Can Weed Make You Sick?

Although it is known as a relatively inoffensive drug, marijuana can have negative effects on the user. Some effects are immediate, while others may take years to manifest. Because the study of marijuana is such a recent discipline, scientists still don’t fully understand the long-term effects of weed. We will take a look at the immediate ill effects of weed first.

A small percentage of users experience nausea or vomiting after smoking too much weed. Ironically, weed is also known to reduce nausea and vomiting among chemotherapy patients.

There is also a condition that affects a small number of chronic marijuana users, causing severe nausea and vomiting. It is called Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, or CHS, and it can also lead to abdominal pain. Thankfully, all patients in this study experienced total relief from their symptoms after ceasing cannabis use. Some marijuana users started using the drug again with no ill effects, while others found that their symptoms returned whenever they used marijuana. Interestingly, the subjects found that scalding hot showers or baths helped to relieve their symptoms. This is not recommended, as it may lead to burns. This condition is still not well understood, but it likely only affects people who seriously abuse cannabis.

Weed that is mixed, or “laced,” with other drugs or chemicals can also make you sick. Disreputable dealers may lace weed with things like glass, laundry detergent, or formaldehyde to make the drug seem heavier, fresher, or stronger. People might also add other drugs like heroin, PCP, or cocaine to weed to produce a different effect. There are many dangers in ingesting these chemicals or drugs with your weed. Marijuana laced with heroin can cause itching and nausea. Weed laced with formaldehyde can cause severe headaches, chest pain, nausea, diarrhea, or even death. It is always best to purchase medical grade marijuana from a registered Canadian supplier.

Smoking weed can also make you sick if the weed in question is mouldy. Some of the negative effects associated with smoking mouldy weed include vomiting, diarrhea, and trouble breathing. More serious cases can lead to aspergilloma, mould growing in the lungs, or pneumonitis, inflammation of the lungs. People with respiratory issues or compromised immune systems are the most at risk. Be sure to store your weed at an appropriate humidity level (preferably under fifteen per cent) and inspect it closely before smoking using a magnifying glass. Never smoke mouldy weed.

There is less concrete information regarding the prolonged health effects of marijuana. Some scientists worry that marijuana use could lead to a higher risk of cancer because marijuana smoke has more carcinogens than tobacco smoke. Marijuana smoke must also be inhaled more deeply and held longer in the lungs than tobacco smoke to achieve the desired effects. However, no study to date has found a conclusive link between marijuana use and cancer. Hopefully, further research will soon shed more light on potential illnesses affecting marijuana users long-term.