THE 20 SYMPTOMS OF SMOKING MARIJUANA (IN ADULTS AND TEENS) - ARTE - 2025

The most prominent symptoms of smoking marijuana are having red eyes, euphoria and well-being, a relaxed state, perceptual distortion, memory impairment, difficulty reasoning and remembering, increased appetite and lack of motor coordination.

Marijuana is one of the most popular and most consumed drugs in many countries in the world. In fact, there is some controversy about its "dangerousness" since, although it has been scientifically proven that it causes negative effects on health, some effects that are innocuous or even therapeutic have also been described.

Regardless of whether or not cannabis use is harmful, smoking marijuana automatically causes a number of symptoms. Some of them are popularly known as relaxation or well-being, which are what the recreational user of marijuana aims to achieve when smoking a joint.

However, there are many more symptoms as cannabis produces effects both on a psychological and physical level.

Clinical characteristics of cannabis use

The psychoactive effects of marijuana begin a few minutes after smoking it. However, there are certain individual differences, so there are people who when smoking marijuana can begin to show symptoms within a few seconds and people who take a few minutes longer.

The effects of marijuana usually last between one and two hours, although THC (the active ingredient in cannabis) remains stored in the body's adipose tissues for much longer.

The acute effects of marijuana are also highly variable between people and depend largely on the dose, the THC content and the THC / CBD ratio (the two main substances in cannabis).

On the other hand, the symptoms caused by marijuana can also vary greatly depending on its form of administration, since when it is eaten instead of smoking it can cause much more variable effects.

Personality, experience of use, and the context in which marijuana is smoked are also important factors that can modify its effects. However, the majority of cannabis use usually provide a series of prototypical symptoms.

After an initial phase of stimulation in which the person experiences euphoria, well-being and increased perception, a phase in which sedation, relaxation and drowsiness predominate.

Likewise, a series of physical symptoms can also be experienced, which may be less noticeable.

Symptoms of marijuana use

Below we will discuss the 20 basic symptoms that are experienced when smoking marijuana.

1- Euphoria and well-being

The main psychological effects of cannabis use are euphoria and well-being. At the beginning of consumption symptoms such as talkativeness or easy laughter are usually experienced.

These effects are considered to be more intense at the beginning of smoking and disappear over time, however, if high doses are consumed, this modification of the psychological state can be prolonged.

As we have discussed previously, the effects of cannabis are highly dependent on personality and the context in which it is smoked.

Thus, these effects will be experienced by the consumer who smokes marijuana in a relaxed environment and who tolerates the rest of the symptoms that cannabis produces well.

2- state of relaxation

It usually appears in later stages of consumption, when the euphoria and talkativeness has been diminishing.

Relaxation is the other main psychological symptom of marijuana and unlike the previous one (which is produced by THC), this effect is produced by the other substance in marijuana, CBD.

Psychological relaxation can manifest itself in many ways but the most common is that a clear lack of concern is experienced globally and a state of tranquility and harmony.

3- Perceptual distortion

Virtually all marijuana use experiences a clear perceptual distortion. This can be variable, since it can produce from mild symptoms to a clear distortion that can cause the appearance of hallucinations.

The most common is that visual, auditory and tactile perceptions are sharpened, as well as that a slight distortion of space and time is experienced.

Trying to orient yourself while under the influence of marijuana is often more complicated than normal and the notion of time can also be altered.

4- Memory alteration

When smoking marijuana, the ability to memorize and learn can be significantly reduced. The cannabinoid system is closely related to memory processes, so when cannabis is smoked these functions are easily altered.

Specifically, working memory and short-term memory decrease, so trying to memorize or learn when under the influence of cannabis is difficult.

Forgetfulness or blackouts about what happened when one was intoxicated are often frequent symptoms of marijuana.

5- Difficulty concentrating

Another of the cognitive processes that are altered with cannabis use is concentration.

When marijuana is smoked, this mental ability is diminished, attention is distorted and trying to focus on something is difficult.

6- Decreased reasoning

In a way that is closely linked to the cognitive alterations mentioned above, marijuana produces difficulties with reasoning.

The inability to memorize and concentrate on specific aspects means that when people who are under the influence of marijuana are exposed to complex reasoning, they have difficulty thinking clearly.

As with the symptoms mentioned above, this cognitive alteration is temporary and disappears while the effects of the drug are diluted.

7- Motor incoordination

Marijuana slows the reaction rate and causes motor incoordination, so the person may be much less adept at performing delicate tasks.

Likewise, stability or agility also decreases and the resulting movements are a typical symptom of marijuana use.

8- Driving worsening

Related to the previous point, marijuana causes a worsening of driving. Cannabis is probably the drug that most affects the ability to drive due to the perceptual distortion and motor incoordination that its consumption produces.

Driving under the influence of marijuana can be highly dangerous due to the lack of awareness of the movements of both the vehicle and oneself, as well as the perceptual distortion that is experienced.

Drowsiness is one of the most typical symptoms of marijuana, although it is not experienced right after smoking it. It usually appears after a few minutes of use and may depend on the psychological state of the individual.

