Although cannabis has been recreationally legalized for people over the age of 18 in Canada, that doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone should begin using it. Much the same way alcohol can negatively impact some people’s health more than others, there are some groups who should be careful when deciding whether to use cannabis or not. This post will outline the negative effects that cannabis can have on vulnerable brains, as well as the different groups of people who should be cautious about their cannabis use.
What can cannabis do to your brain?
For decades, the view that cannabis is a harmful drug which can do incredible damage to your brain has persisted in North America due to the US (and to a lesser degree, Canada) government’s war on drugs. This set back research on cannabis’ mechanisms and the effects that it can have. Today, there are many therapeutic benefits that are widely acknowledged; seizure disorders, PTSD, and more.
Everyone’s body has what’s called an endocannabinoid system, and there are molecules native to your body called endocannabinoids which act on receptors in the system. Scientists believe that the endocannabinoid system serves primarily to modulate other kinds of signals, amplifying some and diminishing others. This is the system that THC and CBD and the other cannabinoids present within cannabis act upon. They bind to the receptors and influence how your system is regulated. This might be why, for example, you get really hungry when you consume cannabis, or why you feel more creative.
Can I use cannabis if I have bipolar?
There is strong evidence linking the incidence of manic episodes with cannabis usage in people with bipolar disorder. Anecdotal evidence also suggests the same, with people living with bipolar stating that they have the best mental health outcomes when they completely abstain from cannabis usage. For this reason, many people believe that if you have bipolar disorder, you should not be using cannabis for the sake of your mental health.
Bipolar can be an incredibly difficult diagnosis to live with, and self-medicating using cannabis might feel like small potatoes compared to the larger issues at play. The most important thing, if you have this diagnosis, is to speak with your doctor about your cannabis use. Absolutely do not take advice from some random post on a cannabis website.
Can I use cannabis if I’m a teenager?
If a person starts using cannabis as a teenager, before their brain has finished growing and developing, it can have long-term effects on cognition and memory. Researchers have done small studies using MRI scans to look at brain structure of adults in their 20s who have been diagnosed with a cannabis use disorder (basically that they consume a lot of cannabis and that it has a negative impact on their lives) and people who don’t use cannabis at all. The study showed that teenagers who smoked pot daily had abnormally-shaped hippocampi as adults, and did worse on long-term memory tasks compared to non-users.
Some research has found that heavy cannabis use starting during adolescence can have long-term effects on dopamine signalling in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that plays important roles in reward and motivation, as well as movement control. Scientists think that this is likely due to heavy cannabis use interrupting normal brain development, resulting in problems with wiring and leading to problems down the line. It’s important to note that pretty much all of this research has been done on people who use cannabis every single day for extended periods of time. We don’t necessarily know the possible risk of occasional usage, like in social settings or on the odd weekend.
Can I use cannabis if I’m trying to conceive or pregnant?
Using cannabis while trying to conceive can impact sperm motility and count, and using it during pregnancy is believed to carry risks like a low birth weight and possibly other developmental problems. Overall, the recommendations around trying to conceive and pregnancy state that you should treat your body in the best way possible, which generally does not include consuming cannabis in any of its forms.
Should I smoke cannabis?
There are a few groups of people for whom the answer to this question is ‘probably not.’ But in the end, if you’re an adult in Canada, you’re free to make your own choices. When making the decision whether to smoke cannabis or not, consider whether you have a family history of mental health disorders, a personal history of mental health issues, or if your brain or your baby’s is developed enough to handle the consequences of consuming cannabis.
If you’re really concerned about whether or not it is safe for you to smoke cannabis – please talk to your doctor and don’t just search for advice from random blog posts on the internet!
