The potency of marijuana effects have tripled in the last two decades, while cannabis use among teens has doubled. Unfortunately, there are some harmful effects of smoking pot that an excessive user might experience as he grows older.
"Evidence has shown that the effects of chronic marijuana use has on the brain depends heavily the person's age when they first start using and how long they use for," Medical Daily reports. Here are five effects of smoking cannabis as you grow older that you need to be aware of.
1. Marijuana Addiction
Smoking cannabis is nowhere near as addictive as heroin and cocaine, but it can still be very addictive. People with marijuana addiction tend to display withdrawal symptoms such as sleeping disturbances, restlessness, moodiness and depression.
New report from High Times uses big data to try and rebrand marijuana: https://t.co/48BZblqMSf #420 pic.twitter.com/bQdrCSSZ8C
— Adweek (@Adweek) April 21, 2016
2. Respiratory Disorders
It is not as bad as smoking tobacco, but one of the harmful effects of smoking marijuana is respiratory disorder. Although there is no definitive proof that smoking marijuana causes lung cancer, smoking pot has been linked to abnormalities in lung function.
Cannabis smoke contains potentially harmful chemicals that can cause damage to our lungs and airway. Smoking marijuana can also cause coughing, wheezing and inflammation of the airway.
#TOinSLOMO: Cloud of smoke engulfs Yonge-Dundas square on #420 as feds announce plans to legalize marijuana https://t.co/rQTIX4SH1q — Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) April 20, 2016
3. Cognitive Function
One of the possible effects of smoking marijuana excessively is a lower level of dopamine in the brain. "The results, which have been published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, show that heavy cannabis users showed a reduced level of dopamine release in the striatum -- a brain region that regulates memory, attention, and impulsive behavior," the Science Explorer reports.
