But what actually happens in your body when you partake?
Lets take a look at this fascinating drug, its health effects, and potential concerns about using it.
And hempdefined as cannabis plants that contain less than 0.3% THCis unscheduled thanks to the2018 Farm Bill.
THC, or Tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of cannabiss effects, including the euphoric high.
At high dosesand if you dont followour advice on edible safetycannabis can produce scary curled-up-on-the-couch-for-hours hallucinatory states.
As with other drugs, cannabiss effects will also vary by individual.
Are there permanent cognitive and other health changes?
Do we all risk turning into The Dude from the Big Lebowski?
Again, we dont have many rigorous scientific studies on this, much less many longitudinal studies.
Whether memory or other cognitive problems may last longer than that is still unclear.
Heavy use of smoked cannabis is associated with chronic lung problems like bronchitis.
People who use cannabis can become addicted to it over time.
Its possible for people to get addicted to anything that gives us pleasure.
While cannabis addiction is real, it is a rarer addiction than other (legal or illegal) substances.
Timereports:
As Dr. Elders also said on CNN, marijuana is nontoxic.
Brains are not fully developed until the age of 25 or 26.
Chronic marijuana use can lead to changes in both personality, judgment, and reasoning skills.
Oils and tinctures are often made from the cannabis plant as well for medicinal purposes.
Of the many ways to use cannabis, smoking seems to have the most harmful side effects.
According to theAmerican Lung Association:
Smoke is harmful to lung health.
Whether from burning wood, tobacco or marijuana, toxins and carcinogens are released from the combustion of materials.
Beyond just whats in the smoke alone, marijuana is typically smoked differently than tobacco.
Still, regular users might consider other options besides smoking, such as vaping and edibles.
Vaping also reduces any possible exposure to harmful toxins/byproducts because the marijuana is never burned.
Conversely, theres always the edibles option.
The resulting effect, however, is a much more body-focused high thats optimal for pain relief.
Tinctures and tonics are sometimes classified in this subset/consumption category.
Finally, we have topical solutions made with cannabis oil (e.g.
salves, lotions, ointments, etc.)
which are best used as anti-inflammatories and analgesics.
(you’re able to even buyWillie Nelsons own brand of weedfrom his stores!)
The water draws out any water soluble impurities.
76% of doctorssurveyedsaid they would prescribe cannabis for medicinal purposes.
As with the adverse effects of cannabis, however, the research here is still limited and lacking.
Weve heard from patients with AIDS and Cancer who find benefits from cannabis.
There are studies outside of the US that actually show tumors being reduced with cannabis treatment.
The stories going on and on.
As ever, further research is recommended (isnt that how all studies conclude?)
In the case of cannabis, though, we really do need to know more.
