Marijuana: Effects on the Body

Not just your surgeon or primary care doctor, but any health care provider you see for physical or mental health, needs to know about your cannabis use. That’s because marijuana can affect major organs such as your heart and lungs. Along with addiction, researchers are unsure to what extent higher concentrations of THC will affect the body and brain of marijuana users. They’re unsure if people are adjusting for the increased potency by using less marijuana at one time or using it less frequently.

‘Days before he died he told us marijuana had ruined his life’ – Laura Stack on losing her 19-year-old son to addiction

No federal standards exist for the cannabis industry, but you have a better chance of knowing what you’re getting if you buy from a dispensary instead of off the street (which is still illegal). These forms, or distillates, can be reheated to create a smoke you can inhale. If you talk to someone who uses weed often, they’ll probably have opinions about the strains they like the most. Or they may say that different types make them feel different ways. By some accounts, one-third of Americans think weed and hemp are the same thing, but they’re not.

Mental Health Effects

The NIDA highlights research suggesting that 22% to 30% of people who use cannabis have CUD. Some estimates suggest that around 9% of cannabis users have an addiction. However, more research is necessary to accurately estimate cannabis addiction levels among current users.

• Physical dependence occurs when the body builds a tolerance to a drug and requires more of it to achieve a certain effect.
• Scientific American maintains a strict policy of editorial independence in reporting developments in science to our readers.
• One theory is that cannabis use could overactivate the cannabinoid receptors in your brain.

Lifestyle Quizzes

Some people may find that being in a calm, non-stimulating environment helps their recovery. Doctors may also suggest counseling to help someone develop healthy coping skills and modify behaviors they wish to change. Stopping cannabis use gradually may help decrease discomfort from withdrawal and lower someone’s risk of relapse. If cannabis use is interfering with any aspect of your life, you may want to consider stopping your usage. Inpatient treatment involves a hospital or residential setting that offers 24/7 care and supervision while the patient undergoes treatment plans.

Cannabis Users Perceptions and Self-Reported Behaviors Research Summary (Mar

But they may do better when loved ones are involved in treatment. The only sure way to stop CUD from happening is to never use marijuana. Not using drugs when you’re young might lower your chances. If you have children, make sure they know marijuana can be harmful. Keep a close eye on your kids if you get divorced, move, or have to send them to a different school.

• Cannabis use disorder is defined as “a problematic pattern of cannabis use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress,” according to the DSM-5.
• The negative effects of use appear to be more of an issue for those who use more often and over a longer period of time.
• “In fact, a glass or two of wine a day is considered healthy… Now, you certainly might see some sort of withdrawal symptom if someone’s been drinking for a few years and they abruptly stop doing that.
• Scientists are searching for ways to bring about long-term abstinence more consistently.
• In glaucoma patients, it can reduce the dangerously high eye pressure that can lead to vision loss.

What we know and don’t know about pot

Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both at the same time. Treatments are available that can help people overcome marijuana addiction. Such treatments primarily focus on psychotherapy, but researchers are also exploring medications that might someday be helpful.

How to Use Medical Marijuana

Currently, 31 states and the District of Columbia have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. In fact, 10 states and the District of Columbia allow marijuana for recreational use. Historical evidence suggests that ancient civilizations such as the Chinese, Indians, Persians, and Egyptians recognized the plant’s medicinal properties and employed it for therapeutic is marijuana addictive purposes. It was highly regarded for its fiber, which was used to make textiles and ropes, and its seeds, which served as a source of nutrition. Doctors will not typically prescribe anything to relieve cannabis intoxication. They may encourage completely stopping cannabis use if someone has CUD.