Can You Smoke Weed With A Concussion?

When a blow to the head causes the brain to bump the skull, a concussion occurs. Concussions are considered traumatic brain injuries, and can lead to very serious complications. Repeated concussions can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease. CTE causes the degeneration of brain tissue, and can lead to depression, memory loss or suicide.

So where does smoking weed come in? There is growing evidence that marijuana acts as a neuroprotectant, an agent that can protect the brain and help it heal. CBD, one of the chemicals in marijuana, is thought to be responsible for this effect. CBD is responsible for many of marijuana’s medical benefits, and doesn’t cause psychoactive effects (the feeling of being high).

Dr. Lester Grinspoon, a psychologist and Professor Emeritus at Harvard University, is a vocal proponent of further research into this treatment. He wrote an open letter to the NFL advocating the study of medical marijuana to help treat and prevent the brain injuries that are all too common among football players. Dr. Ginspoon is clear that the treatment, which relies on CBD rather than THC, need not be a psychoactive drug. Therefore, there is little reason that it should not be studied more in-depth.

While Dr. Grinspoon does not absolutely claim that smoking weed cures concussions, he does say that “we are now pretty confident that cannabis, marijuana, has as a medicine, some qualities about it which make it clear that it is neuro-protective.”

One study found that cannabinoids (the chemicals found in marijuana) decreased brain swelling after a traumatic brain injury. Another found that the endocannabinoid system (a system in the body that reacts with cannabinoids) could help prevent and reduce brain injury. CBD can also help with concussion symptoms including pain, stress, depression, and poor sleep.

But the news isn’t all good. This study from the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation found that concussions may increase the risk of drug dependence. The study found that people who had suffered a traumatic brain injury under the age of five or between the ages of sixteen to twenty-one were “more likely to have symptoms consistent with drug dependence.” Considering these findings, it may not be the best idea to smoke up after a brain injury, especially if the person in question is prone to addiction.

The United States’ National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens claims that there are even more negative effects associated with concussions and drug use. It states that the effects of drugs can be felt more strongly after a traumatic brain injury, which may be dangerous. The Institute also warns that concussions can lead to difficulty concentrating, thinking, remembering, and balancing; drug use can make these problems worse. However, this is less likely to be an issue with strains that are high in CBD and low in THC, which are recommended for this treatment.