Perhaps no other plant causes as much debate as the
cannabis plant. Its usage and popularity throughout the ages has led to it
being branded a super medicine by some, stigmatised as an evil on society by others,
and many other points of view within that spectrum.
Regardless
of advances in research and the increasing evidence base which supports the use
of medicinal cannabis, several myths and misconceptions persist and
occasionally gain traction in the media. Some of these stories provide light
entertainment while others unfortunately harm the reputation of cannabis as a
medicine.
These
myths and misconceptions include how dangerous cannabis usage is, its ability
to cause addiction, its function as a gateway drug and so on. This article will
look at some of the more common myths and misconceptions.
Dispelling the myths about the dangers of
cannabis use
Cannabis can kill you
You
cannot overdose on cannabis like you can on other drugs such as opioids.
Studies have found that a person would have to consume about 1,000 pounds per
minute for 15 minutes in order to fatally overdose on cannabis. That’s 6,800kg
in 15 minutes – which is highly unlikely.
Cannabis causes brain damage
Although
cannabis use in adults has been found to affect a person’s motor skills,
attention span and short-term memory while intoxicated, it has been found that
the differences between brain function of heavy users and that of non-users is
minimal in the long term, with the results much better for cannabis users than
those found for heavy users of alcohol and other illicit drugs.
There is
a widely held misconception that cannabis, like alcohol, can kill brain cells.
Heavy alcohol consumption, however, does damage the ends of neurons, making it
difficult for them to relay messages to each other but does not kill brain
cells.
The
cannabis myth came about due to a few infamous animal experiments in which
structural changes were said to be observed in brain cells of animals exposed
to high doses of cannabis. Unfortunately, there are those that continue to cite
the infamous RG Heath study using two Rhesus monkeys which has since been
discredited. In fact, subsequent studies with more rigorous controls have found
no evidence of alteration in the brains of monkeys.1
Cannabis causes psychosis and bipolar disorder
This is a
much-contested claim about cannabis. There is no question that some cannabis
users have experienced psychosis. However, what is becoming more apparent is
that those who have experienced some form of psychosis have been found to have
a susceptibility to it. Such susceptibilities may include a person’s genetic
makeup, a history of child abuse, head injuries or infections, their
socioeconomic status and other factors.
Although
most experts agree that cannabis use alone doesn’t trigger psychosis or
conditions such as bipolar disorder, there is a possibility it could trigger
psychosis in those who already have the condition. Studies have also found that
cannabis is the most commonly abused drug among those diagnosed with bipolar
disorder.2 This abuse of cannabis may increase the chances of an
adverse reaction over time. As a counterpoint, research is now showing that
medicinal cannabis has a part to play in stabilising a patient’s mood and
alleviating the symptoms of depression, and has started to be used in the treatment
of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder under close supervision.
Vaporising is just as bad as smoking
Smoking
is not accepted as a satisfactory delivery method for any medicine amongst the
medical community. While the dangers of smoking cannabis are disputed,
vaporising is considered a safer way to consume cannabis. Vaporising burns
cannabis below its combustion temperature and therefore does not produce smoke,
leaving the user to consume cannabis just as they would through other delivery
methods such as oils, edibles and tablets.
The
recent spate of deaths from recreational vaporiser use were the result of
poorly constructed vaporisers containing unknown poisonous chemicals. This was
due to unlicensed operators working outside the regulatory environment and
without proper manufacturing processes in place. The majority of deaths and
injuries incurred in the flavoured vape sector, and did not contain any
cannabis products. Licensed medicinal cannabis manufacturers work to strict
standards which provide assurance on the composition of each vaporiser and the
content within them.
Synthetic cannabis is better than natural cannabis
There are
two elements to this misconception. Synthetic cannabis produced for medicinal
purposes in a laboratory under good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards, and
after thorough clinical investigation is likely safe to use. Each batch
produced is tested to ensure it contains only what is written on the label.
However,
synthetic cannabis produced for recreational use without the required checks
and measures can be dangerous and should be avoided. These products are mass
produced in a process that produces a liquid chemical cocktail, which is mixed
with dry vegetation for the purpose of smoking. The whole process occurs with
no precision or accuracy. One batch can consist of several packets that are
very different in composition. Testing by authorities in the US after several
people died found external agents such as faeces, rat poison and dangerous
opioids.
As far as
recreational use goes, the cannabis plant’s ability to intoxicate with THC is
balanced, to some extent, by CBD’s ability to relax and prevent temporary paranoia.
Creating a useful synthetic THC-only product is possible in a GMP
laboratory, but comes with risks.
All medicinal cannabis products get you high
This
simply is not true and is a remnant of the scaremongering once used by
anti-cannabis advocates. Thankfully, greater public education has been
undertaken in most countries legalising medicinal cannabis and people are more
aware that it is the THC cannabinoid that has psychoactive properties and not most
other cannabinoids such as CBD. The increasing number of products with CBD in
them are becoming popular, particularly because they do not have any
psychoactive properties.
Edibles are the least psychoactive cannabis product
Edible
forms of cannabis can come in the form of lollipops, baked goods, chocolates
and other sweets. This gives some people the impression that they contain low
doses of THC. In fact, cannabis oil as a concentrate is used in edibles and can
lead to products with high doses of THC.
This
means that care must be taken in the production process to ensure the
concentrate is evenly distributed and tested. Otherwise, it may lead to very
high dose products that can cause adverse reactions. Furthermore, edibles take
much longer to be absorbed into the bloodstream, which can lead to some people
assuming the product hasn’t worked and then opting to consume a second edible
before the first takes effect.
