What Is Considered Heavy Marijuana Use?

heavy marijuana use

Heavy Marijuana Use - What Is It and The Long Term Side Effects

Heavy marijuana use can have both positive and negative impacts on the body,  depending on how you look at it. 

But what one person considers heavy marijuana use, might be just a light smoke to the next person.

Maybe you’ve landed on this article to settle a debate, or maybe you are concerned that your own cannabis use has reached a point you are concerned about.

Either way, we can take you through the steps of how much is ‘too much’, the effects on your body, and what you can do about it.

What Is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a collective term for three psychoactive plants: Cannabis sativa,  Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis. 

Cannabis sativa is the most widely grown  of the three. 

One of the most widely used medications in the world is made from  dried flowers gathered from these cannabis plants.

Some refer to it as marijuana,  while others refer to it as weed. 

Herbal drug cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is used by  millions of people throughout the world every day. 

Cannabinoids, such as delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), are found in it (CBD). 

What quantity is considered heavy Marijuana use ?

It’s a really difficult question to answer; it relies on the individual who’s taking it, and their  tolerance. 

It also depends on the potency and quality of the marijuana. 

Also using it for medicinal purposes can take quite a deal more depending on the condition you are trying to tackle,  as well as the previously stated criteria. 

For recreational users, research says 3.5 – 7  grams a day is in the range of reason, albeit, the slightly heavy end of reason.

You can  say anything over 7 grams a day for recreational use is overkill especially if it’s a strong grade of weed.

Heavy marijuana use influences brain development. 

The heavy usage of marijuana has been related to negative cognitive outcomes. 

It has been shown that it can have a negative impact on learning, short term and long term memory, and attention. 

When people begin smoking marijuana as teenagers, the drug may impair thinking,  memory, and learning abilities.

Leading to adverse effects and changing how the brain  creates connections between the areas important for these tasks. 

Researchers are still exploring how long marijuana’s effects last and whether some alterations may be  permanent. 

Long-term marijuana usage has been related to a variety of mental illnesses in some individuals, along with chronic pain and neuropathic pain etc.

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Effects of Heavy Marijuana use on tobacco and alcohol users

There are specific receptors on the brain and nerves that cannabinoids in cannabis  bind to in order to have an effect. 

THC and CBD are the most studied of the more  than 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis. 

The plant’s leaves and blooms have the  highest concentrations of cannabinoids. 

Cannabis, along with tobacco and alcoholic beverages, is the third most often used  addictive substance in the world. 

A large number of young individuals utilize it on a regular basis. 

More than 11.8 million young adults in the United States have smoked marijuana in the previous 12 months (in 2018). 

Heavy Marijuana use among middle and high school national institutes has stayed stable, but the number of 8th  and 10th graders who say they use it every day has climbed, according to the Monitoring the Future poll. 

Using high amounts of cannabis or using it over a lengthy period of time may be harmful for heavy users.

Physical effects of heavy marijuana use

Breathing difficulties can occur as a result of cannabis and tobacco use, whether it is smoked or vaped on a daily  basis. 

THC-based vapor products have been related to severe lung damage. CHS (Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome) and/or dependency can result from regular cannabis usage. 

Smoking marijuana is done in a variety of ways, including joints, pipes, and water pipes (bongs). 

Some people choose to puff on it through the use of blunts, which are refilled cigars that have been emptied and then partially or entirely packed with marijuana.

Marijuana smoking deposits four times the amount of tar in the lungs as cigarettes, owing to the inhaling mechanism.

The strength of blunts can cause marijuana addiction to heavy smokers. 

Marijuana smoking deposits four times the amount of tar in the lungs as cigarettes,  owing to the inhaling mechanism. 

Marijuana is commonly smoked by holding the smoke in the lungs for substantially longer periods of time than other smoked narcotics.

This prolonged exposure permits more smoke molecules to accumulate in the respiratory system, potentially causing long-term lung problems. 

In the end, inhaling air is the most comfortable for the lungs. When a chemical is  burnt and inhaled, the airways and lungs respond with inflammation. 

Coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness are all symptoms of marijuana use.

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5 Heavy Marijuana use disorders

There are a lot of Cannabis use disorders for young adults and daily users when taken in big doses or over an extended period of time, marijuana may be harmful.

THC content of 50mg or more in edible cannabis has been associated with a number of significant adverse effects.

1. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) may occur if a person consumes significant doses of cannabis on a regular basis. 

