negative effets of marijuana

Cannabis can negatively affect lung and vascular health, cognition, mental health, speech, and reproductive hormones. Risks are greater with frequent use, high-THC products, and use during adolescence and young adulthood. 1

• 1. Smoking or vaping: Inhaling cannabis smoke or vapor can impair lung function and the endothelial cells lining blood vessels. Huberman links this impairment to reduced cognitive capacity and increased stroke risk. 1
• 2. Anxiety, depression, and psychosis: Chronic use—defined here as twice a week or more—is associated with rising anxiety and depression, and heavy use is associated with greater risk of psychosis, including schizophrenia and bipolar-like episodes. Cannabis may also trigger psychosis in people with underlying vulnerability. 2 3 4
• 3. Age and THC potency: Use during adolescence and before age 25 is especially concerning for mental health and brain development. Higher THC potency is associated with greater risk of psychosis, major depression, and anxiety disorders. 5 6
• 4. Brain effects and speech: A guest describes THC-related mitochondrial effects as potentially contributing to premature aging and memory impairment. Chronic cannabis use is also associated with changes in speech, including reduced vocal effort and altered timing or inflection. 7 8 9
• 5. Reproductive hormones: The hormone effects are described as complex, but chronic use may lower testosterone and raise prolactin and aromatase, which can increase conversion of testosterone to estrogen. 10