How Safe Is Marijuana Really?

How safe is marijuana really?

After decades of widespread casual use, and now after a number of states legalizing use for “medicinal purposes”, the use of marijuana has increasingly become perceived as safe. Is this perception accurate, or is it a fantasy that has been fostered by nostalgia, urban folklore, the drug culture, and the multi-million dollar dispensary industry? Let’s take a step back and try to take in the whole picture.

It is important to understand that a number of recent trends have greatly affected the risk profile of marijuana. The first major change involves the rising concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The levels of THC currently seen in higher grades of marijuana are 40 times greater than the levels seen in the late 60’s (Woodstock pot is a common reference point). This is the direct result of advanced growing and procurement techniques, which have systematically increased the levels of THC in“professionally” raised marijuana. Most people see this as a positive result of applied botanical science. The problem here is what is called the “dose effect”. As the potency of this drug increased over time, a number of thresholds of toxicity have been exceeded. A good analogy would be a comparison to beer. 1 beer will not due much to cause injury to an adult. 4 to 6 beers would cause a significant degree of inebriation in the average individual. 40 beers consumed at once however, would cause alcohol poisoning and probably death in many cases. Marijuana has not become a common direct cause of death but has become a significant cause of major psychiatric complications including depression, anxiety and most alarmingly psychosis.

The anxiety and depression problems resulting from THC consumption are nothing new, but they are much more common now. The psychosis severity and frequency is something that is a more recent development though. I personally have treated 14 cases of THC induced psychosis in just the last 3 years. Many other addiction specialists have had similar experiences. The psychosis consists of intense auditory hallucinations, paranoid delusions, and a number of bizarre behaviors that are completely out of character for the individual. The condition resembles Schizophrenia but is usually more difficult to treat. Some of these cases may very well be Schizophrenia that was triggered by the THC, but the total number of cases exceeds the usual incidence of this disease and they all follow heavy pot use. Most of these individuals are not even addicts, just recreational users. All who have suffered this complication have experienced a major decline in functional capacity, often becoming permanently disabled. The prognosis for this condition is very poor. Similar presentations can result from contaminated marijuana.

The intentional contamination of marijuana is another growing trend among the purveyors of illicit substances. Many drug dealers spike their marijuana with more addictive drugs, such as cocaine, crystal meth and heroin, to create cross-addictions to substances that generate higher overall profits. Aside from creating these cross-addictions, the contaminants cause a number of other major complications such as seizures, tic and movement disorders, depression, anxiety and psychosis. When complications develop, it is often difficult to distinguish if the cause was the THC or an undetected adulterant. Sometimes the extra ingredients can be detected on a drug test. Many other chemicals such as formaldehyde are frequently added and also cause neurological complications.

In addition to all of the neurological problems caused by THC, a host of psychological consequences have arisen from all of the recent trends. The legalization ofmarijuana in some states has fostered a perception that the drug is very safe, especially among adolescents. I have had countless Florida teens tell me openly “yeah but pot is legal”. This has led to more experimentation at an earlier age. The young human brain that is not fully developed is exquisitely sensitive to the negative effects of drug use. The increased early marijuana use in turn has facilitated more experimentation with more addictive drugs. Experimentation with addictive drugs reliably leads to addiction in many cases. The net result is a worsening of the nation’s drug problem, especially among the younger generation.

This information is relevant to all segments of the population, but will most likely be received by parents and grandparents. If you are a parent or grandparent, it is important to realize that the marijuana you may have tried in the past was very different than what is available now. Your experiences did not carry the same risks that your children and grandchildren face today. It is important to understand the differences when discussing this topic with your family. Regardless of what your opinion of marijuana use actually is, it is of greatest importance to base that opinion on the most complete foundation of information that is available to you.