Marijuana is a drug obtained from a cannabinoid substance. It is also known as pot, weed, and other popular names among its users.
Cannabis sativa makes the marijuana plant, often known as the cannabis plant. It can be smoked in different ways, such as in pipes, blunts, or rolled as joints.
People also consume different marijuana extracts which can have high concentrations of THC and may have adverse health effects. As a marijuana user, it’s crucial to understand its effects on the human brain.
In this article, we will discuss marijuana effects on the brain and some components of the substance.
Marijuana’s Components
Here are some of the components of marijuana:
Cannabinoids
THC and CBD are just a few cannabinoids found in marijuana. Scientists are investigating the effects of CBD and THC on the brain and how they are used to treat epilepsy. Neither substance makes you high.
The most significant cannabinoid in cannabis, however, is CBG. Although CBG is scarce in marijuana strains, it is essential for producing cannabinoids.
THC
Knowing how high THC levels impact your brain functions is vital. This substance may increase your risk of developing psychosis, even though there haven’t been any reported cases of THC overdose deaths.
Numerous adverse effects, including a heart attack or a quicker heartbeat, might result from marijuana use.
For regular marijuana, several different concentrates are available, including live resins and extracted resins. Different cannabis varieties extract their oils in various ways. Because it contains more terpenes and essential oils than distilled and dried resin, live resin is thicker and stickier.
You can sprinkle it over joints or put it in a bowl in addition to vaping or dabbing it. The finished product typically has a high THC content and is waxy and yellow.
Resins
The concentrated resins in dried cannabis can be extracted using a solvent, typically butane, propane, or another substance. The refined, dried plant material is then used to create various concentrations.
Cannabinoids and terpenes are retained when the oils are extracted from the trichomes, making them highly potent and potentially addicting.
CBD
Cannabis contains the natural phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), a type of cannabinoid. More research is needed to be sure of the psychoactive effects.
How is Lab-Grown Marijuana Produced?
Due to its addictive nature, synthetic marijuana may be harmful and promote long-term drug usage. People get high from it because of its chemical composition, and those who abuse the substance are more prone to develop a dependence on it.
Depression, anxiety, mood changes, and paranoia are a few symptoms that can occur during withdrawal. Synthetic marijuana use over an extended time can harm the kidneys and cause cardiac disease. Anyone who uses synthetic marijuana should consult a doctor immediately due to the risks involved.
Most chemicals used to create synthetic marijuana are produced illegally in Asia before being imported into the U.S. Many are highly harmful to your health, while some are lawful and healthy for humans to consume.
Synthetic marijuana is made from some Schedule I substances, which places it in the same category as heroin and crack cocaine. Many chemicals used to manufacture synthetic marijuana can cause deadly heart attacks, severe cuts, and aggressive behavior.
Therefore, it’s crucial to know whether the substance you’re utilizing is both safe and permitted.
Marijuana Effects on the Brain
Cannabis-based marijuana alters the psyche. Additionally, the effects of marijuana may make it challenging to learn new things, perform challenging tasks, and meet specific obligations.
THC slows down the cerebellum’s function and brain processes related to balance, posture, coordination, and reaction speed.
Negative Effects of Marijuana Use
The use of cannabis and marijuana can result in:
- Headaches
- Feeling faint and dizzy
- Dry eyes and dry mouth
- Affects cognitive functions
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Feeling ill and throwing up
- Accelerated heart rate
- Psychosis
- Hallucinations
- Increased appetite
- Withdrawal
When someone stops using marijuana, withdrawal symptoms often begin two to four days later and worsen within the first week. Some people may experience sleep problems for up to 30 days.
Other cannabis withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and even depression.
Can a Person Overdose on Marijuana?
A person can overdose on marijuana if they consume enough to become ill. Although marijuana may improve your mood, it can also worsen it, especially if it contains high levels of THC. Some users experience paranoia or panic attacks.
Is Cannabis Addictive?
Yes, using marijuana can lead to dependence and addiction. According to some longitudinal studies, up to 30% of marijuana users struggle with marijuana dependence or addiction.
