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The Effects of Cannabis Abuse

According to the American Council for Drug Education, cannabis is a hemp plant that has been grown for more than 2,000 years. Cannabis products, including marijuana have about 400 chemicals that are smoked, eaten or drunk by users. The THC in cannabis causes brain cells to release dopamine, a chemical that attaches to nerve cells in the parts of the brain that affect memory, learning, movement, judgment, coordination, pleasure, emotions, control, body temperature, pain and sleep. Effects of cannabis use vary among individuals and situations.

  1. Short Term Effects

    • When a user inhales or ingests cannabis, they feel giddy, then relaxed. They feel closer to those around them and are more sensitive to what they see, hear, taste, smell and touch. Inhibitions are lowered and judgment is impaired. Users become dizzy and lose their coordination and sense of balance. They lose interest in activities they enjoy and can't remember what just happened. Reaction time is altered and ability to form memories, recall events and shift attention decreases. THC in cannabis changes the way information in the part of the brain that forms memories is processed, affecting short-term memory. This changes how people perceive time and distance. Most short-term effects are gone two to three hours, but THC builds up in fatty tissues of organs, including the lungs and liver.

    Physical Effects

    • Use of cannabis expands blood vessels in the eyes, causing them to become bloodshot. The mouth dries out and hands become cold. It causes an increase in appetite, drowsiness, anxiety, fear, panic attacks, paranoia and aggressive behavior. Cannabis users have more health problems, use more sick days, and miss more days of work than non-cannabis users. Cannabis raises blood pressure and heart rate and causes respiratory illnesses, including burning and stinging of the mouth and throat, chronic heavy cough, phlegm, lung infections, chest colds, bronchitis, COPD, emphysema, asthma and airway obstruction. Cannabis use affects hormones, reducing sperm production, delaying puberty and causing irregular menstruation. It can cause involuntary movements of muscles.

    Long Term Effects

    • Cannabis use increases the age-related loss of neurons in the part of the brain that forms memories, limiting the ability of the brain to store and retrieve information. It damages math and verbal skills and causes memory loss. It weakens the immune system and increases the risk of developing lung disease, lung, head and neck cancer and having a heart attack. It causes loss of interest in plans and activities. Cannabis use can cause addiction and make it harder to quit smoking. It causes loss of motivation and increases accident risk as well.

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