What Happens If You Smoke Marijuana

What Happens If You Smoke Marijuana Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Print What Happens If You Smoke Marijuana? Reactions with pot can vary widely By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on June 24, 2019 Sean Gallup Collection / Getty Images News More in Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Cocaine Heroin Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery The reaction you may have when trying marijuana can vary dramatically based on many factors.?? Some people report not feeling anything at all when they smoke marijuana. In other cases, people report feeling relaxed or high. Some people who use  marijuana report having sudden feelings of anxiety and paranoid thoughts and that might be caused by trying a higher potency marijuana, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.?? Research also shows that regular use of marijuana is linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety and a loss of motivation or drive.?? You may feel dopey on the drug, which is when you begin to lose interest in activities that you might have previously enjoyed or you may lose the ability to grasp concepts easily. Short-Term Discomforts of Using Weed The effects of using marijuana can be unpredictable, especially when it is mixed with other drugs, research shows. You may feel relaxed on the drug, but other things you might not be expecting with pot use can include rapid heart rate and other unpleasantries.?? Dry mouthSwollen eyelidsBloodshot eyesLoss of coordinationAccelerated heart rate Short-Term Hazards As with any drug or substance that can alter perception, logic and usual behavior, there are several short-term hazards of using marijuana from impairing driving abilities to memory loss.?? Learning difficultiesLack of attention and focusPoor driving skillsAnxiety and paranoiaImpaired memoryDifficulty in thinking Long-Term Hazards Any drug that is taken over a prolonged period of time can have an effect on your health. Several of the physical barriers that can occur range from infertility problems to overall brain functions.?? An increased risk of developing lung, head, and neck cancersLack of motivationDecreased sperm count in menIrregular menstruation in womenRespiratory problemsHeightened risk of infections, especially the lungsPoor short-term memory recallInability to shift attention normallyInability to understand complex information? Unpredictable Reactions The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that marijuana can affect each person differently according to their own body chemistry and the type of pot used.?? Some people can use weed and never have any negative reactions while others may try it and get entirely freaked out by the experience. Your biology (genetic makeup)Marijuanas strength (amount of active ingredient THC)Previous experience with the drugHow its taken (smoked versus ingested)Whether alcohol or other drugs are taken too? Not Your Grandfathers Pot   Studies have found that the marijuana available today is much different in terms of potency compared to what was generally available in the 1960s  when the use of the drug became widespread in the United States.?? Todays strains of the plant contain much more of the active ingredient in marijuana: tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, researchers say.?? That makes todays weed much more potent than that smoked by the hippies and flower children of the Woodstock generation. Edible Marijuana Products More Potent? As recreational marijuana becomes legal in more states in the U.S., more edible products containing marijuana are hitting the market. When marijuana is ingested it is absorbed by the body more slowly and the effects can last longer and be stronger.?? Emergency rooms have reported an increase of cases involving negative reactions to marijuana and many of those cases can be traced back to edible marijuana products.