Marijuana’s potential medicinal benefits have shifted public perception of the psychoactive drug derived from the Cannabis plant, contributing to its growing popularity. Countries like Canada, Uruguay, Mexico and Thailand, and 22 states in the US have legalized recreational marijuana, while 50 countries have approved it for medicinal purposes.
However, one cannot ignore that its regular use has been associated with a heightened risk of a range of life-threatening conditions like strokes, heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and myocarditis.
4/20 day, celebrated every year on April 20, by weed lovers, brought the drug into the spotlight, sparking discussions on its growing popularity as well as risks.
A new study published in the journal JAMA Neurology that links an increased risk of dementia to cannabis use is especially crucial in this regard. The terms cannabis and marijuana are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same. While cannabis refers to the plant Cannabis sativa, marijuana is one of the products derived from this plant that has a high concentration of THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid.

Dementia and Marijuana connection

The connection between long-term cannabis and dementia isn’t new and has been demonstrated in the previous studies. An American Journal of Psychiatry study discusses how cannabis use over a long period of time is linked to hippocampal atrophy and poorer cognitive function in midlife, which are known risk factors for dementia.
The new study delves into the five-year cognitive impact of cannabis-related medical emergencies, revealing a significant association between such events and an elevated risk of developing dementia.
“Someone who has an emergency room visit or hospitalization due to cannabis has a 23% increased risk of dementia within five years compared to someone who was at the hospital for another reason. They have a 72% greater risk compared to the general population,” says study coauthor Dr Daniel Myran, an assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Ottawa in Canada.

“Those numbers have already factored out other reasons for dementia, such as age, sex, mental health or substance use, and whether or not you have chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease,” Myran added.
Earlier research shows marijuana users are nearly 25% more likely to need emergency care and hospitalization than nonusers.

“However, this is not a study that anyone should look at and say, ‘Jury’s in, and cannabis use causes dementia,’” Myran said. “This is a study that brings up a concerning association that fits within a growing body of research.”
While medical marijuana is considered to be safe in limited doses under expert supervision, it is more complicated than that. Many people with cannabis use disorder are not able to stop using it and that’s where the real problem lies.
US federal law doesn’t allow the use of marijuana. However, many states allow medical use to treat pain, nausea and other symptoms. The THC in marijuana affects the brain, mood, behavior and thoughts, the reason why it is called psychoactive. Medicinal marijuana can be advised for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Epilepsy, and serious nausea or vomiting caused by cancer treatment. However, are its side effects worth it? Let’s understand.

What’s cannabis use disorder?

Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), a medically recognized condition is marked by a problematic and often compulsive pattern of marijuana use. Its severity can vary from mild habits that interfere with daily life to full-blown addiction. Marijuana is part of cannabis, but not all cannabis is marijuana. Cannabis use disorder mainly involves THC-containing substances such as marijuana. Addiction to marijuana could happen when the brain’s reward system takes over and amplifies compulsive marijuana-seeking.
People with cannabis use disorder are unable to stop using even though they encounter health or social problems from use, Dr. Robert Page II, a professor of clinical pharmacy and physical medicine at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Aurora told CNN.

“When they stop using it, they either have withdrawal symptoms or have very bad mental health symptoms,” he added. “They might have quite severe depression, or they might have anxiety, all of which can send them to the hospital.”
According to the CDC, around 30% of people can get addicted to marijuana. This can pose risk of attention, memory and learning problems, as per CDC.

What you need to know about marijuana’s safety

“The other takeaway from this study is that many people believe marijuana to be natural and therefore safe,” Page said. “It is a psychotropic medication, so it’s going to have psychotropic effects. If you have underlying psychiatric issues, realize that you need to be transparent with your provider and let them know if you’re using this medically or recreationally.”
According to mayoclinic, the other side effects of medical marijuana include increased heart rate, dizziness, problems with thinking and memory, slower reaction times, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, panic attacks, and hallucinations, among others.