Does a family member or friend use marijuana? Are you thinking of doing it, but you don’t know if it’s safe? Here are the most frequently asked questions about cannabis with their answers. Read on and get advice.
THE 14 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CANNABIS
Cannabis has been smoked and used in multiple ways throughout human history. For some decades its use has been standardized and some countries legalized it. Its medical benefits have made it very popular in cosmetics and health treatments.
Among young people it has also become increasingly common. In Argentina, for example, the age of consumption usually begins at 12 years. But like any drug, the use of marijuana has its risks. One of them is addiction, which is developed by approximately 10% of users.
Before starting a treatment with cannabis or starting to consume it, it is important that you clarify your doubts. Most people do not educate themselves enough before they start using. An informed consumption can make a difference and allows you to enjoy healthily.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about cannabis:
WHAT IS MARIJUANA?
Marijuana is a mixture of the dried leaves and flowers of cannabis plants. One of the main components of marijuana is THC, a psychoactive compound. Marijuana is considered a drug in both cases and is illegal in many countries around the world.
The psychoactive components of marijuana can cause euphoria, relaxation, hallucinations, or drowsiness. It all depends on the concentration of its components. Continuous use causes other long-term effects. Some of them are changes in the nervous system.
HOW IS MARIJUANA USED?
The two main uses of marijuana are medicinal, recreational, and cosmetic. Medicinal use is equivalent to a therapy to treat different ailments. The recreational, equivalent to the entertainer, is used as a hobby and is very popular among young people.
The use of marijuana depends on where it is consumed. In some parts of Africa and India, its use is a tradition of hundreds of years. There it is not only part of a social ritual, it is also used as an analgesic and antihemetic.
In most countries it is illegal or its use is restricted. Its medicinal and cosmetic use requires medical authorization many times, as in the United States. In others, where recreational consumption is allowed, it can only be consumed privately.
WHAT DETERMINES HOW MARIJUANA AFFECTS A PERSON?
Marijuana does not affect everyone in the same way. Its effect depends on its biochemical components. Although it is also established by the conditions of the nervous system and the emotional needs of the consumer.
Marijuana is a central nervous system depressant. So it can slow your movements and affect your perception of time. It can also make you depressed if you use it long-term.
Many strains of marijuana cause anxiety attacks due to their high THC content. This can vary from person to person. Generally, marijuana with less CBD is responsible for more anxiety attacks. So when consuming the first few times, it is necessary to take it into account.
IS MARIJUANA MEDICINE?
Marijuana is a plant with many medicinal properties, but this does not mean that it is medicine. To have the medicinal power that is expected, it must be cultivated correctly. It must also meet some requirements, such as a low THC value.
From marijuana oils and tinctures are extracted that serve as a treatment for ailments such as anxiety and nausea. Its use as a barbiturate is also well known. In some cases, its effectiveness has been proven, in others, research is being carried out to standardize the results.
Many people choose to smoke marijuana to treat chronic ailments, such as nerve or joint pain. But most doctors advise against smoking marijuana as a medicinal treatment because of the damage it causes to the lungs.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO BECOME ADDICTED TO MARIJUANA?
Marijuana, despite being of plant origin, is a drug. The abuse of any drug makes people more prone to addiction. Although some drugs do not generate physical dependence, they do generate emotional dependence.
In the United States, during 2018, 138,000 voluntary treatments were reported to get rid of marijuana addiction. But the number of consumers exceeded 4,000,000, and is increasing.
You are more likely to develop dependence on marijuana if you start using it before age 18. In fact, your chances of developing dependence increase 7-8 times. Conversely, if you use marijuana as an adult, you are less likely to become addicted.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM ADDICTED TO MARIJUANA?
Dependence on marijuana occurs when its use causes some kind of problem, but the user continues to use it. It can occur in people of any social status, race, or creed. It was declared a disease by the World Health Organization in 2014.
To determine if you are addicted, you can consult with a professional. But you can also spot some warning signs yourself. Does marijuana make you feel bad, repeatedly cause you problems, or interfere with your relationships? If you answered “yes”, you may have a problem.
Many people, when trying to quit marijuana, experience symptoms that can last a week or two after the last use. If this is your case, try to ask for help if you think it is necessary. Some of these symptoms are:
- Intense desires to consume it
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Headache
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH RISKS OF USING MARIJUANA?
Using marijuana can have a number of health risks. Most doctors recognize that chronic marijuana smoking damages the lungs and heart. It also generates visual and dermatological problems.
Smoking any substance can cause health problems due to the components that break down in combustion. Although smoking marijuana is less harmful than smoking tobacco, it is still a risk factor for lung and mouth cancer.
