Tips to avoid and treat cannabis side effects

  • Saturday, August 19 2023 at 9:26
  • Snir Mutzafi
  • Cannabis 101
  • 8 minutes

Let us put this out in the open, Cannabis CAN cause a variety of side effects. Whether it is used for medicinal purposes or recreationally. Like any other drug or medication, the effects might differ from person to person. Some may experience none, while others may be affected tremendously. This article is meant for YOU! if you've tried it in the past and experienced some mild to nasty side effects, But also for the newcomers, yes, for YOU As well! If you haven't tried it before and would like to prevent preventable side effects, Join us on the dark side of – How to prevent and treat cannabis side effects There is conflicting evidence and a real lack of factual proof, though there have been studies trying to research the side effects of cannabis consumption. When considering the adverse effects of Cannabis, the following factors should be accounted for:

  • Route of administration
  • Dosage
  • Chronic vs Acute use
  • Content of the substances (CBD, THC etc.)
  • Ratio (between the different compounds)
  • Chronic illnesses
  • Personality traits



The side effects of cannabis

  • Psychoactive “High” - the elation and euphoric sensation
  • Mobile & Motor impairment

Psychoactive – “HIGH” The main reason for the consumption of recreational Cannabis is characterized in:

  • Mild Euphoria
  • Relaxation
  • Perception alterations
  • “The Munch”
  • Elated sociability in the form of laughter, being more talkative

These effects usually appear between 20-30 minutes after smoking or inhaling cannabis, and can last up to 1-2 hours. You should also take into consideration the fact, this psychoactive effect also causes: MOBILE IMPAIRMENT That can and will affect your motor skills. A study whose objective was to compare the influence of two different dosages of THC in comparison to alcohol took place in 2007. Test subjects were tested after:

  • Taking placebo
  • Smoking 13mg and 17mg of THC
  • Drinking 0.05% alcohol (BAC – Blood Alcohol Concentration)
  • 24 hours after smoking the HIGH DOSE THC

What was measured?

  • Reaction time
  • Perceptual to motor coordination
  • Information processing
  • Motor performance
  • Attention span
  • Tracking behaviors

(Note that all subjects managed to tell apart the placebo cigarettes from the THC ones minutes after smoking them - clever girl). Subjective feelings and driving abilities were examined after consuming a placebo, smoking two dosages of THC, 13 mg and 17 mg respectively, consuming 0.05% BAC, and 24 hours after consuming the high dose of THC. what was examined? Performance measurements such as:

  • Average speed – THC made drivers drive slower – OPSSITE to alcohol
  • Number of collisions

Out of 84 experimental sessions, 20 collisions were recorded, marked as a number too low for statistical analysis, but a pattern was demonstrated.

  • 6 subjects had one collision each after consuming the higher dose of THC 17 mg
  • 3 after 13 mg of THC that who also had one collision each
  • And the last 3 had a total of 4 after consuming alcohol which means that based only on those figures the number of the collision was not significantly different
  • Reaction time to a second task whilst driving

After smoking a higher dose of THC 17 mg, response time was considerably HIGHER than in:

  • The control group (who drank only orange juice)
  • And the other control group (who drank orange juice and smoked a placebo cigarette).

Consuming 13 mg of THC and consuming alcohol marked also an increase in reaction time, but less compared to consuming 17 mg of THC.

Physiological strain

A questionnaire (The Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory-20) on a scale of: 0 (“does not feel at all”) to 6 (“feels extremely”) was used before the treatment and after the drive and consisted of 20 questions inquiring about 5 dimensions: 3 of them after statistical analysis displayed main effects.

  • Subjects who smoked 17 MG of THC (high dose) felt an increase in physical discomfort and physical effort compared to the other subject groups.
  • Subjects who smoked 13 MG of THC (low dose) also felt higher levels of discomfort and effort
  • A lack of energy was recorded between the high THC dosage group and the alcohol-consuming one, both were higher than the other 3 groups.
  • No difference was found in “lack of motivation”
  • Sleepiness was not surprisingly highest after alcohol intake (color me shocked)
  • THC influenced heart rate before and during the drive, the highest dose of THC of 17 MG increased heart rate by more than 50%, followed by the low THC dose of 13 MG, the alcohol intake group also witnessed an increase in heart rate.

In conclusion, it is not recommended to drink under the psychoactive effects of THC, disregarding your country's specific law prohibiting driving, THC can be traced in urine, even a few weeks after consuming it!

Blood Pressure and heart function

The symptoms causing “physiological strain”, can also be caused by changes in your blood pressure, check your blood pressure if possible before and after consuming Cannabis, especially if you suffer from low, or high blood pressure. Cannabis can cause both an increase or decrease – this change in blood pressure can manifest in:

  • Lightheadedness
  • Nausea
  • Tiredness
  • Headaches
  • Palpitations

Since Hypertension is so prevalent, especially in the western world, there are a few points to consider, if you take medication for high blood pressure and you use Cannabis medicinally or recreationally. Then it is advised to monitor it even more closely, especially before and after using Cannabis, if you notice radical changes – depending on your baseline, an increase or decrease, consult your physician and NOTIFY him/her about your cannabis use.

