Cannabis
What is Cannabis?
"Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that contains close to 500 chemicals, including THC, a mind-altering compound that causes harmful health effects."- SAMHSA
Are there risks to using cannabis?
Yes, "over the past few decades, the amount of THC in marijuana has steadily climbed; today's marijuana has three times the concentration of THC compared to 25 years ago." We still don't know the effects of long-term use with the increasing amount of THC.
How is cannabis used?
"People smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes, in pipes or water pipes, in blunts, and by using vaporizers that pull THC from the marijuana. Marijuana can also be mixed in food (edibles), such as brownies, cookies, and candy, or brewed as a tea. People also smoke or eat different forms of marijuana extracts, which deliver a large amount of THC and can be potentially more dangerous." -SAMHSA
How does cannabis affect mental health?
"Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes. It is not known, however, if marijuana use is the cause of these conditions."- SAMHSA
Which age group has the highest rate of use?
People ages 18-25
What are short-terms effects to using cannabis?
Intoxication
- Cannabis can cause altered time perception, and impaired thinking, memory, and body movement.
Anxiety, Fear, Distrust, Panic, or Hallucinations
- These effects are more common when a person takes a large amount, the cannabis product is strong (has a high level of THC), or the person has little experience with using cannabis.
Physical Side Effects
- Increased appetite, decrease symptoms of nausea or vomiting, elevated heart rate and respiratory problems
Is cannabis addictive?
Yes,
What are long-term effects of cannabis?
Harm to lungs
- The smoke from cannabis products contains many of the same toxins, irritants, and carcinogens as tobacco smoke, and smoking cannabis can also harm lung tissue.
Mental Health
Cardiovascular Effects
- Cannabis can increase heart rate and blood pressure right after use. Some research shows an association between long-term cannabis use and an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and arrythmias.
Gastrointestinal Problems
- These include cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), which is when a person has nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after long-term, heavy cannabis use. Other potential gastrointestinal issues include acid reflux, pancreatitis, and peptic ulcer disease.
Increased Cancer Risk
- Research has linked the use of cannabis products with an increased likelihood of developing head, neck, or throat cancer, particularly in people who smoke cannabis.