The negative health effects of marijuana / cannabis
Marijuana is approved in some states in the US for medical purposes which may include chronic pain relief, nausea relief, management of multiple sclerosis symptoms, and to stimulate appetite. However, most people in the US use it for “recreational” purposes. If you walk down the street and even into some buildings, garages, stairwells, subway stations .. etc, chances you will smell marijuana in many cities across the US. Judging from the wide, and increasing, use of marijuana, it is very likely that the majority of people who use it think it is harmless, but actually it is not.
Marijuana is approved in some states in the US for medical purposes which may include chronic pain relief, nausea relief, management of multiple sclerosis symptoms, and to stimulate appetite. However, most people in the US use it for “recreational” purposes. If you walk down the street and even into some buildings, garages, stairwells, subway stations .. etc, chances you will smell marijuana in many cities across the US. Judging from the wide, and increasing, use of marijuana, it is very likely that the majority of people who use it think it is harmless, but actually it is not.
Here are some of the harms associated with cannabis / marijuana use. This list is by no means inclusive. Some of these effects can occur after short period of use while others may appear after use for longer periods of time and/or with higher doses.
1. Risk of addiction to cannabis. Approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. When they start before age 18, the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6.
2. May cause problems with memory, attention, learning, coordination, making decisions, reaction time and emotions. Marijuana can cause permanent (not reversible) IQ loss of as much as 8 points. Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and schizophrenia.
3. May raise blood pressure immediately after use, and may increase the risk of stroke and heart disease.
4. It affects drivers in a way similar to alcohol.
5. Smoking marijuana harms the lungs
6. Edible or drinkable cannabis may cause poisoning.
7. Harms athletic Performance by affecting timing, movement, and coordination.
8. Using marijuana during pregnancy may cause decrease fetal growth, premature birth, stillbirth, and problems with brain development. Chemicals from marijuana can be passed to the baby through breast milk if the mother is using it.
9. People who use marijuana are more likely to have relationship issues, worse educational outcomes, lower career achievement, and reduced life satisfaction.
It remains unknown what effect second hand smoking of marijuana have on those who do not use it. Given the wide use in public spaces and increased exposure of bystanders through unintentional breathing of smoked cannabis, such studies are urgently needed.
You can learn more on this subject by visiting these websites (which were used as references for this post):
https://www.cdc.gov/cannabis/health-effects/index.html
https://www.samhsa.gov/marijuana
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/4392-marijuana-cannabis
Can we decrease our chances of getting cancer?
A recently published study by researchers at the American Cancer Society found that in adults 30 years and older roughly 40% of cancers and 44% of deaths from cancer can be attributed to elevated risk factors that can be modified. This could hopefully lead to decreasing one’s odds of getting cancer or dying from it by mitigating these risk factors.
A recently published study by researchers at the American Cancer Society found that in adults 30 years and older roughly 40% of cancers and 44% of deaths from cancer can be attributed to elevated risk factors that can be modified. This could hopefully lead to decreasing one’s odds of getting cancer or dying from it by mitigating these risk factors.
The leading factors contributing to increased cancer risk in both sexes in order of significance (highest to lowest) include:
Cigarette smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, UV radiation, physical activity, HPV infection, low fruit and vegetable consumption, processed meat, low dietary fiber, and other important but less significant factors. The significance of these factors differ somewhat between males and females.
Source:
Islami F et al. CA Cancer J Clin 2024
US Cancer Statistics 2024
The latest annual report on cancer statistics in the United States is full of detailed information on the current status of cancer in the general population. It shows that generally progress continues to be made in the fight against cancer with fewer new cancer cases and fewer cancer deaths are being reported in recent years. Three things stand out from that report:
The latest annual report on cancer statistics in the United States is full of detailed information on the current status of cancer in the general population. It shows that generally progress continues to be made in the fight against cancer with fewer new cancer cases and fewer cancer deaths are being reported in recent years. Three things stand out from that report:
1) The number of men diagnoses with prostate cancer has been on the rise since 2015.
2) A type of skin cancer called Melanoma continues to affect more people each year than the previous year.
3) For men and women first diagnosed with cancer of the large intestine (colon and rectum) when they were younger than 50, the numbers dying from this cancer have been increasing year over year. This is unfortunate because it is the opposite of what has been happening in older patients.
So especially if you are younger than 50 and have signs or symptoms that can be present in association with colon or rectal cancer, please see your doctor (do not delay). Here is a link to the American Cancer Society page on this topic.
Source: Siegel RL, Giaquinto AN, Jemal A. Cancer Statistics, 2004. CA Cancer J Clin 2004; 74:12-49.