Weed, grass, marijuana, and pot are all names for a substance that comes from cannabis. You can eat it, drink it, vape it, or smoke it. Many people enjoy using it for recreation and pleasure. But some doctors even recommend it for some medical symptoms and conditions. Its mind-altering effects can change the way both your body and your brain work. Some people have found that it is addictive, as well.

About Marijuana

Pot comes from the dried and shredded portions of the marijuana plant. That includes the leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds. Many people choose to vape or smoke it. But you can also put it in food, oil, or even tea.

These methods can affect your body in different ways. For example, when you inhale the smoke from a blunt to your lungs, your bloodstream quickly absorbs it. Then it is distributed to your entire body, including organs such as your brain. When you drink or eat marijuana, the effects take a little longer for you to feel.

The effects of the herb are widely varied, depending on someone’s individual body chemistry. There are many psychological and physical effects, which can potentially include relaxation, discomfort, and a feeling of happiness. Some people use it because they believe it relieves certain negative health conditions.

No matter what you decide to use it for, you can experience immediate effects, including changes in your perception. Any longer-term effects will depend on the way that you take it. For example, marijuana edibles do not usually make you feel high right away, but they will often last much longer and hit you harder than smoking will.

1. Getting High

Most people smoke marijuana because they want to get high. This happens because cannabis affects the central nervous system. That may be why some people believe it can help to ease inflammation and pain while potentially reducing seizures.

THC is the main ingredient in cannabis, and it stimulates the portion of your brain that makes you feel pleasure at something like food. This is also called the “feel good” part of your brain. Your brain will release dopamine, which makes you feel relaxed and gives you a feeling of euphoria. Dopamine is a chemical that occurs naturally, and smoking just stimulates your brain to release more of it.

Once your high is starting to wear off, you might feel a little depressed or tired. That can be because of the contrast between the euphoria and going back to normal. Because you feel excited when you are high, you might feel a little anxious as you come down.

If you are younger than 25, your brain is not fully developed. That means that cannabis may impact your memory and thinking processes in the long term. However, it is not yet clear how that may play out.

2. Affecting Your Brain

Smoking marijuana may increase your senses, as well as the way that you perceive time. The hippocampus is a part of your brain that processes information. THC may affect the way that it processes incoming information. That means that when you use cannabis, it can affect your judgment. Because this area of the brain also controls your memory, it might be hard to remember exactly what happens when you are high.

Two areas of the brain, the basal ganglia and the cerebellum, control balance and movement. When you use cannabis, it affects these two areas. That means that you may feel uncoordinated or off-balance when you smoke. It can also affect your reflexes and make you react to things more slowly. That means that it is a good idea to avoid driving after using marijuana.

You may experience delusions or hallucinations after using cannabis. While more research is still needed, there may be a link between some mental health disorders, such as anxiety or depression. But more research is still needed. If you have schizophrenia, it may be a good idea to ask your doctor before using cannabis since it can make your symptoms worse.

3. Smoking Affects You Quickly

When you smoke or vape your cannabis, the THC will likely enter your bloodstream very quickly. That means you will feel high in minutes or just a few seconds. The levels of THC will peak within about half of an hour of you taking it. You can still feel the effects for up to three hours after taking it.

On the other hand, when you eat cannabis, it can take several hours until you feel normal again. Whether you are using medical or recreational marijuana, you might not know its exact potency, which means that your results can vary.

4. Potentially Helping Heal Broken Bones

Cannabis may help to heal broken bones as well. One study suggested that cannabis might help the broken area get back to normal faster and stronger than it would otherwise. This is because of the cannabinoid cannabidiol. That is found in the cannabis stems and leaves. In the study, it was used to help mice’s broken bones heal faster.

One reason for this might because cannabidiol allows different minerals to enter your bone tissue faster. That can make the bones sturdier and stronger. That means they might not be as likely to break again in that spot in the future.

5. It Can Distort Thinking

Cannabis might cloud your judgment or senses. The way it affects your body can vary, depending on such factors as the way that you took your cannabis, how potent it is, and the amount you have used in the past.

When you take it, you may feel that your senses are heightened. That may make sounds be louder or colours look brighter. It can also distort your sense of time. Even if you are only high for a few hours, it might seem like a lot longer than that.

Because your motor skills are hindered, it may be hard to do detail-oriented tasks. It can also lower your sense of caution. That may make you more likely to take risky chances.

