Even though people have been smoking marijuana or cannabis for thousands of years, we still know surprisingly little about its effects on the body. This article looks at the scientific research that explores the benefits and risks of marijuana to evaluate if and how it is safe to use.
Who would have thought, back in 2737 B.C. when the Chinese Emperor Shen Neng recommended cannabis tea to mitigate the effects of gout, rheumatism, malaria, and poor memory, that this plant would remain highly popular throughout most ancient societies and to the present day? Even more intriguing is the fact that despite this long history of marijuana, i. e. the dried parts of the cannabis plant, our knowledge of its health benefits and risks pales in comparison to the scale of unabated public interest in its use (according to the World Health Organization, marijuana is the world’s most widely cultivated, trafficked, and abused illicit substance). The resulting tension between the widespread belief that marijuana has various medical benefits and the lack of evidence-based knowledge of most of its effects is exacerbated by a drive toward legalisation in many countries.
About the results yielded by the most recent studies, let’s have a closer look at the current scientific evidence regarding the benefits and risks of marijuana use.
Benefits
Cannabis contains more than 300 different chemicals, of which more than 80 chemicals are called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids affect the body in various ways. The two main cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC has a potent psychoactive effect and is the cannabinoid responsible for creating a “high”. On the other hand, CBD counteracts the effect of THC and is not psychoactive. As studies have shown limited benefits for treating certain illnesses, some countries have approved the use of so-called “medical marijuana”. Research suggests that cannabinoids might …
… relieve (chronic) pain
… reduce anxiety, ease depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
… control nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy
… slow down tumour growth and kill cancer cells
… relax tight muscles and other signs of spasticity among people with multiple sclerosis
… reduce the risk of seizures associated with certain types of epilepsy
… stimulate appetite to achieve weight gain in people with cancer and AIDS
Risks
While beneficial effects are attributed to CBD, this applies primarily to products that contain very little or no THC. Common marijuana still contains THC, which has been identified as the main culprit in the more harmful effects of regular cannabis use. In recent years, significant efforts have been made to increase the THC content in illegal cannabis for a more intense “high”. High-potency marijuana, such as “skunk”, has become increasingly popular. Most of the illegally sold cannabis in the UK contains high amounts of THC. Therefore, legitimate concerns have been raised, especially regarding the risks of prolonged and heavy cannabis use (i.e. daily use, multiple times a day):
- Risk for the brain:
Getting high can harm cognitive functions such as concentration, memory, planning, problem-solving and learning. This impact may last well beyond the initial high, especially for adolescents whose brains are still developing. Whether these interferences with the brain processes () are reversible or not, more research is needed to explore the long-term impact of THC exposure. For now, studies revealed that THC, a fat-soluble compound, can be stored in body fat and released into the bloodstream for months. Compared to lower-potency cannabis or hash, high-potency cannabis is linked to a threefold increase in the risk for psychosis.
Risk for the lung & mouth
When smoked, marijuana deposits four times as much tar in the lungs as cigarettes. That way, the molecules have more time to settle in the lungs and may initiate an inflammatory response in the respiratory system. As a result, marijuana use may cause coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. Other studies tentatively suggest a link between smoking pot and poor dental health. However, as many marijuana users smoke regular nicotine cigarettes and/or consume alcohol, these may also contribute to their teeth’s poor state.
Risk of causing lung cancer
Marijuana indeed contains cancer-causing chemicals (so-called carcinogens), but hitherto research has not established a link between the use of marijuana and a notable increase in lung cancer incidents. On the contrary: as mentioned before, marijuana may possess cancer-killing ingredients, an ability which might be the very reason that even heavy pot smokers relatively seldom develop lung cancer.
Risk of causing testicular cancer
While research came up with good news for those worried about lung cancer, new studies currently hint towards a link between heavy marijuana use and testicular cancer. However, as the specific process which causes this physical reaction remains unclear, more research is necessary to establish whether this link exists or not.
Risk during pregnancy:
More research is needed to increase our knowledge of the relationship between marijuana use and pregnancy, but most data suggest adverse effects on the baby that may last even through childhood. Most studies in this field indicate the increased risk of having a proportionately small and low-weight baby, whereas less research managed to expose a link between the increased risk of stillbirth.
Risk for mental health
A growing number of studies are investigating the connection between cannabis and mental health problems. Chronic cannabis use is believed to affect people with symptoms of bipolar disorder, other research indicates an increased risk for developing depression. Studies also found a threefold increase in the risk of developing psychosis if there is a history of mental illness in the family. There is other evidence that suggests that chronic users are more likely to consider suicide.
Risk of developing an addiction
It’s a common misperception that cannabis is not addictive. While being less addictive than alcohol and opioids, and while the user may not develop a physical addiction, this does not mean that cannabis is not addictive. Approximately 9 % of regular users develop some form of addiction to cannabis.
Risk of overdosing
Although to date, there is no known case of a lethal overdose solely from the use of cannabis, it should, by no means be considered a harmless substance without adverse effects. Measuring the actual intake of cannabinoids is very difficult and depends on many factors. The route of administration, whether it’s inhaled or eaten and how much THC is in the actual product greatly affects how much THC finds its way into the bloodstream. In addition, everyone reacts to cannabinoids differently, and as cannabis products also vary in their potency, there is no general answer to the question “How much is too much”. However, overusing cannabis can be dangerous and cause psychosis and hallucinations, high blood pressure and rapid heartbeat, panic attacks and coordination problems.
Risk of laced products
A compounding problem arises from a lack of knowledge of what is in street-bought cannabis. Drug dealers sometimes lace cannabis with dangerous and damaging substances such as embalming fluid or glass powder to improve the appearance of low-grade marijuana, as well as lacing cannabis with opiates or other drugs to increase the high. Even metal powders, in particular lead, have been found in samples in an obvious attempt to increase the weight of the drugs sold. On the other hand, cannabis users themselves may add other substances, such as LSD or phencyclidine (PCP), to enhance the experience, hence multiplying the adverse effects and hazards associated not only with heavy but also with recreational use.
Conclusion
Even though most associated risks are still being researched, we understand that cannabis is not a harmless drug. Suppose you live in a country that legalized or decriminalised the use of medical marijuana. In that case, your doctor should take this somewhat uncertain state of research into account before prescribing this drug. Furthermore, with the world’s most used illicit drug being more or less readily available everywhere, the risk of abusing cannabis is a considerable one. If you or a loved one is struggling with marijuana or cannabis addiction, please feel free to contact us for information on our comprehensive treatment options.
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