Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical THC and other similar compounds. Extracts can also be made from the cannabis plant (see "Marijuana Extracts").
Marijuana is the most commonly used addictive drug after tobacco and alcohol. Its use is widespread among young people. Cannabis in Nigeria is illegal, yet the country is a major source of West African-grown cannabis, and ranked the world's third highest consumer of cannabis. Cannabis is widely grown across the States of Nigeria, including Lagos State, Edo State, Delta State, Osun State, Oyo State and Ogun State.
If you're not careful, smoking marijuana can lead to a number of health complications.
Short-term effects include impaired coordination, anxiety, paranoia and increased heart rate. Long-term effects include addiction and difficulty quitting, respiratory problems and impaired cognitive development in children.
In some cases, smoking marijuana leads to decreased sex drive and infertility. For these reasons, people should think twice before starting to smoke it regularly.
A common myth about marijuana is that it's harmless and safe, but nothing could be further from the truth. While it's true that you're unlikely to overdose on marijuana, this doesn't mean that smoking weed won't have harmful effects on your health over time.
As more and more states legalize medical and recreational use of the drug, it's important to learn the truth about smoking pot. Marijuana can have significant impacts on your respiratory system and cardiovascular system, as well as your mental health, if you consume the drug regularly or in large doses.
Those who enjoy smoking marijuana might assume it’s as harmless as they like to think, but it’s not necessarily the case. Just because this drug can alleviate certain physical and mental ailments doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have harmful side effects or addictive properties of its own – especially when compared to what you might find in other recreational drugs.
Why Smoking Marijuana Isn't as Safe as You Might Think
It Can Be Harmful to the Lungs
Smoking marijuana can lead to the development of bronchitis, COPD, and cancer, which are all harmful to the lungs. The THC in marijuana irritates the lungs and leads to a deep cough that can produce phlegm and make you more vulnerable to getting sick.
Inhaling smoke from anything is not good for your lungs so it's best not to smoke cigarettes or marijuana. If you're going to use marijuana and want to minimize your risks, avoid smoking it. If you want to try using cannabis but don't want any risk of respiratory issues, vaporizing or using edibles are both safe options.
Short-Term Effects of Smoking Marijuana
Smoking marijuana has a variety of short-term effects, the most common being increased appetite and decreased nausea. Increased appetite from smoking marijuana can lead to overeating and weight gain.
Smoking too much marijuana can also cause anxiety, paranoia and panic attacks. Acute psychosis is not typically associated with long term use but can be seen in people who smoke a lot on an occasional basis. These symptoms are usually temporary if they occur at all.
Long-Term Effects of Smoking Marijuana
The long-term effects of smoking marijuana on the brain are not well known. There is some evidence that people who smoke marijuana on a regular basis may have impaired memory and difficulty with thinking, learning and problem solving. Marijuana use has also been linked to an increased risk of psychosis, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.
Smoking marijuana can also be addictive, because THC binds to receptors in the brain that control responses to other drugs such as alcohol, heroin and cocaine. Some studies have found that one in ten (10) adults who try it will become addicted.
Research has shown marijuana use can make symptoms of mental illness worse and even lead to relapse or worsening mental health problems if it's already present. But many argue that the long-term effects from smoking marijuana are less dangerous than those from tobacco, which causes cancer and lung disease.
The Risks of Secondhand Smoke from marijuana
As a Schedule I drug, marijuana is still illegal under federal law. Its secondhand smoke is potentially dangerous, and there are many risks associated with growing it and distributing it. While the argument that marijuana is safer than alcohol may seem compelling, this isn't always the case.
Secondhand smoke from marijuana is a risk to your health, especially for children and pregnant women. There's also the problem of drugged driving on our roads. Marijuana intoxication can lead to impaired perception and coordination. Even if you don't partake in using or smoking it yourself, you can face these risks simply by being around those who do use or smoke it.
Summary
Many people believe that smoking marijuana is a very safe and natural way to relax. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The substances in marijuana can cause serious damage to your health, both mentally and physically.
A study by Harvard Medical School found that marijuana smoke contains fifty percent (50%) more of certain cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco smoke. Even if you don’t think it affects you because it is just plant material, remember: anything smoked enters your lungs at high speed, passing into your bloodstream before entering the rest of your body.
By the time this happens, any carcinogens in the smoke have already been absorbed into your blood. These carcinogens are absorbed faster with weed than cigarettes.
It takes about three (3) hours for most of them to leave your system after smoking cigarettes but only two (2) hours with weed.
The continued use of marijuana has many negative effects on brain functioning and lung function which may result in increased susceptibility to diseases like asthma or bronchitis.
