The primary ingredient in marijuana is called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly called THC. According to RxList.com, THC moves rapidly from the lungs when you smoke marijuana into the brain where it affects the cannabinoid receptors. These receptors predominately occur in areas of the brain that are involved in a person's perception of pleasure, where concentration takes place, and also in areas that help you move in a coordinated fashion. THC also may affect memory, the perception of time and the senses as well as the thinking process. THC is outlawed in the United States in marijuana, but it is used in the prescription drug dronabinol, marketed as Marinol, to help fight vomiting and nausea in cancer patients and as an appetite stimulant in acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Medical marijuana also may be used in some states in the treatment of glaucoma.
Serious
Tetrahydrocannabinol can cause some serious effects in those who take it in the form of dronabinol or marijuana. Any of these effects should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible. These types of side effects include memory problems including memory loss, mood changes, anxiety, confusion, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, depression, heartbeat that is pounding, sensory hallucinations, delusions, auditory hallucinations, unreal feelings, visual hallucinations, abnormal tiredness, uncommon weakness of body, vision blurring, sweating, chills, fainting, dizziness and light-headedness.
Not Serious
Some side effects are not of a serious nature and should go away with continued use of tetrahydrocannabinol in the form of dronabinol. You don't need to report these to a physician, but you may decide to do so if they persist. Temporary side effects include nasal congestion, clumsiness, sneezing, unsteadiness, a runny nose, dizziness, loss of hearing, drowsiness, headaches, euphoria, excessive tearing from the eyes, nausea, restlessness, diarrhea, vomiting, eyes that itch, facial flushing, thinking difficulties, ear noises such as buzzing or ringing, a cough or swelling, pain or redness in the eyelid or eye.
Overdose
Taking too much tetrahydrocannabinol into your system may cause you to experience side effects of an overdose. Emergency medical treatment is necessary for these side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic. Overdose side effects are abnormal dullness, forgetfulness, uncommon or severe drowsiness, misconceptions as to the passage of time, speech slurring, sensory changes in all five senses, seizures, constipation, eye redness, severe dry mouth, difficulty with urination, sluggish feelings or panic.
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