Addiction Drug Use Marijuana What Happens When You Smoke Weed? By Buddy T Buddy T Facebook Twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 16, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Sean Gallup Collection / Getty Images News What can happen to you when you smoke weed depends on a lot of factors, and can vary from person to person. In addition to the immediate short-term impact of weed (also known as pot, marijuana or cannabis), long-term effects on both your mind and body are possible. Different ways of using cannabis can also play a role in how it impacts your body. Smoking marijuana is one of the fastest routes of administration, so it produces rapid changes in your brain and body. To understand the possible risks of marijuana, it is important to first understand what happens to your body when you smoke weed. Short-Term Effects When You Smoke Weed Reactions to using marijuana can vary dramatically, from person to person and from day to day. Some people report not feeling anything at all when they smoke marijuana. In other cases, people report feeling relaxed or "high." Short-Term Effects on the Body The effects of using marijuana can be unpredictable, especially when it is mixed with tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. You may feel relaxed when you smoke weed, but you also may experience unexpected and unpleasant symptoms, such as: Accelerated heart rateBloodshot eyesDry mouthLoss of coordinationSwollen eyelids Short-Term Effects on the Mind As with any drug or substance that can alter perception, logic, and usual behavior, there are several short-term hazards of using marijuana. These include: Anxiety and paranoiaDifficulty in thinkingImpaired memoryLack of attention and focusLearning difficultiesPoor driving skills Some people who use marijuana report having sudden feelings of anxiety and paranoid thoughts. This might be caused by using higher-potency marijuana, deliberately or inadvertently. Research also shows that regular use of marijuana is linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and a loss of motivation or drive. You may feel "dopey" on the drug, which is when you begin to lose interest in activities that you might have previously enjoyed, and/or lose the ability to grasp concepts easily. Long-Term Effects When You Smoke Weed Any drug that is taken over a prolonged period of time can have an effect on your health. Physical changes resulting from persistent use of marijuana can range from infertility to issues with brain function. Increased risk of lung, head, and neck cancersDecreased sperm countHeightened risk of infections, especially in the lungsInability to shift attention normallyInability to understand complex informationIrregular menstruationLack of motivationPoor short-term memory recallRespiratory problems Some studies suggest that the impact that marijuana has can depend on the age at which a person began smoking marijuana and for how long they used the substance. People who use marijuana in adolescence and continue using for a long time may experience more significant effects. Smoking vs. Vaping In addition to smoking and being consumed in edibles, marijuana can also be inhaled by vaping heated oil through an e-cigarette. There is little known about the negative health effects of vaping THC products, but a number of serious lung injuries have been attributed to vaping. The CDC recommends avoiding vaping products containing THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana. Why Reactions to Weed Differ The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that marijuana can affect each person differently according to their own body chemistry and the type of pot used. Some people can use weed and never have any negative reactions, while others may find the experience very unpleasant and unsettling. Factors that influence how you might respond when you smoke weed include: Marijuana strength (amount of active ingredient THC): Studies have found that the marijuana available today is much different in terms of potency compared to what was generally available in the 1960s when the use of the drug became widespread in the United States. Today's strains of the plant contain much more of the active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Previous experience with the drug: If you have used marijuana regularly, it may mean that you have developed a tolerance to the substance. This means that it requires more of the drug to produce the same effects that you initially felt. How it's taken: Smoking marijuana produces rapid effects because the substance begins to affect the brain quickly. When ingested, it takes longer to have an effect. Whether alcohol or other drugs are taken too: Taking other substances can have an effect on how marijuana impacts your mind and body. Tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs can interact with marijuana to heighten the adverse effects of both substances. Your biology (genetic makeup): Genetics as well as other biological factors can affect how a person responds to and metabolizes a substance. Age, hydration levels, body mass, metabolism, sex, and frequency of use may all play a role. For example, women tend to metabolize THC at a somewhat slower rate than men, which may impact how the drug affects them. Effects of Edibles As recreational marijuana becomes legal in more states in the U.S., more edible products containing marijuana are available for sale. When marijuana is ingested, it is absorbed by the body more slowly and the effects can last longer and be stronger, or be unpredictable. Some research has shown that there are more emergency department visits related to edible marijuana than expected. In one study, visits related to edibles were more likely than those related to inhaled marijuana to involve acute psychiatric symptoms, intoxication, and cardiovascular symptoms. A Word From Verywell Marijuana has a reputation for being harmless and non-addictive. But when you smoke weed, it does affect your body and brain—sometimes in serious or surprising ways. It's important to be aware of these risks when choosing to smoke or ingest cannabis. Frequently Asked Questions Why do people smoke weed? People may smoke weed recreationally for a variety of reasons, such as to relieve stress, escape uncomfortable situations or feelings, or to self-treat a mental health condition. They may smoke in social settings or with a partner.Cannabis used to treat symptoms of a medical condition is sometimes smoked. Or it may be in pill, liquid, oil, or powder form and be consumed orally. Learn More: Why Young Adults Smoke Marijuana How many people smoke weed? In 2020, about 18% of Americans age 12 and older reported using marijuana, according to survey data from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). That's about 49.6 million people. The survey doesn't specify what proportion of marijuana use was from smoking. Learn More: Statistics on Marijuana Use in Teens What happens if you smoke weed while pregnant? Smoking weed during pregnancy may be harmful to a developing baby and may increase the risk of complications such as miscarriage, preterm birth, and stillbirth, especially in people who smoke frequently or who also smoke tobacco. Babies exposed to marijuana in utero may have learning and behavior problems in early childhood. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends avoiding marijuana during pregnancy. What happens if you smoke too much weed? Smoking too much weed at one time may cause anxiety, paranoia, impaired thinking, and impaired driving skills. Smoking weed chronically (frequently, over long periods of time) can mean an increased risk of cancer and infections, problems with brain development and function, and infertility and pregnancy complications. Frequent (weekly or more) cannabis use can cause cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome—repeated bouts of severe nausea and vomiting. Learn More: Can You Overdose on Marijuana? Where is it legal to smoke weed? Nonmedical, or recreational, marijuana is legal in 18 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (as of February 2022): Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 10 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Marijuana: Drug facts. Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. Marijuana. National Institute on Drug Abuse. What are marijuana's long-term effects on the brain?. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreak of lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Monte AA, Shelton SK, Mills E, et al. Acute illness associated with cannabis use, by route of exposure. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170(8):531-537. doi:10.7326/M18-2809 Mayo Clinic. Medical marijuana. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Survey on Drug Use and Health. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion No. 722: Marijuana use during pregnancy and lactation. Obstet Gynecol. 2017;130(4):e205-e209. doi:10.1097/aog.0000000000002354 Sorensen CJ, DeSanto K, Borgelt L, Phillips KT, Monte AA. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: Diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment—a systematic review. J Med Toxicol. 2017;13(1):71-87. doi:10.1007/s13181-016-0595-z National Conference of State Legislatures. State medical cannabis laws. 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