Dry Mouth aka “COTTONMOUTH”

One of the most common side effects of cannabis consumption, and is considered harmless. A large percentage of cannabis consumers experience it. What causes the dry mouth symptom? A study conducted in 2006 on rats set out to examine the influence of cannabinoids on salivary glands, mainly the submandibular gland which is responsible for the majority of saliva production. Under the premise that cannabis receptors are located in those glands, and thus its connection to a reduction of saliva that can lead to the dry mouth sensation, they concluded that: There are CB receptors in the saliva glands, both CB1 and CB2, the effects of THC causing the dry mouth sensation was simply the activation of those receptors. Now, I did mention it was a harmless adverse effect, but it has repercussions. What are the dangers of dry mouth and dental damage? It can lead to different oral diseases such as:

  • Candidiasis – reduction in saliva secretion is one of the factors.
  • Lichen planus – an inflammatory of mucus membranes that can appear in different forms (plaque, reticular, papular).
  • Halitosis – bad breath.

Not only does it affect you physically (literally) it can affect self-perception and confidence especially when the individual becomes aware of it by the surroundings. What worsens the Cottonmouth

  • Lack of hydration
  • Beverages containing caffeine – coffee, green and black tea
  • Salty food / Snacks
  • Smoking / Tobacco use
  • Route of administrations

Redness / bloodshot eyes

One of the most common and noticeable external evidence of using cannabis. One assumption is, that cannabis or more predominantly THC can influence a person's blood pressure, resulting in an increase in heart rate and either a reduction or an increase in blood pressure - thus causing this influence. This means, as blood pressure goes down, blood vessels go through dilatation and thus - “bloodshot” eyes occur. Interestingly enough, THC has been studied as a cure for glaucoma. Do different routes of consumption matter in bloodshot eyes? If we assume THC is the cause of bloodshot eyes then it does not matter in what way you consume cannabis, edible, inhaled, under the tongue, etc.

Anxiety and panic attacks

One of the most common side effects people confess to having after consuming Cannabis is a sense of anxiety. paradoxically enough, in recent decades, CBD has been brought up and examined as not only an anti-psychotic substance and a mitigating effect on THC, but as a treatment for anxiety, so is Cannabis a culprit for anxiety or the opposite - a reliever? let us examine A 2009 systemic review of known literature examining databases taken up until 2008 suggests a high prevalence of anxiety disorders among infrequent cannabis users, but concludes that a direct relationship between Cannabis and anxiety has yet to be established or researched enough to confirm.

Changes in sugar/glucose levels in the bloodstream

There is a shortage of data regarding the influence of cannabinoids on the metabolic process regarding sugar, but there are studies and reviews on the matter. In one, 4657 adult men and women were asked in a private room in regards to their cannabis use. They were asked if they ever smoked cannabis, how long has it been since the last time, and how frequently was it used in the past month. Glucose and fasting insulin levels were examined via blood tests after 9 hours of fast. The conclusion? 12.2% of those asked were currently consuming Cannabis, and 47.7% were past users and have not used it in the past 30 days. What was found was an association between lower levels of fasting insulin with cannabis use Another cross date study examining the prevalence of diabetes in cannabis users in 2013 analyzed data gathered from 2005 to 2010 by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey:

  • 4657 participated, adult men and women
  • 597 were currently using Cannabis
  • 1975 were past users

Results indicated that cannabis use was associated with lower insulin resistance and fasting levels

  • 17% lower insulin resistance
  • 16% fasting insulin levels

Signs of hypoglycemia you should be aware of while using cannabis

  • Dizziness
  • Palpitations
  • Sweating
  • Dry mouth or tingling sensation around it
  • Tremors & shaking
  • Weakness
  • Confusion and lethargy

If you have TYPE I or TYPE II diabetes – and use cannabis, it is our recommendation to monitor your blood sugar levels daily for at least the first few weeks of treatment or consumption, whilst monitoring your HBA1C every 3 months as well. If you encounter radical changes compared to what your baseline normally is, contact your physician, and make him aware of your cannabis use.

CANNABIS HYPEREMESIS (CHS)

A rare occurrence that manifests itself in:

  • Severe nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Excessive thirst
  • Long-term cannabis consumption (mostly over 5 years mark)
  • Compulsive hot bathing (that's called the winter me..)

Was first noted in 2004 – only a few dozen cases were reported. Described as unpleasant and debilitating in small groups of people but not life-threatening. Treatment for cannabis hyperemesis Simply ceasing cannabis use, not consuming for a month or so was enough for a majority of those suffering from it. So let us conclude all of this long jabbering, when it comes to the side effects of cannabis, you must take into consideration:

  • Dosage
  • THC / CBD and other cannabinoids ratio
  • Chronic and acute illnesses
  • Your personality – addictive/dependent
  • Route of consumption






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