Dronabinol, a pharmaceutical form of THC, and nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, are approved by the FDA to treat certain conditions. Marijuana’s strength is correlated to the amount of THC it contains and the effects on the user depend on the strength or potency of the THC. In general, the THC content in marijuana has been increasing since the 1990s, when it contained less than 4% of THC. Today it may contain much higher percentages of THC and extracts can contain upwards of 50% or more of THC. Vaporizers are also popular for those who prefer not to inhale smoke. The devices concentrate the THC from the marijuana into a storage unit and the person then inhales the vapor, not the smoke.
Cannabis, weed, pot, and marijuana all refer to the same group of plants known for their relaxing and calming effects. However, effects vary depending on your mode of consumption and it’s illegal in many places. Smoking marijuana can affect your memory and cognitive function and cause harmful cardiovascular effects, such as high blood pressure.
Are there treatments for cannabis use disorder?
Thus, there is preclinical evidence and some clinical evidence for therapeutic properties regarding a number of diseases. However, larger controlled clinical trials are needed to show efficacy and safety for each disorder. SC use varies a great deal between different countries and populations.13 For example, in Spain in 2012, there was a low percentage (1.4%) of use of “Spice” and its derivatives among youth between 14 and 18 years of age. In 2013 in Germany, a survey conducted with students between 15 and 18 years of age showed that 5% of them had used herbal blends.
- Long-term users who try to quit could experience withdrawal symptoms such as sleeplessness, irritability, anxiety, decreased appetite and drug craving.
- Cannabis is a generic term used to denote the several psychoactive preparations of the plant Cannabis sativa.
- Cannabis may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines, seizure medicines, and muscle relaxants.
- Multiple U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Guam now legally allow marijuana for personal medical use.
How do people use cannabis?
Due to possible side effects of marijuana on the fetus, ACOG recommends that marijuana should be avoided during pregnancy. Also, rates of marijuana use are often higher in people with symptoms of depression or anxiety, as reported by the NIDA. Prescription medicines containing synthetic cannabinoids (THC) are available.
About 147 million people, 2.5% of the world population, consume cannabis (annual prevalence) compared with 0.2% consuming cocaine and 0.2% consuming opiates. In the present decade, cannabis abuse has grown more rapidly than cocaine twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous and opiate abuse. The most rapid growth in cannabis abuse since the 1960s has been in developed countries in North America, Western Europe and Australia.
Cannabis, cannabinoids, and health
Human fetuses exhibit the cannabinoid receptor type 1 in the nervous system as early as 14 weeks of gestation, and animal studies suggest cannabinoid exposure may lead to abnormal brain development. As reported by de Moraes Barro and colleagues, babies born to adolescents who used marijuana during pregnancy have shown adverse neurological behavior effects of the newborns in the first 24 to 78 hours after delivery. Harvard Health also reports that the risk of a heart attack is several times higher in the hour after smoking marijuana, and this should be a red flag for anyone with a history of heart disease.
Cannabis has become more closely linked to youth culture and the age of initiation is usually lower than for other drugs. An analysis of cannabis markets shows that low prices coincide with high levels of abuse, and vice versa. Cannabis appears to be price-inelastic in the short term, but fairly elastic over the longer term. Though the number of cannabis consumers is greater than opiate and cocaine consumers, the lower prices of cannabis mean that, in economic terms, the cannabis market is much smaller than the opiate or cocaine market. Marijuana use might worsen manic symptoms in people who have bipolar disorder. If used frequently, marijuana might increase the risk of depression or worsen depression symptoms.
Which states / territories allow recreational use of marijuana?
In the United States, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1990 classifies marijuana as a Schedule I substance, which states it has no approved medical use and a high potential for abuse. This Federal definition is highly controversial, and can limit marijuana’s availability for clinical research studies. However, many US states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical use, recreational use, or have decriminalized possession. The use of cannabis during pregnancy may have harmful effects on a baby’s health after birth. There is some evidence that women who smoke cannabis during the time of conception or while pregnant may increase the risk of their child being born with birth defects. Pregnant women who continue to smoke cannabis are probably at greater risk of giving birth to echo house sober living low birthweight babies.
Onset of effects is felt within minutes when smoked, but may take up to 90 minutes when eaten (as orally consumed drugs must be digested and absorbed). The effects last for two to six hours, depending on the amount used. At high doses, mental effects can include anxiety, delusions (including ideas of reference), hallucinations, panic, paranoia, and psychosis. There is a strong relation between cannabis use and the risk of psychosis, though the direction of causality is debated. Physical effects include increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, nausea, and behavioral problems in children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy; short-term side effects may also include dry mouth and red eyes.
Ongoing and long-term system, sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) that collects data on the behaviors, attitudes, and values regarding substance use of American teens, college students, and adults. Each year a total of approximately 50,000 students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades are surveyed about substance use, including cannabis, and a subset are sent drinking when bored follow-up questionnaires through age 45 years. Monitors six categories of priority health risk behaviors, including cannabis use, among high school youth at national, state, and local levels.