6. It May Ease Pain

In countries such as Canada, marijuana is legal for both recreational and medical use. However, it is not allowed in every country. That means that in some areas, it is difficult to study how it affects humans. Although limited, research suggests that it may help ease a variety of symptoms.

One of the most common uses of marijuana is for treating pain. Traditional types of painkillers can be more addictive and come with some unintended side effects. Some people also use marijuana for muscle spasms or stiff muscles if they have multiple sclerosis.

Because THC and CBD can be relaxing, other users enjoy using it as a sleep aid. That is especially true if they have anxiety. Some of the other conditions that users may take cannabis for include:

Anxiety
Nausea and Vomiting from Chemotherapy
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Appetite Loss
Dravet Syndrome
Seizures as a Result of Epilepsy

7. It May Increase Hunger

If you start to use cannabis often enough, it might make you feel hungrier. That is known as the munchies. If you need to gain more weight because of a health condition, such as cancer, you may consider using this to make yourself eat a bit more.

About CBD

THC is not the only thing that affects your body when you smoke cannabis. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is also found in the cannabis plant. It does not make you high, but it can still have a variety of other effects on your body.

For example, you can find CBD pills, creams, oils, gels, or other substances. Some users take it because they believe it may help with health issues, such as seizures or pain. However, there is not yet enough research to determine if this is effective. You don’t always know what you are getting when you get a CBD product. That means you should look for a reputable supplier for your products. Look for one that has done third-party testing where you can view the lab report.

Other Ways of Using Cannabis

Even though smoking and vaping are two of the most common ways of taking your marijuana, it is not the only popular method out there. You can also look for handheld pipes, bongs, or blunts. A blunt is an empty cigar that has been filled with ground cannabis. You can also find resins, which are also known as concentrates because they often have more THC in them than traditional bud.

If you want to hide the taste of the bud, you can place it in an edible, such as cookies, tea, candy, or brownies. The reason there is a delay between taking an edible and feeling the effects is that it has to go through your digestive system. It might take around half an hour to two hours before you start to feel anything.

But on the other hand, the effects will often last for as long as eight hours. Some people who use cannabis for chronic conditions may enjoy edibles for their long-lasting effects.

How to Smoke Weed

Now that you know a little about how cannabis may affect your body, you might be wondering how you can smoke it. You will need to be able to inhale it, no matter what method you have chosen. People who have not smoked before often hold the smoke in their mouths. But this does not make them get high. Instead, you need to put the smoke in your lungs.

To begin, take a long breath. You will notice the smoke go in your windpipe to your lungs. If you do not feel anything, you may not be taking a deep enough breath. It is a myth that you need to hold in your smoke for a long time. That will not give you many benefits.

Instead, take a deep breath, pause a moment, and slowly exhale. You can hold it for a few seconds, but there is not much of a difference compared to when you immediately exhale. The reason for this is that your lungs will absorb the smoke almost instantly.

You will want to avoid accidentally swallowing your smoke instead of inhaling. That is ineffective, and it can even upset your stomach. The goal should be to get the smoke in your lungs, not in your stomach.

Reducing Coughing

If you have never smoked before, it is likely you will cough when you inhale. That is part of learning how to do it. But there are some things you can do to reduce the burning sensation and stop your coughing. As your body gets used to it, you are less likely to cough so much.

First, start with just a tiny hit. If you are enjoying a blunt with your friends, you do not need to inhale as deeply as they do. More experienced smokers can take deeper breaths of smoke without coughing a lot.

You may also want to look for something that has water to help filter it a bit. A bong may seem overwhelming, so you could look for a bubbler. That is a handheld pipe filled with water. That can help to make the smoke a bit cooler. The main reason for throat burning is heat, so cooling it is often very helpful.

If you begin to cough or have a sore throat, it is a good idea to stop smoking. That will just make it worse. Instead, take a break and have some ice water. Then, you can continue taking hits.

Closing Thoughts

You can find cannabis in many shapes and forms, with everything from edibles to oils to herbs. The effects on your body can vary depending on the strain and your body chemistry. But it can give you a high, and it can potentially help with a variety of health conditions. However, whether you are healthy or have some medical issues, it is important to consult with your doctor before beginning to use cannabis.

Cannabis

Marijuana: 7 Things Smoking Weed Does to Your Body