Can You Die From Smoking Too Much Weed?

Marijuana, and all its derivatives, have been classified as a schedule II controlled substance by the Canadian government as it stands currently; though this is likely to change July 1^st 2018, when the Liberals unveil and implement their plan for a fully legal Canadian marijuana industry. This classification means that the federal government has judged marijuana use as having a higher than average potential for abuse or addiction and that unless authorized under current regulations, no persons shall possess the substance or else receive legal repercussion. This in itself can make marijuana appear demonized and immoral. As being citizens of a country, we place a lot of trust in our governments to keep us away from the things that can hurt us; affecting our health and well-being.

The fact of the matter is: marijuana, when used alone and not combined with any other drug or medication, will very likely not kill you. It is virtually impossible to overdose on marijuana, with zero confirmed deaths solely linked to marijuana consumption. For the sake of comparison, in the United States, it is estimated that alcohol attributes to more than 88,000 deaths per year, tobacco more than 480,000 deaths per year, and marijuana with absolutely zero deaths per year.

While chances are that from simply overdosing from marijuana may not kill you, this may only be half of the story. For instance, according to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, using marijuana while driving is estimated to double the risk of getting into a car accident.  Marijuana has also been cited as increasing the risk of suicidal thoughts in individuals with certain predispositions; although the latter was concluded as having a strong association, it was later explained to be a potential factor in cases where previous psychological and behavioral problems existed.

It is also important to think about the potential of long-term side effects of smoking marijuana. Much like any form of inhaled combustion smoke, over time it may damage the tissue in the lungs, leading to chronic and debilitating conditions such as bronchitis and COPD. Second-hand marijuana smoke may also pose a threat, as a recent study on rats suggest that it can do as much damage to the heart and blood vessels as secondhand tobacco smoke, but more research is needed.

While no definitive links to death currently exist, marijuana does have a degree of risk associated with it when used irresponsibly. It is always recommended to consult with a medical practitioner prior to self-medicating, and to source your cannabis from an authorized producer.