Using herbs and plants for treating ailments isn’t exactly new, and it has been around for centuries. Ancient civilizations used a variety of plants for medicinal purposes. While it has lost some of its potency, herbal medicine is still a thing now, though plant extracts are also used recreationally. One of the most argued about plants is cannabis. It is used recreationally for its psychoactive effects, and it is also used to extract some oils that have medicinal purposes. Separating fact from fiction, here are the different impacts of cannabis intake.
Pain Relief
One of the more positive side-effects of cannabis is pain relief. While research is somewhat young in that department, several studies have gone to show that cannabis consumption can help patients suffering from chronic pain and illnesses. This is why it is used by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, for instance. It is reported to help them with muscle spasms and pain, as well as muscle stiffness and tremors. Other nerve disease patients use it as well since it is said to help with the significant pain associated with nerve damage.
There are other medicinal uses for cannabis, but research is even younger in those avenues. It is said to help with migraines and Parkinson’s disease, among other conditions, but it is too soon to tell conclusively if that is a fact.
The High
Medicinal uses aside, a lot of people consume cannabis for its psychoactive effects, or in layman’s terms ‘the high.’ They claim that cannabis can help you see the world through a different lens, a more relaxed one without anxiety or stress. You should know, though, that to have a great experience with consuming cannabis, you have to take several factors into consideration. You need to be mindful of your surroundings and the setting in which you try cannabis. You also should use it only in a certain mindset. You can’t use cannabis as an escape when you are feeling depressed or sad because it could exacerbate those feelings and make things worse.
People who consume cannabis often burst into fits of laughter, and they can enjoy a quiet and reflective mood where they see things clearly and sort of have a clear head. This is why you don’t want to use it when you’re feeling down. It is best used when you want to relax and have a good time. The use of cannabis is also known to affect the user’s perception of sounds and colors, so you might see and hear some weird things that look like a fantasy world.
Long-Term Effects
Cannabis can have a negative long-term effect on a person’s mind and body if used consistently over prolonged periods. It is known to affect and impair concentration of the person, and they often find trouble remembering things and recalling certain events. It is not just the memory and concentration that get damaged by cannabis consumption, but also cognitive abilities. Extended use of cannabis has been shown to hinder your learning abilities, so you might find it harder to learn new things and acquire new skills.
Other than the brain, cannabis can damage your lungs due to the smoking factor and it might lead to asthma and other respiratory disorders. It can tamper with hormones as well, and some cannabis users expressed that their sex drive had been affected by their consumption. Men could experience lower sperm count and women irregular menstrual cycles.
Mental Health
Despite its psychoactive effects that seemingly make people happy and relaxed while using, cannabis is reportedly bad for your mental health in the long run. Frequent use has been shown to lead to depression and worsen the symptoms in people who already suffer from it. Moreover, cannabis can lead to psychosis and increase psychotic symptoms in users who might be prone to mental illnesses whether due to previous trauma or a history of mental disease in the family. Some reports claim that cannabis can make people with schizophrenia experience worse episodes and exacerbated psychotic symptoms, with lower chances of recovery in the long run.
Social Complications
Last but not least, cannabis can significantly damage a person’s social life. While it is fun when you’re out with friends smoking marijuana, it might cause a lot of fighting and unpredictable behavior with your loved ones.
At the end of the day, you decide what is good for you. Cannabis can have a remedying effect on the body, but that is not always the case. It can also be used recreationally to have a good time. The most important thing when it comes to cannabis consumption is moderation and understanding your limitations.