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I have always had a lot of anxiety and I’ve seen my friends get so paranoid when they’re high. I choose not to use because I don’t want to risk making my anxiety worse.

Test Hian Oliveira, 33

[ Health ] Decoded

Did you know that using marijuana can interfere with your reaction time, impair your ability to drive, play sports and focus in school? Cannabis use is linked to a variety of different physical and mental health effects.

Psychological effects of cannabis use can include lowered inhibitions, drowsiness, and silliness/giddiness. Some users also report anxiety and paranoia. Regular cannabis use is linked to an increase of social anxiety disorder. 

The National Academies Press

Like cigarettes, smoking cannabis can be harmful to your lungs. The smoke from cannabis has many of the same toxins and chemicals found in cigarette smoke, and can increase your risk of developing lung problems when inhaled.

Let's Talk Cannabis

In low to medium doses, marijuana causes reduced coordination, reduced blood pressure, sleepiness, disruption in attention, and an altered sense of space and time.

Neuroscience for Kids

In high doses, marijuana can cause hallucinations, delusions, impaired memory, and disorientation.

Neuroscience for Kids

The effects of using cannabis can last longer than you think. Cannabis use can negatively impact your learning, memory, and attention for weeks after use. Daily or near-daily use of marijuana can damage your memory.

The National Academies Press
Is weed good or bad for you

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FAQ

I'm pregnant. Can I use cannabis to relieve nausea?

It is not safe to use cannabis while pregnant, even to control morning sickness or other symptoms. Using cannabis while pregnant can cause your baby to be born with a lower birth weight, which means your baby is more likely to have health issues, especially within the first year of their life.

Can you overdose on cannabis?

To overdose and die from cannabis is very unlikely. However, you can experience extreme levels of anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations, and paranoia. People can injure themselves because of cannabis’ effects on judgment, coordination, and perception. For example, driving under the influence of cannabis is dangerous because it affects the skills you need to drive safely.

Is weed good for you or bad for you?

Just like with prescription drugs, some active compounds in medical marijuana are used to treat specific symptoms. While CBD (a compound found in cannabis that doesn’t get you high) might be used to treat anxiety, smoking a joint may have the opposite effect because it contains THC.

How does smoking cannabis affect my lungs?

Cannabis smoke affects the lungs similarly to tobacco smoke. It may cause respiratory difficulty, coughing, and long-term breathing issues.

Is it safe to consume cannabis with alcohol?

Alcohol can increase the body's metabolism of THC by up to twice its normal rate - meaning it's easier to consume too much cannabis while drinking. While an overdose of cannabis is very unlikely, overconsumption can cause symptoms such as severe anxiety and impaired judgment.

Does secondhand cannabis smoke hurt other people?

Much like tobacco smoke, secondhand cannabis smoke can affect the health of anyone exposed to it. The elderly, children, and pregnant women are more severely affected by secondhand smoke.

Is it dangerous to use cannabis while on other medications?

It can be dangerous to use cannabis while using other medications - each medication has unique interactions with cannabis, and users should consult with a doctor before mixing the two.