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| Marijuana Cigarette |
The Health Effects of Smoking Marijuana
One of the most common ways that marijuana is consumed is by smoking it in a cigarette, also known as a joint. While this method allows the user to feel the effects of THC quickly, it also exposes them to numerous health risks. When marijuana is smoked, it deposits tar and carcinogens into the lungs. Long-term smoking of marijuana has been linked to many of the same respiratory issues seen in tobacco smokers such as increased risk of bronchitis and lung infections. Some studies have also found associations between frequent marijuana use and increased risk of lung cancer, though the evidence is still considered limited. Smoking marijuana on a regular basis has also shown to impact lung capacity and ability due to airway inflammation and damage to lung tissue over time.
The Effects of Marijuana on the Brain
The brain is one of the areas most impacted by Marijuana Cigarette use, especially for young people and regular users. When smoked or ingested, THC readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and attaches to cannabinoid receptors involved in memory, learning, concentration, and coordination. Frequent marijuana use during adolescence may disrupt brain development and impact areas related to memory, learning, and emotional regulation. Studies show that long-term and regular use is linked to cognitive impairment that can persist after stopping use. This includes issues with memory recall, processing speed, and executive function. There is also increased risk of developing cannabis use disorder or dependence, especially with regular or daily use. Those who begin using marijuana at a young age are up to seven times more likely to develop dependence or addiction issues later in life.
Understanding Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms
While marijuana is often viewed as less addictive than other drugs, both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms can occur when a person who uses marijuana regularly abruptly stops or significantly cuts back. The risk and severity of withdrawal tends to correlate with frequency and duration of use. Common physical symptoms within the first few days include irritability, sleep difficulty, decreased appetite, restlessness, and physical discomfort. Psychological withdrawal symptoms may persist longer and include mood changes, insomnia, drug craving, unusual irritability or anger, depression, and strange dreams. Symptoms peak within the first week but can last for one to three weeks or longer for heavy users. Understanding the risks of addiction and withdrawal is an important part of making informed choices about marijuana use.
Marijuana Use and Mental Health Issues
There is a close association seen between marijuana use and development of mental illness. While THC exposure alone does not directly cause conditions like anxiety disorders and schizophrenia, it can exacerbate underlying vulnerabilities, trigger onset, or worsen the severity of episodes among those with preexisting conditions. Marijuana use is linked to increased symptoms of depression and suicidality in those already diagnosed. Heavy use during adolescence is also associated with higher rates of psychosis and schizophrenia in later life. Marijuana compounds may temporarily impair cognitive function and disrupt neurotransmitter signaling, which could worsen mental health symptoms for those with conditions marked by disturbances in cognition, sensation, and emotion perception. It is especially important for individuals with a family history of mental illness or personality tendencies toward psychosis to avoid regular marijuana use.
Safety Concerns Around Marijuana-Laced Edibles
One area of growing concern regarding marijuana cigarettes is the surge in popularity of cannabis-infused edible products such as cookies, candies, brownies, drinks and more. While ingesting edibles avoids the lung damage of smoking, it also means a delayed onset of up to two hours which increases risk of overconsumption. Peak blood levels after edible use can be three to ten times higher than when smoking, heightening the chances of adverse reactions. There have been numerous accidental poisonings in states where recreational marijuana is legal, including cases where children and pets accidentally ingested products containing THC. Manufacturers are still developing standardized dosing measures for edibles. The discrepancy between doses and delayed response can lead to unintentional overdoses, severe panic reactions, and increased ER visits until regulations are solidified.
Reducing Marijuana Risks Through Policy Changes
As more states legalize recreational marijuana, there is a pressing need to implement sensible policies aimed at public health protection, especially among vulnerable groups. These include imposing minimum age limits of 21 and over for legal purchases, restricting edible product designs to avoid accidental consumption, limiting home growing to reduce diversion, increasing public education on dangers of high-potency concentrates, requiring childproof packaging and labeling of all products, imposing driving under the influence penalties, restricting public usage, and imposing taxes to fund prevention programs. There is also work to be done addressing the disproportionate impacts of decades-long prohibition on minority populations through expungement of past records and investing tax revenue into community job training. Reasonable regulation of marijuana that controls dangerous products while also lifting counterproductive aspects of the war on drugs may be the best path forward for public health.
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