Marijuana is one of the most common drugs used in the USA. This article reveals the risks associated with marijuana abuse. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana that gives users their desired “high”.
Effects of Marijuana on the Brain
Science has revealed how THC acts on the brain to produce its effects. When a person smokes marijuana, THC mixes in the bloodstream, and moves to many body organs, including the brain. In the brain, THC acts on the areas that influence coordinated movement, time and sensory perception, concentration, thought, memory and pleasure.
Marijuana’s short-term impacts include increased heart rate, loss of co-ordination, difficulty in problem solving and thinking, distorted perception and problems with learning and memory.
Effects of Marijuana on the Heart
Research reveals that marijuana use quadruples the risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking the drug. This is because marijuana affects heart rate and blood pressure and reduces the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity.
Effects of Marijuana on the Lungs
Another study found that marijuana smokers suffered greater health problems and took more sick leaves from office compared to nonsmokers. The sick leaves were mostly due to respiratory illnesses.
Even infrequent marijuana smokers can experience stinging and burning of the throat and mouth, and heavy coughing episodes. Similar to tobacco smokers, regular marijuana smokers also run a greater risk of obstructed airways, lung infections, chest illnesses, and daily phlegm production. Marijuana smoking also doubles or triples the risk of contracting neck or head cancers.
Marijuana and Cancer
Marijuana use increases the risk of lung cancer. The drug also affects the respiratory systems as it contains carcinogens and irritants. In fact, compared to tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke hosts about 60 percent more carcinogens. Besides, marijuana smokers usually take deeper and longer puffs compared to tobacco smokers. This exposes their lungs to dangerous carcinogenic smoke for a longer duration. Therefore, smoking marijuana may actually damage the lungs more than smoking cigarettes.
More Health Effects of Marijuana
THC affects the immune system by impairing the ability to fight infections and disease. In one study, mice exposed to THC proved more vulnerable to developing tumors and bacterial infections.
