The 4 main effects of marijuana on the body

These are the most important effects that marijuana consumption has on the human body.

Marijuana is a drug widely consumed around the world, despite the fact that in most countries its cultivation and use is illegal. Considered by many as a natural substance and, therefore, harmless, the truth is that it brings with it numerous detrimental effects on our health.

Here we will see what are the main effects of marijuana on the body, phenomena that end up affecting our health.These are phenomena that end up affecting our brain, heart, lungs and endocrine system, consequences that we will go into in more detail below. Stay to discover how this substance affects our organism.

Psychotropic effect, brain damage and mental disorders associated with marijuana.

Marijuana or cannabis is one of the most widely consumed psychotropic substances on the planet, and it is also one of the most widely cultivated. Because its consumption is so widespread and popular, there is a tendency to relativize its negative effects, even considering it a soft drug or resorting to the naturalistic fallacy of "how can it be bad for our health if it is brought to us by Mother Earth".

However, the reality is that it is a drug, a substance that is harmful to our health, addictive and potentially dangerous for our organism.. Our entire body can be damaged by this substance, altering our cardiac, respiratory, endocrine and nervous systems. Contrary to what many believe, it is a highly addictive substance and brings with it economic, family and social problems, damages that, although they occur outside the organism, affect the quality of life of the consumer.

As a psychotropic substance, the first consequences of cannabis are those affecting the nervous system. At the moment of taking it, the consumer feels an ephemeral sensation of euphoria and joy, which can become manic, leading him to find fun in trivial aspects, laughing in an irregular and uncontrolled way. This is typically seen in movies and series, the classic scene of a "stoned" teenager laughing at the shape and size of his own hand, a crude but clear example of this effect.

The duration of these effects varies depending on the amount of marijuana consumed, as well as the individual's own characteristics and whether it has been combined with other substances. and if it has been combined with other substances. The alterations on the nervous system are momentary, but in case of regular consumption, marijuana can cause long-term problems, even in the form of long-lasting and irreversible mental disorders.

Marijuana use affects the brain directly, impairing the areas responsible for such important functions as memory, learning, attention, decision making, coordination, emotions and reaction time. In the short term it has a slight effect on attention, memory and learning.In the short term it has a slight effect on attention, memory and learning, as well as a negative influence on mood, whereas it is in the long term and as a result of long-term use that more serious problems arise in all the above-mentioned areas.

Among the brain areas most affected we find:

• Hypothalamus
• Basal ganglia
• Ventral striatum
• Amygdala
• Brainstem
• Neocortex
• Hippocampus
• Cerebellum

Marijuana brings with it more or less dangerous hallucinogenic effects. Many experts consider that this characteristic is one of the most important when it comes to causing addiction, given that taking cannabis is linked to experiencing unreal situations, sometimes interpreted as mystical.. Experiencing hallucinations can motivate further consumption, which leads users to develop dependence.

The main effects of marijuana on the body

It has been seen that marijuana users are more at risk of presenting chronic mental disorders compared to non-users, mental problems among which is schizophrenia and its particular hallucinations. There is also a higher risk of psychosis, that is, loss of contact with reality and delusions. In addition, marijuana has been linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety along with suicidal thoughts in adolescence.

1. Sexual problems

Another effect of marijuana that can be observed in those who consume marijuana has to do with their sexual capacity. Behaviorally, cannabis can generate a high degree of sexual disinhibition and even a greater predisposition to maintain intimate relations..

Ironically, physiologically, the organism does not seem to go in the same direction, since it is not strange that after consuming marijuana the genitals do not respond, the quality of sperm is reduced and its secretion is accelerated, reaching orgasm before time and with less pleasure sensation. It also affects the eggs.

2. Respiratory problems

Cannabis consumed in inhaled form, that is smoking cigarettes or vaping, damages the respiratory system. In fact, it is this system that is most damaged by cannabis users, since the most common way to take this drug is by inhaling smoke, which damages lung tissues. Lung capacity is seriously compromised the more "joints" are smoked, increasing the risk of suffering from lung disease.The more joints smoked, the greater the risk of bronchitis, coughing and phlegm production, as well as lung cancer.

Secondhand marijuana smoke contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the chemical largely responsible for the psychotropic effects of this drug. In addition to THC, we also find many components shared with those of tobacco smoke, so inhaling it, even if not directly smoking the cigarette, can affect the health and alter the behavior of non-smokers, including babies and children who are exposed.

3. Heart problems

Many people may find it somewhat shocking to learn that marijuana affects the cardiac system. Recurrent or heavy use can affect the heart's ability to pump blood, causing it to not circulate properly.This can cause the Blood to not circulate properly through the body, resulting in a general feeling of weakness. If consumed in high doses, cannabis can cause tachycardia. In addition to this, it can also cause the following heart problems.

• High heart rate and blood pressure.
• Chest pain during exercise.
• Increased risk of heart attack.
• Increased risk of stroke and mini-strokes.

4. Addiction and withdrawal

Some people think that marijuana is not really an addictive substance, that it is not even a drug. However, science and statistics disprove this myth, as about 1 in 10 marijuana users become addicted. about 1 in 10 marijuana users become addicted to itThis proportion goes from 1 to 6 in consumers under 18 years of age. Among the signs that indicate that the person may be addicted we find:

• Not succeeding in stopping marijuana use.
• Stopping to meet with family or friends to use marijuana instead.
• Continuing to use despite knowing that it involves health problems.
• Continuing to use despite the fact that use prevents normal daily life.

Withdrawal from marijuana use is one of the most important psychological consequences of marijuana use. The need to use again, the feeling of nervousness if consumption is delayed ("craving"), and even the "withdrawal syndrome" that results from the use of marijuana. ("craving") and even anger attacks due to the impossibility of using are the most distinctive effects of addiction.

Effects of marijuana according to the way it is consumed

Although all the ways in which marijuana is consumed imply some of the effects that we have seen up to this point, it is worth mentioning that the way in which it is consumed can imply a greater intensity and duration of the same ones..

Marijuana infusion

Marijuana infusion is the most common alternative to inhaled marijuana, being somewhat less harmful because it it reduces the damage to the respiratory system and does not involve so much alteration on the nervous system..

In any case, although it is a milder form of consumption of this substance, it is still a drug and therefore the risk of addiction and other negative consequences associated with its use will not be eliminated.

Ingested marijuana

One of the most popular ways to consume marijuana in recent years is ingested, in the form of food. There are many recipes in which this peculiar ingredient is introduced, preferring the sweet: cakes, pies, brownies, biscuits, candies, cookies, sodas, chocolate bars ....

We must bear in mind that cooking marijuana can increase some of the effects produced by this drug, which makes the consumption of marijuana more difficult.This makes consumption in this way more dangerous than inhaling it. Smoking marijuana slightly reduces the effects of cannabis, while incorporating it entirely in food keeps them unchanged. As a consequence, there are many cases of marijuana intoxication caused by eating brownies or candies with this substance.

Unlike marijuana that is smoked, cannabis edibles can take between 30 minutes and 2 hours to produce their effects, but they will last longer than smoked marijuana.but these will last longer than they usually do when inhaled. Added to this, it is more likely that more THC is consumed eating food with cannabis, since in a serving of marijuana cookies or brownies there can be perfectly 100 mg of this substance, which translates into eating a marijuana cookie would be like giving many puffs to a cigarette at the same time.