The National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse

Marihuana - A Signal of Misunderstanding.

Chapter II

marihuana use and its effects

Metabolism

Another factor which influences the effect of the drug is metabolism. During the metabolic process, the body cells, principally in the liver and lungs, chemically alter drug substances, changing their activity and providing for their elimination from the body. Increasing evidence indicates that marihuana is first changed by the body in a way that activates or enhances the drug effect and is subsequently altered in a way that inactivates the drug prior to its removal from the body.

The rate and direction of these metabolic steps can significantly influence the effect of marihuana. For instance, individuals with extensive exposure to marihuana or other drugs metabolize more rapidly, and perhaps differently, from those individuals with no drug exposure.