The dangers of cannabis and cannabis seeds are routinely touted in the media and by governments; in fact, the debate has been re-ignited in the press recently with the government’s decision to reclassify the drug from class C to class B. However, is it actually bad for you, and to what extent? We have a look at one of the country’s most contentious drugs…

What does cannabis do?

Cannabis ‘gets you high’, but what does this actually mean? In scientific terms, the use of cannabis has psychoactive and physiological effects; it changes your mood, can cause hallucinations, and increases your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure, reduces your coordination, concentration, and short-term memory. The noticeable effects can be comparable to a night of heavy drinking, depending on the user.

Is it very dangerous?

While some studies link cannabis to long term memory loss in some cases, they are inconclusive. There is also evidence to suggest that a minority of people would have a bad allergic reaction to use of the drug, similar to that of a mild to serious peanut or dairy allergy. The most serious effects of marijuana use stem from smoking the drug, but these risks are similar to those of smoking, and modern research has found that vaporisation eliminates these health risks.

Cannabis is in fact not as bad for you as legal drugs, such as nicotine or alcohol. Cannabis doesn’t show the same addictive properties or the long term health risks of either of these other drugs. Studies have also found that marijuana is not as socially destructive as either nicotine or alcohol use or abuse. The generally relaxing qualities of the drug (and the its illegal nature) mean it leads users towards private or secluded use as opposed to more dangerous ‘party’ drugs such as ecstasy or cocaine.

Heavy cannabis use (over 6 joint’s worth a day) has been linked to more serious health risks, but again most of these are linked to the smoking of the drug rather than effects of the drug itself.

Can it be good for you?

Many people claim the drug is good for you, and while most are users and proponents of the drug itself speaking with little scientific grounds, there are studies that champion the drug. Some scientific studies have found that cannabis is effective for its pain relieving qualities, while one study found certain chemicals in the drug to be useful in treating breast cancer.

While few people champion use of marijuana and marijuana seeds as the key to long life and health, the drug does not seem to be as dangerous as it first seems. It seems to be at worst on a par with and on balance not as bad for you as drinking or smoking, and the health risks involved seem to be effectively eliminated by vaporising or baking cannabis rather than smoking it. As stated, there are risks to a small percentage of people being allergic to the drug; however there seems to be a similar level of risk of allergies from almost all substances for certain percentages of the population.