, talkative, loud, and experience uncontrollable hilarity and fantasy. This makes him feel that he is above reality and that he has a greater appreciation of art and music. The user's sense of time and distance may become distorted. A minute may seem like hours or the next room may seem miles away. On the other hand, the user may feel just the opposite. He may become irritable and confused or fearful. Instead of being "super high", he can become drowsy and unsteady, finding it difficult to coordinate his movements. It should be said that, regardless of the effects on an individual, grass always affects his judgment.

A user of marijuana finds it harder to make decisions, and is easily swayed by the crowd. Even though marijuana has no aphrodisiac properties, promiscuity seems to increase among those using it. On dates a few drinks or some grass would weaken the girl's judgment and lower their resistance. Probably it is the combination of boredom, music, wine, marijuana, and the crowd that actually causes immorality to increase rather than just the grass alone.

Marijuana is not an addictive drug; that is, it does not lead to physical dependence or to subsequent withdrawal symptoms. However, users can become psychologically dependent. Most regular users don't want to function without a "little help from their friends," which are drugs. Some may smoke a joint before school, during the break, during lunch, and right after school.  Marijuana easily becomes a psychological and emotional crutch, and it is difficult to quit the "mind" habit.

While the marijuana user may become violent, generally he is passive. Sometimes the law is broken by a person under marijuana influence, but it is usually a traffic violation. The personality of the user is as important as the type of drug used in determining whether drug use will lead to criminal or violent behaviour.

Studies do show that high-school users, as compared to non-users, place less value on achievement and higher value on independence. They tend to be more alienated and critical, more tolerant of deviance, less religious, less influenced by parents than by friends, and poorer students.

The physical and mental effects can last from two to four hours and include loss of coordination in various degrees, insatiable hunger, inflammation of the mucous membranes and bronchial tubes, and dilation of the pupils. The effects are similar to those caused by mild alcohol intoxication.

Often there is uncontrollable hilarity and a feeling of being beyond reality. However, large doses have been known to cause hallucination and paranoia. (Remember, grass is often cut with chemicals.) Marijuana allows the user to be more open and talkative. Marijuana intoxication is probably the most difficult drug state to detect, because an experienced user can function normally while high. Brown stains on fingertips, small burn holes in shirts or dresses, and the presence of paraphernalia (pipes, water pipes, roach chips, rolling papers, etc.) all indicate excessive use. Adults should become familiar with the marijuana symbol painted on shirts and street signs and plastered on walls. A very important sign of drug abuse is the development of tremendous apathy in the user.