What Do Experts Think About the Health Risks of Recreational Cannabis Use?
The government has said there will be a
review into the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes but has rejected
suggestions by former Foreign Secretary Lord Hague that its recreational use
could be legalised. Home Secretary Sajid Javid said there was strong scientific
evidence the drug could "harm people's mental and physical health and
damage communities". Cannabis is thought to be the most widely used
illegal drug in the UK. But while it can lead to feelings of relaxation,
happiness and sleepiness, many experts say the drug is not the harmless
"natural" high some claim it to be. In some cases, it can increase
anxiety and paranoia, lead to confusion and even hallucinations, according to the Royal College of
Psychiatrists.
Beyond this, there's also "compelling evidence"
that regular cannabis use increases the risk of developing psychotic illnesses,
such as schizophrenia, particularly in adolescents, says Dr Marta di Forti,
from King's College London. Younger people are thought to be particularly
vulnerable because their brains are still developing, says Dr Michael
Bloomfield, from University College London. Studies have linked the increased
risk of psychosis to potent strains of cannabis that have higher proportions of
the psychoactive compound THC, says Dr Di Forti.
A previous study suggested the risk of psychosis was five times higher
for people who smoked such cannabis every day compared with
non-users. Milder forms contain less THC and more CBD, which works as an
anti-psychotic and counteracts some of the negative effects of THC. However,
research suggests the vast majority of cannabis being sold illegally in the
UK is super-strength skunk.
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| High-Potency Skunk-Weed |
But it's worth pointing out that the vast majority of
people who use cannabis do not develop psychosis and many people diagnosed with
such disorders have never used cannabis. It is also thought that genes may play
a role in the risk. The exact health impact of cannabis use is still a subject
of debate, with not all studies reaching the same findings.
Does smoking cannabis cause depression? While some studies have found an association between regular cannabis use and depression, Dr Di Forti says this link is less clear than that with psychosis. And it may be the case that people who are depressed are more likely to use cannabis.
Is cannabis addictive?
There was a time when experts thought this was not the
case. But current evidence suggests that it can be - particularly if it's used
regularly - with about 10% of regular users estimated to have a dependence. For
some people who quit, there can be withdrawal symptoms, such as cravings,
difficulty sleeping, mood swings, irritability and restlessness, according to
the Royal College of Psychiatrists. "People end up having problems with
relationships. It impacts on their ability to function at work and
school," Prof Celia Morgan, professor of psychopharmacology at the University
of Exeter, says. While some of this addiction may be psychological, Dr
Bloomfield says there is good evidence to suggest that THC itself can be
physically addictive for some people. "Cannabis
addiction exists and it can potentially ruin lives," he adds.
What about memory?
Getting high on cannabis impairs memory and cognitive
ability in the short term, says Prof Morgan. And some of the effects of this,
though mild and reversible, seems to remain for up to 20 days, the amount of
time it takes for the drug to leave the system.
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| A Cannabis Joint. |
Can cannabis be a gateway drug for harder ones, such as cocaine
or heroin?
Prof Morgan says that while some people who take hard
drugs may also smoke cannabis, there is no strong evidence those who try cannabis
will go on to become hard-drug takers. However, cannabis may lead to a legal
drug habit that is harmful in a range of ways - tobacco smoking. Tobacco is
"one of the most damaging addictive substances", Prof Morgan adds.
What about cancer?
Tobacco smoking is known to increase the risk of a range
of illnesses, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. does it follow that
cannabis smoking also poses the same dangers? It's still not clear whether
cannabis smoking itself raises the risk of cancer or if the increased risk seen
among cannabis smokers is actually the result of them mixing the drug with
tobacco. In any event, people who smoke cannabis regularly, with or without
tobacco, are more likely to have bronchitis - inflammation of the lining of the
lungs - according to the NHS.
Are there any health benefits?
Many patients who have been self-medicating with
recreational cannabis say it works for them. Recently, the families of
12-year-old Billy Caldwell and six-year-old Alfie Dingley have made newspaper
headlines. They say cannabis oil treatments have radically controlled the boys'
epileptic seizures. While these cannabis oils are not recreational drugs,
they're not medically licensed treatments either.
A cross-party report found good evidence that cannabis
treatments can help alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain, multiple sclerosis,
nausea and vomiting, particularly in the context of chemotherapy, and anxiety. It
also found moderate evidence it could help with sleep disorders, poor appetite,
fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder and Parkinson's symptoms. Now, a
government review will look at the evidence and make its own recommendations on
which cannabis-based medicines might offer real medical and therapeutic
benefits to patients. But regardless of what they find, Mr Javid added:
"This step is in no way a first step to the legalisation of cannabis for
recreational use."
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