What Is Cannabis?
Cannabis is a group of plants with various varieties called Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Its flowers are dried to obtain a substance called cannabis, also known as weed or herbal drug. This substance is highly addictive but does have some medicinal properties due to its calming effect. The effect of cannabis is due to the chemical called delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in its flower. This chemical is the primary psychoactive constituent of the Cannabis sativa plant and is primarily responsible for the herbal drug's cognitive effects and addictive potential.
What Are the Modes of Ingestion of Cannabis?
Cannabis is used in various forms to feel calm and high at the same time; various ways of abuse include:
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Smoking: It is one of the most common ways of abuse and is known by different names in different parts of the world, like weed, pot, marijuana, etc.
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Oral Consumption: The processed form of cannabis used for medicinal purposes is consumed orally.
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It is also consumed by drinking or inhalation.
What Are the Medicinal Uses of Cannabis?
Cannabis, when used in required quantities for a short duration, has beneficial effects and helps to improve many medical conditions:
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Multiple sclerosis.
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Breathing disorders like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
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Nerve pain.
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Nausea.
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Vomiting.
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Migraine.
Therefore fixed doses of cannabis with authorized prescriptions are considered legal in different parts of the world.
What Are the Side Effects of Cannabis?
The adverse effects of cannabis depend upon the quantity consumed, duration, and the route of administration; some common adverse effects are as listed below:
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Mental disorders.
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Cognitive impairment.
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Paranoia.
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Transient psychosis.
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Reduced inhibitory control.
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Suicidal behaviors.
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Maniac symptoms.
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Cannabis does affect vital organs like the brain, heart, and lungs, causing impairment.
What Are the Cognitive Deficits Associated With Long-Term Use of Cannabis?
Studies and research so far have proved long-term use of cannabis affects the normal development of the brain when consumed by children in the developing age group. Pediatric and psychiatric patients are at the highest risk in such situations. These children often present with cognitive abnormalities like underdeveloped intelligence quotient, low thinking capabilities, etc. The cognitive functions of the body are intellectual and sensing abilities.
These behaviors include the ability of an individual to think, communicate, sense, organize, solve problems, and remember and control behaviors. It has been reported that cannabis can impair cognitive functions of the body at different levels ranging from basic motor to complex executive functions, depending upon its dosages and mode of consumption. The cognitive effects of cannabis can be divided into acute and complex effects.
Following Are Some Common Effects of Cannabis:
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Disruption in Learning and Memory Function: Cannabis affects the activity of the frontal lobe. Hence cognitive functioning; studies have reported a lowered rate of information processing in subjects with cannabis, affecting the learning and memorizing of things. This effect is diluted in frequent or chronic users, a form of resistance.
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Impaired Decision-Making, Risk-Taking: Decision making is a complex process that requires analytical thinking, which depends on the integrity of basal cognitive function. Thus, individuals who use cannabis have difficulties making decisions; these incidents are more common in people with chronic use.
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Attention Deficit: Cannabis causes THC- a dependent attention deficit; it has been reported that heavy or chronic users have a greater impact. These individuals are disoriented and have diminished responses.
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Impulsive Behaviors: Where a person is aggressive and presents with sudden bouts of anger and violent behaviors.
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Inability to Manipulate Information: On consuming cannabis, people find it difficult to manipulate information, which is impaired working memory. They also develop a tendency to have short-term memory loss, as they forget the information in a short period.
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Emotional Processing: Cannabis greatly influences emotion recognition and processing; emotion processing is negatively affected by the use of cannabis.
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Slurred Speech: It is unclear what a person is saying as the words are unclear and a person finds it difficult to complete full sentences.
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Psychosis: Individuals with a family history of psychosis should avoid having cannabis in any form as it increases the risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. These patients can develop chronic symptoms at an early age, even with the slightest dose, and these symptoms occur even after discontinuation of cannabis.
How Is Cannabis Dependence Treated?
Cannabis has an addictive property due to its calming and making feel-good effect, as it releases dopamine in the centers of the brain. Patients prescribed cannabis for certain conditions also tend to get addicted and want to continue the herbal drug. This treatment requires pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions.
No pharmacological drugs have been approved or proven effective, but the medications used these days help control the symptoms and adverse effects of cannabis. The counter sales must be illegalized. Those who are addicted to cannabis can be gradually taken off the drug. However, these individuals require psychological support and counseling to promote drug discontinuation.
Conclusion:
Cannabis is a herbal drug obtained from a tree; it is used in various forms, like inhalation and oral, or can be smoked to cause calming effects. This property of calming makes it potent and addictive. However, in measured quantity and purified form, it can be used for medicinal purposes to treat disorders with sharp pain like migraine.
Still, the long-term effects of the drug have proved to cause cognitive impairment, which includes impairment in thinking, decision-making, responses, slurred speech, etc. Once the person gets addicted to cannabis, it is difficult to quit, hence requiring motivation and counseling to promote discontinuation. Adults tend to re-develop the habit even after discontinuing it due to the addictive property of the drug.
