5 great myths about cannabis

Cannabis is one of the most consumed drugs in the world, and due to its varied legal status depending on the country in which we are We find that its use is very normalized, to the point that there are even those who do not consider it a harmful substance for the body.

This has contributed to a series of myths that feed an idealized view of everything related to marijuana. The truth is that although it is debatable that this drug has more reasons why it is not legal than other legal ones like alcohol, there is no doubt that the use of cannabis entails exposing oneself to risks significant. Therefore, here we will review these common misconceptions about cannabis.

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Common Myths and Misconceptions About Cannabis

This is a summary of the erroneous beliefs about cannabis that circulate the most and that contribute the most to the mistake of assuming that this drug is harmless.

1. Cannabis is not harmful because it is a natural product

The term "natural" is one of the most ambiguous and modifiable at your convenience. so that it means almost anything. If by "natural" we understand that the consumed product is made through a few processing steps, it is not entirely true even if we compare it with other drugs; for example, in the case of alcohol, some animals can even consume it in the wild by eating the fruits of trees.

If by "natural" we understand that something does not interfere with the proper functioning of the human body, that concept does not make sense. (many elements of nature in which human beings have not mediated are capable of harming us, such as for example poisons or contagious diseases) nor is it true in the case of cannabis, as we will see.

2. Cannabis does not generate dependency

There is a widespread myth about cannabis according to which this substance can only cause addiction at a social and behavioral level, but not at a chemical-brain level. However, there is evidence that this drug produces both types of dependence: leads people to get used to a routine that includes cannabis use as an important element, and to Once it interacts with the nervous system, making its cells "learn" to need its molecules with effects psychoactive.

Of course, it is true that chemical addiction to cannabis is significantly less powerful than that which can occur with other of the most used drugs, such as alcohol, heroin, tobacco... But that does not mean that no exist.

3. Consuming this substance helps reduce anxiety

It is true that cannabis is a substance that depresses the activity of the nervous system (in doses low, the most common), but that does not imply that it helps control anxiety and stress without more. Even if in many cases consuming it provides a feeling of "relief" and distension, In the medium and long term, it favors the appearance of "peaks" of anxiety because of the need to consume to feel good, something typical of drug habit.

• You may be interested in: "The 14 most important types of addictions"

4. Cannabis use can't kill

It is relatively common to hear that heavy cannabis abusers will experience long-term health problems associated with wear and tear on brain function and gastrointestinal upset, but will not put you at risk of dying within hours. However, the truth is that cannabis intoxication can not only negatively affect the quality of life of those who have been consuming this drug; It can also kill, although its danger in this sense is less than that of most hard drugs.

For example, it is estimated that in 2012, some 287 people died from cannabis use only in Canada, and it is also known that this drug is capable of causing myocardial infarctions resulting in mortal.

5. Anyone can adopt regular cannabis use as a habit

The truth is that cannabis is not for everyone, even if it is consumed in low amounts. It is known that a part of the population has genetic predispositions that one or a few occasions of use of this drug trigger serious psychopathologies.

In this sense, psychotic outbreaks are part of those psychopathological alterations most associated with cannabis (provided that there is a predisposition to suffer them, since introducing this drug triggers what is latent).

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