High-THC Marijuana Use May Lead to Chronic, Long-Term Mental Health Problems

17-04-2022

In the 1960s, smoking marijuana was quite popular. There was something like a cultural revolution underway. Most people who smoked marijuana back then eventually quit smoking and had families and enjoyed normal lives in American society. Only about 10% of those over the age of 25 became addicted, most simply stopped. Yes, some tried stronger drugs like LSD, heroin, or tried acid, which is why marijuana is considered by some to be a “gateway” drug. The ’60s were a crazy time.

Those who remained in the party scene often moved on to cocaine as their recreational drug of choice, which was becoming popular in the US in the mid 1970s and early 1980s. drugs” that continues today (quote 1).

In the 1960s, younger users, those who started in their mid to late teens, had higher rates of addiction, around 15-17%. Today, we realize that his teenage brain was still forming, and the continual use of THC from all those ‘drop-out’ afternoons eventually affected his brain development. In essence, the THC had rewired their brains, so they became dependent.

Today’s marijuana is stronger and more cause for alarm

THC is the active ingredient in marijuana that gets you high. Trust us when we tell you; Today’s hybrid marijuana is much more concentrated than the marijuana of yesteryear. In fact, one of the reasons marijuana is being legalized is because everyone who tried it in the ’60s didn’t find it that dangerous. Many have grown up and are now politically active, some even policymakers. Now we’ve had the president admit to smoking it. It goes without saying that there is a lot of history when it comes to marijuana (quote: 2).

We often hear marijuana legalization advocates say; alcohol is far more addictive and has killed far more people, especially when all alcohol-related car deaths are taken into account. This is true, of course, you can’t argue with the statistics. Advocates also say that we can legalize it and tax it, and solve all our problems. Well not exactly.

This may seem like a fair assessment overall in the minds of those who tried it or smoked it frequently in the ’60s, but things are very different now. If we were just talking about old-fashioned marijuana, it’s relatively harmless compared to some of the newer stuff available in states that have legalized its use.

This new marijuana has extremely high levels of THC. For example, most marijuana smoked in the 1960s was relatively low in THC, with the most potent of the day around 6% compared to some of today’s extreme hybrid marijuana reaching nearly 6%. 30%.

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is a neurotoxin

Tetrahydrocannabinol is a crystalline compound, a chemical that is the main active ingredient in cannabis. The body produces cannabinoid chemicals naturally, so the cannabinoid receptors in the brain pick up tetrahydrocannabinol. Cannabinoid receptors are found in regions of our brains involved in coordination, pleasure, memory, time perception, and thinking. That’s why THC gets you high.

The marketers of today’s hybrid marijuana advertise that the percentage of THC potency is positive, because it gets you high faster and longer. That might be fine for you if your only goal is to get high, but if you value your mind, it’s a net negative in the long run.

How bad is marijuana use on mental health?

Marijuana use has been linked to serious mental health problems and psychiatric disorders. The research is exhaustive and fairly conclusive. Some of the problems include depression, anxiety, dependence (addiction), psychosis, schizophrenia, dementia, and early-onset Alzheimer’s. Most of these studies are statistical in nature, and mind you, much of the research was done looking at those who smoked the oldest stuff; not the new high-concentration hybrid marijuana that is extremely heavy on THC.

For those who smoke heavy marijuana on a daily basis, the risk of developing mental health problems is 500% higher. The risks of developing psychosis or schizophrenia increase again if you carry certain genes. Worried yet? And, not to scare anyone, but this is serious stuff. If you smoke weed every day and use high potency stuff, you need to stop before it completely destroys your brain.

What are the side effects of smoking high potency marijuana?

There are many cognitive and brain-related side effects of high potency marijuana use. Some are temporarily desired by those looking to get high. Some are considered unfortunate side effects by users, but are somehow justified in being worth it, simply for the pleasure of participating and experiencing the temporary high. Let’s break down these adverse side effects, shall we?

During use and for the duration of intoxication, you will have short-term memory impairment. You can expect challenges in sustaining attention or making decisions. You will have clumsy coordination, increased heart rate, and a bit of paranoia. After you are no longer intoxicated, and sometimes during intoxication, your ability to learn will be impaired. You will experience problems with your sleep and your coordination will be less than optimal.

If you continue daily or regular use of high-potency marijuana, you may become dependent (addicted). You may drop a few levels in IQ, especially if you started in your mid-teens or early 20s (cite: 3), and you could have a permanent learning disability. You will most likely have difficulty remembering things, perhaps problems with both short-term and long-term memory. Your risk of becoming addicted to other drugs or alcohol increases almost 5 times according to statistical surveys. You could develop schizophrenia if you have a certain set of genes. If you don’t get the help you need soon, you could develop bipolar disorder (cite: 4). Eventually, your brain won’t be able to think coherently.

If you smoke marijuana long-term you will have lung problems, which will get progressively worse. If you vape your THC, there are certain additives and chemicals that may not mix properly, and not all vape cartridge solutions are created equal: if you get the wrong ones and use them too many times, you could literally destroy your lungs and die.

References:

1.) YouTube video: “American Drug War”, published by the Gravitas Ventures channel on August 8, 2012.

2.) YouTube Video: “The Greatest Marijuana Documentary Ever” Posted by ‘That Guy Over There’ on Jan 15, 2019.

3.) “Cannabis Use Before Age 15 Years and Later Executive Functioning,” by Maria Alice Fontes, Karen I. Bolla, and Paulo Jannuzzi Cunha et. paraca Published in The British Journal of Psychiatry (2011) 198, 442-447. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077479.

4.) “Traditional Marijuana, High-Potency Cannabis, and Synthetic Cannabinoids: Increased Risk of Psychosis,” by Robin Murray, Harriet Quigley, Diego Quattrone, Amir Englund, and Marta Di Forti. Published in the Journal of World Psychiatry 2016;15:195-204).