According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services studies, one out of every 11 persons who smoke marijuana will become addicted. The active ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This chemical targets brain cells influencing memory, coordination, sensory perception, and thinking. When it is medically prescribed, it can help with nausea (for chemotherapy patients) or pain in certain instances.

Commonly Known As: Grass, pot, Maryjane, or weed, marijuana can be smoked in a pipe, as a cigarette or it can be ingested (there are now many forms of edible marijuana – gumdrops, lollipops, tea, etc.).