Here Are the Short and Long-Term Effects of Smoking Weed

Let’s clear the smoke.

This article is presented in partnership with Drug Aware.

There’s a lot of info around weed out there – and while stoner comedies are funny, they don’t give much of the full picture.

Cannabis, like any substance, has the potential to cause short and long-term effects that you might not know about.

The short-term.

Although each person experiences the effects of cannabis differently, short-term effects include slowed reaction times, decreased coordination and short-term memory loss. 

This is why you should never drive while high – the impact of the weed can impair your judgement and may stop you from making quick and effective decisions.

In the short-term, you can also experience anxiety, feelings of panic and an increased heart rate. Regular cannabis use can also increase the risk of experiencing a heart attack or a stroke.

Depending on the person and the method of ingestion, a high can last from one to four hours, and can cause varying effects, especially in the short term.

The long-term.

Cannabis is an interesting substance – there’s no straightforward link between cannabis and mental health issues, but evidence suggests there is a relationship between the two, and prolonged usage can increase the risk of experiencing mental health issues.

The long-term effects of cannabis can include depression and anxiety and may cause conditions like schizophrenia and psychosis.

For people who begin using cannabis regularly in their adolescence, using the drug can negatively impact their future, with concentration issues and cognitive impairment common in daily users.

This can impact your ability to learn and study while at uni or undertaking a new career.

It’s often unclear just how prolonged cannabis use can affect your brain, so always be careful around the substance.

If you want to learn more about the impact of cannabis and other drugs, check out more info on the Drug Aware Website.