Marijuana has many valuable medical purposes besides being used as a drug. Marijuana smoke has potential effects on people. They are obtained from cannabis plants. Burning cannabis plant parts like leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers can release marijuana smoke. Smoking directly has many severe effects.
1. Weed
Once get used to weed, people can’t get rid of it that easily. There is a chemical present in marijuana that can ease your pain and give you relaxation for some time. The chemical is known as Tetrahydrocannabidol(THC). THC can act as a potent hallucinogen, stimulant and depressant. Prolonged exposure to THC can damage your concentration and you won’t be stable enough to drive a car. The effect can differ in people according to physiology and conditions.
1.1. Smell of Weed
As mentioned earlier marijuana is taken from cannabis plant parts. Smokers prefer them along with lemongrass, pine and wood. During smoking the smell of these additions can overpower marijuana. In general, marijuana has a skunk smell which is not pleasant.
1.2. Reason for Smell
The terpenes present in weed provide a distinct smell. To be precise it is Terpene Myrcene. Each variety of marijuana has a different amount of terpenes. According to it, their smell can vary. Myrcene is not only present in cannabis but can be found in bay leaves, mangoes, hops, and thyme.
2. Getting High From Smelling Weed
Without smoking cannabis directly, is it possible to have contact high? This can be discussed in detail. There is a study conducted on 12 persons. Among them 6 were smokers and the other 6 were non-smokers. They were inside a poorly ventilated area. The smokers continued to smoke and the non-smokers got exposed to second-hand smoke. Later when they got tested, all non-smokers failed the test and showed THC content in their bodies.
The same experiment is again repeated in a properly ventilated room. That time the non-smokers didn’t fail the test but there was still THC content in their blood.
From this we can say that contact high can happen when there is no proper ventilation and the duration of exposure is very long. But it is nearly impossible to get a contact high by catching smoke from streets, balconies or windows. Extended exposure has a vital role in contact high. If you are inside a car or a small room with all windows rolled up and someone is smoking inside then there is a probability that you can feel some effects of the secondhand marijuana smoke.
3. Secondhand Marijuana Smoke Versus Tobacco Smoke
Both have their side effects. Regular smoking can weaken your lungs. An experiment on rats revealed that exposure to secondhand marijuana smoke had more adverse effects than cigarette smoke. Secondhand marijuana smoke damaged lung functions. The effect lasted for almost 90 minutes. Daily exposure to the chemicals in smoke can weaken your immune system and lung health.
Some researchers say tobacco smoke is more carcinogenic than marijuana smoke. It is better to avoid exposure if you are pregnant or nursing.
People with mental health conditions should also keep their distance from secondhand cannabis smoke.
4. Marijuana Smoke Side Effects
Now we are going to discuss the side effects of marijuana smoke. They have many uses. They can be considered an asset in the medical field. But the side effects and health issues can’t be neglected.
4.1. Delay in Reflexes
It can slow down your reaction time. Secondhand cannabis smoke can increase the THC in the blood. THC will impair the ability to respond.
4.2. Dizziness
Inhaling secondhand marijuana smoke can make you dizzy.
4.3. Lethargy
After smoking it will give you calming effects. But it is temporary. You can feel tired without any reason. It will make you more lethargic and inactive.
4.4. Depression
There are no relevant studies that say marijuana and mental health are linked. But in some cases, it is found that secondhand cannabis smoke can trigger mental conditions. It can also raise anxiety.
Long-term users can have temporary hallucinations and paranoia.
4.5. Contact High
It is impossible to get contact high from mere exposure. If conditions are favorable it can happen.
4.6. Heart Rate
It can increase your heart rate for three hours and there are chances of heart attack at this time. People with heart problems should completely avoid it.
4.7. Respiratory Problems
Regular marijuana smokers can have respiratory issues. Cough and lung irritation are some symptoms. Researchers didn’t find any carcinogenic effect until now. There is no evidence that proves, secondhand marijuana smoke and lung cancer are related.
4.8. Nausea
Weed smoke can cause Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. People experience nausea, vomiting and dehydration cycles. Sometimes it can lead to an immediate medical emergency.
4.9. Effect on Pregnancy
To treat nausea during pregnancy, marijuana is prescribed. But medical experts are against this. Marijuana can cause low birth weight, and brain problems in children.
Studies say that children who got secondhand exposure to THC have a greater risk of brain problems and memory disorders. In nursing mothers, THC can get transferred to breast milk. When the baby is fed breast milk having THC content, they can have brain development issues. More research is needed on this.
5. Does THC Exist Even after Exhale?
Experienced smoker smokes very deeply and holds the smoke inside their lungs. At this time most of the THC and other cannabinoids in the smoke will get into the bloodstream. Once brought into the blood it is impossible to control its effects. For second-hand smoke, THC can’t affect you if you are inside a properly ventilated room or in an open space. It will diffuse into the air before reaching you.
6. Effects on Children
Tobacco smoke has many side effects on children. It can cause breathing troubles, ear infections and even death. If parents are smokers children will have these problems as they are exposed to the smoke frequently.
Secondhand marijuana smoke can also cause similar problems. Inhaling secondhand marijuana smoke can affect their developing brain, eventually resulting in memory disorders and low intelligence quotients.
7. How Do People Use Marijuana?
There are different ways to use marijuana. The most common method is using joints and pipes. Joints are hand-rolled and cigarette-like. Marijuana cigarettes will have more than 60 mg of THC. People also use vaporizers. The vaporizer can trap THC and store it in its storage. People who are not fond of smoke can inhale this vapour.
Liquid extracts of marijuana can be used in vaporizers. Marijuana can be mixed with food and can be consumed. Nowadays marijuana-rich resins are also available.
8. How to Get Rid of Weed Smell?
After smoking the smell will stay in clothes, hair, and breath. You can prefer perfume to remove the smell from clothes. Use mint or mouth freshener for fresh breath. Use air fresheners in rooms and cars. If all these methods are inefficient then please prefer to choose different strains with a less intense fragrance.
9. About Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus from the cannabaceae family. Hemp is another name for this plant. Many hemp products like hemp fibre, hemp oils etc are obtained from them. Many cannabis strains are cultivated for tetrahydrocannabinol. Drugs like hashish and hash oil are obtained from this plant. Some medical uses of the cannabis plant are mentioned below.
Used to induce appetite in AIDS patients.
Used in chemotherapy to reduce nausea symptoms.
It can ease pain and muscle spasms.
Summary
Marijuana is a cannabis plant product. Besides being used as a recreational drug, it has its side effects too. Elevated heart rate, respiratory problems, nausea, vomiting, lethargy etc are some of its side effects. Marijuana secondhand smoke exposure has adverse effects on kids too. It can affect their brain development. Getting contact high is not possible in general. But if you are in a poorly ventilated room and somebody is smoking near you then you can test positive for the drug test. Those who have a mental illness should avoid exposure to marijuana smoke as it can trigger the condition. There are many options to use marijuana. There are joints, pipes and vaporizers. It can even be mixed with food items. After smoking weed you can eliminate the smell by using perfumes and air fresheners.
FAQs
Are there any contact highs?
Contact high can only happen when you inhale secondhand smoke for a long time in an unventilated room. In this case, your blood can have a high amount of THC which can result in a positive drug test.
What are the health benefits of marijuana?
Marijuana is used in chemotherapy to prevent nausea and vomiting. They can induce appetite in HIV-infected people.
How does marijuana affect brain functions?
THC gets easily diffused into the bloodstream. It can over-activate certain specific receptors inside the brain. Due to this, people will lose the sense of time, can see brighter colours, and can hallucinate.
Last Updated on by kalidaspandian