Health & Fitness

Cannabis use is no longer a taboo. On the contrary, the more we talk about it, the more is being researched and this is leading to some interesting discoveries that may change the way we treat certain medical conditions.

That said, it also has a dark side that you should be aware of. That’s why we decided to talk a little bit more about the pros and cons of cannabis use.

Pro: Cannabis Smoking Can Help With Pain

According to some predictions, 62.2% of people with a license to take medical cannabis are using it for treating some kind of pain. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the fact cannabis has anti-inflammatory effects, which makes it one of the most efficient natural methods of dealing with pain.

Con: Cannabis Smoking Can Cause Breathing Problems

Cannabis smoking can irritate your bronchial passages and lungs because it may contain a variety of toxic chemicals, like hydrogen cyanide and ammonia. It may also contain some carcinogenic combustion products like benzopyrene and benzanthracene.

Pro: Cannabis Smoking Can Ease Migraines

Based on some estimates, 18% of women and 6% of men in the United States suffer from migraines. Even though migraines are still a medical mystery, they are linked to excessive inflammation, which can be efficiently treated with cannabis because it has anti-inflammatory effects.

Con: Cannabis Smoking May Damage Oral Health

One of the side effects of smoking cannabis is dry mouth, which in time may lead to cavities and aggressive gum disease. Cannabis smoking is also linked with mouth and neck cancer, and with increased risk of leukoplakia and periodontal complications.

Pro: Cannabis Smoking Can Help With Training

According to one study, American adults who used cannabis approximately an hour before a workout had longer workout sessions than others. Their workout lasted at least 43 minutes more than those who didn’t use cannabis. This also leads to more intense workouts and better focus.

Con: Cannabis Smoking May Increase Heart Rate

This may not seem like a problem for a healthy individual, but if the cannabis user has a history of heart conditions, this can prove dangerous. Smoking cannabis lowers the capacity of the body to transport oxygen within the body, and this includes the heart too.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, cannabis use can have both positive and negative sides. It can help with pain and migraines, and it can be a crucial part of the treatment for MS patients, but it can also cause breathing problems, can damage the oral health and even cause cardiovascular issues.

If you want to learn more about cannabis in general, as well as the entire cannabis industry make sure you check out this infographic too.