How does cannabis affect the body

Changes also take place in the cerebellum and basal ganglia. These brain areas play roles in movement and balance. Cannabis may alter your balance, coordination, and reflex response. Very large doses of cannabis or high concentrations of THC can cause hallucinations or delusions.

According to the NIDA , there may be an association between cannabis use and some mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. You may want to avoid cannabis if you have schizophrenia or a family history of schizophrenia. Cannabis may make symptoms worse or increase the chances of developing the condition in people who have a genetic predisposition.

When you come down from the high, you may feel tired or a bit depressed. In some people, cannabis can cause anxiety. Using cannabis during pregnancy can also affect the developing baby. The child may have trouble with memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills. As mentioned earlier, federal prohibition has made research into the effects of cannabis largely observational, which can only detect correlation and not causation. Cannabis can cause digestive issues when taken orally.

While THC has been shown to ease nausea and vomiting, in some people long-term heavy use can paradoxically cause nausea and vomiting. This can be a benefit for people who need to gain weight or increase appetite, such as people with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Studies involving animals have shown that THC may adversely affect the immune system by suppressing it.

This could theoretically make you more susceptible to infectious diseases. However, for people with autoimmune conditions who have an overactive immune system, this may be a benefit. Keep reading: What is medical cannabis? When you smoke or consume marijuana, you can feel profound and immediate effects. But even once those effects are gone, marijuana metabolites remain…. Explore the connection between marijuana and erectile dysfunction ED.

Learn about the effects of marijuana, including its effect on sexual health…. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States.

Uncontrollable or overly frequent marijuana consumption may indicate abuse or…. If you or a loved one has bipolar disorder, you may wonder about medicinal marijuana as a treatment option.

We've got answers for you. Marijuana has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. Recently, many states have legalized it for medical use. Read more about its benefits….

More states are legalizing medical marijuana, but what does that mean for people with depression? Learn more about medical marijuana as a possible…. Some people who suffer from epilepsy believe that marijuana stops their seizures. There are no reports of teens or adults dying from marijuana alone. However, some people who use marijuana can feel some very uncomfortable side effects, especially when using marijuana products with high THC levels. People have reported symptoms such as anxiety and paranoia, and in rare cases, an extreme psychotic reaction which can include delusions and hallucinations that can lead them to seek treatment in an emergency room.

While a psychotic reaction can occur following any method of use, emergency room responders have seen an increasing number of cases involving marijuana edibles. So they consume more of the edible, trying to get high faster or thinking they haven't taken enough. In addition, some babies and toddlers have been seriously ill after ingesting marijuana or marijuana edibles left around the house. Marijuana use can lead to the development of a substance use disorder, a medical illness in which the person is unable to stop using even though it's causing health and social problems in their life.

Severe substance use disorders are also known as addiction. Research suggests that between 9 and 30 percent of those who use marijuana may develop some degree of marijuana use disorder.

Many people who use marijuana long term and are trying to quit report mild withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult. These include:. No medications are currently available to treat marijuana use disorder, but behavioral support has been shown to be effective. Examples include therapy and motivational incentives providing rewards to patients who remain drug-free. Continuing research may lead to new medications that help ease withdrawal symptoms, block the effects of marijuana, and prevent relapse.

This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA. Department of Health and Human Services.

National Institutes of Health. Drug Topics. More Drug Topics. Quick Links. About NIDA. Marijuana DrugFacts. What is marijuana?

People call this practice dabbing. These extracts come in various forms, such as: hash oil or honey oil —a gooey liquid wax or budder —a soft solid with a texture like lip balm shatter —a hard, amber-colored solid These extracts can deliver extremely large amounts of THC to the body, and their use has sent some people to the emergency room. Reports of Deaths Related to Vaping The Food and Drug Administration has alerted the public to hundreds of reports of serious lung illnesses associated with vaping, including several deaths.

Compared to those who don't use marijuana, those who frequently use large amounts report the following: lower life satisfaction poorer mental health poorer physical health more relationship problems People also report less academic and career success.

Points to Remember 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 related compounds. People use marijuana by smoking, eating, drinking, or inhaling it. Smoking and vaping THC-rich extracts from the marijuana plant a practice called dabbing is on the rise.

THC overactivates certain brain cell receptors, resulting in effects such as: altered senses changes in mood impaired body movement difficulty with thinking and problem-solving impaired memory and learning Marijuana use can have a wide range of health effects, including: hallucinations and paranoia breathing problems possible harm to a fetus's brain in pregnant women The amount of THC in marijuana has been increasing steadily in recent decades, creating more harmful effects in some people.

It's unlikely that a person will fail a drug test or get high from passive exposure by inhaling secondhand marijuana smoke. Marijuana use can lead to a substance use disorder, which can develop into an addiction in severe cases. Health Effects of Marijuana. Minus Related Pages. Cannabinoids and epilepsy. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.

Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.