As more countries legalize marijuana usage, it is critical to be aware of the possible health consequences of this substance, which known by many names, including “dope,” “weed,” “chronic,” and “grass.”
Cannabis and its cannabinoids, the physiologically active components of marijuana, are classified as Schedule I forbidden drugs by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This implies that it is illegal to prescribe, possess, or sell it on a federal basis. The US Food and Drug Administration has not authorized whole or crude marijuana, such as marijuana oil or hemp oil, for medicinal use (FDA). However, the use of medical marijuana is legal in other areas.
Because marijuana is becoming more popular, Health performed study using cutting-edge technologies and consulted with many experts to identify the hazards and benefits of marijuana usage.
This may help or aggravate anxiety.
Cannabis users often say that smoking relieves tension and anxiety. THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana that causes people to feel “high,” was demonstrated in a 2017 research to help participants feel less nervous about public speaking when supplied in extremely low amounts. The study may be found in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
But it may not be so simple: the study utilized a little quantity of marijuana, comparable to a few puffs on a cigarette. They also discovered that even a little increase in TCH dose, or the usage of any medication that may offer a modest high, increased their anxiety. Emma Childs, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and study co-author, said the findings “indicate cannabis might be beneficial for persons with anxiety.” Childs, on the other hand, says that further study is required to establish optimal doses and delivery strategies to lessen the negative effects.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the quantity and experience of the user are both essential determinants (NIDA). Those that experiment with marijuana may or may not feel the same feeling of peace and enthusiasm that others do. Some individuals suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, fear, and mistrust. Inexperience, extensive marijuana usage, and exceptionally powerful marijuana all enhance the risk of this occurring (among the many varieties of marijuana).
According to NIDA, high-dose cannabis users are at risk of developing acute psychosis. Acute psychosis may be characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and a general loss of identity.
Those suffering from chronic pain and nausea may find this useful.
People often resort to medicinal marijuana to alleviate their agony. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine decided in 2017 that there is substantial evidence in favor of this procedure. The study also discovered that marijuana products were beneficial in reducing nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, as well as muscular spasms caused by multiple sclerosis.
The National Academies found that evidence suggests cannabis or cannabis-derived drugs may benefit those suffering from sleep difficulties caused by fibromyalgia, chronic pain, or sleep apnea.
This might be beneficial to persons suffering from epilepsy.
A 2018 research discovered that cannabidiol oil, a marijuana derivative, decreased seizures in children with the uncommon epilepsy disorder Dravet syndrome by 39%.
Epidiolex, the brand name of the cannabidiol oil used in the study, was authorized by the FDA in 2018 and contains no psychotropic ingredients such as THC. THC should not be ingested in the pediatric (or even early adult) age range owing to evidence on neurodevelopmental effects on the fetal, child, or adolescent brain, according to a research published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 2022.
It might be a less dangerous alternative to opioids.
According to a study published in the journal Health Affairs in 2016, states that legalized medicinal marijuana reported a reduction in the average number of opioid prescriptions issued per capita of 1,826 per year. Furthermore, a 2017 research study published in Trends in Neurosciences found that cannabis may be useful in the treatment of opiate addiction. While human research have been limited owing to marijuana’s Schedule 1 status, the authors contend that more are urgently required.
However, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) advises that marijuana usage may be a “gateway drug,” or a substance that is likely to be used before the use of other licit and illegal substances, and that it may result in the development of addiction to other drugs. Researchers discovered that those who reported consuming marijuana were more likely to have an alcohol consumption issue within three years than those who did not report smoking marijuana in one study that looked at data from multiple years. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported this (NIDA). THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana responsible for the majority of the intoxication effects sought, has been shown in animal tests to “prime” the brain for increased sensitivity to other drugs.
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There is early evidence that it may have anti-cancer properties, but further research is required.
According to the American Cancer Society, THC and other cannabinoids, such as CBD, have been shown in tests to suppress the growth and/or induce the death of certain cancer cells growing in laboratory dishes (ACS). More study is required, although early data shows that cannabis may slow the spread of certain malignancies in animal models.
Cannabinoids’ ability to inhibit tumor development in a variety of cancer models was first described in a 2019 review of the literature published in the Journal of the Association of Basic Medical Sciences (cell culture and animal studies). However, the dosage and kind of cancer seem to have an impact on these anticancer effects.
Pregnancy may be hazardous to the growing fetus.
