Cannabis contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other mind-altering chemicals. Photo courtesy of Budding on Unsplash.

Marijuana, weed, pot, grass, and Mary Jane, are all slang for one drug: Cannabis. Cannabis refers to the dried leaves, flowers, seeds, and stems of the plant. Cannabis can be smoked in several forms, eaten, drank, taken as pills, oils, topics, and sublinguals.

Cannabis is commonly used by adolescents. Many use it when hanging out with friends to enhance the hangout, although regular, heavy use in adolescence is connected to negative effects on working memory, processing speed, verbal memory, academic functioning, educational attainment, employment, and income in young adulthood.

It’s also been connected to developing psychosis, cannabis use disorder, and raising the risk of depression.

Smoking cannabis contains some of the same toxins, irritants, and carcinogens as smoking tobacco. Long-term use can result in respiratory issues such as large airway inflammation, increased airway resistance, lung hyperinflation, and chronic bronchitis.

One of the most worrying issues is that using cannabis in any form can cause Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). Symptoms are nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. CHS requires medical attention and only resolves when the person stops all cannabis use.

Long-term, or heavy cannabis use, is also linked to the downfall of cognitive functions, low attention spans, low processing speeds, affected perceptual motor functions, and language issues. Early onsets of psychotic disorders and/or worsening symptoms is common, as well as suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

It’s important to discourage people you know from using cannabis when not in a medical form. Even second-hand exposure can cause positive test results and respiratory infections.

Despite what some people may believe, cannabis is addictive. Signs you or a loved one is addicted are: using in large amounts, desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or quit use, spending too much time getting, using, or recovering from cannabis, using despite causing problems, giving up hobbies or relationships for cannabis, or consistent cravings.

Withdrawals from cannabis aren’t common, with only 12.1% of users experiencing them, although they can be intense, some include: anger, irritability, aggression, nausea, restlessness, decreased appetite or weight, depression, insomnia, strange or unsettling dreams, headaches, sweating, abdominal pains, and tremors.

Cannabis is a drug commonly used and romanticized by teenagers, though many of the dangers of cannabis aren’t known. Being on cannabis, especially before full frontal lobe development, can severely impact your physical and psychological wellbeing.