However, THC induces sleep directly, so that together with relaxation and well-being, there may be a desire to sleep and rest.

10- Increased appetite

It is another of the most typical symptoms of marijuana and usually appears in practically all uses. In the same way that it happens with drowsiness, it appears in the second phase of symptoms, so when you start smoking marijuana you do not usually experience hunger.

However, over time, even though you have eaten recently, your appetite increases. This fact was explained in a study published in Nature Neuroscience where it was shown that THC intervenes in the receptors of the olfactory lobe of the brain and increases the ability to smell and taste food.

In the desire to eat there is a clear predominance of sweet foods, although any type of food is capable of satiating the appetite produced by marijuana.

11- Decrease in pain

Marijuana contains a clear analgesic power so it is able to reduce pain. This symptom also appears in the late stages of use but is one of the most important in marijuana.

In fact, the analgesic effect of cannabis is one of the main factors that has motivated the therapeutic use of this substance.

Smoking marijuana can imply for people with chronic pain the achievement of a state of relaxation and well-being, as well as a decrease in their perception of pain.

However, the use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes does not free the individual from experiencing the other symptoms, which may be less beneficial for their health.

This dichotomy between the pros and cons of marijuana are the main factors that promote the debate about the suitability of this substance for therapeutic purposes.

12- Increased heart rate

This symptom is not usually noticeable but it is one of the main physical risk factors for cannabis. Smoking marijuana increases your heart rate. Likewise, blood pressure increases if you are sitting and decreases if you are standing.

These effects are highly dose dependent, so the more marijuana consumed, the higher the rate and cardiac output.

13- Bronchodilation

On a physical level, cannabis also has effects on the respiratory system. In this sense, smoking marijuana can produce both positive and negative effects.

The properties of cannabis produce bronchodilation, whereby the bronchi and bronchioles of the lungs dilate and air flow increases.

However, due to the combustion that occurs when smoking, marijuana can also cause bronchial irritation and bronconstriction, effects that would decrease bronchodilation.

These symptoms of marijuana have been especially relevant in determining the efficacy of this substance for asthma disease.

Cannabis can produce beneficial effects for this disease but at the same time it can worsen the condition of an asthmatic patient.

14- Conjunctival redness

One of the most typical physical symptoms that are clearly observable among patients who use marijuana is red eyes. This eye redness is mainly caused by the vasodilation that cannabis produces in the body.

Likewise, smoking marijuana can reduce the production of tears and the pupillary reflex to light.

15- Reduction of intraocular pressure

The increased pressure in the eyes occurs mainly due to the accumulation of watery fluid in the eyeball.

This condition can favor the development of glaucoma, a disease that can involve an optic neuropathy characterized by the progressive loss of nerve fibers in the optic nerve.

Marijuana allows to lower eye pressure, however, really effective therapeutic effects have only been shown when cannabis is applied locally, so these effects produced by smoked marijuana are somewhat more controversial.

16- dry mouth

Whenever marijuana is smoked, the mouth dries up and the saliva remains pasty and sticky after consumption.

The endocnnabinode system is involved in the inhibition of salivary secretions and in the production of sage, which is why when consuming marijuana salivation is inhibited and these types of symptoms are experienced.

17- muscle relaxation

The relaxation produced by cannabis is not only experienced on a psychological level but also has effects on the striated muscles.

When smoking marijuana, a clear muscle relaxation is experienced and the anticonvulsant properties of the body are increased.

18- Alteration of cellular immunity

Many data suggest that THC can exert immunomodulatory effects with inhibitory or stimulating actions, depending on the cellular system involved and the dose used.

There is no clear evidence that cannabis use produces clinically significant immunological alterations in humans. It has not been shown that this immunosuppression can cause a greater number of infections and it is being investigated as an anticancer.

19- Decrease in sex hormones

Smoking marijuana has direct effects on a person's sexual functioning. On the one hand, cannabis can increase the experience of sexual intercourse, but on the other it can have effects on sex hormones.

Generally speaking, marijuana can affect sperm quantity and motility and alter gondotropin and testosterone levels, but other positive effects have also been reported.

20- Increased prolactin

Prolactin is a hormone that stimulates the production of milk in the mammary glands and the synthesis of progesterone in the corpus luteum.

Smoking marijuana on a regular basis can increase levels of this hormone.

References

1. Budney, AJ, Hughes, JR, Moore, BA and Vandrey, R. (2004). Review of the Validity and Significance of Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 1967–1977.
2. Coffey, C., Carlin, JB, Degenhardt, L., Lynskey, M., Sanci, L. and Patton, GC (2002). Cannabis dependence in young adults: an Australian population study. Addiction, 97, 187-94.
3. Grinspoon L, Bakalar JB. (1993). Marijuana The forbidden medicine. New York: Yale University press.
4. Roffman RA, Stephens RS (editors). (2006). Cannabis dependence. Its nature, consequences and treatment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
5. Spanish Society for Research on Cannabinoids. (2002). Basic Guide on cannabinoids. Madrid.