Health Risks of Marijuana Smoking

The dangers of marijuana use are a frequent topic of discussion, featured in TV and radio programs, magazine and newspaper articles, and various online resources. The number of pseudo-studies conducted by so-called scientists is also growing every day. In this article, we’ll try to sort out which claims about the harms of cannabis are true and which are false.

How Marijuana Affects Health

Cannabis has a wide range of effects on the human body. It relaxes muscles, relieves pain, and more.

Is Marijuana Harmful to Your Health?

It’s often said that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) remains and accumulates in fat tissue, leading to constant releases of the substance into the body, clouding the mind, increasing drowsiness, and reducing concentration. There is some truth to this: THC does get stored in fat tissue, which is the main reason it’s so easy to detect. However, the second part of this claim is completely false. The THC that settles in tissues is already fully non-toxic and harmless. At the same time, it’s important not to forget about the beneficial properties of tetrahydrocannabinol.

Cannabis users are often warned about the risk of cancer and other lung diseases. Of course, the risk of developing cancer or another deadly lung disease always exists, and poor environmental conditions alone are enough to cause them. As for marijuana, like any other burning product, it does affect the lungs. However, the negative effect of cannabis is much less than that of a comparable amount of smoked tobacco cigarettes, especially considering the difference in how often people use cannabis versus tobacco.

The Main Harm: Psychological and Mental Effects

• When marijuana enters the body, it does affect cognitive abilities. For example, in the Netherlands, where cannabis use is legal, driving under its influence is treated the same as drunk driving and is strictly punished.
• Cannabis can cause short-term memory impairment, as well as paranoia, depression, and psychosis. All of this depends on individual sensitivity and only lasts during the period of use.
• Recent studies by Canadian scientists and doctors have disproved the theory that marijuana harms health by “drying out the brain.”

Does Marijuana Increase Crime?

One of the most common myths about cannabis is that it leads to increased aggression and violence. In reality, the opposite is true: marijuana users are usually calm and gentle people. Crime statistics show that offenses committed under the influence of alcohol are hundreds of times more common than those involving marijuana. For example, according to Dutch police data, the percentage of crimes committed by people who tested positive for cannabis is extremely low.

Unlike alcohol and tobacco, cannabis does not cause physical dependence, but it can lead to psychological dependence. While many claims about the harms of marijuana are false, the specific effects of its active substances on the body are still not fully understood. Therefore, it’s too early to say that cannabis is completely harmless or beneficial.