Updated September 04, 2013
Although legalization activists and many marijuana users believe smoking
pot has no negative effects, scientific research indicates that
marijuana use can cause many different health problems.
Marijuana is the
most commonly used illicit drug
in the United States. When smoked, it begins to effect users almost
immediately and can last for one to three hours. When it is eaten in
food, such as baked in brownies and cookies, the effects take longer to
begin, but usually last longer.
Has smoking weed become a problem for you?
Take the Marijuana Screening Quiz
Short-Term Effects
The short-term effects of marijuana include:
Sometimes marijuana use can also produce anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic.
Do you experience withdrawals when you quit smoking weed? Take the
Marijuana Withdrawal Symptom Quiz.
Effects on the Brain
The active ingredient in marijuana, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC,
acts on cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences the
activity of those cells. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid
receptors, but other areas of the brain have few or none at all. Many
cannabinoid receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence
pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception,
and coordinated movement.
When high doses of marijuana are used, usually when eaten in food rather
than smoked, users can experience the following symptoms:
Effects on the Heart
Within a few minutes after smoking marijuana, the heart begins beating
more rapidly and the blood pressure drops. Marijuana can cause the heart
beat to increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute, and can increase even
more if other drugs are used at the same time.
Because of the lower blood pressure and higher heart rate, researchers
found that users' risk for a heart attack is four times higher within
the first hour after smoking marijuana, compared to their general risk
of heart attack when not smoking.
Effects on the Lungs
Smoking marijuana, even infrequently, can cause burning and stinging of
the mouth and throat, and cause heavy coughing. Scientists have found
that regular marijuana smokers can experience the same respiratory
problems as tobacco smokers do, including:
Most marijuana smokers consume a lot less cannabis than cigarette
smokers consume tobacco, however the harmful effects of smoking
marijuana should not be ignored. Marijuana contains more carcinogenic
hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke and because marijuana smokers typically
inhale deeper and hold the smoke in their lungs longer than tobacco
smokers, their lungs are exposed to those carcinogenic properties
longer, when smoking.
What About Cancer?
Although one study found that marijuana smokers were three times more
likely to develop cancer of the head or neck than non-smokers, that
study could not be confirmed by further analysis.
Because marijuana smoke contains three times the amount of tar found in
tobacco smoke and 50 percent more carcinogens, it would seem logical to
deduce that there is an increased risk of lung cancer for marijuana
smokers. However, researchers have not been able to definitively prove
such a link because their studies have not been able to adjust for
tobacco smoking and other factors that might also increase the risk.
Studies linking marijuana smoking to lung cancer have also been limited
by selection bias and small sample size. For example, the participants
in those studies may have been too young to have developed lung cancer
yet. Even though researchers have yet to "prove" a link between smoking
pot and lung cancer, regular smokers may want to consider the risk.
Other Health Effects
Research indicates that THC impairs the body's immune system from
fighting disease, which can cause a wide variety of health problems. One
study found that marijuana actually inhibited the disease-preventing
actions of key immune cells. Another study found that THC increased the
risk of developing bacterial infections and tumors.
Effects of Exposure During Pregnancy
Several studies have found that children born to mothers who used
marijuana during pregnancy exhibit some problems with neurological
development. According to those studies, prenatal marijuana exposure can
cause:
See Also: The Health Effects of Other Drugs
Sources:
Chuder, Eric C., "Neuroscience for Kids: Marijuana," University of Washington, Revised 2008.
SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information.
"Tips for Teens: The Truth About Marijuana," Revised May 2004.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know." Revised August 2007.
Tetrault, J.M., et al. "Effects of marijuana smoking on pulmonary function and respiratory complications: a systematic review." Archives of Intern Medicine. February 2007.
Mehra, R, et al. "The association between marijuana smoking and lung cancer: a systematic review." Archives of Internal Medicine. July 2006.
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