Are There Any Side Effects Associated With Medical Cannabis?
Is it fair to say that most drugs, be they prescription or OTC, come with side effects? Probably. Even though some side effects are relatively minor, they exist, nonetheless. So it’s a mistake to believe that medical cannabis doesn’t have side effects of its own. It does. Some of its side effects can be significant under the right circumstances.
Unfortunately, we really need to talk about medical cannabis side effects more because of the general belief that cannabis is largely harmless. Proponents of marijuana legalization have made that case for years. They routinely mention that no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose. They also claim that users cannot get addicted.
The fact remains that cannabis is a psychoactive substance. Regardless of what pro marijuana advocates might claim, cannabis is not harmless – even when used medicinally. Anyone considering asking for a medical cannabis recommendation from a doctor needs to know this.
Physical Side Effects
The good folks at Utahmarijuana.org explain that cannabis impacts the body by interacting with the human endocannabinoid system. Cannabinoids bond with cannabinoid receptors, causing the body to react in certain ways. So yes, medical cannabis does come with certain physical side effects.
Increased heart rate is at the top of the list. A person’s heart rate can remain high for up to three hours following cannabis consumption. This could be problematic for someone with heart disease. But that is not all. Additional physical side effects include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Increased appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Respiratory problems
It is worth noting that respiratory problems are associated with smoking marijuana. Medical cannabis is generally not smoked for this reason. But someone choosing to self-medicate in a state with legal recreational marijuana may choose to smoke. Doing so could be problematic. Are There Any Side Effects Associated With Medical Cannabis?
Cognitive Side Effects
Even if a person doesn’t experience physical side effects, cannabis consumption can lead to cognitive side effects. They include impaired memory and thinking skills along with altered perceptions and slower reaction times. Combined, all the cognitive side effects could make certain types of activity dangerous for cannabis users.
For example, slower reaction times make it dangerous to drive or operate heavy equipment while the effects of medical cannabis are still being felt. Impaired thinking could lead to inherently dangerous jobs being even more so.
Psychological Side Effects
Moving on to the psychological, cannabis is linked to a number of side effects including anxiety and panic attacks. Short term confusion and disorientation are also fairly common. Although rare, some people experience paranoia and delusions when consuming higher volumes of THC.
The biggest concern in the psychological arena is cannabis use disorder. In simple English, cannabis use disorder his psychological dependence on cannabis. It is more common in younger people, but older cannabis users can experience it as well.
To avoid cannabis use disorder in a medical setting, experts recommend that patients take time off on a regular basis. The general recommendation is to choose three consecutive days each month on which the patient will not use medical cannabis. Taking time off gives the patient’s body an opportunity to reset.
Medical Supervision Is Advised
Although medical cannabis is not harmless, it is also not a given that patience will experience all the side effects associated with it. The bottom line is that medical supervision is advised.
Medical cannabis patients should work with their medical providers and pharmacists to ensure that they are using safely. Under proper supervision, medical cannabis can be a good treatment for a variety of conditions including persistent pain, PTSD, nausea, and insomnia.
