Adolescents using cannabis are four to seven times more likely than adults to develop cannabis use disorder. In other words, marijuana is cannabis, but not all forms of cannabis are marijuana (contain THC). Sinsemilla (Spanish for “without seed”) is the dried, seedless (i.e. parthenocarpic) infructescences of female cannabis plants. Regular cannabis use can lead to coughing, wheezing, phlegm, and a higher risk of respiratory infections. This may cause your airways to be more sensitive, which could cause problems when your doctor puts in or takes out your breathing tube. Along with having trouble breathing, you might feel like you’re having an asthma attack or have less oxygen in your lungs.
Some people with medical conditions that cause low appetite may take dronabinol to help them feel hungry. Cannabis (/ˈkænəbɪs/),2 commonly known as marijuana (/ˌmærəˈwɑːnə/),3 weed, pot, and ganja, among other names, is a non-chemically uniform psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, cannabis has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various traditional medicines for centuries. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive component of cannabis, which is one of the 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 65 other cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD).
- Using doses of CBD higher than 300 milligrams a day can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and liver conditions.
- Federally, marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning it is illegal at the national level.
- It looks like dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds and can be green, gray, or brown.
- Marijuana varies in potency, depending on the variety and where and how it is grown, prepared for use, and stored.
- It is the most commonly used largely-illegal drug in the world, with the highest use among adults in Zambia, the United States, Canada, and Nigeria.
- If you use these drugs more, you’re at risk for opioid use disorder.
Legality
While not as physically addictive as substances like opioids, long-term use leads to dependency. Avoid using cannabis until you review your medicines with a healthcare professional or pharmacist. Using doses of CBD higher than 300 milligrams a day can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and liver conditions. In the late 1980s researchers discovered a receptor for THC and THC-related chemicals in the brains of certain mammals, including humans. This finding indicated that the brain naturally produces a THC-like substance that may perform some of the same functions that THC does. Such a substance subsequently was found and named anandamide, from the Sanskrit ānanda (“bliss”).
How Marijuana Affects Your Mind & Body
In addition to THC, marijuana contains other cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD), which does not produce psychoactive effects but has been found to have potential therapeutic benefits. The FDA hasn’t approved marijuana to treat any medical conditions. But it has approved certain purified substances derived from marijuana (analogs). In Uruguay, President Jose Mujica signed legislation to legalize recreational cannabis in December 2013, making Uruguay the first country in the modern era to legalize cannabis. In August 2014, Uruguay legalized growing up to six plants at home, as well as the formation of growing clubs (Cannabis social club), and a state-controlled marijuana dispensary regime.
Studies also note that if you’re at risk of a mental condition, you may be more likely to smoke marijuana at an earlier age, maybe as a way to medicate yourself. Just like liquor stores are licensed to sell different types of alcohol, cannabis dispensaries have permits to sell weed. They have a variety of strains and types to choose from, and the people who work there can probably suggest products you can try, based on the outcome you’re looking for. Valley Spring Recovery Center offers marijuana detox info comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment services.
What are the long-term health risks of cannabis use?
Not all hospital systems and healthcare providers certify medical marijuana in states where it’s legal. This is mainly due to the lack of thorough research and clinical trials on the medical uses of marijuana. When people do experience hallucinations from marijuana use, they’re typically different from hallucinations people experience from other hallucinogens (like LSD, psilocybin and ecstasy).
The plant contains at least 125 different cannabinoids,1 including delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Delta-9 THC is the most abundant form of THC in the cannabis plant. It has intoxicating effects, meaning it can temporarily alter a person’s mood, thoughts, and perceptions. Marijuana has several short-term and long-term effects, many of which scientists are still studying.
Reproductive health
For instance, the odds of addiction are 1 in 6 if you use marijuana in your teens. It might be as high as 1 in 2 among those who use it every day. The main psychoactive ingredient in weed, THC, travels into your bloodstream to your brain.
Marijuana’s legal status varies by state, as many states have legalized its medical or recreational use. Despite the federal classification, the shift toward legalization in several states reflects a growing acceptance of marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes. Medical cannabis, also called weed or marijuana, is generally considered safe.
- Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in the cannabis plant.
- This study will provide critical insights into risk and resilience factors for cannabis and other substance use to inform future prevention interventions.
- Mentioned in a Chinese herbal dating from 2700 bce, marijuana has long been considered valuable as an analgesic, an anesthetic, an antidepressant, an antibiotic, and a sedative.
- Scientists and healthcare providers can’t state any general benefits of marijuana with certainty.
- Regular cannabis use can lead to coughing, wheezing, phlegm, and a higher risk of respiratory infections.
- Unlike substances like opioids or alcohol, marijuana has a relatively high safety margin, and it is unlikely to result in a fatal overdose.
Psychoactive ingredients
Despite its widespread use, many more studies are needed to understand how regular marijuana use may affect your brain and body. Dried, shredded buds of the plant can be smoked in a rolled cigarette (joint) or hollowed-out cigar (blunt). Smoking weed is usually the quickest way to feel its effects. It’s also being studied to see if it can help ease a variety of other conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.
About Cannabis
For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The FDA strongly advises against the use of CBD, THC and marijuana in any form during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Scientists have historically classified marijuana (THC) as a hallucinogen.
This study will provide critical insights into risk and resilience factors for cannabis and other substance use to inform future prevention interventions. See ABCD Study® results on cannabis exposure for more information. There are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of cannabis use disorder or for medically assisted withdrawal,69 but research is ongoing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies marijuana as a Schedule I substance. This means that it has no currently accepted medical uses and a high potential for addiction.