Marijuana or cannabis and its side effects

3510
Alexander Pearson
Marijuana or cannabis and its side effects

The cannabis It is a plant that grows in tropical areas and is between 2 and 3 meters high. It contains a substance called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the active substance.

Contents

  • Forms of presentation of cannabis
  • How is cannabis consumed?
  • Effects of consumption
    • Short term
    • Long-term
  • Side effects of marijuana
    • Lung problems
    • Paranoia, psychosis, and anxiety
    • Depression
    • Memory impairment
    • Lack of motivation
    • Increased appetite
    • Dizziness
    • Dry mouth
    • Addiction
    • Fertility problems and harmful effects on pregnancy
  • Recent marijuana studies
    • References

Forms of presentation of cannabis

The "marijuana or weed"It is about dry leaves and small stems of Cannabis Sativa. Also called maría, grifa or grass: it belongs to the flowery and tender part of the plant, dried and crushed later. The THC content is 5 to 10%.

The "hashish or hash", is obtained by pressing the resin of the female plant, obtaining a piece of brown color. The concentration of THC in this case is 20% so its effects are more intense than marijuana. It is also called chocolate or cost: it contains between 5 and 10 times more TCH than marijuana.

The "cannabis oil or hashish oil"It is the result of mixing the resin with solvents (alcohol, ketones, etc ...), obtaining an oily extract and the THC content can be higher than 85%. With it you can prepare cakes and other cooked dishes.

THC can only be consumed by inhalation or mixed with food, as it cannot be dissolved in water. The most common way is to smoke it mixed with tobacco, making artisan cigarettes called "porros". It is usually taken mixed with blond tobacco (with the black one the flavor of cannabis is not so noticeable) and wrapped in cigarette paper (joint, joint, firecracker). In some countries you smoke a pipe.

Marijuana is a combination of the crushed leaves, stems, and flower buds of the Cannabis Sativa plant. Marijuana can be smoked, eaten, vaporized, made in numerous ways, and even taken topically (through the skin or mucosa), but most people smoke it.

The intoxicating chemical in marijuana is tetrahydracannabinol or THC. According to recent research, the average THC content of consumer marijuana has increased from less than 1% in 1972, to 3-4% in the 1990s, and to almost 13% today. The increased potency of this product makes it difficult to determine its effects both in the short and long term..

How is cannabis consumed?

In a 2010 survey by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, as many as 17.4 million people in the United States said they had used marijuana in the past month. According to this survey, marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug. About 4 in 10 Americans have used marijuana at least once in their lives.

Marijuana is typically smoked, spread on cigarette paper, and rolled into a cigarette. THC is absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. Glass pipes and hookahs are other ways to smoke marijuana.

Cannabis can also be ingested through food, it is often the preferred option for those who are using it medicinally. Aside from the popular sponge cake, edible marijuana can be added to a large number of foods, including candy, ice cream, and butter. Some states in the US where marijuana has been legalized have issued packaging and labeling regulations.

It can also be taken in liquid form, as if it were a tea. It can be added to other beverages, including soda, milk, and alcohol. Cannabis oil or hashish is a resin made from concentrated plant material. Other forms of consumption include capsules, oral sprays, and topical oils..

A relatively new method of inhaling marijuana is vaporization. By heating cannabis to low temperatures, the oils and extracts of the plant are released. Vaporized marijuana contains fewer cannabinoids, and users who inhale it absorb fewer toxic compounds and carbon monoxide compared to those who smoke it.

Effects of consumption

Short term

In the short term, it offers a feeling of well-being and tranquility, increased appetite, euphoria, verbiage, ocular congestion, alterations in temporal and sensory perception, and difficulties for complex mental processes. It also causes rapid heartbeat, dry mouth, floating sensation, deshinibition, laughter, and perhaps optical illusions. After these effects a state of drowsiness and depression ensues.

If the dose is too high, its harmful effects increase, leading to a state of mental confusion, great drowsiness and panic situations. It acts as a disturbance of the CNS, altering perception and creating psychological dependence.

Long-term

In the long term, there is an alteration in concentration and memory capacities, in addition to general lack of motivation. Toxic effects may also appear on the lung and cause alterations in the male and female reproductive systems..

The abstinence syndrome presents with pictures of anorexia, anxiety, insomnia, irritability and depression.

Associated pathologies: respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, neoplasia (cancer of the mouth, bronchi, lung), CNS disorders, amotivational syndrome (lack of interest in things), apathy and psychotic disorders with outbreaks of schizophrenia, hallucinations and delusions.

Psychosocial consequences: decreased performance, lack of motivation, memory and attention disorders, lack of psychomotor coordination, distortions of perception (anxiety or panic attacks), risk of accidents.

