You Should Stop Smoking Marijuana If This Happens To You
Marijuana, weed, pot, grass, cannabis — there are many names for it, but they all refer to the cannabis sativa or cannabis indica plant. The plant is dried and used to smoke, and a chemical in the plant alters your mood and consciousness. You can smoke it in a pipe, roll it up in smoking papers, or you can use an electronic vape. Some people even smoke the oil from the plant, which is known as dabbing (via MedlinePlus).
According to the Partnership to End Addiction, smoking marijuana is the most common way people consume it. Other ways are by eating edibles or taking a tincture. In addition, some use marijuana for medical reasons. The psychoactive ingredient in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which gets you "high" by releasing dopamine. While it may make some feel relaxed and euphoric, others say they don't feel anything after smoking it. You'll feel it within minutes after smoking or vaping, and it will typically go away in about one to three hours (via WebMD). People with sleep disorders, mental health conditions, inflammatory health problems, chronic pain, and anyone with a low appetite — such as those going through chemotherapy — can benefit from using cannabis, according to Healthline.
While using cannabis can help with symptoms of some health conditions, there are side effects you should be aware of.
When you should stop smoking marijuana
Some people can use marijuana and have a great experience, while others might have a different take on it. For example, if you've tried to quit smoking marijuana and feel irritable, experience anxiety, have trouble sleeping, or have a decreased appetite, you might be addicted to it. Being addicted means you feel like you need to smoke and often have a high tolerance, indicating that you need more of the drug to get high (via MedlinePlus). If you get anxious, experience panic attacks, paranoia, hallucinations, or lose touch with reality, you might need to stop. It can worsen your mental health, especially in high doses (via WebMD).
You might experience stimulating or depressant-like effects. For example, if you have trouble concentrating, difficulty with coordination, hyperactivity, increased blood pressure, faster heart rate, you're experiencing the stimulating or depressant-like effects (via Healthline). Some experience trouble focusing or learning, especially with heavy pot smokers. You may need to cut down or stop entirely if this happens to you (via WebMD). Smoking marijuana can have the same effects on your lungs as smoking cigarettes. For example, your lungs become inflamed, hurt, and you might develop a cough and have trouble breathing, according to WebMD.