Smoking weed might make one “cool” with his pals and bring one to an artificial “high” feeling but the consequence would be facing a number of marijuana long term effects for the rest of one’s life.
Marijuana or cannabis sativa is a hemp plant that contains an active chemical called THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol. Parts of the cannabis plant like the leaves, flowers or seeds are mixed and dried and then smoked to experience a feeling of euphoria. This feeling is short-lived, addictive and exposes the smoker to marijuana long term effects.
Called with many names like pot, weed, grass, joint, blunt or Mary Jane, marijuana has become the most common illegal drugs in the United States and has been so for several decades. Obviously, smokers of pot or weed do not feel threatened by the immediate side effects it brings, more so, with marijuana’s long term effects.
There are many considerations as to how a person is affected by smoking marijuana. Some feel nothing at all; others just feel relaxed and “high”. Still others just crave for drinks or food.
Among the long term effects of smoking marijuana that is being studied is its psychological effect on the user. Marijuana tends to be the first kind of illegal drug that a teen tries out. Addiction to marijuana can definitely paved the way to addiction with stronger illegal drugs like cocaine.
Smoking joint cigarettes contributes to marijuana long term effects on one’s body and health. Since, marijuana is smoked; it could affect the mouth, throat and lungs. Marijuana smoke is as carcinogenic as tobacco cigarettes and can lead to lung cancer. Scientific experiments on humans and animals showed that marijuana lessens the ability of the lung’s immune system to fight against some infections. The body’s reproductive system is also not spared from continuous marijuana smoking. The active chemicals of marijuana can repressed the production of sperm as well as female ovulation. Boys who start smoking pot at an early age could have a delayed puberty as one of marijuana’s long term effects. The cardiovascular system is another area where long term effects of marijuana can manifest. Smoking marijuana puts a lot stress in the heart. If the heart has some history of trouble, marijuana will just put more at risk.
Another study revealed that marijuana long term effects include impaired educational attainment and reduced workplace productivity. This justifies another assertion that those who smoke marijuana early in their teens tend to have a lower income in later life.
Many people do not consider marijuana as harmful. They believe that occasional puffs will not have any serious repercussion. Such loose reasoning oftentimes translates to false sense of security and lead to marijuana addiction. Perhaps these long term effects might make people think twice before concluding that marijuana is harmless.
If you know someone who is now starting to be dependent on pot, you must do everything to make him understand these marijuana long term effects. It would be easier for him to stop now that he has just started.