Heavy use is defined as daily or near daily marijuana use. Research has shown that long-term and/or heavy use of marijuana can cause:
- Brain and mental health effects:
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Heavy use of marijuana can damage your memory. This damage can last a week or more after the last time you used.
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Marijuana, especially in high doses, can cause people who are high to not know what is real, have hallucinations and paranoia. This is called temporary psychosis.
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Heavy use of marijuana may lead to development of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia.
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Respiratory effects:
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Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs.
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People who smoke marijuana daily or near-daily may have a daily cough, bronchitis, mucus and wheezing.
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Both firsthand and secondhand smoke contain the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco smoke.
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Cancer:
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There is conflicting research about smoking marijuana and lung cancer.
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The cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke are also in marijuana smoke.
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People who smoke marijuana daily or near-daily may have tissue damage in the airways of their lungs. More research is needed to determine if this tissue damage increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer.
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Adults who use marijuana may be at a higher risk of certain types of testicular cancer.
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- Other Health Effects:
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Some people who use marijuana heavily can start vomiting without being able to stop; this is called Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. This can be reversed by stopping marijuana use.
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Using marijuana may increase the risk of stroke in adults who are younger than 55.
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All information on the health effects of marijuana is taken from the Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee’s systematic review of available, high-quality research.