Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Over time, the marijuana gateway hypothesis has been studied more and more. In one published study, the use of marijuana was shown not a reliable gateway cause of illicit drug use. [67] However, social factors and environment influence drug use and abuse, making the gateway effects of cannabis different for those in differing social circumstances.
A dried cannabis flower. The short-term effects of cannabis are caused by many chemical compounds in the cannabis plant, including 113 [clarification needed] different cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol, and 120 terpenes, [1] which allow its drug to have various psychological and physiological effects on the human body.
The psychoactive component of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is not effective in treating emotion-regulation and anxiety-related symptoms. [20] Conversely, THC has been empirically related to an increase anxiety symptoms through impacts on neurological areas impacting serotonin, noradrenalin, GABA and glutamate.
In areas where marijuana becomes legal and easier to access, Volkow’s concern is the ease with which products can be mixed, leading to a high total dose of marijuana consumed.
Use of marijuana, particularly higher-potency products, has been linked to a variety of mental health disorders, including schizophrenia, anxiety and depression.
Some studies have shown that cannabis can trigger a temporary psychotic episode, which may increase the risk of developing a psychotic disorder later. [42] The impact of cannabis on depression is less clear. Some studies suggest a potential increase in depression risk among adolescents who use cannabis, though findings are inconsistent across ...
Bright light therapy, a standard treatment for seasonal depression, may also help people who experience depression year-round, a study shows. Researchers found that patients with non-seasonal ...
Cannabis also has a long history of being used for medicinal purposes, and as a recreational drug known by several slang terms, such as marijuana, pot or weed. Various cannabis strains have been bred, often selectively to produce high or low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a cannabinoid and the plant's principal psychoactive constituent .