If you would like more information on what medical marijuana in Florida can do for you and your family. Please contact our office (All Natural MD) today to see if you qualify!
Cannabis, like any other medication, can have side-effects. Of course, side-effects such as being pain-free and being able to eat and sleep properly are positive ones. Other side-effects, however, are not so desirable. Here is a description on some of the most common side-effects …
THC Side-Effects
THC’s side-effects are usually the most obvious – not surprising, seeing as it is the prominent psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. At low doses of around 3 mg or less, THC may have little-to-no psychoactive effect, although there may be a slight feeling of euphoria. Some people start at a dose of around 5 mg THC when using edibles, where there may be some euphoric effect, but to a manageable level.
For most people, the main problems with THC come when too much is ingested too quickly. Sleepiness, lethargy, feeling hot and sweaty or cold, anxiety, paranoia, “cotton” or “dry” mouth (i.e. a lack of saliva in the mouth), the “munchies” (extreme hunger pangs), a sense of a loss of self, short-term memory loss, dry, red eyes and, more rarely, dizziness and nausea are the most common negative side effects, although sleepiness and hunger pangs can be beneficial for certain conditions. An increase in heart rate, followed by a decrease, is also common.
As for the likelihood of experiencing a psychotic episode, this is only likely to occur in those who are already predisposed to conditions where psychosis may be an issue (e.g. schizophrenia). For children and adolescents, exposure to high amounts of THC on a regular basis may have some long-term effects on memory, mood and behavior, as the brain is still developing. For those aged 25 and over, however, the long-term effects of THC are not known (as is the case with many medications)
Eating cannabis also tends to have longer lasting and stronger effects than other ingestion methods. Whilst vaporizing, inhaling or smoking small amounts of THC can provide a more immediate effect, they are not necessarily the healthiest methods of ingestion. Tinctures, topical’s, patches, inhalers, suppositories and all the ingestion methods associated with the usual ways of taking medicine can often provide a more controlled release of THC; but, with a few exceptions, finding a company that produces a properly standardized product that releases a specific dose upon every application is difficult.
Fortunately, the side-effects of taking too much THC are not life-threatening. Staying hydrated, eating well, keeping relaxed and not worrying too much is often the best strategy. Some people use black peppercorns for their pinene and beta-caryophyllene to beat anxiety and lessen some of the effects negative effects of THC. CBD is also used to dampen the effects of THC, usually by taking equal amounts of CBD to the amount of THC ingested.
However, although CBD can reduce THC’s anxiety-inducing properties, in small doses and in combination with THC, it can prolong THC’s effects to a certain extent whilst also lessening its more paranoia-inducing effects to a smaller extent. Small amounts of THCV may also be used, as it is a CB1 receptor antagonist at low doses. However, at high doses, THCV is a CB1 receptor agonist and so has psychoactive effects. So, basically, as with any other medication, dosing cannabis matters.
CBD Side-Effects
CBD is an interesting compound. Although not psychoactive in the same sense that THC is, the fact that CBD has a physiological effect means that CBD does have some sort of psychoactive effect – just not one that seems to cause a significant alteration in perception. Some potential side-effects of CBD include low blood pressure, lightheadedness, drowsiness or even wakefulness and feeling “jittery” if high doses are used. There is some evidence suggesting that using bad quality, hemp-based CBD may increase the rate of seizures for those with epilepsy. CBD may also lower body temperature. Fortunately, this appears to be changing as cannabis gains wider and wider acceptance within the medical community; it’s worth noting that an overwhelming majority of Americans now support decriminalizing medical cannabis. That said, a percentage of doctors may not only be inexperienced with cannabis but feel that it’s merely a recreational drug with no valid medical use. Remember that medical cannabis was never taught in medical school.
In some instances, Parkinson’s patients may feel an increase in their tremors, whilst high doses of CBD may actually increase intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. However, perhaps the main problem with CBD is not necessarily its side-effects as opposed to its physiological effects. Little is known about the long-term side-effects of consuming CBD, although current studies suggest that it is generally well-tolerated and safe for most people. And, they have fact sheets and condition-based booklets that you can share with your physician.” (See the Publications section on the Americans for Safe Access website.)
Cannabis is not usually associated with hangovers. After all, you tend not to get the headaches, nausea/vomiting and dehydration associated with alcohol. Yet, for anyone who’s used cannabis for long enough, they will realize that the residual effects of cannabis can be felt into the next day. THC dominant products, on the other hand, are preferred by patients with chronic pain or who are undergoing palliative cancer care to help with the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and low appetite. Very rarely is a cannabis hangover painful (headaches and nausea are possible, but not common), but forgetfulness and “brain fog” is often experienced. Usually, the best way to overcome a cannabis hangover is by staying hydrated, fresh air and some sort of physical exertion. your doctor may be legally obligated to alert child protective services.
