what are the health risks of marijuana long term?

What are the health risks?

People who smoke a lot of cannabis or use the drug on a daily basis run the biggest health risks.

They may experience problems with their short-term memory, attention span, sex drive, motivation, learning new concepts, and their respiratory system.

Large does can also cause confusion and panic attacks. These effects are also common in new users and this is a common reason for not using the drug.

Cannabis smoking can increase the heart rate by up to 50 percent soon after it is used.

People's coordination and movement can be impaired during a major drug high. This means a user may not be able to drive or operate machinery properly. A car accident could be a serious consequence of being high on cannabis.

Studies have shown marijuana can impair driving skills, but it's believed cannabis users are more aware of their condition and less likely to take risks on the road, which is common with alcohol use. However, marijuana use can strengthen the effects of alcohol and lead to dangerous driving.

Long term and heavy cannabis use is linked to an increase in respiratory problems, such as poorer lung function, and more coughing and wheezing.

One study has shown that smokers of both tobacco and marijuana have the largest number of respiratory problems.

It is claimed that heavy cannabis smoking can lead to lung cancer. However, there have been no proven cases of this as yet. There have been reports of cancers in the respiratory tract in young heavy cannabis users, and these cancers are rare among adults under 60. In theory it is possible for cannabis smoke to cause cancer and more studies are necessary.

Heavy cannabis users can develop tolerance to the drug and need larger and larger amounts to make them high.

Cannabis itself has low toxicity. There have been no confirmed cases of deaths from marijuana poisoning.

It is also believed that marijuana use can lead to the abuse of other drugs like cocaine or heroine, but there continues to be debate about this.

Research shows heavy teenage cannabis users do not do as well in high school compared with non-users.

Large doses of cannabis can cause memory loss, delusions, and hallucinations. Research suggests that cannabis use can lead to schizophrenia in a person who already has a predisposition to the mental condition. It is believed these people would have developed schizophrenia regardless of whether they used cannabis or not.

It is hard to know how cannabis can effect an unborn child because long-term studies are difficult given the illegal nature of the drug. Some studies have shown cannabis use by pregnant women has been linked to babies being born with low birth weights. Initial data from another study show children of marijuana users may have trouble with memory and concentration. It is unlikely that cannabis can cause birth defects.

Three studies have found an increased risk of leukaemia among children whose mothers smoked marijuana, and further research is necessary to confirm a link.

There has been a variety of studies investigating the health issues related to cannabis use and its long term use, and while some evidence appears strong,[33] other studies have produced results that are more controversial or unverified.

The most obvious confounding factor in cannabis research is the very prevalent usage of other recreational drugs, including alcohol and tobacco.[34] Such complications imply that cannabis studies must have stronger controls and investigations into the symptoms of cannabis that may also be caused by tobacco, for example, cannot be demonstrated. In addition, research using cannabis is heavily restricted in many countries, reducing the studies funded or approved. More controversial results that have been published in cannabis studies include one that suggests that cannabis may be less likely to cause emphysema or cancer than tobacco;[35][36][37] other studies have suggested that cannabis may be less likely to cause birth defects or developmental delays in the children of users than other drugs would.[38][39] According to a United Kingdom government report, using cannabis is less dangerous than both tobacco and alcohol in social harms, physical harm and addiction.[40]

Research between the use of cannabis and mental illness has also brought significant results. Cannabis use has generally higher among sufferers of schizophrenia, but the causality between the two has not been established.[41][42] Another study concluded that sustained early-adolescent cannabis use among genetically predisposed individuals has been associated with a variety of mental illness outcomes; ranging from psychotic episodes to clinical schizophrenia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana

This is one of those you have to read all the studies and decide for yourself. There is information supporting both sides. I personally believe it is more or less harmless. There are studies available that basically debunk the all the gov sponsored studies. Smoke of any kind is of course damaging, but marijuana can be vaporized or cooked into food, neither of which carry the issues associated with smoke. The cdc has no record of a fatal over dose ever occuring. There are studies available that suggest someone with a massive amount of marijuana in their system is still more aware/alert/coherent/responsive than someone who has been drinking but are still under the legal driving limit. Over use of anything is bad. Too much tv is bad. Too much sugar is bad. Too much marijuana is bad too. But responsible use is typically fine.

I can't remember. For real though smoke causes U got it cancer. Tobacco or cannabis. If U like to eat & want to keep a Job This could be considered a health risk. Good luck.

Most of the 'risks' of smoking marijuana are mental. But it does increase the risks of certain chronic lung diseases such as emphysema, other pulmonary diseases, pleuresy, etc.

Smoking anything also weakens and kills cells which are touched by the smoke, and can make you more open to viruses or other 'carcinogens' that can eventually cause cancer.

I think I might have heard something sometime. when .I don't memberr that there was some memory loss I think. but I am not sure.cause I might be wrong cause I dont member sometimes .and when you smoke one you cough like hell sometimes I member that I think.and I have been on this couch for 3 years and they come to feed me and I have a piss jar so I dont have to get up so often.cause the tv is my friend.Peace love and happiness. right on. far out and rightious . dude.

The most important is that marijuana leads you to take other drugs, when you get tired of it you start looking for stronger drugs.

Damage to the nerveous and immune systems. Nerveous- slowing reaction times. immune- higher risks of catching airborn disease and slower recovery time from common diseases (cold, flu). Lung cancer, cancer of the larynx and throat.

stupidity........lung cancer.....illegal (jail time can be a big health risk!;)......laziness (won't work hard so you can have a decent job).......wasteful with your money (not enough money for more important things like proper food for a good diet).......hmmmm......I am sure there are tons of "risks"!

Health risk? or health gain?