Cannabis--more commonly referred to as marijuana--is the dried, shredded form of a type of hemp plant called Cannabis sativa. Though the use of this drug is federally prohibited, cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. Cannabis is typically smoked as a joint (cigarette) but can also be brewed as a tea or mixed in with certain foods. The active ingredient in cannabis that's responsible for eliciting its many effects is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
Changes in Cognition
As you smoke cannabis, you inhale a large amount of THC, which is passed into your bloodstream. When this blood reaches your brain, THC can bind specific receptors called cannabinoid receptors. This binding event alters the way in which your brain sends and receives messages throughout your body. As a result, smoking cannabis can cause changes in cognition and motor function. Cognitive effects of smoking cannabis include difficulty concentrating, impaired motor coordination, distorted perception and problems with memory and learning. Smoking cannabis can also influence regions of the brain that are responsible for time perception or pleasure sensing.
Increased Heart Rate
Smoking cannabis can rapidly increase your heart rate by 20 percent to 100 percent, based on estimates provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Due to this, one study cited by the NIDA found that people who smoke cannabis have a 4.8-fold increased risk of experiencing a heart attack within the first hour of smoking. Additional heartbeat alterations can occur as an effect of smoking cannabis and may include an abnormal awareness of heartbeat (palpitations) or an irregular heartbeat rhythm (arrhythmias).
Changes in Appetite
When you smoke cannabis, you can develop a significantly increased appetite. THC can heighten your perception of taste and smell, which can increase the pleasure you experience while eating or drinking
Reddening of the Eyes
The smoke released into the air while using cannabis can irritate your eyes. During or after smoking cannabis, your eyes can appear red or bloodshot and can become watery or itchy.
Dry Mouth
Inhalation of cannabis smoke can dry out the inside of your mouth and throat. Due to this, you can experience increased thirst, cough or sore throat during or following cannabis smoking.
Lung Irritation
Compared to tobacco smoke, cannabis smoke contains 50 percent to 70 percent more cancer-causing (carcinogenic) components based upon information provided by the NIDA. These carcinogens are extremely toxic to the lungs and severely irritate lung tissue, which can lead to coughing and increased phlegm production.
