KEY POINTS
- Cannabis use may have a wide range of health effects on the body and brain.
- There are several risk factors and negative health outcomes associated with cannabis use.
How cannabis can affect your health
Cannabis is the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States, with an estimated 61.9 million people using it in 2022. Cannabis use may have a wide range of health effects on the body and brain. Click on the sections below to learn more about how cannabis use can affect your health.
Cannabis health effects
There are health risks associated with using cannabis regardless of how it is used. These include:
Cannabis Use Disorder
People who use cannabis can struggle with physical dependency and controlling their use. This is concerning as there is evidence suggesting the use of highly concentrated THC products is associated with more severe cannabis use disorder symptoms. While approximately 3 in 10 persons who report cannabis have a cannabis use disorder, this figure is rising. Some signs and symptoms of cannabis use disorder include trying but failing to quit using cannabis or giving up important activities with friends and family in favor of using cannabis. The risk of developing cannabis use disorder is stronger in people who start using cannabis during youth or adolescence and who use cannabis more frequently.
Brain Health
Cannabis use directly affects brain function—specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time.
Heart Health
Cannabis can make the heart beat faster and raise blood pressure immediately after use. It could also lead to increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and other vascular diseases.
Driving
Cannabis, like alcohol, negatively affects several skills required for safe driving. You can choose not to drive—and remind your friends and family to do the same—after using cannabis.
- It can slow reaction time and ability to make decisions.
- Cannabis can impair coordination and distort perception.
- The use of multiple substances (such as cannabis and alcohol) at the same time can increase impairment.
- Some studies have shown an association between cannabis use and car crashes; however, more research is needed.
Lung Health
Smoked cannabis, regardless of how it is smoked, can harm lung tissues and cause scarring and damage to small blood vessels.
Mental Health
Cannabis use has been linked to social anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia (a type of mental illness where people might see or hear things that aren’t really there), but scientists don’t yet fully understand the relationships between these mental health disorders and cannabis use.
Unintentional Poisoning
Edibles, or food and drink products infused with cannabis, have some different risks than smoked cannabis, including a greater risk of poisoning. Some cannabis edibles have packaging designed to mimic the appearance of well-known branded snacks and candy that appeal to children, which increases the risk for unintentional ingestion. Children who consume THC-containing products can become very sick.
If You Use Cannabis Products
If you use cannabis products, keep them in a locked childproof container and out of the sight and reach of children. For additional questions, you can contact your healthcare provider, your health department, your local or regional poison control center at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if it’s an emergency.