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What Happens to Your Brain if You Smoke Weed for 30 Days

The Infographics Show・25 minutes read

Weed legalization is increasing in the US and Thailand, with changing public opinion and availability. While weed can have various effects on the body and mind, it is crucial to understand potential risks and benefits before consuming, especially considering long-term consequences.

Insights

  • Public opinion in the US is shifting towards legalizing weed, with 88% of Americans supporting its recreational and medical use, marking a significant change in societal attitudes.
  • Weed consumption has diverse effects on individuals, ranging from potential risks of psychosis, paranoia, and schizophrenia to benefits like pain relief and improved sleep. Understanding the nuances of weed's impact on mental health and well-being is crucial before deciding to use it, advocating for cautious and informed consumption practices.

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Recent questions

  • What are the effects of long-term weed use?

    Long-term weed use may increase the risk of heart issues, impact memory and cognitive functions, induce hunger cravings, decrease motivation, affect lung health, and potentially lead to respiratory problems. However, structural brain changes are not significant, and motivation levels can return after a break.

  • How does weed impact mental health?

    Weed can induce psychotic episodes, paranoia, anxiety, negative thoughts, and potentially increase the risk of schizophrenia. Chronic use may lead to dissociative experiences, hallucinations, and decreased motivation, affecting cognitive functions and memory.

  • Can weed help with pain relief?

    Weed can alleviate chronic pain by interacting with receptors for cannabinoids in peripheral nerves. It may also help with cancer pain, but genotoxic effects from burning could lead to genetic changes and potentially carcinogenic states.

  • What are the risks associated with smoking weed?

    Smoking weed can increase phlegm production, damage the lungs, and potentially lead to respiratory issues, lung cancer, and emphysema. Weed joints deliver more tar to the lungs than tobacco cigarettes, increasing the risk of respiratory problems.

  • Is weed withdrawal dangerous?

    Weed withdrawal can lead to mild symptoms like cravings, irritability, and decreased appetite, affecting around 10 to 20% of daily users. While generally less dangerous than other substances, dependency is possible, especially among younger individuals. It's crucial to understand the impact of cannabis on mental health and well-being before deciding to use it.

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Summary

00:00

"Legalization and Effects of Recreational Weed"

  • Weed is now legal for recreational use in 25 US states, with three territories and Washington D.C. decriminalizing it, and 7 states have decriminalized it.
  • 88% of Americans support legalizing weed for recreational and medical use, indicating a shift in public opinion.
  • Thailand has seen a significant increase in weed availability, transitioning from strict laws to a "weed wonderland" with shops everywhere.
  • Weed is a psychoactive drug that can affect the nervous system, altering thoughts, perceptions, and inducing a high.
  • Weed contains compounds like THC and CBD, with varying effects on individuals based on tolerance and unique body reactions.
  • Some people may experience psychotic episodes or paranoia from weed, with potential risks of schizophrenia.
  • Long-term weed use may increase the risk of heart issues and lead to dissociative experiences or hallucinations.
  • Studies show that weed consumers are more likely to experience paranoia, anxiety, and negative thoughts about themselves.
  • Regular weed use can impact memory and cognitive functions, but long-term structural brain changes are not significant.
  • Weed can induce hunger cravings (munchies) due to increased dopamine levels, potentially leading to weight gain, although long-term studies show contradictory results.

11:35

Weed's Effects on Health and Pain

  • Weed can alleviate chronic pain by interacting with receptors for cannabinoids in peripheral nerves.
  • The placebo effect can be observed with cannabis, where individuals experience pain relief even with a placebo resembling weed.
  • Long-term weed consumption can lead to decreased motivation, but motivation levels can return after a 12-hour break.
  • Reaction times and performance can be affected by weed consumption due to its impact on the brain's thalamus-corticostriatal circuit.
  • Chronic weed smoking can increase phlegm production and potentially damage the lungs, leading to respiratory issues.
  • Weed smoke may cause lung cancer and emphysema, with studies showing higher rates of emphysema in weed smokers compared to non-smokers.
  • Weed may help with cancer pain, but its genotoxic effects from burning could lead to genetic changes and potentially carcinogenic states.
  • Weed joints deliver more tar to the lungs than tobacco cigarettes, increasing the risk of respiratory problems.
  • Cannabis withdrawal can lead to mild symptoms such as cravings, irritability, and decreased appetite, affecting around 10 to 20% of daily users.
  • Weed withdrawal is generally less dangerous than other substances, but dependency is possible, especially among younger individuals.

23:27

Weed: Risks, Benefits, and Quitting Experiences

  • Smoking weed can lead to lung damage and dependence, even if it provides benefits like improved sleep and reduced social anxiety. Limiting smoking to small doses a few times a week is a cautious approach to continue use.
  • People who quit smoking weed after long periods reported various experiences, from no withdrawal symptoms to weight loss and changes in behavior. It's essential to understand the impact of cannabis on mental health and overall well-being before deciding to use it, starting slowly to gauge its effects.
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