While it was once illegal, marijuana is more accessible today than ever before. Adults in Canada now have access to cannabis stores across the country, not to mention they can now buy marijuana online quickly and conveniently. Marijuana can be used for all kinds of purposes from recreational relaxation to therapeutic use, but there are some marijuana health myths out there that might leave some users confused.
The research on marijuana continues to grow and many potential therapeutic uses of the drug have been discovered from relieving pain to reducing stress and anxiety. However, there are still many conflicting reports on what marijuana does or doesn’t do. Some would have you believe that marijuana is more dangerous than it is whereas some would claim it’s free from harm- the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Marijuana can have all kinds of benefits for users but, with that said, it isn’t without its drawbacks. It’s important to use it responsibly and educate yourself on the pros and cons before you use it. It also helps to know about some of the common myths surrounding marijuana and how true or false they are. Here are eight marijuana health myths up in smoke.
1. Marijuana Is Harmless
It’s no secret that marijuana can be beneficial to all kinds of users. Even recreational users often find that smoking a joint helps them feel more at ease, relieves their body of physical tension, and relieves their mind of stress and worries. What’s more, studies have identified a range of medical benefits from the cannabinoids and terpenes in marijuana. However, it isn’t completely harmless.
With all the research on the benefits of marijuana out there, some might believe that marijuana is a wonder drug that’s completely free from harmful effects. However, this isn’t the case. Just like any other drug, marijuana can have a range of unpleasant side effects and it’s important to use it in moderation.
In smaller doses, most users won’t experience any harmful side effects of using marijuana. It’s likely to give you dry eyes, dry mouth, and increased appetite (the munchies) no matter how much you use, but most users won’t mind these effects. However, when you smoke too much, marijuana can have many physical and mental side effects.
Overuse of marijuana can lead to increased heart rate, sweating, nausea, and vomiting in some cases. It can also cause severe dehydration if you don’t drink enough water. The mental effects can be just as unpleasant. Some users experience increased anxiety and paranoia from smoking too much marijuana. Fortunately, these effects will wear off as the drug does, but it’s important to take care and not use too much.
2. You Can’t Get Addicted To Marijuana
One of the common health myths you’ll hear about marijuana is that it’s completely non-addictive. The claim that marijuana is not addictive compared to other substances is partly true- while substances such as alcohol, nicotine, and opioids can cause serious physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms, marijuana is relatively safe in comparison. However, it can still cause addiction.
When you use marijuana, the psychoactive chemical THC activates reward circuits in the brain and induces an overload of positive feelings. Many users enjoy these effects for recreational purposes and they can also help reduce the symptoms of mood disorders. However, this feeling can be addictive.
Research shows that, while cannabis might not have the physically addictive qualities of some substances, users can still become addicted. Whether they use it for recreational or medical purposes, users can become mentally dependent on its positive effects which can lead to overuse and problems quitting.
If you find yourself using marijuana too often or relying on it for certain issues, then it’s best to start cutting down. While it’s not as dangerous as some drugs, it should still be used in moderation. Younger users need to be especially careful. Using it in small doses and taking a marijuana detox from time to time can help.
3. Marijuana Is As Harmful To Your Lungs As Cigarettes
Naturally, some users will have concerns about the impact of smoking marijuana on the lungs. Smoking cigarettes notoriously increases the risk of lung cancer, as well as various other respiratory issues. But while some might believe that smoking marijuana is just as harmful if not worse, it turns out it might not be so harmful to your lungs after all.
A long-term study on the effects of cannabis smoking on lung function and respiratory function found some surprising results. Although marijuana can cause similar symptoms to tobacco smoking, it turns out that smoking marijuana can increase your lung capacity rather than hindering it.
That’s not all. A study in 2006 found no link between smoking marijuana and lung cancer. The study found that even long-term, heavy marijuana users did not appear to be at an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
These findings suggest that smoking marijuana is much less harmful to your lungs than smoking cigarettes. However, that shouldn’t be used as an excuse to smoke to excess. Smoking anything can still release unwanted toxins and compounds, and some users might want to convert to vaping marijuana or other methods of consumption for a safer experience.
4. It’s Possible To Overdose On Marijuana
There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to whether or not marijuana can cause an overdose. It’s a myth that marijuana can cause a fatal overdose- even in high doses, smoking weed won’t kill you. However, consuming too much marijuana can still cause uncomfortable side effects that you’ll want to avoid.
Although it won’t kill you, smoking too much weed can cause side effects such as increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and other uncomfortable physical changes. This is often considered a non-lethal overdose and you’ll want to avoid getting to this point.
Of course, while the weed itself won’t kill you, it can also impair your judgment and cause you to behave in ways you usually wouldn’t. Trying to take on certain tasks such as driving a vehicle in this state can be fatal, so make sure you avoid those situations at all costs.
