The Umansky Law Firm

Cannabis or marijuana is illegal in the state of Florida and is heavily prosecuted in the central Florida areas of Orlando, Avalon park, Stoneybrook, Heathrow, Celebration, Gotha, Winter Park, Windermere, Kissimmee, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Tuscawilla, St. Cloud, Clermont, Bartow and in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard and Lake County. Hiring a lawyer is a smart option if you are caught or arrested and charged with possession of marijuana as it can be a felony if you are caught possessing more than 20 grams of the plant.

Most people know what marijuana looks like: The mix of buds, crushed or shredded leaves, stems, and seeds that is usually greenish in color. It comes from the hemp plant called cannabis sativa. The main active ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Marijuana is a popular drug in the U.S., and is abused far more than any other illegal drug. It is prevalent throughout the Orlando area.

Abusing Marijuana

Marijuana can be smoked as a joint, in a pipe or bowl, or bong. Blunts are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and filled with marijuana. Cigars retain their tobacco leaves, and the nicotine mixes with marijuana and other chemicals when it is smoked as a blunt. Marijuana can also be brewed as a tea or mixed into brownies and other food.

Impact on the Brain

When an individual smokes marijuana, the THC is absorbed from the lungs into the blood. This carries it to the brain and other organs. Cannabinoid receptors in the brain create the "high" that people experience when smoking marijuana. The parts of the brain that have the most cannabinoid receptors include those that have something to do with concentration, memory, thought, sensation, and give us the perception of time.

THC's effect on these parts of the brain may cause distortions in perception, crate problems with learning and memory, and impair coordination. The effects of the drug may harm learning and memory for weeks after its use and they finally wear off. Long-term effects of marijuana abuse have some of the same changes on the brain as other major drugs do.

Abusing marijuana can lead to addiction, which will affect social interaction, school, work, and recreational activities. Long-time abusers have noted anxiety, decreases in appetite, insomnia, and irritability. Their craving for the drug also makes quitting very difficult.

Adverse Effects on the Body

Contrary to popular belief, marijuana contains carcinogens and is a lung irritant. Studies have shown marijuana smoke contains 50-70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Individuals who abuse marijuana may have some of the same respiratory problems tobacco smokers do, such as a regular cough and phlegm production, bronchial infections, and a greater chance of suffering from bronchial obstructions. Chronic bronchitis can be a dangerous health condition.

Treatment After Arrests for Smoking Marijuana

Behavioral therapy, including cognitive techniques and motivational incentives (such as providing vouchers for goods or services to patients who remain drug free) have shown to be effective in treating marijuana addiction. Though there are no medications currently available in treating marijuana addiction, recent discoveries about the workings of the cannabinoid system offer promise for future drug development to help ease withdrawal, block the intoxicating effects of marijuana, and prevent relapse.

If You are Arrested in Florida

If you are arrested in Orlando, Clermont, Winter Park or any other Central Florida area, call an attorney who is experienced in marijuana, cannabis or hash cases. Hiring an experienced attorney may be critical to the outcome of the case as you or your loved one may face driver's license suspension, probation or in some cases jail time. If you have been charged or arrested for possession of marijuana or cannabis in Orlando, Windermere, Winter Park, Baldwin Park, Avalon Park, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Celebration, Kissimmee, or in Orange, Lake, Seminole, Brevard or Osceola County, call us at 407-228-3838 or contact us via email today. Let our former prosecutors help you today!