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The use of marijuana for recreational purposes has gained popularity in recent times.
However, research indicates that the consumption of cannabis may have adverse effects on the body, particularly on the brain.
A recent study conducted in France suggested that the use of cannabis increases the likelihood of experiencing a heart attack and stroke more than cocaine. Similarly, a study in Canada found a link between cannabis-related hospital visits in older individuals and the risk of dementia.
CANNABIS USE RAISES RISK OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKE MORE THAN COCAINE, OTHER DRUGS, MAJOR REVIEW SUGGESTS
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and brain imaging specialist, as well as the founder of Amen Clinics in California, confirmed that individuals who use marijuana tend to have lower blood flow in their brain based on decades of brain imaging conducted at his clinics.
New research highlights the negative impact of cannabis on the heart and brain. (iStock)
These findings, along with the connection between marijuana use and heart disease, have been supported by recent research studies.
“We have been misled to believe that marijuana is harmless, or even beneficial medicine,” Amen stated. “While it may be beneficial for some individuals, teenagers and people in their 20s who use it tend to have higher rates of anxiety, depression, suicide, and psychosis.”
In a recent study comparing individuals who smoked cigarettes with those who smoked marijuana, it was found that marijuana users experienced more lung damage, according to Amen.
“This is not favorable for our health,” Amen added.
Ongoing research indicates that smoking marijuana is detrimental to our health, according to a brain specialist. (iStock)
Amen highlighted a concerning trend he has observed, which involves parents consuming marijuana with their teenage children and young adults.
“This trend suggests that we are moving in the wrong direction,” he remarked.
While some argue that alcohol is more harmful to the body than marijuana, Amen emphasized that “neither of them are beneficial for you.”
“Why would you want to consume something that ages your brain prematurely?” he questioned.
Parents using marijuana with their teenage children or young adults is a concerning trend, according to the doctor. (iStock)
Since the brain of a young adult is not fully developed, engaging in cannabis use can hinder their mental growth, leading to issues such as anxiety and depression, as warned by Amen.
“When you begin using marijuana, alcohol, or other substances, your development becomes stunted,” he explained.
“Many individuals do not realize the significance of their brain during their late teens and early twenties, as it does not reach full maturity until the mid-twenties. If you harm it early on, it may never recover,” Amen cautioned.
