Short and Long Term Memory Effects Of Medical Marijuana
When using marijuana in any type of way whether it being medical or not no one thinks of effects or risks that it has after using it. Many people think that just because it’s “medical marijuana” it won’t harm them and that nothing will happen to them. Most think that it’s all fun and games and nothing will happen to them, but what they don’t know is that it will affect them in the long run. Some short term effects could become long term in the long run and that’s not what most think of when using the drug. If it was to become legal for medical purposes a lot of people wouldn’t use it for medical purposes they would abuse it and use it for other purposes.
Short-term Memory
One of the things that could be affected by using any type of marijuana whether it’s medical or not, is your short term memory. We all know what short term memory is but not all of us know exactly how it works so here is some information about it. Short-term memory is like a working memory it’s a kind of a filter on sensory information. It holds everything you’re currently thinking about, paying attention within 30 seconds or so of it happening. When being under the influence of marijuana it deficiencies the ability to form new long-term memories. In other words, it doesn’t allow you to remember new things but it doesn’t make you forget what you already know. Once the person is sober all of those impairments seem to have disappeared. A lot of the short-term effects of marijuana occur because of the THC that rapidly moves from the lungs into the blood and this chemical acts on cannabinoid receptors leading the users to get high. Dependency can form after marijuana use, even if it was used as a short-term drug. Short-term effects of marijuana use will usually cease shortly after using it.
Long-term Memory
Long-term memory is being able to remember something in a more permanent way. Examples of long-term memory are memories f past events, facts, and procedures. Some of the information from your short-term memory can, later on, be moved to long-term like emotions (caring about what happens) and attention (repeating it). For those who are marijuana users tend to do worse than people who have never smoked on tests for working memory, and verbal memory even when they aren’t high. Frequent marijuana users have trouble holding information in their minds and recalling verbal information than those who have never smoked. One of the most important and most asked questions is if whether the effects are permanent, or if the memory functions will go back to normal over time. Unfortunately, the studies that have been done aren’t quite clear o what the answer will be. The long-term effects of marijuana can be very unpredictable. Long-term effects can lead to an adverse effect on memory and learning, and those who use marijuana consistently when young may experience cognitive impairment as adults even when they no longer using the drug. These effects can also lead to a number of other unwanted effects, such as respiratory issues that cause learning and problem-solving in children born to mothers who smoked during their pregnancy.
Negative Memories and PTSD
At one point we’ve all experienced a bad memory or have something bad happen to us that we remember whether we want to or not. Negative memories are associated with negative feelings, and their function is to keep you from harm by training our minds to avoid something that harmed us in the past. When we experience a very severe trauma our negative memory system becomes overactive and that’s when most people develop post-traumatic stress disorder better known as PTSD. Some of the things that PTSD consist of are flashback memories causing symptoms of anxiety like, hypervigilance, a feeling of panic, and distress.
Addiction, Side effects, and Withdrawals
The addiction to marijuana is always possible. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 25–50% of users will become addicted at some point. In some states of the U.S. may be used for medical treatment. With this only being a treatment available by prescription and is not regularly given without serious consideration, and very close look into the patient’s health. Temporary memory loss, lack of coordination, altered perception of time, changes in mood, and difficulties thinking or problem-solving. These are some of the side effects that come from using marijuana or when a person is high on marijuana. The abuse of marijuana can lead to dependence and withdrawal upon use. Some of the symptoms are irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and aggression. Symptoms will begin within a day of being used. These symptoms then will peak after 3–6 days and will finally subside after 2–3 weeks max.
