In the 1960s, marijuana became a popular recreational drug of choice. Now, the members of that generation and marijuana have both come of age. Research on the drug over the years has discovered more information about marijuana, including both harmful and therapeutic effects, and the drug has become increasingly more prevalent in the popular cultures of modern societies. Users of marijuana come from all social economic status and walks of life. Even middle-aged men belonging to the baby boomer era are long-term smokers of the drug and have developed an addiction to marijuana.
Memory Loss
Marijuana abuse has a significant effect on both short and long-term memory.The NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Dr Nora D. Volkow stated that chronic marijuana abuse can significantly affect a person's recall and memory forming abilities. Frequent episodes of memory loss may indicate a person is a user of marijuana, and possibly an addict especially middle-aged men who have been chronic smokers of marijuana for many years.
Coughing
Smokers of any illicit toxic chemicals, like cocaine or marijuana, can cause negative effects on the lungs and increase the risks of getting diseases like emphysema and cancer. Smoke damages many of the specialized cells that line the lung tissues and over time, chronic smoking will gradually destroy lung tissues. Respiratory problems and symptoms are far more pronounced in a middle-aged long-term marijuana smoker because of the years of exposure to the carcinogens in the drug. According to a report published in July 2009, in the National Institute of Drug Abuse on marijuana use, a long-term user will manifest similar respiratory problems of cigarette smokers, such as, cough and phlegm.
Negative Lifestyle Changes
Long-term marijuana use in middle-aged men can negatively impact their social, personal and professional lives. A case control study published in Psychological Medicine, 2003, by researchers, AJ Gruber, HG Pope, reported that heavy users of marijuana in men between the ages of 30 to 55, experienced negative consequences in their careers, memory, health and relationships with friends and family members.
Cardiovascular Effects
Marijuana use in middle-aged men can increase the risks of getting a myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack. A physiological effect of marijuana is its ability to increase heart rate and blood pressure from 20 percent to 100 percent from baseline. When this occurs in middle-aged men who have existing medical problems, such as hypertension or cardiovascular related diseases, then smoking marijuana will predisposes individuals to the increase risks of triggering heart attacks. A study published in Circulation, 2001 by the American Heart Association, by researcher Dr Murray A. Mittleman, reported that marijuana smoking can cause myocardial infarction.