We have gone over this concern many times, but it is worth reiterating: cannabis is not physically addictive, although around 9% of regular users can develop a psychological addiction called cannabis misuse disorder. Occasional use does not seem to be addictive, and even regular use is not a major concern in controlling use for most people. On the whole, cannabis is far less addictive than alcohol, tobacco, benzodiazepines, opioids and some would even say coffee!
When it comes to the natural phytocannabinoids made by the actual cannabis plant, there is only a theoretical chance of a deadly overdose if cannabis is used on its own – it would take consuming around 1500 pounds of cannabis to induce a lethal response. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) breaks down cannabinoids very rapidly, meaning that dangerous levels of cannabinoids are never really reached.
When it comes to synthetic cannabinoids, it seems that it is certainly possible to overdose on them. This is because some types of synthetic cannabinoids can shut down some of the human body’s essential processes – the ECS is intimately involved with homeostasis, after all, and desensitizing or shutting off the wrong part of it can cause some major health problems, or even death. For this reason, care must be taken with synthetic cannabinoids, even in clinical settings.
Sadly, we do not know enough about the pharmacology of every single cannabinoid to determine how each one affects us precisely, especially in the long term. The matter gets even more complicated when you start mixing different cannabinoids and terpenoids, as they all influence the way in which other cannabinoids behave. High doses of CBG may cause nausea and block the antiemetic effects of THC,
There is also cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), but the condition is extremely rare and how it is caused precisely specifically is not known. So far, it is mostly THC that has been implicated in the development of CHS (CBD may increase CB1 receptor expression in the brain and therefore lead to a greater amount of receptors being exposed to THC and its hypothermic effects), and consumption must be regular and heavy says many medical marijuana doctors near me. As everybody’s ECS is different and the pharmacology of cannabinoids is varied and complex, some people may get side-effects that others do not. Overall, though, cannabis is generally very well tolerated and you cannot have a deadly overdose on it when used alone. There are few if any substances on this Earth with the safety profile of cannabis, which is why its medical potential is so exciting. However, the only way we’re going to know how safe cannabis truly is, is by removing the barriers to researching the plant properly and without fear of the law.
Further Resources & Publications:
- Americans for Safe Access: State-by-State Legal Information and Forms for Recommending Cannabis
- Americans for Safe Access: Resources for Patients
- Americans for Safe Access: Becoming a State-Authorized Patient
- Project CBD: What Is The Endocannabinoid System
- Medscape: Endocannabinoids
- Healer.com: Cannabis Education
- Australian Government Department of Health: Health Professional Information & Education
Click here, here, and here to find evidence of a test, analysis, research, or study describing the benefits, performance or efficacy of CBD based on the expertise of relevant professionals.
Certain activities, substances, or even physical environments can decrease male fertility by killing or damaging sperm cells. If you’re trying to conceive with your partner, or if you think you might like to start a family someday, keep reading to learn more about how medical marijuana (Cannabis) affects sperm count and fertility in men.
Before we start this discussion, let’s clear up some important terminology: first and foremost, the difference between “sperm” and “semen.”
Semen, which contains sperm, is simply the fluid discharged during orgasm. You might hear it referred to as “seminal fluid.”
The sperm cells in semen – those tadpole-like cells you probably remember seeing pictures of in biology class – are what actually penetrate and fertilize egg cells (“ova”).
When we talk about a man’s overall “sperm quality,” we’re really talking about three distinct criteria:
- Sperm Count – “Sperm count” is the number of sperm cells in a given semen sample. Sperm count can range anywhere from about 15 million to 200 million sperm cells per milliliter of semen. A sperm count lower than 15 million sperm cells per milliliter is considered a low sperm count, a common condition known as “oligospermia.” A low sperm count can be increased, and does not necessarily make pregnancy impossible. However, oligospermia makes conceiving much more difficult.
- Sperm Morphology – Morphology is the study of physical structures and forms. Put simply, “sperm morphology” refers to normal versus abnormal sperm cells. A deformed sperm cell might be too large or too small, or be shaped abnormally (e.g. having two heads).
- Sperm Motility – Sperm cells have to be powerful swimmers in order to reach the egg. This ability to move around is called “motility.” Even if a man has a normal sperm count, abnormal sperm motility (or morphology) can still cause fertility problems.
