The cannabis industry is thriving, as the global pandemic has caused its strongest growth spurt so far. Sales are growing by leaps and bounds, and consumers can now choose from a wide range of products, including edibles. Experts recommend caution, as marijuana and CBD have short-term and long-term effects on your mind and body.
Weed triggers different reactions that vary from person to person. Smoking is one of the fastest roots of administration. By inhaling weed, you trigger rapid physical and psychological changes. For those who buy Delta 9 THC from hemp, the experience is different. What really happens when you smoke weed?
Short-Term Effects
Some people do not feel any effects of marijuana when they try it. Others report feeling relaxed (“high”). The effects vary dramatically, and they can be unpredictable. Research also shows that mixing weed with other drugs is extremely dangerous.
How Weed Affects Your Body
Aside from helping you relax, smoking weed may cause a broad spectrum of physical effects users do not expect. Your heartbeat will accelerate, you may lose coordination and/or experience a dry mouth. Some people have bloodshot eyes, or their eyelids swell.
How Weed Affects Your Mind
Marijuana can affect your usual behavior, logic, and perception. Users must also be aware of potential memory impairment. This explains why driving while high on weed is extremely dangerous.
You may suddenly become anxious or paranoid and have difficulty thinking. These conditions are particularly likely if you try high potency weed, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Lack of concentration and poor driving skills are also quite common.
Smoking weed regularly can also increase the risk of depression and cause you to lose motivation. Due to the “dopey” feeling, you may lose interest in things you previously enjoyed. The drug also causes learning difficulties, so grasping new concepts becomes challenging.
Long-Term Effects of Smoking Weed
Like any drug, weed can have serious effects on your health if you smoke it for a long time. The damage ranges from brain function impairment to infertility. According to some studies, the effects also depend on the age at which you start smoking. Weed can:
- Increase your risk of developing cancer in the lungs, head, and neck;
- Increase the risk of infections, particularly in the lungs;
- Cause respiratory problems;
- Decrease sperm count in men;
- Cause irregular menstruation in women;
- Make you unable to shift attention;
- Hinder processing of complex information;
- Impair short-term memory recall;
- Cause a lack of motivation.
Smoking vs. Vaping
An alternative way to consume marijuana is inhaling vapor from heated oil smoked through an e-cigarette. Vaping has been associated with some lung injuries, but little is known about the negative health effects.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention does not advise Americans to vape products containing tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which is the psychoactive chemical in weed. Today, experts say that weed pens are potentially dangerous, and you should spare your lungs, but more research is required.
Effects of Edibles
More and more US states are legalizing recreational marijuana. In addition to weed, retailers offer a wide range of edible products. When you eat something containing marijuana, it is absorbed more slowly, so the effects can last longer. They may also be stronger in comparison with smoking.
Are Delta 9 Edibles Safe?
While vaping is controversial, there have been no cases of overdosing on THC edibles. They contain the same psychoactive compound but are safe when used in moderation. The only way to consume too much THC is through injection, as its toxicity dose is simply too high. In one toxicology study, monkeys and dogs received around 9,000 mg of the compound per kilogram of body weight. No lethal effects were observed.
Of course, this does not mean that THC is perfectly safe. First, it can exacerbate pre-existing psychiatric disorders. If you or any of your family members suffer from schizophrenia or psychosis, the psychological dangers are significant.
Users who consume too much THC or marijuana too often may develop a condition known as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). It triggers vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain after the use of marijuana-containing products.
Why Reactions to Weed Vary
So, why do some people have zero negative reactions while others are completely freaked out by their experience? According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, weed affects everyone differently depending on its type and their own body chemistry. Five primary factors determine how you will respond to weed:
The strengths of the product (i.e., how much THC it contains)
According to available research, the potency of the weed sold today is very different from products available in the 1960s. When the drug first became available in the United States, producers used weaker strains of the plant. They contained less active ingredients. The marijuana you can smoke today is much stronger than what hippies and flower children had access to.
Previous experience with the drug
The longer you smoke weed, the higher doses you need to experience the same effects. In this regard, marijuana works just like any other drug. By using this substance regularly, you develop a tolerance to it.
Method of consumption (smoking vs. edibles)
When marijuana is consumed by inhaling, the effects are rapid. Your brain is influenced more quickly in comparison with other methods. However, the effects of edibles may be stronger and more lasting.
Use of other substances
Using weed with other drugs or alcohol is extremely dangerous, and the effects are unpredictable. As substances interact, they can aggravate each other’s negative effects on your body and mind.
Your genetics and biology
Finally, the effects of weed vary as every person’s genetic makeup is unique. Different biological factors determine how your body responds to a substance and metabolizes it. In addition, people of different ages, with different body mass, and hydration levels experience different effects. Females generally metabolize THC more slowly than males.