What are the Long Term Effects of Marijuana Use?
The longitudinal research on pot smoking shows that while short-term use of weed delivers euphoria, long-term use is linked to mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, fatigue, mood changes, memory problems and impaired planning and decision-making [1]. While short-term marijuana use increases dopamine levels (which is what creates that euphoria), long-term use lowers dopamine levels and has been found to have complex, diverse, negative effects on the dopamine system.
Weed made life seem remarkable when I was on it. Over time, I came to need pot in order to have fun and appreciate life; when I was not high, life became barely tolerable. While other non-smokers were able to enjoy life without it, I grew increasingly dependent on weed for my joy.
Because of the nature of drugs and their effect on human neurology, choosing to do them is nearly the same thing as choosing to give them control over your life. The more we do them, the more control they will have. The less we do them, the less control they will have. No matter what, they will exert control over our lives.
The longitudinal research on pot smoking shows that while short-term use of weed delivers euphoria, long-term use is linked to mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, fatigue, mood changes, memory problems and impaired planning and decision-making [1]. While short-term marijuana use increases dopamine levels (which is what creates that euphoria), long-term use lowers dopamine levels and has been found to have complex, diverse, negative effects on the dopamine system [2]. Studies have found that those who frequently use marijuana report “lower life satisfaction, poorer mental and physical health, less academic and career success, and more relationship problems [3].” Up to thirty percent of those who use the drug may develop some degree of marijuana use disorder and those who begin using it before age eighteen are four to seven times more likely to develop a use disorder [4]. In other words, many people who use marijuana “medicinally” not only decrease their quality of life, but make themselves sick.
Without knowing it, I had exchanged long term wellbeing for short term euphoria. When weed releases dopamine to the parts of the brain that deal with pleasure and awe, it temporarily makes the menial seem remarkable. Normal sights, sounds, tastes, and smells become less and less attractive in contrast to their weed-enhanced alternatives. Over time, weed becomes more essential for appreciating anything at all, and we lose the ability to appreciate normal “unenhanced” life. The longer we force the doors of our brains to open and repeatedly dump out dopamine, the more difficult it is for those doors to function; they begin to rust, creak and break. The adverse effects can span decades after one stops using [5].
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” —James 4:7
Discussion Questions:
Have you ever made yourself dependent on something or someone? What did that look like?
What is a boundary you crossed that you felt like you could never come back from?
Have you ever been given a second or third chance to say no?
Do you think there is a point of no return or will there always be a chance to turn around and heal?
What do you think is most preventing you from turning your life around? What are you willing to do about it?
References:
1: Center for Disease Control (2020) Marijuana and Public Health | Mental Health. Retrieved November 21. 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/mental-health.html
2: WayofLeaf. (2020, September 3). The link between Marijuana & Dopamine. WayofLeaf. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://wayofleaf.com/cannabis/101/marijuana-dopamine
3: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cannabis-marijuana
4: Meier MH, Caspi A, Ambler A, et al. Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012;109(40):E2657-E2664. doi:10.1073/pnas.1206820109.
5:1. Meier MH, Caspi A, Ambler A, et al. Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012;109(40):E2657-E2664. doi:10.1073/pnas.1206820109.