Mold-contaminated marijuana is life threatening to humans. If your marijuana shows signs of being contaminated with mold, you should get rid of it immediately. The signs are a bad taste, a smell of hay and loose buds.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO “OVERDOSE” OR HAVE A “BAD REACTION” TO MARIJUANA?
Yes. An overdose is the effect of consuming a very high amount. In some cases, it can put vital functions at risk. Marijuana overdoses can cause traffic accidents, but so far it has not directly caused deaths.
Some strains with a high THC index can cause paranoia, anxiety and, in rare cases, psychotic breakouts. In some cases, affected people must receive emergency medical assistance to treat these symptoms.
Psychotic outbreaks, although rare, require continuous psychiatric treatment. They include symptoms such as:
- Hallucinations
- Loss of consciousness
- Delusions dangerous for the consumer and his environment
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF MIXING MARIJUANA WITH ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, OR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?
Marijuana can have a variety of effects when mixed with alcohol or other drugs. In some cases, the hallucinogenic effect of marijuana is enhanced and distorted perception is generated.
Marijuana when mixed with tobacco loses its psychotropic effect. Many people use it this way to have mild effects when smoking covertly. But smoking marijuana with tobacco can negatively affect the respiratory system.
Marijuana, despite its medicinal potential, should not be mixed with prescription drugs. For its medicinal benefits to act in synergy with other medications, it must be consumed under medical supervision.
In some cases, mixing marijuana with some medications can cause adverse reactions. Therefore, if you have pre-existing conditions, you should be careful with its consumption and consult your doctor before using marijuana.
Medications that marijuana reacts negatively to often regulate basic body functions. If you are taking them, avoid using marijuana. Some of them are:
- antidepressants
- medications for tension
- anticoagulants
- anticholinergics
- contraceptives
DOES MARIJUANA USE LEAD TO OTHER DRUG USE?
Yes. The use of marijuana can lead to the use of other drugs, especially where marijuana is illegal. It also happens in places where legal marijuana is more expensive than the black market.
The fact that marijuana can be bought from the same places as other illegal drugs is risky. Especially when the age of first use is between 12 and 18 years old. This facilitates the passage from one drug to another, technically known as the ladder effect.
IS IT SAFE FOR A BREASTFEEDING MOTHER TO USE MARIJUANA?
Marijuana is not recommended by any specialist for pregnant or lactating women. THC and CBD pass easily through the placenta and through the mammary glands. Most studies indicate that both compounds are negative for fetuses and neonates.
Marijuana use in pregnant women is associated with a low weight index and a reduced brain circumference. THC has a decisive influence on the endocannabinoid system, causing the nervous and immune systems to develop abnormally.
In infants of consuming mothers, high levels of THC were found in the stool. The mother’s marijuana use is related to late psychomotor development in children.
Little is known about the effect of marijuana on fetuses and infants. There is research that dissociates a negative effect of maternal marijuana use. But it is recommended to avoid any psychotropic substance.
CAN SECONDHAND MARIJUANA SMOKE AFFECT NON-SMOKERS, INCLUDING CHILDREN?
Secondhand smoke has negative effects on both smokers and non-smokers. Marijuana smoke contains tar and can affect the respiratory system, especially in children and the elderly.
Children of smoking parents are much more likely to develop respiratory problems. And although it is rare, secondhand smoke can become a cause of a positive toxicology. Especially if inhaled indoors.
HOW IS CONSUMING FOODS CONTAINING MARIJUANA (EDIBLES) DIFFERENT FROM SMOKING MARIJUANA?
Consumption of foods containing marijuana is less direct than consumption by inhalation of smoke or vapor. The passage of foodstuffs through the digestive tract causes the destruction of many of the compounds. Still, it has an effect and is narcotic.
The effect of edibles with marijuana is more intense and longer lasting, but in turn it takes longer to arrive. Many people consume a lot more edibles thinking that they did not work and then they must go to the emergency room.
IT’S LEGAL IN MANY STATES, DOESN’T THAT MEAN MARIJUANA IS SAFE?
Marijuana that is obtained with a medical prescription or is legal is usually safe and standardized. But in addition to this, in cases where marijuana is illegal, where its origin cannot be known in many cases, it can be risky. However, it will always be less addictive than tobacco.
Despite its safety, it is not recommended in any case that children or minors consume it. Its consumption in edibles can generate harmful and dangerous effects.
The most frequently asked questions about cannabis
The most frequently asked questions about cannabis focus mostly on its benefits, its drawbacks, and its status. Having an idea of whether it is safe or not is essential to consume it.
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