The Blunt Truth of Marijuana: Health Effects of Use

Humans have used marijuana for medical remedies, religious purposes, or simply just to get high. Currently, marijuana is the most commonly used drug in Canada and on October 17, 2018 the use of it was legalized.

The popular belief seems to be that marijuana is a harmless pleasure, access to which should not be considered illegal or regulated.

Types of Marijuana

There are three different types of marijuana; Sativa, Indica and Hybrid. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica were introduced in the 18th century.  Hybrids have been introduced only recently due to the breeding of the two plants.

This complex plant contains many different chemical compounds. The four major compounds are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (d-9-THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (d-8-THC) and Cannabinol (CBN). Sativa has a higher THC content while Indica has a higher CBD content.

Chemical structures of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol by Zerrin Atakan.

Sativa

The Sativa strain has energizing effects which is why they are often used during the daytime. The effects of Sativa are said to be uplifting and can make a person creative. Medically speaking, this strain is used to treat depression.

Indica

The Indica strain has a relaxing effect which can make you want to hang out on the couch and do nothing which is why they are often used during night time. The effects of Indica are said provide a sense of deep body relaxation which can help with pain relief.

Types of Cannabis by thcdoctor

Positive Health Effects

In a study done by Volkow, Baler, Compton, & Weiss (2014), clinical conditions with symptoms that were relieved by treatment of marijuana include:

• Nausea
• AIDS – associated anorexia
• Chronic pain
• Inflammation
• Epilepsy

The chemical components of this plant reacts to different receptors in the body in order to treat for these specific conditions.

There’s Always a Downside

Though marijuana can be used for medical use, there are always side-effects to any medication. In the same study done above, they list the negative effects:

• Risk of addiction
• Cognitive impairment, with lower IQ among those who were frequent users during adolescence

The effects mainly come from the regular use of marijuana during adolescence which is of particular concern. Use by this age group is associated with an increased likelihood of harmful consequences.

Is it Good or Bad?

Although multiple studies have reported dangerous effects of the use of marijuana, other studies have not. The question of whether marijuana is harmful remains the subject of heated debate.

What do you think?

Written by: Chelsey Chow