From the Guidelines
Daily marijuana use can lead to severe side effects, including impaired memory, difficulty concentrating, reduced motivation, respiratory issues, and potential cardiovascular effects, and therefore, it is strongly advised to avoid daily use due to the significant risks to morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. The potential health effects of daily marijuana use are numerous and can be detrimental, particularly when considering the increased potency of modern marijuana products, which often contain higher THC concentrations than in the past, as noted in a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 1.
Key Side Effects and Risks
- Impaired memory and difficulty concentrating
- Reduced motivation
- Respiratory issues like chronic bronchitis
- Potential cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate and risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, as indicated by a study that found an increase in risk for 180-day new-onset arrythmia among those who used medical cannabis compared with those who did not 2
- Mental health effects including increased anxiety, paranoia, and an elevated risk of psychosis or worsening of existing mental health conditions
- Withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit, including irritability, sleep disturbances, decreased appetite, and mood changes
Special Considerations
- Adolescent brain development: Daily marijuana use can have a deleterious effect on adolescent brain development and well-being, with associations found between nondisordered cannabis use and adverse psychosocial events, such as major depression and suicidal ideation 1.
- Older adults: Limited available evidence suggests that older adults who use cannabis may be at higher risk for behavioral health issues, including anxiety and depression, and acute cannabis toxicity in older adults may be associated with sedation, obtundation, and myocardial ischemia or infarction 2.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: The U.S. Surgeon General and the FDA advise pregnant and breastfeeding people to avoid using cannabis in any form due to potential negative effects on fetal brain development and increased risk for premature birth 2.
Given the significant risks associated with daily marijuana use, particularly concerning morbidity, mortality, and quality of life, it is crucial for individuals to be aware of these potential side effects and to consider alternatives or seek professional advice before initiating or continuing daily use.
From the Research
Marijuana Daily Use Side Effects
- The adverse health effects of chronic cannabis use include a dependence syndrome, impaired respiratory function, cardiovascular disease, adverse effects on adolescent psychosocial development and mental health, and residual cognitive impairment 3.
- Daily use of THC (up to 3 mg per day) for anxiety disorder reduced anxiety symptoms, but symptoms were very low throughout the study 4.
- Cannabis use has been shown to be harmful to several aspects of psychological and physical health, such as mood states, psychiatric outcomes, neurocognition, driving, and general health 5.
- Individuals experiencing mental health conditions report more frequent cannabis use and use of more potent product types, highlighting the need to target use of specific high potency products in prevention, treatment, and harm reduction among these populations 6.
- Psychosocial treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and contingency management are currently the most effective strategy for treating cannabis use disorder, but are of limited benefit when comorbid with psychosis 7.
Specific Health Effects
- Impaired respiratory function and cardiovascular disease are potential side effects of daily marijuana use 3.
- Adverse effects on adolescent psychosocial development and mental health, such as anxiety and depression, can occur with daily marijuana use 3, 4.
- Residual cognitive impairment is a possible side effect of long-term daily marijuana use 3.
- Daily use of high-potency cannabis can lead to increased risk of psychotic symptoms and other mental health problems 5, 6.
Treatment and Prevention
- Targeted treatments for anxiety and depression when comorbid with cannabis use disorder are feasible 7.
- Antipsychotic medication may decrease cannabis use and cannabis craving as well as psychotic symptoms in patients with cannabis use disorder and psychosis 7.
- Prevention and harm reduction strategies should focus on reducing the use of high-potency cannabis products, particularly among individuals with mental health conditions 6.