Marijuana is one of the most popular illicit substances in the world and continues to become more prevalent in many societies as medical and recreational marijuana become more common. If you listen to some proponents for marijuana legalization, you’ll hear that pot cures cancer as well as a host of other benefits and is completely safe. However, when you listen to those on the other side, you’ll hear about the potential of weed being a gateway drug. This, of course, leads to a lot of misinformation and questions of legitimacy. What’s true? Is marijuana bad for you or not?

Edibles Carry Some Risks

A small, cottage industry of marijuana production combines food or drinks with marijuana. In states where pot’s legal, these products sell as edibles. However, intoxication is different from smoking pot. For starters, it may not start for a couple of hours. In terms of edibles, is marijuana bad for you? In fact, this puts people at risk for drug poisoning because they ingest too much while waiting for the high. They think it’s not happening. All of a sudden, it hits them. For some users, this difficulty with the dosing leads to serious adverse effects that may require medical intervention.

Is Marijuana Bad for You When You Smoke It?

Consider that you inhale the smoke of the burning plant directly into your lungs. No credible evidence connects marijuana smoking to lung cancer. However, there is evidence that it contributes to unhealthy lung changes. Examples include tissue scarring, bronchitis, and ongoing coughs. The simple truth is when smoking the plant form of marijuana, known as cannabis, you are ingesting more than just the active ingredient, THC. Plant matter and potential chemicals are also being smoked which can lead to the negative health effects. Extracting THC into a more pure form can help remove some of these potential risks.

Does Pot Use Lead to Addiction?

Marijuana addiction is a real thing. However, some people believe that it’s not possible to develop a habit because there aren’t any severe withdrawal symptoms. They usually point to the symptoms of stopping alcohol abuse as an example. However, you don’t have to experience delirium tremens to struggle with addiction. This is important to answering the question, is marijuana bad for you? As is the case with any other drug, marijuana use can lead to addiction. Contributing factors include genetics, stressors, and your social environment. Moreover, people report having a hard time stopping the use of pot even though it’s causing problems at home or work. Some can’t stop even though they’re noticing memory problems. Addiction therapy offers hope. For example, treatments include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Group therapy
• Experiential treatment
• One-on-one talk therapy

How to Get Help for Marijuana Abuse

Is marijuana bad for you? Specifically, it has the potential for causing addiction and health problems. When you want to quit using, but have a difficult time, there’s help. Reach the therapists at the Crest View Recovery Center by calling 866-327-2505 now.