Consuming marijuana is associated with serious risks that can harm a person’s health, life, and overall wellbeing. Yes, using cannabis is a personal choice, but it does have certain repercussions both in the short and long term.
Regular consumption or excessive use of marijuana can easily hamper the functionality of your brain, lungs, mental health, and energy levels and affect your reproductive system. Additionally, getting into accidents and injuries due to the “high” factor in marijuana is quite common. To avoid such mishaps from smoking marijuana, these tips might help you from making a mess!
Rise of Marijuana Use
Currently, marijuana use is visibly on the rise among adults of all ages and sexes, including pregnant women. According to studies, adults between 18 to 25 are the most regular users. But wait, is it legal? The last time we checked, possession of marijuana in Louisiana was still against the law.
Is it applicable to other parts of the country? Here’s what you need to know! Marijuana and THC are illegal at the federal level in the U.S, although some states have laws that permit people to use them legally. For those states, the cannabis industry is growing rapidly.
On the contrary, the risk factors of consuming marijuana still remain strong.
Marijuana Risks
The only effective way to prevent yourself from the risks of consuming cannabis is not to use it. If you don’t like the sound of it – we see you! If you still choose to continue the use of marijuana, you must be aware of taking steps that may reduce potential risks.
1. Know Your Laws
If you know that consuming marijuana in your area is illegal, it isn’t worth taking the risk. Period. However, if you are consuming it to battle certain health problems, consider sourcing marijuana legally.
For recreational purposes, always buy it in small quantities. You don’t want to buy in bulk, as it can open up new avenues of breaking the law. Suppose your friend wants some of your stashes, you could be arrested for possession and drug trafficking, which can get messy!
So, to avoid legal trouble, make sure you know your laws properly. Be discreet about it.
2. Brain Health
Here’s a fact for you, if you are wondering why your reflexes or responses are not as sharp as before. This is because marijuana causes permanent IQ loss. Don’t be under the impression of recovering it after you quit. Unfortunately, it never comes back.
3. Mental Health
Studies show marijuana use is linked to anxiety, depression, and other mental conditions. It is still not confirmed whether using marijuana has led to such mental health issues or vice versa.
Regular use of cannabis is bound to have detrimental effects on your mental health. Common symptoms may include the inability to process information, the quality of your everyday work life, and being forgetful.
Neglecting your mental health will not help you in any way, so we highly advise you to keep your mental health in check. If you notice slips frequently, it’s time to take a break.
4. Driving
Driving under the influence is never a good idea. Many people think marijuana is less risky; well you are wrong. It can have dangerous effects – slowing down your reflexes and reactions, lane weaving, and reducing coordination with your body movements. You may even face difficulty hearing sounds on the road and traffic signals.
It’s important to remember that it’s better to be safe than sorry!
5. Baby’s Health and Development
Marijuana users also include pregnant women. Consuming it during pregnancy can be dangerous for your baby’s overall development. It can cause problems with fetal growth and development. Other risk factors include stillbirth, premature births, and infant’s poor cognitive health.
Nursing mothers should not use THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and various chemicals present in marijuana, as there is a high chance of it being passed onto babies through breast milk. This can also severely hamper a child’s brain development.
6. Daily Life
Marijuana consumption can affect your daily life. Your performance at work and how well you manage your day-to-day activities will likely decline upon excessive use.
Earlier studies suggested that people who use marijuana regularly are more prone to work dissatisfaction, poor relationship experiences, and poor educational results. It’s safe to say that marijuana can often relax you way more than needed, and you may lose track of your life.
Some long-term problems can also occur due to addiction. Chronic users have expressed that they don’t feel motivated to chase work or life achievements. It has also been identified that marijuana users of 10 years or more sway away from their life goals. Make sure you set yourself a timeline and keep yourself in check. If you have missed deadlines, it’s time to end your relationship with marijuana.
Conclusion
It’s not unusual to grow into the habit of smoking marijuana daily. From casual consumption, it can become your addiction rapidly. Don’t hold yourself back. Look for a doctor who can work with you, even if you’re using marijuana.
Try to be considerate of the health of the people around you too, when smoking marijuana. These tips might help you avoid making a mess, but most importantly, evaluate your health to ensure you set your life in order.
