Marijuana, also known as cannabis: A compilation of its characteristics, possible impacts, and potential dangers
The long-term impacts of cannabis use can have profound effects on an individual's mental and physical well-being. This article explores the various ways cannabis can influence health, based on established research.
### Mental Health Effects
Heavy cannabis use can lead to structural changes in the brain, particularly in areas responsible for memory and decision-making. Long-term use may also result in lower IQ scores, particularly when started in adolescence, and may increase the risk of dementia and other memory-related conditions.
Cannabis use, especially during adolescence and with high THC products, can disrupt brain development and increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Some behavioral changes may be reversible, but long-term use can affect mood regulation and emotional processing.
### Physical Health Effects
Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. Daily use can elevate the risk of heart attack by up to 25% and stroke by up to 42% compared to non-users. While rare, cannabis can contribute to fatal outcomes through impaired behavior leading to accidents or triggering severe cardiac episodes.
### General Considerations
It's essential to be aware of the risks associated with cannabis use. While cannabis itself is not typically lethal, its use carries risks, especially when combined with other substances or used improperly (e.g., before driving). Monitoring dosage and method of consumption, along with awareness of potency and side effects, is crucial for safer use.
Cannabis contains active ingredients called cannabinoids, with cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) being the most abundant. Long-term cannabis use can lead to changes in the brain, potentially resulting in problematic use or cannabis use disorder. Up to 17% of teenagers who start using cannabis may become dependent on it.
THC stimulates the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure. The legal status of cannabis varies among states, and individuals should check before using. Cannabis is a plant used for recreational and medicinal purposes.
Using cannabis can impair judgment, increasing the risk of road traffic accidents within 3 hours of smoking. Symptoms of cannabis withdrawal peak within the first week and can last up to 2 weeks. The effects of cannabis depend on the method of use, with smoking or inhaling causing a sense of elation within minutes, and ingesting causing effects within 1 hour.
CBD is present in various forms, including oils, capsules, and gummy candies. About 30% of cannabis users may develop cannabis use disorder, with about 9% developing an addiction. CBD is federally legal in some forms, but CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC are federally illegal.
Cannabis can have euphoric, pain-relieving, and psychoactive effects. Epidiolex, a medication that derives from cannabis, was approved in 2018 to treat two rare and severe types of epilepsy. Medical uses of cannabis include managing chronic pain, nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, some symptoms of multiple sclerosis, sleep problems, low appetite, Tourette's syndrome, anxiety in some individuals.
Frequent cannabis use may affect the immune system, but more studies are needed to confirm this. It's crucial to approach cannabis use responsibly, considering its potential benefits and risks.
- Prolonged use of cannabis, particularly during adolescence and with high THC products, can increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia, as well as affect mood regulation and emotional processing.
- While CBD is a federally legal component of cannabis in some forms, long-term cannabis use can lead to changes in the brain, potentially resulting in problematic use or cannabis use disorder.
- Cannabis, such as the medication Epidiolex, can have pain-relieving and euphoric effects, and is used medicinally to manage chronic pain, nausea from chemotherapy, and some symptoms of multiple sclerosis, among other conditions.
- Heavy cannabis use can lead to structural changes in the brain, particularly in areas responsible for memory and decision-making, and may also impact mental health by increasing the risk of dementia and other memory-related conditions.
