You Might Have Pregnancy Issues
“Marijuana use during pregnancy can be harmful to your baby’s health. The chemicals in marijuana pass through your system to your baby and can harm your baby’s development,” says the CDC. “Some research shows that using marijuana while you are pregnant can cause health problems in newborns including low birth weight.”
A Person Could Need More Sedation Medication For Surgery If They Have A Regular Marijuana Habit
A small study in the May 2019 issue of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found that people who reported smoking marijuana or eating edibles on a daily or weekly basis needed higher doses of medication for sedation.
The researchers found that people who used marijuana daily or weekly needed 14% more fentanyl, 19.6% more midazolam, and 220.5% more propofol for the full length of their procedures than their counterparts who didn’t use as much marijuana.
Researchers haven’t determined why this was the case, but they believe marijuana could potentially desensitize the body’s receptors that process sedatives.
Cannabis Use Can Cause You To Experience Psychotic Symptoms
Along with the traditional high, cannabis use can cause paranoia, delusions and hallucinations in people who dont already have a mental illness, even in small doses.
Cannabis use can also trigger or worsen psychotic symptoms in people living with an illness like schizophrenia, even when their illness is otherwise stable and responding well to treatment.
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Is It Biologically Plausible That Cannabis Could Cause A Psychotic Disorder
Yes. Brain scientists know very little about the underlying biology of psychotic conditions, other than that hundreds of common gene variants are likely involved. Schizophrenia, for instance, is not a uniform disorder but an umbrella term for an array of unexplained problems involving recurrent psychosis, and other common symptoms.
Even so, there is circumstantial evidence for a biological mechanism. Psychotic disorders tend to emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood, during or after a period of rapid brain development. In the teenage years, the brain strips away unneeded or redundant connections between brain cells, in a process called synaptic pruning. This editing is concentrated in the prefrontal cortex, the region behind the forehead where thinking and planning occur and the region that is perturbed in psychotic conditions.
The region is rich with so-called CB1 receptors, which are involved in the pruning, and are engaged by cannabis use. And alterations to the pruning process may well increase schizophrenia risk, according to recent research at the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard. In a 2016 analysis, scientists there found that people with the disorder often have a gene variant that appears to accelerate the pruning process.
Woman Says Husband Has No Desire To Be Intimate Leaving Her Starved For Affection
Paula claims that Jeremy, her husband of 21 years, is lazy, doesnt communicate, and wont help around the house. To make matters worse, she says, Jeremy has no desire to be intimate, and thats left her starved for affection. My sex drive has always been very, very high, and Jeremy just doesnt have that high sex drive, she says. Jeremy says he enjoys being intimate with Paula. However, sex isnt a priority in his day-to-day life. He says, Sex is not a thing that occupies much space in my mind. Paula says that the fact that Jeremy doesnt want to be intimate with her is both depressing and a shot to her ego. She says Jeremys lack of intimacy is frustrating because she knows that almost any man on the street would want a relationship with her. Jeremy says he finds it difficult to be attracted to Paula because of their constant arguments. Arguments about being intimate make me want to be with her even less, he says. Is there more to this couples intimacy issues? And later, what does Paula say she discovered more than a decade ago that she says changed her marriage forever? Tune in to Wednesdays episode, Marriage on Hiatus, to find out. Check your local listing for air times. WATCH: Man Says Wife Critiques Him In A Way That Makes Me Feel Small TELL DR. PHIL YOUR STORY: Is anger ruining your marriage?
Jeffrey Epstein attempted suicide in jail in July 2019 and was placed on suicide watch. He killed himself in his cell a month later.
INSIDER
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There’s Evidence That Marijuana Use During Pregnancy Could Have Negative Effects
According to the new NASEM report, there’s substantial evidence showing a link between prenatal cannabis exposure when a pregnant woman uses marijuana and lower birth weight. There was limited evidence suggesting that using marijuana during pregnancy could cause complications and increase the risk that a baby would have to spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit.
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry in September 2020 found that pregnant women who used marijuana had a higher risk of their children having ADHD and/or psychotic behaviors that have been linked to schizophrenia.
And an analysis, published in Nature Medicine in August 2020, linked cannabis use among pregnant women to autism in their children. The study, conducted in Ontario, Canada, involved data from 3,000 women who used cannabis during pregnancy.
Pregnant Florida Woman Killed After Hitting Motorcyclist With Her Car: Police
A pregnant woman in Florida died after a heated and violent interaction with a motorcyclist on the road Saturday. Sara Nicole Morales allegedly intentionally hit motorcyclist Andrew Derr in her car, the Orange City Police Department said, according to a statement on posted to Facebook.Derr was not injured, and he and other witnesses followed Morales after she started to drive away, according to authorities. The police said Morales drove to her…
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Teens Who Smoke Pot At Risk For Later Schizophrenia Psychosis
- By Ann MacDonald, Contributor
ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
Teenagers and young adults who use marijuana may be messing with their heads in ways they dont intend.
