Smoking pot is not the only way in which teenagers might misuse this drug. As marijuana’s use grows, edible products which contain the active chemicals in cannabis are becoming broadly available to youth. Any beverage or food that contains tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, might trigger psychoactive side effects which are like the high of smoking marijuana. As a matter of fact, some individuals state that they receive a more prolonged, intense high from edible pot.
Due to medical marijuana being oftentimes administered within the form of edible food items, edibles might be seen as relatively harmless and safe as compared with marijuana cigarettes. But, consuming cannabis orally may have the same harmful side effects, involving memory loss, cognitive problems, panic attacks, addiction, and depression.
Harms of Eating Edibles
The active chemicals within marijuana are absorbed slower via the digestive tract, meaning that the effects might be felt more gradually. It provides young individuals more time to consume other substances, like prescription narcotics, hallucinogens, or alcohol, prior to them realizing that they are high on THC.
Many teachers and parents are concerned that desserts and snack foods which contain marijuana might be a pathway to harder drugs for teenagers, according to the New York Times. And due to edibles being so enticing, younger kids will be at risk of accidental overdose. According to JAMA Pediatrics, after 2009, as medical marijuana was legalized within Colorado, 14 kids obtained emergency treatment for cannabis exposure at the Colorado hospital. Eight of them needed to be admitted to the hospital from the ER, and 7 cases included the accidental consumption of edible pot products. The short-range side effects of edible pot use involve:
- Anxiety
- Breathing problems
- Abnormal muscle movements
- Confusion
- Lethargy
With continual use, edible pot may interfere with memory, decision-making, and learning. For young adults, marijuana abuse’s cognitive side effects might interfere with their goals of a rewarding career or college education.