Side effects of marijuana

Most marijuana users enjoy its ability to induce a sense of euphoria and pleasure, but unfortunately this is not without side effects.

The immediate effects of marijuana use include rapid heart beat (tachycardia), disorientation, lack of physical coordination, often followed by depression or drowsiness. Some users may experience panic or anxiety attacks.

Since THC crosses the placental barrier, there is a great risk in its consumption in pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding, since the drug passes to the baby.

But the problem does not end there. According to scientific studies, the active ingredient in cannabis, THC, remains in the body for weeks or even months.

Lung problems

Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more carcinogens than tobacco smoke. A major research study showed that a single cannabis cigarette could cause more damage to the lungs than five cigarettes smoked one after another. It has been found that habitual cannabis smokers often suffer from bronchitis, coughing and wheezing.

Paranoia, psychosis, and anxiety

Another mental side effect of marijuana is the psychotic symptoms and paranoia that users often experience after smoking..

A 2015 study found that THC increases paranoia in individuals who had previously experienced symptoms. But the study also revealed that paranoia is not always a direct result of THC. Paranoia could be a by-product of other effects of cannabis such as depression and the feeling of having an unusual experience.

Depression

Although cannabis has been shown to act as a medicine to help people fight depression, in some cases it might work in the opposite way.

Research suggests that marijuana can cause depression especially in young people. Similarly, a study published in 2002 in the British Medical Journal concluded that frequent cannabis use in adolescents predicts depression in later years..

Still, it is important to note that there are different types of depression and that marijuana can affect each type differently..

Memory impairment

Many studies have shown that cannabis users experience short-term memory problems; other studies suggest that cannabinoids alter all types of memory.

Young people who use this drug may be at higher risk. A 2011 study suggested that memory impairment is more severe in adolescent cannabis users, and may even have a more lasting impact.

However, frequent users often become tolerant of the memory problems cannabis can cause.

Lack of motivation

Some people are against the stereotype that marijuana users lose all motivation for work and school. While this may be a bit of an exaggeration, there is a lot of truth to this belief.

In a 2003 survey, 53% of marijuana users confirmed that they had had a loss of motivation.

The loss of motivation could be explained because cannabis affects the brain. Some studies suggest that long-term cannabis users have lower levels of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that is directly responsible for motivation.

Increased appetite

One of the most well-known side effects of marijuana is the need to 'bite'. Soon after smoking, many users experience a sudden increase in appetite.

Although scientists are still unsure of the exact mechanism behind this effect, a 2015 study suggested that marijuana might activate certain pathways in the brain related to hunger..

Some believe that this side effect could be beneficial for people who use marijuana to treat pain and loss of appetite during cancer and chemotherapy.

Dizziness

Many users report feeling dizzy after smoking cannabis, especially when they wake up.

In a 1992 study, 60% of participants reported moderate to severe dizziness while standing after smoking a marijuana cigarette.

Those who experienced severe dizziness during the study also showed a decrease in blood pressure, which provides a plausible explanation for this phenomenon..

However, studies also show that frequent users can develop a tolerance to many of the short-term effects of marijuana, including feelings of vertigo..

Dry mouth

Most people who use marijuana are familiar with the side effect known as "cotton mouth," which means that users experience an uncomfortable sensation from a lack of saliva production..

A study published in the Journal of Addiction Research in 2003, found that 79% of marijuana users experience dry mouth.

This effect can be minimized by chewing gum or food, as it stimulates the salivary glands to produce saliva..

Addiction

Like most drugs, there is a high risk of addiction associated with cannabis use.

When a person stops using cannabis, cannabinoid receptors have to adjust to normal levels, leading to physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.

A 2010 study found that 42% of users who tried to quit smoking experienced withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, trouble sleeping, and decreased appetite..

Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that activates the same reward regions of the brain as other drugs of abuse such as alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, etc..

Fertility problems and harmful effects on pregnancy

This drug can affect our physical health on many levels. For example, marijuana can change the structure of sperm cells, deforming them.

Therefore, even small amounts of marijuana can cause temporary sterility in men. Marijuana use can also alter the menstrual cycle in women.

Cannabis is one of the few drugs that causes abnormal cell division, leading to serious inherited defects. A pregnant woman who regularly smokes marijuana or hashish may prematurely give birth to an undersized and underweight baby. In recent years, many children of marijuana users have been born with a malformation, suffer from great concentration difficulties and an increased risk of developing leukemia (cancer of the bone marrow).

Recent marijuana studies

In a 2016 study, a link was found between certain genetic markers and symptoms of marijuana addiction, suggesting that some people may have a genetic predisposition to marijuana addiction. That same study showed some overlap between genetic risk factors for marijuana dependence and genetic risk factors for depression, suggesting a possible reason why these two conditions often occur together..

References

https://www.tuotromedico.com/temas/drogas_cannabis.htm


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