More people are consuming cannabis than ever before. Yet, when it comes to the overall effects of cannabis on your health, there is a lot of misleading information out there. Unfortunately, thanks to decades of prohibition worldwide, cannabis has been long understudied. It is difficult to say with any certainty how the herb affects long-term health. However, new research gives insight into what the plant does to your brain and body. Here’s an overview of the effects of weed on your health:
Positive effects of weed on your health
Believe it or not, cannabis has many positive effects on your health. They range from improvements to quality of life to the potential treatment of debilitating diseases. In the short-run, cannabis can provide instant relief from various ailments, such as chronic stress and pain. Here are a few of the short-term effects of cannabis on your health:
- Relaxation
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There’s nothing nicer than plopping down on the sofa with a bowl after a tiring workday. One of the most well known and immediate effects of marijuana is relaxation. The moment you breathe in cannabis vapor, a flood of plant-based anti-anxiety compounds called cannabinoids travel through your blood and into your brain.
There are two primary cannabinoids in cannabis worth mentioning. The first is psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which provides the classic cannabis “high”. The second is cannabidiol (CBD), which does not cause a high. Studies have shown that both cannabis compounds can ease anxiety and promote a positive sense of well-being. Within minutes of smoking, you’ll be able to breathe a heavy sigh of relief and start smiling again.
- Creativity
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There’s a reason why so many famous artists smoked weed. Marijuana can make you more creative. When you smoke herb, activity in a certain part of your brain increases. That region is the frontal lobe. In fact, within 30 minutes of smoking, this region is fully activated in your brain. This is the same region of the brain that is responsible for critical thinking and creativity.
Cannabis also increases your ability to connect abstract thoughts. This ability is thought to be a prerequisite to creative thinking. In the art world, this is the epiphany. The moment everything seems to come together. For cannabis users, the light bulb of ideas seems to click on more frequently while you’re under the influence.
- Pain relief
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When you feel pain, your brain is sending you a distress call. It’s screaming: “HELLO! There’s something wrong here! Fix it!” You feel these distress calls as pain because of chemical signals sent by cells, communicated through nerves, and translated by the brain.
Natural compounds in cannabis cut in, disrupting the signals. THC and CBD interact with your immune cells by giving them instructions on what to communicate. When you consume cannabis, those chemical pain signals decrease. This lets you go about your day in peace.
The herb’s power as a natural analgesic works when it’s consumed orally or inhaled. It also works well when it’s applied topically. You can even make cannabis topicals yourself.
Sleep
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A heavy indica will put you to sleep fast and help you sleep more deeply and longer. Cannabinoids like THC induce sleep. At the same time, they also extend your time in deep sleep. Deep sleep happens during the third and fourth sleep cycles. During deep sleep, your body takes the time to repair itself and clear toxins from the brain. Studies have linked poor deep sleep with a variety of health conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease.Bliss
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It may seem odd, but the effects of cannabis and the effects of exercise are really quite similar. After you workout, bliss-inducing chemicals like dopamine, anandamide, and serotonin are released in the brain. These compounds make you feel amazing. They’re the reason behind the “runner’s high” and why exercise is thought to treat depression.
When you use cannabis, both dopamine and serotonin are released. Further, THC takes the place of anandamide in the body, causing sensations of euphoria. That’s right: the “stoner’s high” is similar to a supercharged version of the “runner’s high.” This herb helps you feel blissful and full of joy.
- Appetite
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Great food is one of the finest simple pleasures in life. We think it deserves to be appreciated. Weed can turn a simple meal into a smorgasbord of blissful flavors and aromas. Cannabis releases excess dopamine, which makes you feel pleasure. It also mimics anandamide, which makes you feel happy and hungry. All in all, this herb makes you love the experience of eating.
When you smoke weed, a couple of things happen that make you love your food. First, marijuana can help turn down the chatter and distraction in your brain. This allows you to give full attention to what’s presently in front of you. Second, cannabis tells your body to secrete hormones that make your food smell and taste better to you.
What do you get when you combine those two facts? An intensely focused and utterly blissful eating experience. Pretty much as close to a foodgasm as you’re going to get
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