Hello and welcome back to Mind Matters. Today we’re going to be talking about cannabis and why you might want to think twice before using it. Cannabis has become a popular substance in today’s society, used by people of all ages for various reasons.
But as its use has become more widespread, it’s important to look beyond its growing popularity and understand what this plant is and its effects and what it can do to your mind and to your body. In this episode, we’re going to talk about the complexities of cannabis and why it might warrant a second thought before using it. Let’s talk about what is cannabis.
Cannabis is a plant used in medicinal, spiritual, and recreational realms. It was introduced and mainstreamed to Western cultures, the Americas, in the 1960s. Cannabis now is quite a popularized drug used by a large swath of people ranging from teenagers to the elderly.
But on a molecular level, the plant is quite complicated. It’s made up of 70 to 100 cannabinoids, which is the name of molecules in cannabis. The most important cannabinoid that we will be discussing today and produces its psychoactive effect is called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
The effects of THC often result in a euphoric and introspective state where changes can be seen in feeding behavior, cognition, perception of environmental stimuli, focus, and body association. All right, now let’s dive into a big question. Is cannabis addictive?
If you want to talk about it in general lay speak, cannabis is addictive. But the term cannabis addiction is not generally used. It’s not scientifically accurate.
It’s not accurate to describe its relationship. There are a lot of things that are attributed to addiction. And so the more accurate way to describe it is what’s called cannabis use disorder.
And this factually exists and arises in 30% of those who weakly expose themselves to it. Now that we’ve talked about addiction, let’s talk about the science. Cannabis or marijuana acts on the body’s cannabinoid system, which have receptors all over the body and the brain.
And while we don’t fully understand the cannabinoid system, we have recognized a feature that provides a big clue to its function. Most neurotransmitters travel from neuron to neuron to spread messages. When the receiving neuron is done delivering a message, it releases what is called an endocannabinoid, which travels in the opposite direction of the message to essentially give feedback from the receiving neuron to the sending neuron.
This leads many to believe that the purpose of the cannabinoid system is to modulate certain signals by way of amplification or diminishment. These endocannabinoids generally slow the rate of neural signaling. Similar to endocannabinoids, THC slows neural signaling by binding to cannabinoid receptors.
But unlike endocannabinoids, who are released in an exact detailed manner to a specific location and whatnot, THC binds to receptors all over the cannabinoid system at once. Because of this widespread activity along with the fact that THC has indirect effects on other neural systems, it means that individuals will experience all different kinds of, you know, kind of journeys because it’s determined by brain chemistry, genetics, and previous life experience. All right, now let’s talk about cannabis and youth.
It’s very applicable. It’s very, very popular among adolescents. You know, how can this drug be harmful?
And what’s the biggest risk factor while using it? The answer is, you know, it’s age. In people younger than 25, cannabinoid receptors, a system that we talked about earlier, are most densely populated in the white matter of the brain.
And the white matter of your brain is involved in communication, learning, memory, and emotions. When young people frequently use marijuana, it can impair the brain’s ability to form what’s called white matter tracks and new neural connections, which inhibit the brain’s distribution of information and its just overall growth. In turn, it can damage long-term learning ability and problem-solving.
It can also cause hallucinations and delusions, known as marijuana-induced psychosis. And that’s another big question when you’re discussing usage of marijuana. Does THC cause psychosis inherently?
Psychosis is a severe mental disorder that causes a person to lose touch with reality and have difficulty relating to others. While it is uncommon for it to cause psychosis, it is possible for those using cannabis to experience an acute psychotic episode. On the other hand, when considering chronic psychotic disorders, there are more definitives.
First of all, those with schizophrenia, a disorder characterized by psychosis, use cannabis at a higher rate than the general population. Secondly, there is a definite relationship between the usage of cannabis and the initiation of schizophrenia. On top of that, if there is a first-degree family member, you are far more likely to develop schizophrenia.
And the same can be said about bipolar, which is a condition that causes extreme shifts in mood and energy activity levels. Interestingly enough, when comparing the prevalence of schizophrenia in the United States versus literally any Scandinavian country, it is obviously way more prevalent in the States. And, you know, what’s interesting about this is that you can link that information to another set of data, which is that 40% of American teenagers have at least tried cannabis by grade 12, while in these Scandinavian countries, it’s closer to 2 or 3%.
Something else that is certainly relevant when we’re talking about the use of it in adolescence is the question of sleep. How does this drug impact your sleep? Let’s begin with its positives.
THC can lower what’s called sleep onset latency or the time it takes to fall asleep, which can be particularly useful to those who can’t calm their minds before bed or those who suffer from insomnia. In fact, those with insomnia found overall benefits when using THC, including their sleep time, daily function, and overall well-being. Now the negatives.
While THC seems to lower sleep onset latency, it seems to worsen sleep quality. Normally, a sleep cycle will cycle through light sleep to deep sleep and then to REM sleep. Now the problem lies in the fact that the use of THC not only delays the arrival of your first REM stage, but also significantly decreases the overall amount of REM that you’re getting.
And REM sleep is responsible for dreaming, memory, consolidation, brain development, and overall mental health. Chronic REM deprivation can make an individual anxious and pro to mood swings. On top of that, regular marijuana users constantly and consistently experience far more sleep disruption than those who don’t use it all.
CBD, on the other hand, is a completely different case. While it’s not as studied as the effects that THC have, CBD seems to have something that’s more promising. CBD interacts with your body’s thermal regulation system, aiding it in lowering your body’s core temperature by the one and a half degrees that it needs to fall asleep.
And that’s in Celsius, one and a half degrees Celsius. It also may interact with adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter that essentially fatigues you. Caffeine also interacts with adenosine by blocking it and thereby preventing sleepiness.
In the opposite way, CBD modulates and amplifies adenosine, making you tired. CBD also seems to quiet your amygdala, which is a part of your brain that deals with fear and emotion. However, while these findings may seem promising, it’s far too early to make any conclusions.
Cannabis is a multifaceted substance with a range of effects that extend beyond just relaxation or enjoyment. While it offers certain benefits, the risks it poses, particularly to young people and those vulnerable to mental health issues, cannot be ignored. Understanding these complexities can help us make more informed decisions about its use, ensuring that we approach cannabis with the caution and respect it demands.