In summary, there are three gauges of male fertility:
- How many sperm cells there are in a man’s semen (the count).
- How many of a man’s sperm cells are deformed (the morphology).
- How well a man’s sperm cells are able to swim around (the motility).
Does Marijuana Lower Sperm Count?
Now that we’ve clarified those critical terms, let’s take a closer look at how sperm quality might be impacted by Cannabis use, based on peer-reviewed research conducted during the past decade.
Most research indicates that marijuana has negative effects on sperm and thus male fertility, which might be good or bad news depending on how soon you’d like to become a dad. Here are what some recent studies had to say on the subject of Cannabis, sperm, and male fertility.
In 2015, the American Journal of Epidemiology published a study on “1,215 young Danish men aged 18 to 28 years.” Some of the men did not use marijuana, some used it weekly or less, and some used it more than once per week.
In the study, “Regular marijuana smoking more than once per week was associated with a 28% lower sperm concentration and a 29% lower total sperm count after adjustment for confounders.”
Additionally, “The combined use of marijuana more than once per week and other recreational drugs reduced the sperm concentration by 52% and total sperm count by 55%.” However, it’s impossible to know how much of this was attributable directly to Cannabis, as opposed to the “other recreational drugs.”
The young age of the participants in the study is significant, because while men can have problems with sperm count, morphology, or motility at any age, these factors are more commonly seen in middle-aged or elderly men.
The Epidemiology study focused on sperm count and concentration of sperm cells, but did not examine motility or morphology. However, according to a 2011 study that was published in Frontiers in Bioscience, “[C]hronic exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC], the main psychoactive constituent of marijuana, impairs human reproductive potential by… reducing sperm count and motility.”
Similar effects have been noted in mice, with one 2012 study from the British Journal of Pharmacology finding, “Pretreatment of sperm for 15 min with 1 µM delta-9-THC reduced their basal motility and attenuated the ability of bicarbonate to stimulate flagellar beat frequency.” In other words, the British study showed that exposing sperm cells to THC decreased their motility, specifically by interfering with the process that normally prompts sperm cells to whip their tails at a certain frequency. (Interestingly, the same study mentioned that rimonabant – a banned drug that binds to the same receptors as Cannabis, yet produces opposite effects – “has been shown to enhance sperm motility, says Doctors that study marijuana in Florida.”)
Cannabis could also have negative impacts on sperm morphology, meaning marijuana could cause more of your sperm cells to be shaped abnormally. Research published in Human Reproduction in 2014 established “use of [C]annabis in the three months prior to [semen] sample collection” as one of the “risk factors for poor sperm morphology,” even after adjusting for other factors, among men aged 30 or younger.
While older data is less valuable, the findings happen to be similar. For instance, a study that was published in 1985 in the Spanish medical journal Acta Ginecologica noted, “Declines in sperm volume and count and abnormal sperm motility have been observed in chronic marijuana users” (though the study did not define “chronic marijuana users”).
So, what’s the takeaway?
The bad news (if you want to become a father) is that marijuana appears to have negative effects on sperm count, sperm morphology, and sperm motility – all of which are important for getting pregnant.
The good news is that these effects aren’t permanent. Remember, these studies all looked at current or recent users of marijuana. If you’re worried about Cannabis damaging your sperm quality or sperm count, try taking a break for a few months. And if that’s not an option, there are many other ways to try boosting your sperm count, ranging from advanced medical treatments to simple lifestyle changes.
Finally, it’s important to mention that, for men with initially normal sperm counts, the decrement likely with Cannabis would not affect fertility.
The important thing is not to give up or get discouraged. Millions of couples have had perfectly healthy babies after struggling to conceive for months or even years.
Florida Marijuana Doctor
You may want to consider abstaining from Cannabis, at least temporarily, if you’re trying to have a child with your partner. If you are not trying to conceive, you may be interested in Cannabis for male sexual enhancement. Medical marijuana has also been approved for arthritis patients, chronic pain patients, Crohn’s patients, multiple sclerosis patients, and many others.To learn more about how medical marijuana can help provide relief for your condition, or to get information about incorporating Cannabis into other areas of your life, such as marijuana for anxiety in Florida or marijuana for sexual enhancement, contact All Natural Medical Solutions at 954.939.0343 or get started online for a free and confidential consultation.
You may want to consider abstaining from Cannabis, at least temporarily, if you’re trying to have a child with your partner. If you are not trying to conceive, you may be interested in Cannabis for male sexual enhancement. Medical marijuana has also been approved for arthritis patients, chronic pain patients, Crohn’s patients, multiple sclerosis patients, and many others.