9 Side Effects Of Marijuana Every Weed Smoker Ought To Know!

Regi George Jenarius

The jury on whether using marijuana is beneficial for your health and well-being has been an ongoing debate for years now.

In fact, with the number of studies that have been recently published about the pros and cons of using marijuana, the verdict is debatable; poised with a slight skew in support of legalising marijuana in moderation for its medical purposes!


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While it has been taken into consideration for its medical purposes by the medical fraternity, you need to be in the know of some the immediate as well as the long-term effects before you go ahead smoke your next joint.

The facts below are not to dissuade you from getting high once in a while, but to avert any unnecessary repercussions while you’re at it!  

The common short-term side effects of smoking marijuana are as following:

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1. Gives you feeling of dizziness or light-headedness

Studies in the past to have shown a feeling of dizziness after smoking pot, especially when you try and stand up after smoking. 

While there are studies that also show that people who frequently smoke also develop a tolerance towards it (in defence of the regular pot-head!), it may not be the best idea to get behind the steering wheel after a smoking a doobie!

2. Induces the need to get stuck into the munchies after smoking up

Love bingeing on food after your smoke up? Well, a sudden spike in your appetite is not just because of a chance!

Some studies, such as one published in Nature in 2015 suggest smoking marijuana could activate certain pathways in your brain that are related to hunger. So keep a watch if you're looking to lose weight.


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3. Makes you experiencing paranoia that you don’t otherwise

Several users of marijuana have experienced paranoia after smoking a joint. There is also well-documented evidence behind this claim.

Although a 2015 study published by the University of Maryland found that smoking marijuana causes paranoia in people who previously experienced this symptom, the paranoia may not have been a direct result of the marijuana itself. It could be a by-product of the other effects of marijuana, such as depression.

4. Smoking weed can heighten your chances of developing a heart attack for up to 3 hours!

One of the known side effects of weed is the fact that it can increase your heart rate dramatically for up to 3 hours after you smoke a joint.

One such study published in Harvard news in the early 2000’s had indicated that the risk of developing a heart attack jumped up by 4.8 times within the first hour of smoking up. 

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The long-term and the more serious side effects of smoking marijuana are as following:

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5. Marijuana can hamper your ability to perform complex tasks

The Center for Substance Abuse Research indicates that long-term use may cause irreversible damage to your math and verbal skills. 

Researchers from Australia in 2012 found structural changes in the brain for long-term smokers of weed that resembled people who had schizophrenia, compared to people who never used the herb.

6. Carcinogens in marijuana can cause respiratory issues

Whether you smoke cigarettes or marijuana, you are exposing your lungs to smoke containing a high amount of carcinogens. 

The American University in Washington DC states that you are just as likely to develop a chronic cough or a respiratory illness due to smoke from weed.


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7. You can develop chronic stomach pain by smoking weed in the long run

Smokers who spend a considerable amount of time, under a hot bat to relieve themselves of this pain can relate to this, claims the International Journal of General Medicine in 2013.

In fact, long-term abuse of weed can lead to a medical condition called Cannabinoid Hyperemesis that can lead to nausea and vomiting as stated in the journal Current Drug Abuse Reviews in 2011.

8. Breastfeeding mothers can transfer harmful chemicals to the baby

Breastfeeding can pass on the well-known compound terahydrocannabiol (THC) to the baby through the milk.

Exposure to this compound could impact the motor skill of a child at a young age according to the Substance Use Disorders During Pregnancy: Guidelines for Screening and Management put out by the Washington State Department of Health.


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9. Once a stoner, always a stoner

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that 9 percent of all user of marijuana will become dependent it, whereas 17 percent of people who start using in during their teens are more likely to be dependent on it.

In fact, one study conducted by the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence in 2011, suggested that 42 percent of users who tried to quit experienced withdrawal symptoms, such as a loss of appetite, and increased levels of irritation.