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Q: What are the long-term effects of marijuana use?

A: Findings so far show that regular use of marijuana or THC may play a role
in many kinds of cancer and in problems with the respiratory and immune
systems.

Cancer
Studies have shown that regular marijuana use  does causes lung cancer. It
is known that marijuana contains some of the same, and sometimes even more,
of the cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Studies show that
someone who smokes five joints per day may be taking in as many
cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes two full pack of cigarettes
every day.

Lungs and airways
Lungs and airways-People who smoke marijuana develop the same kinds of
breathing problems that cigarette smokers have: coughing and wheezing. They
tend to have more chest colds than nonusers. They are also at greater risk
of getting lung infections like pneumonia.

Immune system
Animal studies have found that THC damages the cells and tissues in the body
that help protect against disease. When the immune cells are weakened you
are more likely to get sick.


Q: Does marijuana lead to the use of other drugs?

A: Yes. Long-term studies of high school students and their patterns of drug
use show that very few young people use other illegal drugs without first
trying marijuana (7). For example, the risk of using cocaine is much greater
for those who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it.
Using marijuana puts children and teens in contact with people who are users
and sellers of other drugs. So there is more of a risk that a marijuana user
will be exposed to and urged to try more drugs.

To better determine this risk, scientists are examining the possibility that
long-term marijuana use may create changes in the brain that make a person
more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs, such as alcohol or
cocaine. Further research is needed to predict who will be at greatest risk.