As marijuana use rises, experts warn of hidden risks to brain and body

The recognition of hashish continues to rise in 2026, with statistics displaying that round 15% of People are present customers, and greater than 22% have used it someday prior to now yr.

As extra folks reduce out alcohol amid the Dry January pattern, dispensaries have reported a surge in marijuana gross sales, resulting in what some trade insiders and media shops have dubbed “Excessive January.”

Whereas the drug has been touted for potential medical advantages — together with ache reduction, diminished nervousness and improved sleep — specialists have warned about well being dangers related to cannabis use.

CANNABIS USE RISES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN DESPITE SERIOUS FETAL RISKS

“There’s a widespread perception that marijuana is ‘pure’ and due to this fact innocent,” Corey Gamberg, a psychological well being and habit specialist who serves as govt director of the Rockland Restoration Heart and Massachusetts Heart for Dependancy, advised Fox Information Digital.

“In actuality, at the moment’s merchandise are way more potent than in earlier a long time, and we’re seeing very actual psychological, emotional and bodily penalties in clinical settings on daily basis.”

Statistics displaying that round 15% of People are present hashish customers, and greater than 22% have used it someday prior to now yr. (iStock)

Trent Carter, a board-certified nurse practitioner, habit restoration skilled and founding father of Renew Well being, an outpatient remedy middle in New Mexico, famous that marijuana has turn out to be a extra generally accepted substance — however he has seen some adverse results in his personal sufferers.

“As time went on, I found that the overwhelming majority used marijuana to deal with quite a lot of psychological and bodily points, solely to induce a litany of different signs because of this,” he shared with Fox Information Digital.

Psychological well being impacts

Gamberg cautioned about marijuana’s effects on folks with underlying nervousness, melancholy or trauma histories.

MYSTERIOUS MARIJUANA-LINKED VOMITING DISORDER GETS OFFICIAL WHO CODE AS ER CASES JUMP

“Some customers initially really feel calmer, however actually we regularly see elevated nervousness, panic signs, emotional blunting, and in some instances paranoia or psychosis,” he advised Fox Information Digital. “For weak folks, marijuana can definitely worsen psychological well being relatively than relieve it.”

Whereas the drug has been touted for potential medical advantages — together with ache reduction, diminished nervousness and improved sleep — specialists have warned about well being dangers related to hashish use. (iStock)

This may be significantly dangerous with at the moment’s hashish merchandise that comprise high levels of THC, added Gamberg. 

A latest research from Truveta, a well being knowledge firm that aggregates de-identified digital well being data from a big community of U.S. well being techniques, discovered that emergency division visits for cannabis-induced psychological well being problems rose practically 50% between 2019 and 2020 and remained elevated by means of 2023.

DOCTORS SHARE ALCOHOL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEN VS WOMEN AS GUIDANCE SHIFTS

“Whereas folks with psychological well being circumstances are extra doubtless to make use of hashish, proof additionally suggests hashish use could also be linked to earlier onset of sure psychiatric problems,” Brianna Cartwright, principal analysis analyst for Truveta, famous in an announcement to Fox Information Digital.

Mind perform and motivation

Common marijuana use impacts all areas of brain function, together with consideration span, reminiscence and motivation, in response to Gamberg.

“Clinically, we see folks describe feeling ‘caught’ — much less emotionally responsive, much less pushed and fewer engaged with life,” he stated. “This may intrude with work, relationships and restoration from different psychological well being circumstances.”

CANNABIS GUMMY POISONINGS SURGE AMONG VULNERABLE GROUP, EXPERTS WARN

Gamberg warned that the creating mind is particularly delicate to THC. 

“Early and frequent marijuana use is linked to long-term adjustments in cognition, emotional regulation, and elevated threat of extreme substance use problems later in life,” he advised Fox Information Digital. “This is likely one of the most regarding developments we see in remedy.”

Coronary heart well being results

Latest research have advised that marijuana customers might face an elevated threat of coronary heart assault and stroke.

A meta-analysis by French researchers, revealed within the journal Coronary heart, reviewed a number of research of greater than 400 million sufferers to evaluate the hyperlink between hashish and main opposed cardiovascular occasions.

Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., is dealing with a grievance from a non-partisan watchdog group over probably “unlawful” marketing campaign donations from a marijuana dispensary chain. (AP Photograph/Gerald Herbert, File)

The outcomes famous a big enhance in threat of main cardiovascular occasions, together with a 29% greater chance of coronary heart assault, 20% greater threat of stroke and twice the possibilities of cardiovascular dying.

The hazard was highest for individuals who used hashish at the least as soon as every week.

Sleep disturbances

Whereas marijuana’s delicate sedating and enjoyable results can generally assist individuals who have issue falling asleep, specialists say there are a number of vital issues to think about earlier than utilizing it as a sleep support. 

