When you inhale cannabis smoke into your lungs, the compounds immediately enter your bloodstream and quickly make their way to your brain and other organs. The effects may onset within seconds to minutes. When you eat or drink cannabis-containing products, the compounds need to first pass through your digestive system and liver before reaching your bloodstream. The effects may onset within minutes to hours.
People report various physical and psychological effects, from harm and discomfort to pain relief and relaxation. THC is responsible for the intoxicating effects of cannabis. It also has potential medicinal effects for conditions like:. CBD is nonintoxicating. It has potential medicinal effects for conditions like epilepsy and anxiety. While the National Institutes of Health has funded research into the possible medicinal uses of THC and CBD, research is incredibly difficult and slow due to the federal prohibition and classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug.
And there are more than unique cannabinoids in cannabis. Science has only scratched the surface of what these other cannabinoids can do. In recent years, the medicinal properties of cannabis have gained public acceptance. As of March , 36 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for recreational or medicinal use. No matter how you use cannabis, it can cause immediate and long-term effects, such as changes in perception and increased heart rate.
Over time, smoking cannabis may cause chronic cough and other health issues. In addition to the immediate effects of cannabis, there may be longer-term effects depending on how you take it, how much you use, and how often you use it. As access to cannabis increases all over the United States and world, knowing the effects it can have on your body is as important as ever. Read on to see how it affects each system in your body. Much like tobacco smoke, cannabis smoke is made up of a variety of toxic chemicals, including ammonia and hydrogen cyanide, which can irritate your bronchial passages and lungs.
Cannabis may aggravate existing respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis. Cannabis smoke contains carcinogens, which could theoretically increase your risk of lung cancer.
More research is needed. THC moves from your lungs into your bloodstream and throughout your body. Within minutes, your heart rate may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute. That rapid heart rate can continue for up to 3 hours.
This places extra oxygen demand on your heart. If you have heart disease, this could raise your risk for a heart attack. One of the telltale signs of recent cannabis use is bloodshot eyes.
The eyes look red because cannabis causes blood vessels to expand and fill with more blood. THC can also lower pressure in the eyes, which can ease symptoms of glaucoma for a few hours. More research is needed to understand whether THC can offer long-term benefits for glaucoma. The effects of cannabis extend throughout the central nervous system CNS. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.
To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. A new report looks at more than 10, studies on marijuana. It has good and bad news for pot users. Marijuana has been with humans in some way or another for thousands of years. A recent review of the research from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine attempts to fill the gap in our knowledge.
By combing through more than 10, studies published since , the review, conducted by more than a dozen experts, provides the clearest look at the scientific evidence on marijuana yet. The research finds both some strong benefits and major downsides to cannabis. It seems to be promising for chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and cancer patients. But it also seems to pose a significant risk for respiratory problems if smoked, schizophrenia and psychosis, car crashes, lagging social achievement in life, and perhaps pregnancy-related problems.
The National Academies ultimately calls for these barriers to be cut down and more research to be funded so we can get a better idea of what pot is capable of, especially as more states legalize it for both medical and recreational uses. Still, the report is the best look at marijuana yet.
It is nearly pages; if you want a really deep dive into the benefits and harms of marijuana, you should read it in full. Since the mids, 28 states have legalized marijuana for medical uses.
But in all that time, the benefits of pot have remained hazy. Studies also show that children born to mothers who use marijuana during pregnancy exhibit some problems with neurological development. These can include:. There are also risks to the pregnant mother. Marijuana use can increase the risk of anemia, confusion, and forgetfulness during pregnancy. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Acute cannabis toxicity. Clin Toxicol. Association of cannabis use in adolescence and risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in young adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
JAMA Psychiatry. Triggering myocardial infarction by marijuana. Marijuana use among young adults 18—44 years of age and risk of stroke.
Heavy cannabis use is associated with low bone mineral density and an increased risk of fractures. Am J Med. Cannabinoid use in musculoskeletal illness: A review of the current evidence.
Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. Pulmonary effects of inhaled cannabis smoke. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. An epidemiologic review of marijuana and cancer: An update. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev.
Maternal marijuana use and adverse neonatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol. Hasin DS. US epidemiology of cannabis use and associated problems. Prenatal exposure to cannabis and maternal and child health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.
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