This past month the government legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Many people are thinking about what this means for them. On-line sales are sky-rocketing as Canadians order cannabis- some to try it for the first time. As the use of marijuana affects our health, I would like to pose some questions to consider, whether you are using marijuana regularly or are thinking about trying it. I am not referring to medical marijuana that is supervised by a professional and used in situations where it is providing appropriate care and relief. I want to address recreational marijuana.
Getting “high” on cannabis has become a legal choice. We live in a society that is fast paced and stress driven. Cannabis may allow one to completely relax, feel a sense of well-being or even euphoria, and possibly enjoy heightened sensory experiences in sight, taste, smell or sound. But what is the cost?
The government has posted specific lists of the serious risks and concerns regarding Cannabis use on their website, Canada.ca. I would like to review them.
Short Term Effects According to the Canada Health website, EVERY time cannabis is used these may occur:
- Decreased blood pressure leading to fainting.
- Increased heart rate aggravating cardiac conditions.
- Body and brain effects may be negative, unwanted and unpleasant.
- Impaired ability to drive or operate equipment, slowing reaction time and decreased coordination.
- Increased difficulty to learn and remember things, impairing ability to perform at a job or in school.
- Affected mood and feelings. While relaxing for some at times, anxiety and panic are created in others.
- Affected mental health- may trigger psychotic episode, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, etc.
These short term effects may last 24 hours in one’s system, affecting the ability to work, study, raise children, etc. Longer term effects of repetitive use include mental health challenges, and lung damage (if the cannabis is ingested through smoking). Long term use can harm memory, concentration, intelligence (IQ) and the ability to think and make decisions. Studies show that repetitive cannabis use makes one more likely to experience anxiety, depression, psychosis and schizophrenia. There is also potential for physical and mental addiction. There are serious effects by cannabis on pregnancy and the developing child that ingests it through breast milk or second hand smoke.
I know, our tendency is for us to assume that risks don’t really apply to us personally. For years there have been large labels on cigarette packages warning of their risks and yet kids still commence cigarette smoking every day. This applies to cannabis too. Today 71% of high school students surveyed do not see pot as harmful, despite a plethora of evidence that it will significantly affect brain development right up until age 25. The argument of the cannabis lobby is that alcohol and cigarettes aren’t illegal, so why should pot be? These are all chemicals that we put in our bodies that can affect our behavior and our long term health. There’s an expression: Two wrongs don’t make a right. If two substances can hurt us legally, making the third one legal doesn’t make any of them better for us!
So why choose to get high? I understand that there is an appeal to escape the stress of the daily grind, to experience euphoria or bliss. But I will risk repeating myself from a previous blog with an analogy: One doesn’t get a headache because they suffer a deficiency of Tylenol in their body. The pains we feel in our body are there for a reason, to get us to act. When we mask the symptom, we are not allowing the wisdom of our body to guide us toward healing.
Similarly, no one is suffering from a deficiency of cannabis, THC or CBD in their body. We are not making our body healthier by ingesting these chemicals. When we use marijuana to mellow out and handle a situation or enjoy a party, we are not listening to our body’s innate wisdom. If we need weed to enjoy the party, maybe we shouldn’t be at that party! If our life is challenging and we need to get high to handle the challenge, maybe we need to take some steps and make some changes in our situation so that we can reduce and handle the stress that we face. There are many things that can be done – Exercise, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Breathing techniques, Yoga, etc. which can help us handle stress without risking the associated side effects of marijuana. There are proponents for using marijuana to treat depression, as depression is linked to stress. The problem with this is that, even if marijuana does help one’s depression during the time that they are high, it affects the serotonin levels of the body and reduces REM sleep and overall quality of sleep. During the periods of time that one is not high, they may feel even more depressed, as cannabis will not provide a long term solution and stops one from seeking help that is sustainable. The lows get lower.
If one is going to try marijuana, it is difficult to predict the effects that they may experience or expect. One patient told me that she tried a very small piece of a cannabis cookie to see what it tastes like. She was kept awake at night with a racing heart rate, sure she was having a heart attack. If you are going to try marijuana, it is very important you do it in an environment that you are safe and someone is able to look out for you in case of adverse reactions.
There have already been arrests for impaired driving since Cannabis has been legalized. 48 hours after it became legal, an individual driving an SUV while high drove into a fuel tank truck in Thornhill. Not only do we take risks to ourselves and our own health, we put others at risk with our diminished reflexes and decision making abilities. We can also endanger those around us by exposing them to second hand smoke, or the potential to accidentally consume edible cannabis products. What child will pass by an unattended brownie, cookie or gummy treat?
I understand that this is a very polarizing topic. The cannabis lobby is very persuasive, and there is a lot of peer pressure to conform- particularly in the younger generations. I would encourage you to carefully consider the risks to your health and those around you. Ask yourself, just because it’s legal, does it mean I should???