The effects of smoking marijuana are not farfetched. Its use has been a concern, sparkling debate for years, which doesn’t even seem to be slowing down soon.
In recent times, marijuana smoking has been for recreational purposes, but there’s no doubt its use comes with real risks to people’s health. Marijuana, weed, grass, dope, or pot are different names for describing the same drug that emanates from the cannabis plant. Weed refers to the plant’s dried leaves, flowers, seeds, and stems.
People eat, smoke, vape, or drink the marijuana plant for a specific purpose. Marijuana, a psychoactive active drug plant, has more than 100 cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
THC is the primary psychoactive agent in weed that is intoxicating, i.e. it causes harmful effects, while CBD is non-intoxicating. These two main compounds probably have made the use of marijuana a debatable topic.
To date, the use of marijuana remains illegal. Still, its use among all adult age groups, both sexes, and pregnant women is increasing. This may be because people are unaware of the detriments of smoking marijuana. Young people nowadays do not consider marijuana smoking a risky act.
But there are risks associated with marijuana smoking, especially among young adults and pregnant or nursing women. In light of the effects of smoking marijuana, the list is compiled in this post, some of which are;
1. Effects on brain health
One of the detriments of smoking marijuana is its effect on brain health. The use of weed can cause permanent IQ (intelligence quotient) loss when people are exposed to its use at an early age, which may not come back even after quitting.
2. Effects on heart health
Marijuana smoking causes the heart to beat more quickly than it usually does. It can cause the heart rate to increase by at least 20 beats per minute, which could lead to heart diseases like hypertension, heart attack, etc.
3. Increased risk of cancer
Weed has about twice as many carcinogens and four times the amount of tar than tobacco. So, the risk of lung cancer for marijuana smokers is very high compared to tobacco smokers.
4. Effects on mental health
Smoking marijuana has been linked to depression, suicide planning, psychotic episodes, and anxiety. Even though there’s no sufficient proof that smoking weed causes these conditions, a person that uses marijuana often is liable to have any of those symptoms.
5. Effects on pregnancy
Marijuana use while pregnant may subject your baby to experience delayed neurological development when they are growing up. Weed may also cause children to have problems with memory and response to visual stimuli.
Conclusion
People smoke weed primarily for recreational purposes but are unaware of its detriments to their health. While marijuana is becoming readily available (even with governmental restrictions), the opportunity for abuse will also increase. Contact a medical specialist today if you or your loved one is struggling with weed addiction.