The acute and Chronic Effects of Marijuana use as found by Modern Science

The acute and Chronic Effects of Marijuana use as found by Modern Science

Immediate Physiological Effects

Immediate physiological effects in marijuana include raising the heart rate and decreasing blood pressure, despite the increased heart rate (which would normally increase blood pressure.) This combination by itself is unusually unhealthy under most circumstances, but the degree of it's impact is important to consider. 

Usually, under the acute effects of marijuana, the heart rate raises 1.5-2 times it's resting rate, with chronic users. Jogging or brisk running paces usually reach these levels. If combined with other drugs, or strenuous activity, it can raise the heart rate to unsafe levels. In general, triple the resting heart rate is the maximum safe level for the heart rate, and this can only maintained for a few minutes; with marijuana is may remain at dangerously unsafe levels for several hours. If coupled with any other activity that raises the heart rate, including strenuous activity, this can put severe strain on the heart, cuasing both long term and short term problems.

Marijuana also decreases blood pressure, by about X amount. If combined with other drugs, like alcohol or blood pressure medication, it can easily drop blood pressure levels to incredibly unsafe levels, resulting in permanent heart damage, or even death. Generally, blood pressure levels should not be below X level, and marijuana is X level. Therefore sustained levels below this for extended periods of time can be dangerous and damage the heart.

Combined, the effects of both of these are magnified; a high heart rate and low blood pressure can damage the heart for a number of reasons.
 
Immediate physiological effects in marijuana include raising the heart rate and decreasing the blood pressure despite the increased heart rate (which would normally increase blood pressure.) If combined with other drugs that either increase the heart rate or substantially lower blood pressure the effects can be drastic or even fatal. In general, acute marijuana use raises the heart rate 1.5-2 times it's resting or normal rate; this suggests that if an individual was rest, and their heart rate was around 75 BPM at rest rate, it would be between 112.5 and 150 BPM. It is not uncommon for jogging heart rates to reach these levels, suggesting that while the acute effects persist it would be as if running a marathon frequently. If one were to be jogging or moving relatively quickly while under the acute effects of marijuana, this may double what would ordinarily be the jogging heart rate; such as if an individual was jogging while under the acute effects of marijuana, and the jogging heart rate was 112.5 to 150, it would be double this under the effects of marijuana, or 250-300, far above what might be considered sprinting levels.

The maximum safe levels of heart rate for an individual would be near triple their resting heart rate. Minor strenuous activity that can easily raise the heart rate to 1.5 or double the resting heart rate This suggests that if any kind of strenuous activity is combined with marijuana, the acute effects on the heart and exceed safety levels enormously.


Long Term Physiological Effects

Marijuana uses stresses the heart a lot, usually not enough to kill immediately unless coupled with some other heart condition, strenuous activity, or drug. However, over time this chronic damage can have life long debilitating effects.

Angiogenesis


Chronic use

Lungs, if smoked



Short Term Acute Psychological and Nervous System Effects 

Long Term Physiological and Nervous System Effects


More or less
There is overwhelming evidence to suggest that frequent marijuana use can damage the lungs, heart, kidney, liver, and other organs in addition to the brain, both lowering cognitive capacities, reaction time, and having adverse effects on the response to dopamine and other Endocannabinoid systems. Due to the amount of time it can persist in the system dissolved in lipids and other parts of the body, even infrequent use can cause trouble with driving, health, and general work throughout the day even days after acute administration. Recreational use should take great care to avoid any work for days after an event, or possibly not be taken at all.