Cannabis Use and Its Effects on the Body

If you were sent this, you’re probably wondering why. Before you run away, I’d like to make a strong suggestion: stay and give this article a read. Whoever sent this to you thinks that you’ll benefit from this information, or you know someone who might benefit. I promise you, this article is worth a read!

Introduction

Cannabis is the active substance which comes from the Cannabis Sativa plant, one of the oldest medicinal plants in the world. It grows in many places but originated in Western Asia. The plant is made up of both cannabis and non-cannabis substances, which have different effects on the body. 2 of the most commonly known cannabis substances in the plant are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) (1, 4). THC has intoxicating effects that can temporarily alter a person’s mood, thoughts or perceptions (2). There are different forms of THC which can be produced from the Cannabis Sativa plant, one of which is delta-8 THC. This substance is, unfortunately, more dangerous and has been associated with increased negative effects and consequences (3).  CBD works as an anti-seizure substance, which has no intoxicating effects (1).

This article aims to initially highlight the difference between medicinal and recreational cannabis use and thus demonstrate the effects that cannabis has on the body. While cannabis does have beneficial effects on the body, it can also cause serious side effects and complications when used improperly. These effects are very important to know, especially for those who believe that because “cannabis is used for medicine, it must be good”.

When thinking about the difference between medicinal and recreational cannabis, we focus on the percentage concentration of active THC within the drug (4,5). The concentration of THC in medicinal cannabis is lower (5-10%) than in illegal/recreational-use cannabis (>15%). Additionally, many medicinal cannabis forms mix the levels of THC with an appropriate concentration of CBD. In contrast, most recreational/illegal cannabis forms have significantly reduced concentrations of CBD mixed in with the higher concentrations of THC. This adds to the negative effects that recreational cannabis has on the human body because studies have shown that CBD balances the psychotic and intoxicating features of THC on the mind (5). Also, studies show that higher THC concentrations lead to increased risk of tolerance, dependence and eventually, Cannabis Use Disorder (6). This disease will be discussed further in the article.

Medicinal Cannabis and Its Uses

As mentioned above, Cannabis has been used in medicine for many years. It is beneficial for the treatment of symptoms like pain, jerking and stiffness of muscles and joints, which can be seen in diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Cancer, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, etc. Multiple studies have shown that one of the biggest reasons why cannabis is used medicinally is because of chronic pain. Source 7 shows evidence that supports the use of cannabis for the treatment of chronic pain and muscle spasms, showing that the medication improved the symptoms in people with these conditions. Medicinal Cannabis also helps with nausea, stress and anorexia (weight loss) experienced by people with long-term conditions.

Some other studies suggest that cannabis has an anti-tumour effect on cancer cells in vivo and in vitro (8). They believe that cannabis could be used to treat cancer in the future. It is important to note that very few studies have been able to prove a true anti-tumour effect of cannabis. Other proposed uses for medicinal cannabis include treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), epilepsy, Tourette’s Syndrome, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease (10,11). Many studies have been carried out to try to prove a beneficial effect of cannabis on these conditions, and while some of these studies do show a positive correlation between the use of medicinal cannabis and improvement of the disease, the studies are still unable to provide significant and good-quality evidence. Therefore, although medicinal cannabis can and should be used to treat some of these conditions, it should be used within a safe and health-conscious concentration, with the appropriate cannabis substances.

If you want to do further research, the names of synthetic cannabis used medicinally are Nabilone and Dronabinol. Dronabinol is not licensed for use in the UK, and Nabilone is heavily regulated for its use there (11).

It is just important that with the increased promotion of medicinal cannabis, we don’t promote a public perception which could lead to increased abuse of the drug (12). We can already see from statistics in the USA that with the recent legislation of Cannabis becoming legal, there has been a significant increase in its use amongst people.

The Harmful Effects

Cannabis Use Disorder –

One of the most damaging effects of recreational cannabis use is Cannabis Use Disorder. This is a disease similar to many substance use disorders, where people increase their use of the drug as a result of different factors. People who use cannabis end up needing more of the drug to get the same effect (increased tolerance) and need to keep taking the drug to function without problematic effects (dependence). Oftentimes, people also begin to experience increased social and relationship problems when they develop Cannabis Use Disorder due to missing out on their social obligations and not being dependable people, as a result of the other effects that cannabis use has on the body.

