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Cannabis is physically and psychologically addictive. THC (del-ta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary mind-altering substance in cannabis. Since it passes rapidly into the bloodstream, prolonged use can permanently alter the brain’s natural tendency to balance and regulate motivation and reward. More people are now in treatment for cannabis than for all other illicit drugs combined.

Source:

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 2021. Annual Detailed Tables. Data received through 10.18.22. 2021; Pages 74, 76. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42795/2021-teds-annual-detailed-tables%281%29.pdf

Unlike alcohol, THC levels are not clearly labeled on a container and don’t get processed out of your body 1 oz. every hour. Instead, THC builds up in fatty tissue and, depending on how much and how often you use, it can stay in your system for many days, weeks, or months. Like alcohol, it also makes driving unsafe.

Impairment delays reaction time and distorts perceptions of space and depth. The use of cannabis has also been connected with increased risk of developing depression, schizophrenia, and worsening bipolar disorder symptoms.

Sources:

1. Marconi A, Di Forti M, Lewis CM, Murray RM, Vassos E. Meta-analysis of the Association Between the Level of Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychosis. Schizophr Bull. 2016 Sep;42(5):1262-9. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbw003.
2. Jefsen OH, Erlangsen A, Nordentoft M, Hjorthøj C. Cannabis Use Disorder and Subsequent Risk of Psychotic and Nonpsychotic Unipolar Depression and Bipolar Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry. 2023;80(8):803–810. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1256

While THC can reduce pain and increase appetite, there are already THC- derived medications for both (Sativex/Marinol). These are not in their raw form; they have controlled doses and go through FDA testing. Like tobacco smoke, cannabis smoke contains hundreds of chemicals and is an irritant to the throat and lungs.

Cannabis cannot be prescribed by a doctor (simply recommended). The medical organizations that treat diseases in which there are claims to benefit are not in support of decriminalization or legalization, like:

• The American Medical Association
• American Cancer Society
• The American Glaucoma Society

Source:

Is marijuana safe and effective as medicine?. National Institute on Drug Abuse website. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-safe-effective-medicine. April 13, 2021.

Sources: 

1. https://adaa.org/sites/default/files/Anxiety.pdf
2. https://drexel.edu/cannabis-research/research/research-highlights/2023/April/anxiety_cannabis_fact_sheet/
3. https://adai.uw.edu/pubs/pdf/2017mjanxiety.pdf
4. Ibid.
5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350967
6. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cbd-more-effective-for-anxiety-than-thc#Obstacles-to-cannabis-research

Presentation titled: Cannabis, Opioids, and Public Health Implications, it was presented by Kenneth Finn, MD.

23 studies found a positive link between an adolescent’s frequent use of cannabis and a generalized anxiety disorder diagnosis: Stiles-Shields, C., Archer, J., Zhang, J. et al. A Scoping Review of Associations Between Cannabis Use and Anxiety in Adolescents and Young Adults. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 54, 639–658 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01280-w

Additional resources that detail the information and specific drug interactions:

• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348887145_Cannabidiol_Interactions_with_Medications_Illicit_Substances_and_Alcohol_a_Comprehensive_Revie
• https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/cannabidiol.html

Cannabis slows drivers’ reaction time, lowers coordination, and affects depth perception.
These abilities are necessary to safely operate a vehicle.

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While cannabis overdose is not fatal, consuming too much cannabis at once is considered
an overdose. Cannabis poisoning, often referred to as “greening out” causes symptoms including
paranoia, panic, increased blood pressure, fast heart rate, severe nausea or vomiting, and
delusions or hallucinations.

Cannabis poisoning is most common in edible ingestion, as the effects of edibles can take
anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to set in, last longer than smoked cannabis, and have
unpredictable dosages. Due to the legalization of adult cannabis use in several states, cannabis
poisonings in children have become more common.

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Many plants are toxic to humans or unsafe to consume. For example, opioids are
naturally derived from the opium poppy plant. This is the same class of drugs that heroin and
fentanyl fall under.

Cannabis poses both short-term and long-term health risks no matter how it is consumed,
specifically affecting the heart, lungs, and brain.

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