Having
two strong doses of THC in the body can, in some cases, lead to adverse
reactions such as a sudden drop of blood pressure, vomiting and panic attacks.
Caution should be exercised with edible cannabis products. Always read the
label to ascertain the THC content before consuming.
Myths about addiction
Cannabis is addictive
This is
another misconception about recreational cannabis use which is based on
variable, and often unreliable, statistics. It should be noted that the risks
of developing a cannabis use disorder for medicinal cannabis are minimal. Dose
titration and regular consultations with a health professional ensure a patient
is taking only what they need for their condition and THC levels are often lower
than those found in recreational use cannabis, with a few exceptions. Given
cannabis’ safe history of use compared with opioids, the risks of adverse
outcomes related to addiction are unlikely.
The US
National Institute on Drug Abuse states that recreational cannabis use can lead
to the development of problem use, known as cannabis use disorder, which in more
severe cases can take the form of addiction.3 Estimates in the US
show that around 7% to 9% of cannabis users will develop a cannabis use
disorder. However, those who start using cannabis before the age of 18 are four
to seven times more likely to develop a cannabis use disorder than those who
start using later in life, meaning the 7% to 9% statistic is far lower for
those who start using as an adult. To put this into context, around 15% of
cocaine users and 24% of heroin users become clinically dependent.
Cannabis is a gateway drug
Cannabis
is the most widely used, and most widely available, illicit drug in the world.
Therefore, it is not uncommon for it to be the first drug used by many;
although many cannabis users would have tried nicotine and/or alcohol first. It
is logical that those who want to consume other drugs have tried cannabis
first; however, this does not mean they are causally linked. In fact, there are
more people that try cannabis and stop further drug consumption than those who
go on to other drugs such as cocaine, MDMA and heroin.
Correlation
does not equal causation. The propensity and willingness to try drugs means
that those who go on to other drugs of addiction after cannabis would have
tried those drugs earlier if they were available. The small percentage of hard
drug users compared to the substantially higher percentage of cannabis users
supports the claim cannabis is not a gateway drug.4
Evidence
is also emerging of the utility of CBD and low dose THC in drug rehabilitation,
with several trials underway. Indeed, many patients have moved on to medicinal
cannabis after enduring many years of opioid use and sometimes opioid
addiction. The safe history of use makes medicinal cannabis an ideal transition
away from dangerous opioids.
Other myths and misconceptions
You can beat a cannabis drug test
The
internet has many popular tales of how to beat a drug test. Apart from swapping
urine samples there is no way to beat a urine test without raising the
suspicion of testers.
Drug
tests look for THC levels only and no other cannabinoids such as cannabidiol.
THC binds to fat cells in the body and therefore takes longer to exit the body
than other hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. There is no
specific rule to follow when predicting how long THC will stay in your body and
everyone is different. Variable factors include how often THC has been consumed
(medicinal or recreational), its concentration, the amount of body fat a person
has and their lifestyle habits, and the type of drug test being conducted.
Urine
tests can test for THC up to around 30 days after last consumption for a
regular user and about three to four days for someone who only consumes
cannabis a few times a year. Saliva tests usually only test for THC up to 24
hours after last use, although new technology now exists with some tests able
to detect up to 72 hours. Hair tests are the most sensitive and can detect THC
up to three months after last use.
There is
no known method of beating a urine test without raising suspicion. Drinking
excess water or other liquids to dilute a sample is easily detected and the
myth of exercising immediately before a test will only serve to increase the
level of THC circulating in the blood stream as the body’s metabolism works to
release THC from fat cells during intense exercise. Money spent on kits to beat
drug tests is wasted because analytical laboratories now test for dilution and
other agents.
Misconceptions about the difference between hemp
and cannabis
There are
many common misconceptions about hemp and its relationship to cannabis. These
include:
- Hemp is a different plant
species to cannabis;
- Hemp is the male plant and
cannabis is the female plant; and
- Medicine derived from hemp
(such as cannabidiol) is different to that of cannabis.
These
statements are all incorrect. Hemp is a cannabis sativa cultivar. Therefore,
hemp is a cannabis plant. The only difference is that hemp contains very minor
traces of THC (generally well below 1% THC).
Hemp and
cannabis plants can be male or female. The big difference is that only female
cannabis plants are used to extract cannabinoids from the flower (for medicinal
or recreational use), whereas both male and female hemp plants are used for
foods and industrial use, depending on what is to be produced. Hemp fibre is
used for industrial purposes and its seeds are used in food products.
Please note: I am not a cannabis user myself. I was
born with a condition that means by body produces high levels of
endocannabinoids (naturally produced by my body) as well as the endorphins serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin. I have, however worked in the field of
plant based medicines since 1998, and Chair Standards Groups for the
Cannabis Industry in both Australia and the UK.I am the founder and CEO of LeafCann Group, a fully licensed Australian Medicinal Cannabis company.
References
- Slikker Jr W, Paule MG, Ali
SF, Scallet AC, Bailey JR (1991). Chronic marijuana smoke exposure in the
rhesus monkey I. Plasma cannabinoid and blood carboxyhemoglobin
concentrations and clinical chemistry parameters. Fundam Appl Toxicol 17:
321–334.
- Leweke F, Koethe D. Cannabis
and psychiatric disorders: it is not only addiction. Addict Biol.
2008;13(2):264–275. Review.
- US NIDA website
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/marijuana-addictive
- Drug Policy Alliance
website: Debunking the Gateway Myth. http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DebunkingGatewayMyth_NY_0.pdf