Cannabis Use Disorder is often experienced by young people who are in college or starting out in working life. This is because at this age, they have minimal obligations and responsibilities, and so can very easily and quickly become dependent on Cannabis. Again, cannabis is commonly used in social settings within these ages, making it more easily accessible and more widely interacted with (13). The likelihood of developing Cannabis Use Disorder is also closely related to the number of times the drug is used. Even at low concentrations, using cannabis a lot of times in the day or week makes it more likely for people to develop this disease (14).

The cause of Cannabis Use Disorder is not yet fully understood, but many believe that it is driven by the desirable effects gained from cannabis use. There is a perceived effect of anxiety reduction and impaired memory with cannabis use, which people enjoy, leading to further use of cannabis. As the effects become more tolerated, people increase the number of times they use it, and they increase the concentration of their supply, to gain the same desirable effect. Over time, this leads to the unfortunate result of Cannabis Use Disorder (13).

Some of the symptoms of Cannabis Use Disorder arise from intoxication and withdrawal features. These include:

• Nervousness and anxiety
• Irritability, anger and aggression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Decreased appetite or weight loss
• Restlessness
• Depressed mood
• Abdominal pain
• Shakiness
• Headache

and many, many more.

This disorder can be treated, but treatment is rooted in detoxification and, therefore, is often very difficult. It is difficult because, unfortunately, by the time treatment is needed, people with the disorder do not believe they have a problem and actively prevent you from helping them. This is why psychological counselling is also available for these patients (13).

Effects on the Respiratory System –

As one would suspect, when inhaling cannabis, there are associated risks and injuries to the respiratory system, as with any inhaled substance. Some of the outcomes of illegal/recreational cannabis use are:

• More tar is inhaled in cannabis joints in comparison to tobacco cigarettes (12)
• Cannabis users seek more healthcare input for lung-related diseases, in contrast to non-smokers (15)
• Increased symptoms of cough, phlegm and wheezing are seen in cannabis users, when compared to non-smokers (12,16)
• Cannabis smokers have worse lung function than non-smokers (16)

These effects occur as a result of habitual smoking (smoking cannabis 3-4 times a day). Habitual smokers of cannabis damage the lining of their airway, not because of the cannabis itself, but because of the smoke. Repeated exposure to smoke causes the airway lining to become red and swollen. The smoker also destroys the hairlike structures lining the airways, which protect the lungs from frequent infections. This is why habitual smokers often experience increased frequency of chest infections (bronchitis) (12).

Effects on the Brain –

The effects that cannabis has on the brain can be categorised into short-term effects and long-term effects:

• Short-term effects are effects that occur in the first 24 hours of using cannabis. These are changes to your thinking, attention, memory, coordination, movement and perception (17).
• In the long term, habitual cannabis use has also been found to affect the users’ learning ability, memory and attention span. This further affects education and employment, as many of these people are unable to remain focused on tasks given at work. Habitual cannabis users also encounter difficulty in employment due to regular drug testing.

The level of the effect on the brain is dependent on when people start using cannabis. The younger the person starts using, the more likely it is that it will affect their brain function. This is because cannabis is more likely to alter brain development during the developmental stage, compared to when the brain is already fully formed, as an adult (17).

Effects on Mental Health –

The use of cannabis and its effect on mental health is a big public health concern. Many substance use disorders are associated with impaired mental health, and so it is not surprising that cannabis use also has this effect. People who use cannabis are unfortunately at risk of developing all types of mental health disorders (18), especially if they use cannabis more often than once or twice a day. These mental health conditions include:

• Schizophrenia and other psychoses
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Suicidal thoughts

While many users claim they use cannabis for treatment of these conditions, studies show that long-term cannabis use can eventually cause worsening of these symptoms and conditions, therefore leading to further dependence on the drug to resolve the effects. It’s a vicious cycle that requires support to get out of.

What to do now?

Whether you use cannabis yourself or you know someone who does use cannabis, please send this article to them. It is crucial that, with the increase in accessibility and the increase in popularity, due to it being legalised in the USA, people are aware of the effects that cannabis can have on the body. Yes, it can and has been used for medicine and treatment of disease, but these doses are often controlled and provided in medicinal form. This contrasts significantly with recreational use of cannabis, which is offered in many different forms at doses and concentrations which pose more harm to the body than benefits.

Know the risk and accept it with open eyes. Don’t let ignorance and incorrect information be the cause of detriment to your life.

Reference List:

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