Severe nausea and vomiting are common with CHS, although standard anti-nausea medications have no effect. 

In addition, long-term cannabis use can lead to dependence.

2. Depression

Depression may be exacerbated by cannabis use.

Suicidal thoughts may even be brought about in some extreme cases of heavy marijuana use.

Low mood linked to the lethargic effects of cannabis can begin to take hold in some people who use the drug heavily.

3. Heart, Lung and Liver Damage

Some medications are altered and broken down by the liver.

Cannabis might influence how rapidly the liver breaks down any meds you might be taking additionally to cannabis.

This could modify the effects and side effects of these medications so be sure to seek advice before using cannabis if you are on any other form of medication.

Heart disease and lung cancer are heavily linked to smoking. 

Whether this is tobacco or cannabis, any form of smoking will increase this risk.

4. Blood pressure

The regulation of blood pressure may be more difficult if you use cannabis. 

It may also raise the chance of long-term effects from diabetes. 

Until more is known about the dangers of cannabis, use it with caution. 

Tobacco use also raises the likelihood of developing an addiction to both drugs.

5. Substance use disorders

Substance abuse, such as Heavy marijuana usage, can result in the development of a substance use disorder. 

Which is a medical ailment in which the individual is unable to quit using despite the fact that it is causing them physical and social issues in their lives and also severe medical conditions. 

Addiction is a term used to describe severe substance use disorders. 

According to research, between 9 and 30% of persons who use marijuana may acquire some form of marijuana-use disorder at some point.

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Effects of Heavy Marijuana use on physical and mental health

When a person smokes marijuana, the psychoactive compound THC is released quickly from the lungs into the bloodstream. 

The substance is transported throughout the body by the bloodstream to the brain and other organs which can cause short-term memory loss. 

THC operates on certain brain cell receptors that are normally activated by naturally occurring THC-like substances.

Because of this, cannabis has been linked to many health problems like drowsiness, breathing slow down, and even poor mental health.

The combination of sedative medicines and cannabis may also cause respiratory difficulties and excessive tiredness which can create its own set of risks if operating machinery, or driving.

Young people especially may feel like they can smoke weed in the daytime and not be impacted, making them more likely to have injuries when reflexes are slowed down.

Heavy Marijuana Use During Pregnancy

There is a greater risk for pregnant women who smoke weed, so Marijuana use during pregnancy is certainly not recommended. 

Premature birth, stillbirth, childhood leukemia, deformities, or the need for critical care after birth can all result from cannabis passing through the placenta. 

A child’s IQ, brain structure,and emotional well-being can be negatively affected as a result.

Pregnancy-related anemia and hypertension are also increased risks.

Long term Marijuana use and using cannabis while breast-feeding is probably not  a good idea. 

Even after cannabis usage has been discontinued, the cannabinoids  included in cannabis can remain in breast milk for longer than six weeks. 

The baby’s  growth could be slowed by these pollutants. Breastfeeding mothers should avoid  using any form of cannabis.

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Marijuana Addiction

It is certainly possible to become addicted to marijuana. However, this is only true for some  people. 

According to statistics, approximately 10% of all users appear to develop  dependent syndrome, with the figure increasing to 1 in 6 for those who begin using  in adolescence.

Withdrawal syndrome is indeed a genuine phenomena, with the  most common symptoms including;

    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Sleeplessness
    • Coronary heart disease
    • Appetite disturbance

These symptoms can be severe enough to interfere with everyday activities in certain cases.

Does Marijuana Use have beneficial properties?

Cannabis can be effective for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MS). 

MS symptoms such as muscle spasms and nerve pain may be alleviated by spraying a cannabis extract spray (Sativex) under the tongue.

Many places in the United States do not administer this however, because it is considered an illegal drug in parts of the country.

In the United Kingdom and Canada, this product is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

Cannabis is also very useful for nerve discomfort. 

Anecdotally, people with HIV  and other diseases report less discomfort when they smoke cannabis, relieving discomfort for up to 2 hours.

Cannabinoids, the active ingredients in medical marijuana, are related to hormones  that regulate hunger, memory, movement, and pain in the body.

Benefits of medicinal and recreational marijuana use

  • Reduce your anxiety levels
  • Relieve pain and reduce inflammation
  • Control cancer chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
  • Cancer cells are killed, and tumor development is slowed
  • People with MS should relax their tense muscles
  • In cancer and AIDS patients, stimulate appetite and help them gain weight