It’s a hot topic in the media: should marijuana be legalized? The answer may depend on your point of view. It is an herbal medication that can alleviate pain and inflammation; for others, it is just another mind-altering drug to abuse. This article will explore the risks of smoking marijuana are.
Improved Athletic Performance
Some athletes claim that smoking marijuana before playing helps focus their minds on the game and advantage. The NCAA, however, prohibits all athletes from using drugs or alcohol while participating in athletic events. Marijuana can also have a negative effect on coordination and perception, which can put your health and safety at risk.
Brain Health
Most doctors agree that smoking marijuana damages brain cells – and not just while you are “high.” Long-term, heavy use of the drug causes cell damage in the part of the brain that regulates memory. These cells show signs of early aging, which may cause memory loss and can lead to full-blown Alzheimer’s disease (which is also linked to brain cell damage).
Risk of Cancer
Smoking marijuana has been linked to the development of head, neck, and lung cancer. This is because the “burning embers” of organic matter are inhaled as smoke. Many people claim that there is no risk involved in smoking marijuana because it does not cause cancer the way tobacco does; however, you should also consider that the smoke from marijuana contains up to fifty percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco.
Lungs and Respiratory System
Marijuana smokers may experience many of the same problems as tobacco users, including chronic cough, wheezing, increased phlegm production, and acute bronchitis. Smoking marijuana can also cause your lungs to take in more tar than tobacco smokers and result in a higher risk of developing lung infections like pneumonia.
Heart Health
Smoking marijuana raises the chance of a heart attack within an hour after use. The risk grows even higher if you have also been using cocaine or alcohol. Researchers believe that the increased risk of a heart attack may be caused by smoking marijuana because it decreases blood flow to the heart or has properties in common with other substances known to cause heart attacks.
Mental Health
Marijuana can cause short-term effects such as loss of concentration and memory, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, anxiety, or even psychotic symptoms like hallucinations. These effects may lead to poor performance at work or school, resulting in a lower income over time.
It is also important to note that cocaine and methamphetamine are frequently laced with marijuana. This can cause unpredictability in the effects of these drugs, which may lead to overdose.
Nausea Control
Marijuana is sometimes used as an appetite stimulant to avoid the terrible effects of chemotherapy treatment or other medical conditions that cause nausea. While some studies have shown it helpful, research has also proven that smoking marijuana can increase nausea and vomiting. The drug has depressant qualities, which slow down signals sent from the brain to the stomach, making you feel nauseous.
Sterility
Marijuana acts as a depressant that slows down signals sent from the brain to nerves and muscles throughout the body. This can cause temporary sterility in men and women but is most likely reversible when marijuana use ceases.
Weight Gain
Since smoking marijuana affects the brain’s endocrine system, which is responsible for controlling hunger and metabolism, it can cause increased appetite. This can result in weight gain and interfere with physical appearance and athletic performance. Although some users may experience loss of appetite when initially using marijuana, this effect typically passes within three months of continued use.
As the popularity of marijuana from this Lapeer provisioning center continues to rise, we must understand what risks come with smoking this drug. There are many short-term effects to consider, including paranoia and panic attacks and long-term cognitive impairment such as memory loss and difficulty concentrating, among others.
