Long-term cannabis use can impair memory, attention, and learning, increase anxiety or depression risk, reduce motivation, and worsen sleep quality. Regular use raises dependence risk and can affect lung health when smoked. For teens, cannabis can disrupt brain development and cognitive performance. Conflicting information and unverified claims make it difficult to know what to believe. Avenues Recovery provides you with all the evidence-backed information you need to make informed choices.
Key Takeaways
- Long-term cannabis use can impair memory, learning, attention, sleep, productivity, and motivation, and may increase the risk of anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric disorders.
- Smoking cannabis can harm lung health, increase heart risks, affect male fertility, and may cause severe vomiting disorders (CHS).
- Early or heavy use during adolescence can disrupt brain development, lower educational achievement, and reduce career opportunities.
- Long-term use may lead to cannabis use disorder.
A Closer Look at Long-Term Side Effects of Weed
Even though cannabis is often thought of as relatively safe, using it regularly over time can affect your brain and body in many ways. These effects are usually more substantial if you start young or use it frequently or heavily.
What Does Marijuana Do to Your Brain?
Long-term marijuana use may impair your cognitive functions, particularly memory and learning. This is especially true if you start using it as a teen, when your brain is still developing. In one study, long-term cannabis users experienced an average drop of 5.5 IQ points from childhood to midlife, along with poorer learning and processing speed compared with their earlier scores. Informants also reported problems with memory and attention. Understanding what damage marijuana does to your brain is important for anyone using it regularly or starting at a young age.
How Long Until Your Brain Recovers From Weed?
The brain begins to recover within 2–4 weeks after stopping cannabis, with attention, memory, and sleep improving first. Most cognitive functions recover within 1–3 months. Heavy or early-age use can require 6 months or longer for full recovery, especially in teens.
Mental Health Effects
Some studies suggest that using marijuana may be linked to a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. It may also worsen or trigger preexisting conditions. Some users report long-term paranoia from weed, especially with frequent or high-dose use. However, the relationship between pot and mental health disorders is complex, and it’s not clear that one directly causes the other.
Physical Health Effects
The long-term effects of smoking weed, particularly in the form of joints, can look similar to those associated with tobacco use. If you smoke it long-term, you may develop chronic bronchitis and lung irritation. Additionally, long-term marijuana use can raise your risk of a heart attack and stroke. It also may pose a risk to male fertility. Finally, it can trigger a rare but severe disorder called Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), which causes extreme, repeated nausea and vomiting.
Motivation, Productivity, and Social Functioning
The long-term side effects of cannabis on behavior may affect your work, school, or social life. It can make it harder to stay motivated, be productive, and enjoy day-to-day life. Studies show that cannabis use can impair your ability to control your emotions and behavior, which can impact your relationships and general functioning.
Poor Sleep Quality
While some people report that cannabis helps them fall asleep, research shows that the long‑term side effects of cannabis use can include disrupting sleep quality in important ways. Studies have found that if you use weed frequently, you tend to spend more time awake during the night, have lighter sleep, and spend more time in the lightest stages of sleep, rather than deep or REM sleep, which can leave you feeling less rested overall. The long-term side effects of marijuana have also been linked to more frequent nighttime awakenings and poorer overall subjective sleep quality compared with non‑users.
Legal Consequences of Marijuana Use and Misuse
In areas where recreational or medicinal use of marijuana is not legalized, its misuse can lead to legal issues. This can include fines, criminal charges, or even jail time, depending on the local laws. Even small amounts or possession without a prescription can have serious consequences.
Negative Impact on Driving
Using marijuana can affect your coordination, reaction time, and judgment. Over time, this may increase your risk of accidents and legal consequences.
Special Considerations for Teen Cannabis Use
The teen brain is still developing and continues to do so into the mid-20s, making it especially sensitive to cannabis. Using marijuana during adolescence or young adulthood can affect your memory, attention, and learning, and may have long-lasting effects on brain development. Teens who use cannabis are more likely to struggle in school, including dropping out of high school or not completing college. Starting cannabis use at a younger age and using more frequently also increases the risk of developing cannabis use disorder and is linked to a higher likelihood of mental health challenges.
Educational and Employment Outcomes
Heavy marijuana use when you’re a teen could lead to lower educational achievement and fewer job opportunities later. Early use can affect attention, memory, and learning, making it harder to complete school or pursue advanced training, which can have lasting impacts on career paths.
The Risk of Dependence With Long-Term Cannabis Use
If you use weed on a long-term basis, you may develop cannabis use disorder (CUD). This means you might build up an increased tolerance, experience withdrawal symptoms when not smoking, attempt to quit unsuccessfully, and continue to use marijuana despite negative consequences. Knowing what happens if you smoke weed every day can help you make informed decisions about frequency and dosage.
What Are the Signs of Marijuana Misuse?
Initial signs of marijuana use may include behavioral changes like apathy or lack of motivation, decreased interest in activities that were once enjoyable, and neglecting responsibilities at work, school, or home. Cognitively, you may notice memory issues, difficulty concentrating or paying attention, and impaired judgment and decision-making. Physical signs may include bloodshot eyes, increased heart rate, and a dry mouth.
Additionally, you may see:
- Social withdrawal
- Anxiety or paranoia
- Neglect of responsibilities
- Increased marijuana tolerance and dependence
- Legal and financial issues
If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or someone close, it could be a signal that marijuana use is becoming problematic and worth addressing. Understanding what the long-term side effects of weed are can help you weigh the risks of regular cannabis use.
Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder at Avenues Recovery
If you or a loved one is struggling with marijuana addiction, Avenues Recovery is here to guide you on your path to recovery. Our dedicated, professional staff are experts in addiction. We use a variety of evidence-based and holistic therapies and treatment options to enable every person to access the care most suited to them. Reach out today. You don’t have to face this alone.
FAQs About the Side Effects of Cannabis in the Long Term
Does CHS syndrome ever go away?
Yes. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome goes away when cannabis use stops completely. Symptoms usually improve within days to weeks and fully resolve within 1 to 3 months. Symptoms often return if cannabis use resumes. Long-term recovery requires continued abstinence.
What is considered long-term cannabis usage?
Most studies define long-term cannabis use as daily or near-daily use for several months, or at least weekly use consistently over 6–12 months. The associated risks tend to increase with higher frequency, larger doses, and earlier age of initiation.
Does cannabis affect lifespan?
Cannabis does not clearly reduce lifespan on its own, but heavy long-term use is linked to health risks that can indirectly affect longevity. These risks include mental health disorders, dependence, impaired cognition, heart strain, and lung damage when smoked. Starting young and using frequently increases risk.
How many joints a day is considered heavy use?
Heavy cannabis use is typically defined as smoking 2 or more joints per day, or using cannabis daily or near-daily. Many medical and research sources classify daily use (7 days per week) as heavy use, regardless of form. Risk increases with higher THC strength, longer sessions, and starting at a younger age.
Does cannabis age you faster?
Cannabis does not clearly accelerate overall biological aging, but heavy long-term use can contribute to effects that look like faster aging. These include poorer memory, reduced motivation, sleep disruption, and lung or heart strain when smoked. Starting young and using frequently increases these risks.