Marijuana: Not as Safe as You Think

A lot of people think that marijuana--also known as cannabis, weed, pot, grass, and mary jane, among other nicknames--is "no big deal." While it's probably true that marijuana is one of the safest illegal controlled substances, that doesn't make it inherently safe. Because it's not as bad as some more extreme drugs, people think that pot is a good alternative. Maybe it is; that's not my place to say. But either way, it definitely is not a risk-free alternative. Here are some of the most prevalent dangers of marijuana that you should be aware of.

"more harmful toxins than tobacco"

According to the BBC, a Canadian government study found that marijuana smoke inhaled through the lungs contains more harmful toxins than tobacco smoke. The study found 20 times more ammonia, which is linked to cancer, and five times more hydrogen cyanide (which can cause heart damage) and nitrogen oxides (which can cause lung damage) in pot smoke. Inhaling anything into your lungs can't be good for them, and with all of these toxic substances in marijuana smoke, it definitely isn't doing any favors.

increased risk of psychosis

The Lancet, CTV, and The New Zealand Herald, have all reported on studies that show that for those with a genetic predisposition to psychotic disorders, smoking marijuana may push them over the edge into psychosis.

"There was an increased risk of any psychotic outcome in individuals who had ever used cannabis," says the study in The Lancet. The CTV story, which refers to the Lancet study, says, "Smoking marijuana can increase your risk of developing a psychotic illness by more than 40 per cent." The study the New Zealand Herald refers to says that, "a link between cannabis and mental illness depends on a specific genetic disposition. But even then, only 15 per cent of the people with the gene will develop cannabis-related psychotic behaviour, and only if they use it as adolescents."

Either way, it's clear that smokng marijuana could have a real affect on your mental health, and while it may depend on use as an adolescent, the study isn't conclusive and use at any age could be a risk in this respect.

impaired driving ability

We've all heard of drunk driving; driving after having a few drinks is notoriously dangerous. But people seem to be less aware of the dangers of smoking while high on pot.

According to WebMD, when people smoke marijuana and then drive, they're twice as likely to be involved in a fatal car crash. The WebMD story says, "Twice as many drivers involved in fatal car accidents tested positive for marijuana compared with a group of other drivers." Driving to the store or drive-through when you get the munchies probably isn't such a good idea after all.

infertility and harm to fetuses

According to WebMD (again), marijuana use can contribute to infertility, so if you're trying to start a family, smoking pot can thwart your plans.

Marijuana use can affect fertility for both men and women. The article says for women, "Marijuana may disrupt a woman's ovulation cycle (release of the egg)." Of men, it says, "Marijuana use affects men by decreasing the sperm count and the quality of the sperm."

Additionally, another WebMD article warns of marijuana dangers in terms of fetal brain development. The article says, "According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), previous research has shown that some children born to women who abused marijuana during pregnancy may show signs of neurological problems in development and problems with memory and attention." Referencing a study that appeared in the journal Science, the article says, "marijuana's active ingredient, tetrahdyrocannabinol (THC), may interfere with the development of nerve cells, according to the researchers."

gum disease

While smoking or chewing tobacco is often linked to gum disease, marijuana use contributes to it as well. Once again, WebMD reports on a study that found that, after controlling for other gum disease risk factors such as tobacco use, "the 32-year-old study participants who smoked the most marijuana were 60% more likely to show evidence of gum disease than 32-year-olds who had never smoked pot."