Evidence is mounting that regular marijuana use increases the chance that a teenager will develop psychosis, a pattern of unusual thoughts or perceptions, such as believing the television is transmitting secret messages. It also increases the risk of developing schizophrenia, a disabling brain disorder that not only causes psychosis, but also problems concentrating and loss of emotional expression.
In one recent study that followed nearly 2,000 teenagers as they became young adults, young people who smoked marijuana at least five times were twice as likely to have developed psychosis over the next 10 years as those who didnt smoke pot.
Another new paper concluded that early marijuana use could actually hasten the onset of psychosis by three years. Those most at risk are youths who already have a mother, father, or sibling with schizophrenia or some other psychotic disorder.
You Might Impair Your Senses& have Mood And Behavior Changes
Daily marijuana use can lead to “feelings of fatigue or apathy feelings of anxiety, paranoia, or panic temporary hallucinations,” says Dr. Jenna Liphart Rhoads. As well as, “trouble taking care of oneself and lack of hygiene practices disconnecting from activities or people they once enjoyed impaired memory and confusion.”
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Some Women Have Reported Having More Satisfying Sex When Using Marijuana
A small study of 373 women from of varying races, sexual orientations, and marital statuses found that people who said they used marijuana before sex tended to have a more pleasurable experience than those who did not use the substance.
Specifically, some women reported having more satisfying orgasms and an increase in their sex drive.
Researchers weren’t able to pinpoint why marijuana had this effect, but suggested it could be due to the substance’s ability to reduce stress and anxiety.
Most Researchers Agree That The People Most Susceptible To Brain Changes Are Those Who Begin Using Marijuana Regularly During Adolescence
A small study of teenagers in Europe found that people who used marijuana had more gray matter in their brains, which can affect how humans mature over time.
The researchers noticed these brain-level changes in teens who had just one or two joints in their lifetimes.
Although researchers are unsure whether higher brain volume is bad for health, they do know brain volume naturally decreases during the aging process, according to the National Institutes of Health .
An international meta-analysis of 23,317 young adults also found that , anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
“Although the causes of major depressive disorder are multifactorial and complex, this meta-analysis suggests that the cannabis exposure could be 1 factor contributing to depression in young adulthood,” the researchers wrote.
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You Might Have Changes In The Homeostasis In Your Body
“Daily use of cannabis can desensitize the endocannabinoid system and override its natural capacity to maintain homeostasis. In layman’s terms, using medical marijuana too frequently can knock your endocannabinoid system out of whack a bit, which can have an effect on some of your body’s natural processes, like your sleeping habits, mood, appetite, memory, and fertility,” says Dr. Daniel Whitelocke, M.D., Founder of AR MMJ Cards. “Because the endocannabinoid system was only identified as recently as the 1990s, experts are still working toward fully understanding it.”
The Beverage Industry Is Evolving As Many Young People Find Marijuana A More Appealing Alternative
Millennials are more likely to buy marijuana products if theyre marketed as a lifestyle brand, one trend forecaster found.
Jena, a 27-year-old business-operations employee based in Chicago, has consumed alcohol socially for nearly a decade. In recent months, however, shes concluded its not worth the calories or hangovers.
She switched to cannabis products, and now she smokes marijuana once or twice a week and eats gummy candies with cannabidiol, also known as CBD, a chemical component of marijuana thats legal and doesnt intoxicate users.
I realized that I get zero enjoyment out of drinking, and it costs me more money than weed does, said Jena, who asked that MarketWatch omit her last name because recreational marijuana is not legal where she lives.
The street price for marijuana in Chicago is $18 per gram, and the average beer at a bar is $6. Jena said she used to spend $30 to $50 on alcohol in a night, several nights a week, and now spends less than $30 on marijuana a month.
I definitely enjoy weed better. Its more relaxing, dont have to worry about how I acted the night before, and dont have to deal with hangovers or throwing up the morning after.
I definitely enjoy weed better. Its more relaxing, I dont have to worry about how I acted the night before, and dont have to deal with hangovers or throwing up the morning after, she said.
A new market is opening up
Theyre not just consuming cannabis but investing in it
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Does Marijuana Cause Mental Illness What We Know About The Long
There are still pressing questions lingering in the hazy aftermath of marijuana’s legalization in some states. As current states are observing explosions in tax revenue from their cannabis industries, and even more local governments are working quickly to make weed legal for both medical and recreational purposes, some are questioning whether the green leaf has any negative long-term health effects, like mental illness.
