According to scientific studies by the National Institute of Drug Abuse on the active chemicals in marijuana called cannabinoids, the FDA has developed two approved drugs and is leading the development of pharmaceutical products that can to control the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids, while decreasing harmful side effects that include the high from consuming or smoking the leaves. Currently, there are two main cannabinoids that are of therapeutic interest: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which are found in various ratios within the marijuana plant. THC stimulates appetite and reduces nausea (for which there are other THC drugs approved for this purpose), and can reduce pain, spasticity, and inflammation. CBD is considered a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that can also be useful for reducing pain, inflammation, controlling seizures, and can treat psychosis and addiction. A June 2014 article in the New England Journal of Medicine presented research that supported the existence of short- and long-term consequences of marijuana use. • Short-term: Marijuana users may have experienced short-term memory problems, impaired motor skills that interfere with driving, impaired judgment that increases the risk of engaging in sexual behaviors, and highly induced paranoia and psychosis. • Long-term: addiction, impaired brain development, cognitive impairment, poor academic achievement, decreased life satisfaction and achievement, severe chronic respiratory symptoms, and increased risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Criminal Justice, Drug Policy Making, and Enforcement of Drug Laws According to the 2014 National Drug Control Strategy, President Barack Obama introduced a n...... middle of paper ...... al Comorbiolity SurveyBundey, A, J., Roffman, R., Stephens, R.S., Walker, D., Marijuana dependence and its treatments. Ski Clin practice for drug addicts. 2007; 4 (1): 4-16Bureau of Justice Statistics, (1992) December, Drugs, Crime and the Justice System Goode, E. (1970). Marijuana smokers (pp. 201-202). New York: Basic BooksHall, W. Adverse Health Effects of Cannabis Use: What Are They and What Are Their Implications for Policy? Drug Policy Intro J. 2009: 20:458-466Hawkins, J.D., Catalano, R.F., & Miller, J.Y., (1992). Risk protective factors for alcohol and other drug-related problems in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuse prevention. Psychological bulletin. 112 (1): 64-105 McCaig, L. (1995) (November): Drug Abuse Warning Network Preliminary Estimates: (1994) Preliminary Estimates of Drug-Related Emergency Room Episodes.