Recreational cannabis use has grown tremendously over the last 20 years becoming almost as common as tobacco use among adolescents and young adults. A major new review of the literature in the scientific journal Addiction provides the latest information on the effects of cannabis use on mental and physical health.
After reviewing the latest evidence the journal says there are many adverse effects for marijuana users, and especially for adolescents.
Adverse Effects of Acute Cannabis Use
Cannabis does not produce fatal overdoses.
Driving while cannabis-intoxicated doubles the risk of a car crash; this risk increases substantially if users are also alcohol-intoxicated.
Cannabis use during pregnancy slightly reduces birth weight of the baby.
Adverse Effects of Chronic Cannabis Use
Regular cannabis users can develop a dependence syndrome, the risks of which are around 1 in 10 of all cannabis users and 1 in 6 among those who start in adolescence.
Regular cannabis users double their risks of experiencing psychotic symptoms and disorders, especially if they have a personal or family history of psychotic disorders, and if they start using cannabis in their mid-teens.
Regular adolescent cannabis users have lower educational attainment than non-using peers but we don’t know whether the link is causal.
Regular adolescent cannabis users are more likely to use other illicit drugs, but we don’t know whether the link is causal.
Regular cannabis use that begins in adolescence and continues throughout young adulthood appears to produce intellectual impairment, but the mechanism and reversibility of the impairment is unclear.
Regular cannabis use in adolescence approximately doubles the risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia or reporting psychotic symptoms in adulthood.
Regular cannabis smokers have a higher risk of developing chronic bronchitis.
Cannabis smoking by middle aged adults probably increases the risk of myocardial infarction.
Regular cannabis users double their risks of experiencing psychotic symptoms and disorders, especially if they have a personal or family history of psychotic disorders, and if they start using cannabis in their mid-teens.
Regular adolescent cannabis users have lower educational attainment than non-using peers but we don’t know whether the link is causal.
Regular adolescent cannabis users are more likely to use other illicit drugs, but we don’t know whether the link is causal.
Regular cannabis use that begins in adolescence and continues throughout young adulthood appears to produce intellectual impairment, but the mechanism and reversibility of the impairment is unclear.
Regular cannabis use in adolescence approximately doubles the risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia or reporting psychotic symptoms in adulthood.
Regular cannabis smokers have a higher risk of developing chronic bronchitis.
Cannabis smoking by middle aged adults probably increases the risk of myocardial infarction.
From Addiction, Oct. 6, 2014 and Medical News Today
Is Marijuana Safe? 20 Years Of Research
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