CYP Now - Health - Quick guide to ... Cannabis use

For thousands of years cannabis has been used as a recreational drug because of high levels of tetrahydocannabinol (THC) in its dried flowers, leaves and resin. Consumption is through smoking or mixed with food, and when taken it can cause an increase in heart rate, lower blood pressure, lack of concentration and long-term memory loss

- According to the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, around three-quarters of the 24,000 young people with alcohol and drug problems are using cannabis or alcohol

- The jury is out regarding the medical effect of the drug. For some, it offers a harmless high, which can even be beneficial for medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis. For others, it is a health hazard with major side effects. The way it is smoked, often with tobacco, is a cause for concern, as is a 2007 study by academics in Canada that found cannabis smoke contains toxins such as ammonia and nitrogen oxide. Other research has pointed to its long-term effect on mental health, with studies showing links between the drug and depression

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