Attitudes towards the use of cannabis (as it’s also known) have changed in recent years. Certain countries, most notably Canada and some states in the US, allow it for recreational use, while countries such as China and most of Europe still ban it. According to drugs expert Dr John Collins from the London School of Economics, the move towards legislation in many countries started with a softening of public attitudes.

In 2020, the United Nations’ Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) reclassified cannabis, removing the drug from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, recognising it had “medicinal and therapeutic potential”.

The topic has also surfaced in this year’s US election, with presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris weighing in on the matter. Both Trump and Harris have signalled support for a policy shift to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, which fits into a broader context around cannabis reform and legalisation.

For example, in the UK, after cannabis was legalised for medical prescription in 2018, there has been an overall positive change of perception in its use medically. Private cannabis clinics have also reportedly seen a rise in patients.

Research on the risks and benefits of its use is inconclusive. Unfortunately, misinformation about marijuana is widespread, especially on the internet. Campaigns and organisations have been set up to tackle this, along with marijuana abuse.

According to the San Antonio Recovery Centre in Texas, marijuana is “one of the most abused drugs,” and is a huge problem in the US, with 52.5 million Americans using it at least once in 2021.

Marijuana is known to be one of the less addictive drugs, although daily use increases the risk of addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) said 30.7% of 12th graders (17–18-year-olds) in the US reported using marijuana in 2023, while 6.3% reported using marijuana daily.

Statistica predicts that by 2025, worldwide spending on legal adult-use cannabis is expected to reach over $33bn.

What is marijuana and why is it used?

Marijuana – also referred to as weed, pot, herb, dope, grass, hash and other names – refers to products made from the dried flowers, leaves, stems and seeds of the plant Cannabis sativa. It is not the same thing as cannabis, which describes cannabis products in general.

Marijuana can be smoked or ingested orally. The feeling of “relaxation” it induces comes from the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as well as cannabidiol (CBD). It lowers a person’s inhibitions and can also distort their sense of time. It may also overload sensory receptors, exaggerating things such as colours or sounds.

Medically, it is used to treat pain, nausea and other symptoms in a variety of conditions, according to the Mayo Clinic. These include multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, vomiting caused by chemotherapy, PTSD and Alzheimer’s disease – but it depends on the regulations in each country. In the UK, for example, it is only permitted in limited circumstances, including for children with severe epilepsy.

What are the effects of marijuana use?

The American Addictions Centers says that marijuana can have negative side effects, both short-term and long-term. The former include altered sensory perception, changes in the perception of time, mood changes, impaired cognition and memory, an increased heart rate, and bloodshot eyes.

Long-term effects include respiratory difficulties, psychiatric disorders, addiction, and increased risk of other substance use disorders. Regular use during adolescence can impair brain development, especially for heavy users.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a branch of the US Department of Health and Human Services, stresses that many people “do not consider marijuana use a risky behaviour,” but warns of the impact on a person’s health and life, particularly for youth and young adults. It says that one in ten adults who use marijuana could become addicted, and one in six adolescents.

A key factor is that the amount of THC in marijuana has risen steadily in past decades, so that, according to SAMHSA, “today’s marijuana has three times the concentration of THC compared to 25 years ago.”

Speaking to Harbingers’, an 18 year-old marijuana user, who asked to remain anonymous, agreed that marijuana can temporarily help alleviate anxiety and shared how it personally allowed them to socialise with others as “it really helped” them speak with people. But when it came to the risks, they felt that marijuana decreases their attention span, makes them “more lethargic” and “messes with your memory.”

Campaigns are trying to better educate people on the risks of marijuana use. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recently urged the US federal government and agencies to develop a public health campaign to educate vulnerable people, including youth, about the risks of marijuana and how to “identify risky behaviour.”