What are the other risks of long-term cannabis use?
There’s evidence that shows long term use of cannabis can negatively impact sleep (Getty Stock)
Away from sleep, studies have found that using the substance can affect the amount of gray matter in the brain. Per Cleveland Clinic, gray matter is ‘a vital part of your brain and spinal cord that supports thinking, movement and memory’.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), because cannabis makes your heart beat faster and raises your blood pressure, it can also increase the risks of strokes and heart disease.
Smoking cannabis can also scar lung tissue and damage small blood vessels.
The drug has also been linked to social anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, but the CDC adds that ‘scientists don’t yet fully understand the relationships between these mental health disorders and cannabis use’.
It’s not all bad news about cannabis, though… a study released earlier this year revealed that older people who had ingested the drug in some form performed better on cognitive tests.
Discussing the findings, Dr Anika Guha, a clinical psychologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, said: “I was a little surprised that every cognitive measure that demonstrated a significant effect showed better performance among cannabis user.
“It goes against your default assumptions because I think a lot of research out there has shown cannabis is associated with worse cognitive function, at least acutely.”
