Last updated : December 23, 2024
With the rapidly changing marijuana laws in states all over the country, marijuana is set for an explosion that is like nothing else that has come before. With the acceptance of this substance throughout society, more people than ever before will come in contact with it. Many of them may be unprepared for the effects that it can have on them. Knowledge is power, and knowing what marijuana’s harmful effects are is useful information. Here is a look at the effects that marijuana has on the body.
Respiratory System
Marijuana is most often smoked, and marijuana smoke contains many harsh toxic chemicals just like tobacco smoke. Marijuana smokers are at risk of coughing, wheezing and developing phlegm. Smoking marijuana can worsen preexisting respiratory disorders. The research is mixed on whether or not marijuana smoking can cause lung cancer.
Circulatory System
Consuming marijuana elevates heart rate between 20 to 50 beats per minute. This rise in heart rate can stay in effect for up to three hours after it is ingested. One of the most notable signs of marijuana use is bloodshot eyes. This happens because using marijuana causes the blood vessels in the eyes to dilate.
Central Nervous System
The most profound effect marijuana has on the body is on the central nervous system. After smoking marijuana, it can start to affect the brain within seconds. The main effect that marijuana has on the brain is due to THC. This chemical bonds to receptors in the brain, causing dopamine to flood it. Dopamine is the brain’s feel-good chemical, and this flood of dopamine is why consuming marijuana feels so pleasurable for users.
As well as causing users to feel pleasure, THC causes many other changes in the brain. It affects the hippocampus, which is the brain’s memory center. That is why people who smoke marijuana are notorious for having poor short-term memories. The THC causes problems in the hippocampus that make it more difficult for memories to be formed.
One of the most negative things about using marijuana is that it can lead to feelings of paranoia, anxiety and fear. This is especially common in inexperienced users. Marijuana use can also lead to poor judgment and engaging in risky behavior like having unprotected sex.
Large doses of marijuana can cause hallucinations and delusions. Long-term users may also start to become addicted to it. Research shows that roughly nine percent of chronic marijuana users become addicted to some degree. People who are addicted to marijuana can experience withdrawal symptoms that include depression, insomnia, irritability, anxiety and loss of appetite.
Digestive System
Consuming marijuana has a strong effect on the digestive system as well. It has a profound ability to stimulate the appetite, which is commonly known as the “munchies.” This ability to stimulate the appetite is one of the most common reasons that marijuana is used for medicinal purposes.
It is especially important that parents do their best to educate children about the dangers of marijuana as it continues to become a more widely accepted in society.
