Recent years have seen the legalization of marijuana spread across the United States. As of now, 33 states permit its medical use, and 11 states allow recreational consumption. However, this growing acceptance comes with a paradox: widespread public use contrasts with limited medical understanding of marijuana’s full effects.
When using cannabis, safety is paramount. It’s advised to avoid smoking cannabis, which can inflame the lungs. Instead, consider alternatives like under-the-tongue tinctures, edibles, topical products, or dry herb vaporizers. If smoking is the chosen method, it’s important not to hold the smoke in the lungs for more than a second or two, as this doesn’t enhance the effect but rather irritates the lungs. Additionally, users should refrain from driving for at least four hours after consumption.
Harvard Health highlights heart-related risks associated with marijuana. The substance can cause the heart to beat faster and blood pressure to rise, which can be hazardous for individuals with heart disease. Research indicates that the risk of heart attack may increase several times in the hour following marijuana use. Other studies suggest a connection between marijuana use and atrial fibrillation.
Smoking marijuana, derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, is the quickest way to feel its effects. However, marijuana smoke contains many harmful substances found in cigarette smoke, including toxins, irritants, and carcinogens. These components are linked to heart disease and cancer. Marijuana’s history of cultivation and use stretches back about 6,000 years.
According to a study by Stanford Medicine, marijuana users face an increased risk of heart disease and heart attacks. THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana, is known to cause inflammation in endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, and can lead to atherosclerosis in laboratory mice.
After smoking marijuana, over 80 THC metabolites are stored in the body’s fatty tissue for about three to five days, with this period potentially extending for heavy users. The long-term health implications of these metabolites, which accumulate in the body, are still uncertain. This raises concerns about the long-term health risks of even moderate marijuana use.
Marijuana smoke shares many carcinogens with tobacco smoke, including high levels of benzopyrene and benzanthracene. The extent of the cognitive effects caused by marijuana’s main psychoactive chemical, THC, is still under investigation. THC binds to receptors in brain regions crucial for memory formation, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex, potentially affecting long-term memory.
Despite the growing body of research, there remains a significant degree of uncertainty regarding the full spectrum of marijuana’s health effects. As legalization spreads and usage becomes more common, further studies are essential to fully understand its impact on health and safety.