Young people with marijuana disorders outnumber typical marijuana users. Long-term marijuana users claim to experience moderate withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult.
Marijuana Use as a Drug?
Marijuana drug addiction can take various forms, such as using the substance repeatedly or obtaining, utilizing, and storing it for later.
Some people use marijuana excessively and develop a dependence on it even in places where it is legal and regulated as a way to cope with stress, anxiety, and social settings.
Immediate Effects of Marijuana
Immediate effects of marijuana use vary depending on the user’s body size, dosage, and duration of use. Men and women experience the effects differently, and effects may also differ based on the type of pot smoked and how the body processes it.
Although not all people are at risk from marijuana’s short-term effects, some may find them unpleasant.
Short-term memory issues, anxiety, paranoia, panic, a loss of identity, hallucinations, or other behaviors can be some of the symptoms.
Chronic Marijuana Use and Long-term Effects
The long-term effects of marijuana use are usually more detrimental than the immediate ones. But there is one distinction: a substance called cannabidiol, present in cannabis plants, may counteract the adverse effects of THC.
Long-term marijuana use can alter a person’s personality. Heavy marijuana users may struggle with general and social anxiety.
According to studies, regular marijuana use is associated with behavioral and mental health issues. Marijuana may impact your physical health, including the possibility of lung infections, decreased lung function, and difficulty moving sperm. It might also interfere with the heart’s functionality, ovulation, and fetal growth.
Young people and children should avoid using marijuana. People who use marijuana may experience diminished energy which can negatively affect academic performance.
Effects of Cannabis Use on Your Health
An observatory study found that marijuana users had an increased risk of heart attacks, asthma, COPD, arthritis, and kidney illness. Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of illness and mental health issues like depression, according to research.
An increased chance of mental health issues or psychiatric diagnoses, such as schizophrenia, has also been associated with marijuana use. Although frequent marijuana users are more prone to develop these mental illnesses, they are also at an increased risk of developing psychotic disorders.
Mind-related Effects
While the mental effects of cannabis aren’t typically frightening, they occasionally cause fear or insanity.
The psychoactive component of marijuana, THC, alters people’s memories and thought processes. The hippocampus, the cerebellum, and the basal ganglia are the brain regions that aid with balance and movement.
THC can affect coordination and reflexes because it alters these brain regions. The effects of heavy marijuana use include hallucinations and incorrect beliefs. Additionally, it has been connected to several mental health issues, including depression.
It can also cause psychotic diseases, including paranoia, holding untrue beliefs, and behaving strangely. Regular marijuana users tend to be more affected by it, and whether or not the impacts endure is unclear.
Risk of Heart Attack
Weed, the active component of cannabis, enters the lungs and affects blood pressure, and can cause your heart to beat up to 50 times per minute for up to three hours. Smokers are more prone to get heart disease than people without heart problems.
Even in youngsters who don’t already have many cardiac issues, regular marijuana use has been linked to heart disease, strokes, and other issues with the heart and blood vessels, according to the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Damage to the Lungs and Recurrent Coughs
Inhaling cannabis smoke can harm the lungs, much like smoking tobacco, or create a persistent cough. Due to its potential to harm the lungs and bronchial tubes, marijuana is toxic, according to studies.
You are more prone to develop a cough or experience breathing difficulties if you frequently use marijuana.
Cannabis Use Disorder
Cannabis use disorder (CUD), often known as marijuana use disorder, is a label used to describe problematic marijuana usage. DSM 5, or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, was the first book to discuss CUD.
Previously, the DSM divided the issue into two distinct disorders: cannabis dependence and cannabis abuse.
Indicators of Marijuana Use Issues
While synthetic cannabinoids can provide comparable effects to those of marijuana, they can also cause:
- Dissociative state
- Rapid and inconsistent heartbeat
- Agitation
- Paranoia
- Seizures
- Hypertension
- Chest Ache
- Hallucinations
- Euphoria
- Dizziness
Final Thoughts
Although there are a lot of health benefits to using marijuana, it also has negative effects, which may also be harmful to the human brain. Understanding the marijuana effects on the brain helps you put marijuana use in perspective.