The answer isn’t as simple as lighting up in a state like Washington or Colorado. Though multiple studies have linked smoking marijuana to mental illnesses such as psychosis and depression, the cause and effect relation between pot and these health concerns is quite complex.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported on a number of studies in 2015 that found links to long-term mental health issues and smoking marijuana. The only problem, however, is there are plethora of other factors that go into a person developing mental health issues one of those being the age of the first-time weed user. Other factors might include how frequently they use and their genetic disposition to developing such symptoms in the first place, even if they never picked up a joint.
Until then, it might be best to remember: you can almost always have too much of a good thing even pot.
You Might Cause Functional And Structural Changes In Your Brain
“Functional MRI studies have also revealed functional and structural changes in brain areas involved in reward processing after chronic cannabis use and in the processing of emotion,” says Dr. Langdon. “Some studies show a higher incidence of schizophrenia in chronic adolescent and teenage use of marijuana.”
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In Some People Weed Could Increase The Risk Of Depression
Scientists can’t say for sure whether marijuana causes depression or depressed people are simply more likely to smoke. But one study from the Netherlands suggests that smoking weed could raise the risk of depression for young people who already have a special serotonin gene that could make them more vulnerable to depression.
Those findings are bolstered by the NASEM report, which found moderate evidence that cannabis use was linked to a small increased risk of depression.
The Pros Cons And Unknowns Of Legal Cannabis In Canada 3 Years Later
The legalization of cannabis in Canada just had its third anniversary, which means it’s time for the federal government to review and possibly tweak the policy.
In some areas, the reviews are positive. Legalization has resulted in the emergence of a multibillion-dollar industry, new jobs and tax revenue. There have also been fewer cannabis-related drug convictions among young people.
But despite some positive signs, some health experts are concerned that the rapid growth of the industry combined with a lack of recent data about potential public health impacts means we could be missing some warning signs.
“Legalization is not an on-off switch that occurred,” said Dr. Daniel Myran, a public health doctor in Ottawa. “The retail market has matured over time, but at the same time, a lot of the data that we have about what happens after legalization comes from a very early period.”
Cannabis use is up
On Oct. 17, 2018, cannabis became legal in all provinces and territories for adults 18 and over, making Canada just the second country to legalize recreational use of the drug.
The Cannabis Act, introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, had a number of goals. Among them were to keep the drug out of the hands of youth, take profits away from criminals and to protect public health.
Since then, more Canadians seem to be using cannabis.
However, there are still areas of concern, he said.
Public health impact
Challenges ahead
Industry seeks changes
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Regular Marijuana Use May Also Be Connected To An Increased Risk Of Social Anxiety
Researchers think it’s possible that CBD might be a useful treatment for anxiety disorders, and that’s something that several institutions are currently trying to study.
The recent report suggested that evidence of a link between marijuana and an increased risk of most anxiety disorders was limited.
However, the authors wrote that there is moderate evidence that regular marijuana use is connected to an increased risk of social anxiety. As in other cases, it’s hard to know whether marijuana use causes that increase or people use marijuana because of an increased risk of social anxiety.
Lowering Your Risks When Consuming Cannabis
There are risks associated with cannabis use. The best way to protect your health is to avoid using cannabis or cannabis products completely.
Cannabis can be consumed in different ways. Two common ways are:
- inhalation
Each way carries different health and safety risks.
Everyone’s response to cannabis is different, depending on:
- sex
- experience with cannabis, frequency of use
- consumption of food, alcohol, other drugs or health products
Everyone’s response to cannabis can also differ from one time to the next.
Research suggests that there are ways to reduce the risks:
- Use it in a safe and familiar environment and with people you trust, especially if you are inexperienced or a new user.
- Delay cannabis use until the brain is fully developed. This occurs around the age of 25.
- The earlier you begin using cannabis, the higher your risk of serious health issues, including dependence and other mental health problems.
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You Might Develop Psychiatric Health Concerns
Depression and anxiety are certain diagnoses that proponents of cannabis use state are safely treated. There is data suggesting, however, that cannabis can be problematic in patients with other psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia. Some studies suggest there is a direct correlation between the usage of cannabis as a teenager and the development of schizophrenia later in life.
Dangerous Side Effects Of Smoking Marijuana According To Science
Cannabis has seen an ever-increasing acceptance within society in the past few years. There are now 35 states that allow for at least the medical use of cannabis, with Mississippi and South Dakota being added to the list this year. Although many people believe there are great uses of cannabis, such as for pain or depression, there are obvious side effects. As an Emergency Physician, I see these side effects of cannabis use very often. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Signs Your Illness is Actually Coronavirus in Disguise.
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