Dear Reader,

Take a deep breath. Well, you may want to read this first. Marijuana (aka weed, pot, grass, herb, bhang, dope, reefer) contains at least 60 chemicals called cannabinoids, one of which — THC — is mainly responsible for the mind-altering effects of marijuana. After smoking marijuana, at least 80 THC metabolites are stored in fatty tissue in the body for about three to five days (for heavy users, this can be longer). It is currently unknown what these metabolites do in the body, but the fact that they stay — and build up — raises some concern for long-term health risks of even moderate marijuana use.

When THC and other cannabinoids attach to CB1 and CB2 receptors (specific cells in the brain and body), they affect the functioning of these receptors. Although occasional marijuana smokers are less likely to experience ongoing problems as a result of marijuana compared with heavy and longtime users, short-term and long-term health risks can include:

• Impaired thinking, problem-solving, memory
• Decreased sperm counts in some men
• Erectile dysfunction in some men
• Irregular menstrual cycles in some women
• Poor coordination and balance
• Elevated risk of cardiovascular disease
• Ongoing cough
• More frequent respiratory infections
• Hallucinations
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Gynecomastia (development of breast tissue in men) after long term use

As far as being less dangerous than alcohol, check out Alcohol vs. Marijuana: Which is safer? in the Go Ask Alice! alcohol and other drugs archives for more information. Safer than tobacco? Maybe not… the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research notes that marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke and may potentially cause cancer in the lungs and respiratory tract. You may want to read Marijuana: Does it cause cancer? in the Go Ask Alice! alcohol and other drugs archives for more information. Keep in mind that using alcohol and tobacco is legal across the U.S., but marijuana is not.

Some people who are very concerned about the health risks of marijuana decide to avoid it altogether. Others accept they are taking on a certain amount of risk (health, legal, and otherwise), even from smoking occasionally. The decision is up to you, being informed is certainly a good first step.

Alice

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