Marijuana Side Effects

Marijuana side effects can seriously influence the mind and the body of the chronic user. The effects of marijuana can be as innocent as increasing the user's appetite or as serious as a potentially life threatening lung disease. Chronic marijuana users will eventually need to us more and more of the drug in order to achieve the same effects as they begin to develop a tolerance to the drug; additionally, they risk developing an addiction to the drug and will begin to have a difficult time in limiting their marijuana use. Marijuana side effects can include intoxication, which has often been reported to cause impaired coordination and problems with learning and memory. A large body of research has shown that marijuana side effects may adversely impact learning and memory for up to several weeks after the acute effects of the drug have already worn off.

Marijuana side effects can initially include bloodshot eyes and a dry throat, but these particular symptoms will usually disappear in a few hours. Most people are unaware that marijuana side effects can increase an individual's heart rate for up to 5 hours after its use; in turn, this can cause the person to experience acute anxiety. Marijuana side effects include the user having almost 5 times the increase in the risk of a heart attack for up to a hour after smoking the drug; this heart attack risk could be due to the palpitations and arrhythmias that commonly occur upon using the drug.

Marijuana side effects on the lungs can be especially harmful because users of this drug will often inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply into their lungs, and hold it there as long as they can stand it; as a result of this action, marijuana smoke is in contact with lung tissues for long periods of time, which can irritate the lungs and can negatively affect the lungs functioning. Marijuana side effects can potentially include emphysema and cancer, as the drug often contains many of the same ingredients as those commonly found in tobacco smoke. Scientist that examined human lung tissue that has been exposed to marijuana smoke for a long period of time noted that precancerous cellular changes were present in these tissues; additionally, when the tars that marijuana smoke produced were applied to the skin of lab animals, it sometimes resulted in the development of tumors.

Marijuana side effects can create disruptions to the natural chemical balance of the brain, which affect the pleasure centers and regulatory systems; additionally, brain imaging studies of chronic marijuana users have shown consistent brain alterations. Marijuana side effects also include "burnout;" this is a common term that is used by individuals who smoke the drug, in order to describe the effect of prolonged marijuana use. Individuals who are heavy users of marijuana over a long period of time have been reported to become slow moving and inattentive. Marijuana side effects can wreak havoc on the brain, by affecting the user's ability to be able to react quickly; in turn, this can greatly impair the individual's driving skills.