According to a 2019 article published in JAMA Pediatrics, more pregnant women are consuming marijuana. According to NIDA, there is some evidence that moms who use marijuana during pregnancy are more likely to have children with hyperactivity or developmental delays. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, pregnant women who use marijuana have a 2.3-fold greater chance of delivering a stillborn child.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), obstetrician-gynecologists strongly advise their patients not to use marijuana while attempting to conceive, during pregnancy, or while nursing. Furthermore, according to ACOG, there is no proof that marijuana relieves morning sickness.
Even parents who use marijuana should be cautious these days. According to a 2019 research published in the journal Prevention Science, when adults have children, their marijuana usage lowers but does not necessarily stop. The study discovered a link between parental marijuana usage and their own children’s reported marijuana and alcohol use between the ages of 10 and 21, respectively. Parental marijuana use, whether chronic or infrequent, increases a child’s chance of trying both alcohol and marijuana. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the kids of habitual marijuana users were more likely to use cigarettes, have a positive opinion of marijuana, engage in hazardous or antisocial behavior, and had worse academic attainment.
As a consequence, it may raise the likelihood of having a heart attack.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there is evidence that the first hour after using marijuana raises one’s chance of having a heart attack by around five times the average. The propensity of marijuana to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen transport capacity may be to responsible for this increased risk.
According to a 2017 study published in Nature Reviews Cardiology, the quantity of THC in marijuana had increased by a factor of 10 over the preceding decade, and very strong synthetic cannabinoids were becoming more widely available for recreational use. Myocardial infarction (heart attack), cardiomyopathy (muscular illness of the heart), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), stroke, and cardiac arrest are all instances of catastrophic cardiovascular catastrophes that experts think have increased as a result of these causes (when the heart stops).
Driving while stoned is very dangerous.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana usage may impair thinking, coordination, and response time. Several studies have shown a link between high blood THC levels and risky driving behavior.
Furthermore, according to the National Institute on Substance Abuse, marijuana is the illegal drug most often discovered in the blood of drivers involved in automobile accidents, including fatal ones. A meta-analysis published in 2021 found that research consistently revealed a modestly higher risk of collisions after acute cannabis usage. According to the research reviewed, the authors said that high THC levels in the blood were connected with an increased risk of vehicle accidents.
Despite this evidence, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) classed marijuana’s participation in accidents as “uncertain” due to the drug’s ability to remain in bodily fluids for days or even weeks following intoxication, as well as the fact that alcohol and marijuana are often combined.
Possibility of Harm to Your Lungs
Over 1,000 complaints of lung difficulties as a consequence of vaping have been received by the US Food and Drug Administration, with some instances proving fatal (FDA). A 2021 research published in the Journal of Adolescent Health discovered that vaping caused more lung damage than smoking marijuana in the long term.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana smoke, like cigarette smoke, may irritate the respiratory system. The medicine, when breathed, may enhance lung inflation, airway resistance, and inflammation. Chronic marijuana users are also more prone to suffer from respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Marijuana includes volatile compounds and tar that are comparable to those found in tobacco smoke, raising concerns about carcinogenic and corrosive consequences. A meta-analysis of prior research indicated in a 2016 study published in Advances in Clinical Research that cannabis use may increase the chance of acquiring lung cancer. The link between cannabis use and lung cancer was, however, modest.
When teenagers use, they put themselves in more risk.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), teenage marijuana usage may have substantial long-term effects on brain development. Marijuana users may also suffer short-term memory, judgment, and perceptual deficits, which may manifest as poor performance in school or the job. Furthermore, there is the risk of driving while inebriated.
Regular marijuana use throughout adolescence is related with an increased risk of addiction and more severe marijuana use later in life, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
It has the potential to trigger Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome.
According to the National Library of Medicine’s StatPearls database, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a disorder characterized by prolonged symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort after cannabis usage. According to a 2019 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, whereas 18.4% of patients who smoked cannabis visited the ER, 8.4% of those who consumed edible cannabis did there with CHS symptoms.
According to Weill Cornell Care emergency medicine specialist Joseph Habboushe, there hasn’t been much research on CHS. If symptoms of chronic hazard syndrome (CHS) appear after years of marijuana use, they may persist until the person quits using marijuana. Marijuana withdrawal is now the sole treatment option for CHS symptoms. “We know that quitting smoking improves your health, but it takes days to weeks,” said Dr. Habboushe.
Summary
Marijuana users should be made aware of the hazards associated. Marijuana has been shown to help treat a range of medical ailments, but it should be handled with care. Furthermore, contrary to common opinion, breathing marijuana vapor is more damaging to your lungs than smoking it.
If you are concerned about the effects of marijuana usage, you should speak with your doctor.