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Over the past few decades, we’ve learned that some parts of the human brain continue to develop until at least the age of 25 in women and 28 in men. Heavy exposure to ma*****na before this age can negatively impact brain development, resulting in damage affecting many bodily and mental functions.

By coincidence, THC, the main intoxicant in ma*****na, chemically resembles the human neurotransmitter anandamide, which is a substance our bodies use to relay instructions to nerve and brain cells (neurons). Anandamide helps control memory, brain growth, bodily growth, sleep, attention, learning, impulsivity, mood, IQ, and executive function – basically, the control room of the brain. Sadly, THC molecules partially mirror anandamide and can “trick” the brain into allowing it to fit into and block the receptor sites in neurons specifically intended for endocannabinoids. This overstimulates the receptor and prevents these natural chemicals from doing their jobs.

Excerpts from the American Lung Association’s official website include, “The American Lung Association is concerned about the health impacts of ma*****na use, especially on lung health. Beyond just what’s in the smoke alone, ma*****na is typically smoked differently than to***co. Ma*****na smokers tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, which leads to a greater exposure per breath to tar. Secondhand ma*****na smoke contains many of the same toxins and carcinogens found in directly inhaled ma*****na smoke, in similar amounts if not more. Smoking ma*****na clearly damages the human lung. Research shows that smoking ma*****na causes chronic bronchitis and ma*****na smoke has been shown to injure the cell linings of the large airways, which could explain why smoking ma*****na leads to symptoms such as chronic cough, phlegm production, wheeze and acute bronchitis. We caution the public against smoking ma*****na because of the risks it poses to the lungs.”
Overindulgence in ma*****na can also cause death, though this is rarer. In illnesses like Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, users die because they vomit so much, they become terribly dehydrated. Then there’s the lowered IQ and lack of ambition long-term users show. These aren’t even all the negative health effects that ma*****na can have, and it may be that other cannabis-related ailments may arise that we’re not yet aware of. It’s early yet, in terms of the medical history of ma*****na.
The best advice remains to avoid ma*****na altogether. If you know someone using ma*****na, or if you suspect your kids are, make sure to share this information about the harms of ma*****na.

The Negative Health Effects of Ma*****na
By Laura Stack
There’s a lingering belief among ma*****na advocates and large sections of the public that ma*****na is safer than to***co. This myth most likely originated from an old misconception, akin to comparing apples to oranges; not just because of the inherent differences between the plants, but because the two have typically been prepared and administered differently.
By the 1980s, to***co had been subject to centuries of specialized breeding, and commercial products were often spiked with extra ni****ne to make them more potent and addictive. Many users smoke one to three packs daily, amounting to 20-60 ci******es—sometimes more. The most addictive users chain-smoke, igniting one cigarette from the embers of another, so they’re never without a drag.
Heavy ma*****na smokers might smoke a few joints a day or hit a v**e all day. Back in the early days, when ma*****na was illegal everywhere and relatively rare, it was also weak, rarely exceeding 3% of the intoxicating chemical, THC. Therefore, ma*****na users were sucking down a lot less smoke, and chemicals in general, than to***co smokers. So while smoking pot has never been good for you, it’s justifiable to argue that it was less dangerous than cigarette smoking… back then.
Not anymore. Ma*****na products have evolved far beyond herb and hashish, with some concentrated products approaching 100% THC content. Even herb ma*****na has been bred to provide up to 34% THC by weight. These days, some ma*****na products deliver the equivalent of seven or more “old time” joints in a single dose. The human body isn’t meant to handle so much THC at once.
This is especially true for young people, whose brains aren’t yet mature. THC latches onto receptors meant for crucial brain chemicals called endocannabinoids, stunting physical and brain growth, scrambling thoughts, interfering with sleep, raising anxiety, causing depression, and affecting other natural processes. The higher amounts of chemicals introduced into the body cause other effects, including heart disease, while raising the likelihood of mental defects like psychosis, schizophrenia, and suicidal ideation. The latter can lead to actual su***de.
Ma*****na smokers often suffer chronic bronchitis-like symptoms, with deep coughing jags rivalling those of long-term to***co smokers. This derives from severe lung and airway irritation and can lead to lung cancer. In the end, rates of cancers and other lung-related ailments among pot-smokers may match up with the to***co data.

Research on alcohol and ni****ne product advertising, as well as limited research on ma*****na product advertising, demonstrates that exposure to advertising is associated with increased youth use of those products. Voluntary standards that aim to limit alcohol advertising to adult audiences and avoid programs that target youth are clearly inadequate to limit youth exposure, as alcohol ads are pervasive on television, including on sports broadcasts and other programs watched by young people. Similarly, when ni****ne va**ng ads were allowed on television and radio, they served to normalize va**ng, skirt restrictions and encourage behaviors associated with the recent catastrophic youth va**ng epidemic.

Studies Warn of These Ma*****na Side Effects
4. Heart Issues
Studies have shown that ma*****na could negatively impact the heart and blood vessels, leading to a possible increased risk of heart attacks and heart failure. "Attitudes towards recreational and medicinal use of cannabis have changed rapidly, and many states have legalized it for medical and/or recreational use. Health care professionals need a greater understanding of the health implications of cannabis, which has the potential to interfere with prescribed medications and/or trigger cardiovascular conditions or events, such as heart attacks and strokes," said Robert L. Page II, Pharm.D., M.S.P.H., FAHA.
5. The Impact On Parenting
Using ma*****na does not necessarily make you a more relaxed parent: One study showed that parents who used cannabis were more likely to administer discipline techniques compared to non-users. "The acceptability of ma*****na is growing in the United States and with that, more parents feel free to use the drug, sometimes even in front of their children," says Bridget Freisthler, professor of social work at The Ohio State University. "Some parents claim it makes them a better, more relaxed parent, but that may not be the case. Ma*****na use is not risk-free. It affects a lot of behaviors, including parenting."