With that said, these consequences are very easy to avoid. Make sure you’re always careful about how much marijuana you use. Whether you’re smoking, vaping, or using marijuana edibles, always start with a small dose and make sure you’re cautious not to exceed your limits. That way, you can have consistently positive experiences and avoid harmful effects.
5. Marijuana Is A Gateway Drug
One of the most common myths about marijuana is that it’s a gateway drug. In other words, many people believe that marijuana is dangerous as it’ll make you want to move on to harder illicit drugs. This idea is commonly pushed by anti-drug campaigns but research suggests that this is not necessarily the case.
Research from the University of New Hampshire found that using marijuana was not linked to using other drugs. However, they did find that other factors, such as unemployment and stress, were more likely to lead young people to use marijuana as well as other drugs.
It’s also important to consider that marijuana was largely seen as a gateway drug in the past as users had to obtain the drug from illegal drug dealers who were likely to peddle other drugs along with marijuana.
While this may still be the case in some parts of the world, it’s now safer than ever to buy marijuana in Canada, especially when you buy weed online. Adults can now access a range of quality marijuana products as well as having more information than ever on how to use it safely and what to expect.
6. Marijuana Will Make You Gain Weight
It’s no secret that marijuana can boost your appetite. Research shows that marijuana increases hunger hormones and even impacts the brain to make food look, smell, and taste more appealing. This side effect is hard to avoid and even casual users are likely to feel extremely hungry after a joint.
It’s a common myth that since marijuana causes excessive cravings for food, it’ll make you gain weight. However, research suggests that it might have the opposite effect. A study on over 50,000 US adults found that marijuana use was linked to lower rates of obesity, suggesting that it may help some users regulate their weight.
Furthermore, a study on Inuit adults found that using marijuana was linked to lower BMI, lower fasting insulin, and lower fat mass- all the opposite of what you’d expect from a substance that boosts your appetite. Some researchers have suggested that this may be due to marijuana increasing your metabolism.
Marijuana’s ability to increase your appetite is largely seen as a positive effect and has even been used to treat appetite problems in patients with cancer, HIV, and eating disorders. Findings suggest that it won’t necessarily make you gain weight, but you should still be careful about how much you eat when you get high.
7. Marijuana Causes Mental Illness
Another myth that you’ll often hear from anti-drug campaigns is that marijuana causes mental illness. Like other psychoactive drugs, marijuana can have powerful effects on the mind and, in higher doses, may cause anxiety and paranoia. However, in most cases, these effects wear off within a few hours.
However, it is important to note that users who are prone to serious mental health disorders such as schizophrenia may want to avoid using marijuana. Research shows that there’s a link between regular marijuana use and the onset of schizophrenia.
Marijuana causes changes in the dopamine neurotransmitter system, and disturbances to this system are associated with psychotic disorders. That doesn’t mean that you’ll develop a disorder from using marijuana, but users who are prone to psychotic disorders or have a family history of schizophrenia should avoid regular marijuana use.
It should also be noted that marijuana shouldn’t be used to self medicate for serious mental health disorders such as schizophrenia as it can exacerbate the problem. Most users won’t need to worry about these risks and shouldn’t experience negative mental effects as long as they use marijuana in moderation.
8. Marijuana Gets Rid Of Anxiety And Depression
Marijuana can have many perks for users, and one of the most common therapeutic uses of marijuana is to help with anxiety and depression. The studies on using marijuana for anxiety and depression are very interesting- one study found that a single puff can help rapidly reduce the symptoms of these problems. However, that doesn’t mean you should use marijuana as a sole treatment for severe anxiety or depression.
It does seem that marijuana can help improve your mood, boost your motivation, and improve your sleep, all of which can help reduce the negative impacts of mood disorders. However, while it can help soothe certain symptoms, some users rely on marijuana as a treatment for these disorders which is not a good approach.
If you use marijuana to treat serious anxiety disorders or severe depression without any other treatments, you may find yourself becoming mentally dependent on it. Using marijuana regularly to deal with mental health symptoms can have a negative effect after a while, so you’ll want to avoid relying on it too heavily.
With that said, marijuana can still be positive for users suffering from symptoms of anxiety and depression- it’s just important to use it in moderation. The best approach is to combine moderate marijuana use with traditional treatments such as therapy and not to overuse marijuana.
Conclusion
There are many health myths out there about marijuana and it helps to know exactly what to expect before you use it. While some anti-drug campaigns would have you believe that marijuana has no benefits, this isn’t true. Many people now use marijuana successfully to help with all kinds of ailments. With that said, it isn’t without its negatives.
It’s important to always use marijuana in moderation and not to become mentally dependent on it. As long as you’re cautious and use it responsibly, you’ll have nothing but positive experiences. Remember to avoid using too much and lower your usage if you regularly experience negative side effects. You should also only buy marijuana from a safe and trusted source, such as CanadaCannabisDispensary.
