Cannabis is one of the most consumed drugs in the world, and due to its varied legal status depending on the country we are in, its use is very normalized, to the point that there are even those who do not consider it a harmful substance for the body. human.
This has contributed to generating a series of myths that feed an idealized vision of everything related to marijuana. The truth is that although it is debatable that this drug presents more reasons why it is not legal than other legal ones such as alcohol, there is no doubt that the use of cannabis entails exposure to significant risks. Therefore, here We will review these common misconceptions about cannabis
Very common myths and erroneous beliefs about cannabis
This is a summary of the erroneous beliefs about cannabis that circulate the most and that most contribute to making the mistake of assuming that this drug is harmless.
1. Cannabis is not harmful because it is a natural product
The term “natural” is one of the most ambiguous and modifiable at convenience to mean almost anything. If by “natural” we mean that the product consumed is made through few processing steps, it is not entirely true even if we compare it with other drugs; For example, in the case of alcohol, even some animals can consume it in nature by eating fruits from trees.
If by “natural” we mean that something does not interfere with the proper functioning of the human body, that concept does not make sense (many elements of nature that have not been influenced by humans are capable of harming us, such as poisons or contagious diseases) nor is it true in the case of cannabis, as we will see.
2. Cannabis does not generate dependence
There is a widespread myth about cannabis according to which this substance can only cause addiction on a social and behavioral level, but not on a chemical-brain level. However, There is evidence that this drug produces both types of dependence: it leads people to get used to a routine that includes cannabis consumption as an important element, and at the same time interacts with the nervous system, making their cells “learn” to need its molecules with psychoactive effects.
Of course, it is true that chemical addiction to cannabis is significantly less powerful than that which can occur with other commonly consumed drugs, such as alcohol, heroin, tobacco… But that does not mean that it does not exist.
3. Consuming this substance helps reduce anxiety
It is true that cannabis is a substance that depresses the activity of the nervous system (in low, most common doses), but that does not mean that it simply helps control anxiety and stress. Even if in many cases consuming it provides a feeling of “relief” and distension, In the medium and long term it favors the appearance of anxiety “peaks” due to the need to consume to feel good, something typical of drug habituation.
It is relatively common to hear that those who clearly abuse cannabis will experience long-term health problems associated with a deterioration in brain function and gastrointestinal discomfort, but will not be exposed to the risk of dying within hours. However, the truth is that cannabis intoxication can not only negatively affect the quality of life of those who have been consuming that drug; It can also kill, although its danger in this sense is less than that of most hard drugs
For example, it is estimated that in 2012, some 287 people died from cannabis use in Canada alone, and it is also known that this drug is capable of causing fatal myocardial infarctions.
5. Anyone can adopt regular cannabis use as a habit
The truth is that cannabis is not for everyone, even if consumed in low quantities. It is known that a part of the population has genetic predispositions for one or a few occasions of use of this drug to trigger serious psychopathologies.
In this sense, psychotic outbreaks are part of those psychopathological alterations most associated with cannabis (provided there is a predisposition to suffer them, given that introducing this drug triggers what is latent).
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