Cannabis has been a hot topic for years. Some see it as a natural wonder drug that can help with conditions like epilepsy and chronic pain, while others are concerned about its potential downsides, especially on mental health.
A recent comprehensive study published by The BMJ has put the debate under a microscope.
The research combines findings from over 100 previous studies to give us a broad understanding of the good, the bad, and the complicated when it comes to cannabis use.
What The Research Says: Risk Factors and Recommendations
According to this new study, using cannabis can be particularly risky for certain groups of people. These include young people—especially teens and those in their early 20s—because their brains are still developing.
Cannabis is also not recommended for people who have mental health problems or those who are pregnant. What’s more, using cannabis makes driving riskier.
These recommendations were formed after looking at multiple studies that pointed to an increased chance of psychosis in the general population associated with cannabis use.
Specifically, the study found that cannabis use can trigger psychosis in young people and make symptoms worse for those who already have psychotic disorders.
Additionally, there is evidence linking cannabis to general psychiatric symptoms like depression and memory problems.
It’s not just about mental health, though. The research also suggests that using cannabis can lead to motor vehicle accidents.
For pregnant women, using cannabis increases the chance of giving birth to a smaller, low-birth-weight baby.
Benefits of Cannabis: It’s Not All Bad News
While the study does raise red flags, it also acknowledges the positive impact cannabis can have for some health conditions.
For example, cannabidiol (a compound in cannabis) has been shown to help people with epilepsy by reducing seizures.
People with multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and some other conditions may also benefit from cannabis-based medicines, especially when it comes to reducing pain and muscle stiffness.
Takeaways and Future Steps
The report is among the first to collect both observational studies (those based on watching and recording people’s behavior) and controlled trials (where people are given specific treatments and monitored) on cannabis.
However, it’s crucial to note that many of the findings, especially those related to the risks of cannabis, are based on what researchers call “weak evidence.”
There are still many questions unanswered, and more research is needed to fully understand the range of cannabis’s effects on health.
This large-scale review aims to provide guidance for lawmakers, doctors, and researchers.
It suggests that we need future guidelines to make sense of the current findings and that those guidelines should be formed with input from a variety of people, including experts and those directly affected by cannabis laws and medical treatments.
So, the takeaway is that while cannabis has its benefits, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Knowing when it can help—and when it might harm—is crucial for making informed decisions about its use.
If you care about cannabis, please read studies that what you need to know about cannabis and heart attack, and CBD from cannabis may help inhibit COVID-19 infection.
For more information about cannabis, please see recent studies that medical cannabis could help reduce depression, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect aging brain, treat Alzheimer’s.
The research findings can be found in The BMJ.
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