“THC suppresses speedy eye motion (REM) sleep, disrupting regular sleep structure and interfering with important processes equivalent to neural plasticity, reminiscence consolidation and emotional regulation,” stated Chelsie Rohrscheib, a neuroscientist and sleep specialist at Wesper in New York.

DIABETES RISK QUADRUPLES WITH USE OF POPULAR NATURAL REMEDY, STUDY FINDS

“This results in power REM sleep deprivation and eventual REM rebound when marijuana use is discontinued.”

Medical analysis has additionally linked power use of marijuana with decreased deep sleep and better charges of sleep fragmentation, Wesper famous. 

“So, whereas utilizing marijuana might initially enhance sleep high quality, it shouldn’t be used long run,” she concluded.

Medical analysis has linked power use of marijuana with decreased deep sleep and better charges of sleep fragmentation. (iStock)

Gamberg agreed that marijuana can disrupt “wholesome sleep structure.”

“Over time, customers usually expertise poorer sleep high quality, vivid goals or nightmares throughout withdrawal, and elevated reliance on marijuana simply to go to sleep,” he stated.

Hashish use dysfunction

There’s a widespread false impression that hashish isn’t addictive and that it can not result in a substance use dysfunction, in response to Nicole Quick, medical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology on the College of Nevada, Las Vegas, who focuses on hashish use dysfunction.

In December 2025, President Trump issued an govt order calling for marijuana to be modified from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III beneath the Managed Substances Act. (iStock)

“That is unfaithful — it’s doable to turn out to be physiologically depending on hashish and it’s doable to develop a hashish use dysfunction,” she advised Fox Information Digital. “There may be all the time a threat of habit associated to hashish use, and it’s tough to deal with as soon as it’s developed.”

Roughly 30% of people that use the substance develop hashish use dysfunction, a medical situation marked by an incapability to cease utilizing it regardless of vital adverse results, in response to the CDC. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Signs embrace cravings, unsuccessful stop makes an attempt, tolerance and withdrawal. Stopping can result in irritability, insomnia, anxiety and mood changes, in response to Gamberg.

Regulatory strikes

In December 2025, President Trump issued an govt order calling for marijuana to be modified from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III beneath the Managed Substances Act (CSA), which might imply it has an accepted medical use and decrease potential for abuse.

“[Effects] differ considerably primarily based on dose, efficiency, age and sample of use,” one skilled advised Fox Information Digital. “A lot of the general public confusion round hashish comes from treating all publicity as the identical.” (iStock)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

The manager order cited a 2023 FDA evaluate that discovered scientific help for using medical marijuana to deal with ache, anorexia and nausea/vomiting.

“The truth is that america’s remedy of hashish as a Schedule I substance is inconsistent with its medical worth and potential for habit in comparison with different substances,” Riana Durrett, director of the Hashish Coverage Institute on the College of Nevada, Las Vegas, advised Fox Information Digital.

“Right now’s merchandise are way more potent than in earlier a long time.”

“The president’s govt order strongly helps analysis, which might help with misconceptions about hashish, whether or not that may be a misguided perception that it cures nervousness or help for additional analysis into hashish as a treatment for pain,” she went on. 

“The one factor everybody ought to agree on is that extra analysis and evidence-based policymaking is required on this space.”

Results might differ

Dr. Dustin Sulak, an integrative doctor and co-founder of Healer, a cannabinoid wellness firm primarily based in Maine, famous that the results of hashish on the brain and body aren’t the identical for everybody.

“They differ considerably primarily based on dose, efficiency, age and sample of use,” he advised Fox Information Digital. “A lot of the general public confusion round hashish comes from treating all publicity as the identical.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sulak agreed that prime doses can have adverse results on consideration, reminiscence, nervousness, sleep and coronary heart well being, however famous that low-dose, orally administered cannabinoids “used deliberately” in adults and older adults have proven to have advantages. 

“These embrace improved high quality of life, higher sleep, diminished nervousness, higher ache management, improved urge for food, and in lots of instances, diminished reliance on higher-risk medications,” he stated.

Marijuana may cause elevated nervousness, panic signs, emotional blunting, and in some instances paranoia or psychosis, specialists warn. (iStock)

“Any dialogue of hashish’ results on psychological well being, coronary heart well being and sleep ought to distinguish between high-potency leisure use and low-dose, medically guided use. With out that distinction, conclusions may be deceptive.”

Carter emphasised that individuals deserve entry to “goal, forthright data” about marijuana and its impact on well-being.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“The dialog surrounding hashish can’t be laced with fear-mongering, judgment or misinformation, and on the similar time, customers needs to be conscious {that a} substance able to altering the mind might include a price, particularly with constant use,” he added.

Anybody who’s experiencing adverse health effects of hashish ought to see a medical skilled for assist.