Many people see marijuana as a harmless substance and think as a better substitute to other forms of smoking. But, studies show that the potential chemical THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), present in marijuana adversely affects human brain and mental health. And secondly studies show that regular marijuana use can not only aggravate already existing mental illness, but that it may proceed, or act as a catalyst, in mental health problems.
What are the short-term dangers of smoking marijuana on mental health?
- Impaired memory and inability to learn
- Difficulties in thinking, problem solving, and perfuming
- Distorted Perception
- Anxiety disorders or feelings of paranoia
- Impaired judgment
What are the long-term dangers of smoking marijuana on mental health?
- It can increase risk of depression, suicidal thoughts as a result of regular marijuana use, even among people with no prior history of a disorder.
- It can increase the risk of acute toxic psychosis and panic attacks.
- It increases the risk of developing uncontrollable aggressiveness.
- It may badly disrupt the nerve cells in the part of the brain where memories are formed.
- Long term use of marijuana can cause schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder.
- There is evidence of increased risk for schizophrenia in later years in some teens who smoke marijuana.
What the studies say about marijuana and mental health?
- Many studies have been suggested that marijuana is the root cause of many mental disorders.
- Several studies have documented marijuana’s link with symptoms of schizophrenia and report that it is an independent risk factor for schizophrenia.
- Heavy marijuana users are almost seven times more likely than non-users to be diagnosed with schizophrenia later in life.
- A recent study found that that the earlier the use of marijuana (age 15 vs. age 18), the greater the risk of schizophrenia.
- A study based on data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that teenagers 12 to 17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more likely to have thoughts of committing suicide.
- Studies show that marijuana use during adolescence increases the risk of psychotic disorders in adulthood.
- A study published in 2005 found that regular use of marijuana may double the risk of developing psychotic disorders and that marijuana causes chemical changes to the brain.
- Some research shows that marijuana use can precede symptoms of depression. Girls (ages 14–15) who used marijuana daily were five times more likely to face depression at age 21.
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