Marijuana is becoming more popular and legal in many parts of the United States. According to recent reports, about 18% of Americans have tried it at least once. But what does marijuana use do to our health? A new study from Northwestern Medicine gives us some insight.
Marijuana Use in America
Marijuana comes from the Cannabis sativa plant. It can be smoked in hand-rolled cigarettes (joints), used in a water pipe (bong), brewed into tea, or mixed into food.
In 2019, about 48.2 million people in the U.S. used marijuana, making it the most commonly used drug in the country. These numbers, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), show how widespread marijuana use has become.
Despite its popularity, scientists are still studying its health effects. Some states have legalized marijuana, but researchers want to understand what happens inside the body when people use it. That’s what scientists at Northwestern Medicine aimed to explore in their recent study.
What Did the Study Look At?
The study, led by cancer researcher Dr. Lifang Hou, examined blood samples from over 900 adults. These samples were collected five years apart as part of an earlier study on heart health.
Researchers asked participants about their marijuana use, both recently and over their lifetime. Then, they analyzed the DNA in their blood samples to look for any changes.
What Did They Discover?
The scientists found something interesting: marijuana use was linked to changes in a process called DNA methylation. This process affects how genes work by turning certain genes on or off.
In total, researchers identified between 16 and 132 markers of DNA methylation connected to marijuana use. Many of these markers were found in areas of DNA related to:
- Cell growth
- Hormone signaling
- The body’s response to infections
- Mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders
What Do These Findings Mean?
This study does not prove that marijuana directly causes these genetic changes or that these changes lead to health problems. However, it does show a connection between marijuana use and DNA modifications, which could be important for future research.
Scientists now want to study this further to understand how marijuana use might affect people’s health as they age. They also need to confirm whether these findings apply to different groups of people.
Why Is This Important?
As marijuana use becomes more common and legalized in more places, understanding its effects is crucial. This research helps provide a better picture of how marijuana interacts with the body, but there is still a lot to learn.
More studies are needed to explore how marijuana affects heart health, brain function, and conditions like Alzheimer’s. Some research even suggests that certain cannabis compounds might help reduce depression or protect the aging brain.
The study was published in Molecular Psychiatry, and researchers hope it will encourage further investigations into the long-term effects of marijuana. Keeping up with these studies can help people make informed decisions about marijuana use and its potential health impacts.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about top foods to love for a stronger heart, and why oranges may help fight obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
For more health information, please see recent studies about simple guide to a 7-day diabetes meal plan, and why you should add black beans to your plate.
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