What are the health benefits and risks of cannabis?

Weed is not a drug or is it still a drug? Is it true that smoking cannabis is better than smoking cigarettes? Or maybe weed is worse than alcohol? There are a lot of stereotypes around marijuana, which makes it difficult to figure out where the truth is and where the lie is. Therefore, it is worth understanding whether it is as harmful as they say it is, and what the difference is between medical cannabis and recreational cannabis. Try the Gelonade Strain at AskGrowers to experience the difference.

Difference Between Medical and Regular Marijuana

Cannabis consists of many components, but the 2 main ones are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD).

THC is a psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. It creates a heady effect and changes perception. The cannabinoid does not a psychoactive element. Thus, the difference between medical cannabis and regular marijuana is only in the ratio of THC and CBD. In the medical field, it is the cannabinoid that should predominate.

Studies show that cannabinoid preparations help to alleviate people’s conditions with various diseases. Many doctors recommend them for nausea during chemotherapy, epilepsy, anxiety disorder, depression, and Alzheimer’s. In addition, CBD is found in some drinks or cosmetics composition.

Medical marijuana is carefully checked for compliance with the rules and requirements. Despite the fact that even with this, there is still no evidence of 100% benefits.

What are the negative effects of smoking weed on a regular basis?

Let’s find out what the risks of marijuana are for human health and whether it is realistic to avoid them.

Studies have shown that excessive use of weed leads to dependence, especially if a person starts smoking earlier. In addition, cannabis exacerbates symptoms in people with psychotic disorders. In addition, in adolescence, weed increases the risk of developing mental disorders in the future.

Studies proved that smoking cannabis has a negative effect on the respiratory system. Canadian scientists have found that marijuana smoke contains 20 times more ammonia than tobacco smoke. And in general, chronic smokers have an increased risk of bronchitis and myocardial infarction.

1. Smoking weed speeds up the heartbeat and can cause shortness of breath.

2. We should not forget about the bad effects of marijuana on the male reproductive system.

3. One of the most common side effects of marijuana smoking is anxiety.

Health benefits of cannabis

1. When marijuana is used, the number of viral cells in the body is reduced and the damage to the human immune system that irrevocably causes HIV is reduced.
2. According to statistics from Dutch scientists, weed lovers are less likely to be obese.
3. Weed smoking reduces the risk of getting and spreading cancer cells.
4. Marijuana is used for the treatment of chronic seizures.
5. Moderate THC intake prevents heart failure.
6. Hemp reduces and prevents glaucoma.
7. Weed effectively destroys mental illnesses such as depression, loneliness, social isolation, etc.
8. Cannabis helps with sleep disorders.

Risks from the use of marijuana

1. Development of sexual dysfunction in men with increased risk of testicular cancer. The number of viable sperm and their activity is reduced by 1/3 with regular consumption of weed.
2. Women’s reproductive health suffers as well.
3. Suppression of the immune system, increased susceptibility to certain infections, and the formation of cancers.
4. A 2x increase in the chance of crashing into a car while driving within 3 hours after smoking a cannabis cigarette.
5. Risk of developing or exacerbating psychosis with long-term use (about 40%). Especially at risk, according to Australian scientists, are people who started consuming at a young age and for 6 years after adulthood.
6. Inflammatory processes of the gums. In New Zealand, a number of studies have shown a measurable increase in the risk of gingival inflammation when smoking cannabis or tobacco.
7. Memory loss from smoking potent marijuana with a reduced cannabidiol content.
8. High level of formation of scarring and fibrosis of the liver in hepatitis C.
9. Bulimia and severe anorexia, often cause less vomiting.
10. Depression, emotional problems, mood swings, cognitive deterioration, and memory loss. This is exacerbated at times against the background of multiple sclerosis.

As you can see, there are both health benefits of cannabis and health risks. Research into weed and its effects on humans is ongoing, and its risks and benefits are still a burning topic. Scientists cannot come to a consensus regarding the benefits of this drug.

Conclusion

Cannabis and its derivatives can be treated differently. But people who are convinced that absolutely all drugs are equally harmful, and definitely more dangerous than alcohol, are perhaps puzzled by the fact that marijuana is being consistently legalized in Europe and overseas and is increasingly being used for medical purposes. Also, there are currently no documented deaths from a weed overdose. However, it is not harmless. The main risk is loss of control over behavior from cannabinoid use.