What are the harmful effects of cannabis?
The acute effects include damage to people’s ability to learn and carry out many tasks, including operating machinery and driving vehicles. Acute cannabis intoxication can also lead to panic attacks, paranoia and confused feelings. The chronic effects include damage to mental functioning and in particular to learning difficulties, which in prolonged and heavy users may not necessarily be reversible. A cannabis dependence syndrome has been identified in heavy users and the drug can exacerbate schizophrenia in people who are already affected. Smoking cannabis over a long period of time can lead to respiratory diseases, including lung cancer.
Shortly after using cannabis, people’s reactions vary widely. Some feel anxious, confused, or paranoid, while others may be quiet and withdrawn. You may have trouble thinking clearly or remembering things that just happened. Many people have a sore throat, a dry mouth and/or red eyes. Long term harmful effects are poor attention, memory, motivation, coordination, and reaction time. Also, smoking marijuana may cause chronic cough and bronchitis, and the tar and cancer-causing chemicals in the marijuana increases the risk of lung cancer.
