Drug Efects

Charlie Stell

Paper 2

Recently I viewed a documentary that made use of humorous narrative to examine the physiological, psychological and sociological effects of marijuana use. The name of this film is "Half Baked." First I will discuss the clinically proven effects of marijuana and then compare this to what was seen in the movie.

Most psychologists and medical professionals will describe the short-term (immediate) effects of marijuana in the same way. One of the hallmark effects is relaxation. The user, even under very stressful circumstance, will feel as if his or her pre-existent problems are no longer that important. In addition to relaxation, he user will began to feel like anything he or she interacts with is funny. This is one of the reasons why marijuana is considered such an apt drug. Also associated with marijuana is an extreme craving for food shortly after using the drug. This is commonly referred to as the "munchies".

Half baked did a good job at representing the actual effects of marijuana abuse. However, if did deviate from actual effects by adding and greatly exaggerating other effects. After consuming the drug, or in street terms "toking it up", the characters in the movie become very hungry. They send their fried off to the grocery store to buy enough food to kill a horse. During the usage of the drugs, everything become very funny to the users. Where the movie become unrealistic is when it depicts the drug as provoking extreme hallucinogenic effects. These such events really could only be produced by drugs such as LSD or Acid.

All in All, Half baked did a good job.