Is Mary Jane Bad for Your Health?

This study followed more than a thousand people from Dundin, New Zealand born in 1972 or 1973 through age 38. They assessed the frequency of marijuana use and dependence at ages 18, 21, 26, 32 and 38. Physical health was measured with lab tests as well as self-reporting at ages 26 and 38. Tests assessed periodontal health, lung function, systemic inflammation, metabolic syndrome, waist circumference, HDL cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin concentration and body mass index. Marijuana use was compared to cigarette smoking and included non-smokers. Only periodontal health was found to be worse in 56 percent of people with 15 or more years of marijuana use. Marijuana use led to periodontal disease by age 26 and it continued to get worse with age. In contrast, tobacco smoking was associated with worse health measures in 8 of 12 categories including periodontal disease, lung function, systemic inflammation and metabolic health. Interestingly, marijuana use was associated with slightly better metabolic health, smaller waist circumference, lower BMI, better HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and glycated hemoglobin concentration. That is despite the popular jokes about marijuana-associated munchies. These are somewhat unexpected findings with many assuming that long term marijuana use would have more adverse effects. It must be noted that this is one study of a uniform population in a single country only to age 38. It remains to be seen if th...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news