Cannabis has a variety of effects on the user's metabolism.
Cannabis sativa, more commonly known as marijuana, has been used for centuries by shamans and mystics from various cultures for its psychoactive properties. In the United States and many other countries, marijuana is an illegal substance. Although cannabis is technically a plant, it is categorized as a drug due to the effect it has on the human metabolism when the leaves of the plant are smoked or otherwise ingested.
THC
The active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly known as THC. When cannabis smoke is inhaled, THC enters the lungs and quickly passes into the bloodstream. Blood carries this THC throughout the body to the brain and other organs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), research into the long-term effects of continued cannabis use on the brain has produced inconclusive results. Although brain imaging studies in chronic users tend to show consistent alterations, any connection between these alterations and impaired cognitive functioning is also unclear.
How THC Works
THC affects specific spots in the brain, called cannabinoid receptors, by triggering cellular reactions that cause the user to experience the euphoria associated with the so-called marijuana "high." These cannabinoid receptors are mainly found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, concentration, physical coordination and the perception of time and sensory stimuli. The stimulation of these receptors will impair coordination, problem-solving ability and memory function.
Effects on Metabolism
One of the primary effects cannabis has on the metabolism is on heart rate. In fact, inhalation of marijuana will increase heart rate by anywhere from 20 to 100 percent. This increased heart rate can last up to three hours. For this reason, NIDA notes that cannabis smokers have a significantly increased risk of heart attack in the first hour after smoking. Marijuana can also cause fluctuations in heart rhythms such as palpitations and arrhythmia.
Appetite
Another way in which cannabis affects the metabolism is by increasing the user's appetite. Marijuana smokers sometimes refer to this effect as "the munchies." The effect of cannabis on appetite was initially observed in a study on the effect of THC on Alzheimer's patients, indicating that THC affects the metabolism by stimulating appetite. This property has led to the use of cannabis to treat cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, which causes nausea and appetite loss.
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