By Vanessa Cort
RECENTLY, I wrote a series of articles examining drugs and their users, including cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and designer drugs such as Molly and Ecstasy.
I also dedicated an entire article to marijuana, making the case for its classification as a ‘soft’ drug, particularly as cannabis use becomes increasingly common around the world, especially among teenagers and young adults.
However, following the death of my eldest child, my son, in August, I received a rude awakening when a doctor told me that marijuana was a possible risk factor in his death.
He explained that marijuana can affect blood flow, blood-vessel function and blood pressure. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, can influence the cardiovascular system, potentially increasing the risk of complications in some individuals.
Research conducted by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has linked regular cannabis use to impaired functioning of the endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels that helps regulate how arteries expand and contract.
These findings have raised concerns about the possible long-term effects of cannabis on vascular health, including whether sustained use could contribute to premature changes in blood-vessel function.
Research published in the medical literature has also examined associations between heavy cannabis use and changes in blood flow to the brain, although the extent and long-term consequences of these effects require further investigation.
An article titled The Cardiovascular Effects of Marijuana: Are the Potential Adverse Effects Worth the High?, available through the US National Library of Medicine, also raises concerns about the cardiovascular implications of cannabis use.
The authors highlight the need for greater attention to these possible risks, particularly as marijuana becomes increasingly legalised for medicinal and recreational purposes across the United States.
According to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, cannabis is among the most commonly used psychoactive substances in the country, particularly among younger people.
Its widespread use makes understanding both its immediate and long-term health effects especially important.
Cannabis affects the brain through THC, which interacts with receptors involved in memory, pleasure, thinking, concentration, coordination and other functions.
These effects can impair attention, judgement and reaction time, while frequent use, particularly during adolescence, raises additional concerns about learning, memory and brain development.
Research presented or published through the American Academy of Neurology has also examined changes in brain function and blood flow associated with cannabis use, including whether some effects persist after individuals stop using the drug.
Such findings deserve serious attention, although individual studies must be interpreted carefully and do not necessarily establish that cannabis causes every condition with which it has been associated.
The American Academy of Neurology is a major professional organisation representing neurologists and neuroscience professionals.
Neurologists specialise in diagnosing and treating disorders of the brain, spinal cord and nervous system, including stroke, migraine, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.
Their research contributes to a growing body of evidence about the possible neurological consequences of cannabis use.
For me, however, this issue is no longer simply a matter of scientific research or public debate.
The death of my son has forced me to reconsider assumptions I once held about marijuana and the ease with which it is sometimes dismissed as a relatively harmless ‘soft’ drug.
While cannabis does have recognised medical applications, and its effects vary according to factors such as frequency of use, potency, age and underlying health conditions, it is not without risks.
Nor should its increasing acceptance lead us to overlook legitimate concerns about its effects on the heart, blood vessels and brain.
My experience has taught me that the conversation surrounding marijuana must go beyond whether it should be legal or how commonly it is used.
We must also consider what science tells us about its potential harm and ensure that young people, in particular, understand the risks.
If sharing what I have learnt encourages even one person to take those risks more seriously, then this painful lesson may help someone else.
Marijuana should not automatically be regarded as harmless simply because it is described as a ‘soft’ drug.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.