Smoking

Your lungs were not meant to take in hot, noxious gases, so smoking cannabis is bad for you.

If you smoke cannabis with tobacco, you expose your lungs to two harmful drugs and this increases the risks. Smoking can lead to illnesses like bronchitis, emphysema and cancer.

Many cannabis users also become long-term cigarette smokers. Giving up tobacco may be more difficult as a result of your cannabis use.

If you intend to go on smoking, you can reduce the risks to your throat, chest and lungs by not holding smoke in your lungs or inhaling too deeply. Inhaling deeply won’t get you more stoned: your lungs will just breathe in more toxins.

Smoking cannabis can damage your health and other people’s health too – show some respect and don’t smoke around others, particularly children. Ideally, cut down and stop. Use the self-help feature on this website.

Mental health

Have you ever felt tense or agitated after smoking pot? Have you ever had uncontrolled thoughts or become confused after a joint?

Some people experience unpleasant effects when they use cannabis, such as anxiety, panic attacks or paranoia. Usually these symptoms stop once the cannabis has worn off.

If you have had a mental health problem before or if you have a history of mental health problems in your family, cannabis can trigger serious mental health problems (such as schizophrenia). There is also concern that people who use cannabis a lot when they are young may be vulnerable to mental health problems later in life.

If you already have a mental health problem, cannabis will probably make your symptoms worse. Talk to your GP about any psychological and mental health issues.

If cannabis is affecting your mental health, stop using it.