I would like to know the long-term effects, especially any related to birth defects and miscarriage, of very mild marijuana use in the past, i.e. college. I know substances in marijuana are fat-soluble and wonder if this contributes to any long-term effect.
July 16, 2001 -- The various metabolites -- and there are lots of them! -- of tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC, the active ingredient in marijuana) do remain in fatty tissues long after the psychotropic effects of the drug have passed. For someone who uses marijuana only very occasionally, those substances are probably flushed from the body within five days, but chronic users may have significant levels for weeks or even a month. Since I gather that college was some years ago, for that reason alone, I suspect you have little to worry about.
Nevertheless, your concerns about marijuana use and childbearing are not unfounded. You didn't mention whether you're male or female, so I'll mention some things for both sexes to consider. Marijuana use by men has been shown to lower sperm counts somewhat and may affect hormone levels. In women, its use may affect menstrual cycles. That said, there is to my knowledge not a single documented case of infertility caused solely by marijuana use, although it may sometimes be a contributor.
Marijuana use during pregnancy is a greater concern. THC does cross the placenta, and it may be associated with a slightly increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. A small reduction in average birth weight has also been documented. Once the child of a pot-smoking mother is born, he or she is more likely to experience problems with attention and certain kinds of analytical tasks. No reduction in IQ has been found, but there's clearly some psychological influence through the toddler years and perhaps into the teens. Just as an expectant mother shouldn't drink, she shouldn't smoke (pot or tobacco) or be around smoke. It's just not worth the risk.
Marijuana may be one of the most studied drugs of our time. And as the medical science accumulates, a pattern begins to emerge: The drug is neither the deadly toxin its foes portray nor the benign herb its advocates like to see. There's no reason to think that smoking a marijuana cigarette is any better for the lungs than smoking an unfiltered tobacco cigarette, and there's some reason to think it's worse. For one thing, marijuana smokers typically inhale very deeply and hold the smoke in their lungs for extended periods. For another, some cellular-level research suggests that THC may increase the mutagenic activity of the tar in smoke, which could lead to cancer.
ijuana smokers are also at risk of other problems. One survey found that daily users reported 19% more respiratory problems (infections, irritation) than did nonsmokers. The daily users also had 30% more injuries from accidents than did nonsmokers, which is consistent with research on marijuana's effect on cognition and motor function. That said, just about without exception, alcohol is worse.
June 2001, a new concern was documented by Murray Mittleman and his colleagues at Harvard and Beth Israel Medical Center. The group found that marijuana smokers have increased risk (4.8 times) of heart attack for an hour after lighting up. Pot is known to accelerate heart rate by as much as 50% for up to an hour, so there may be some relation between these findings. As the baby boomers age, they'd best put away those '60s habits.
Goldberg, MD, a board-certified urologist, is dedicated to educating men to detect health problems early and to modify their lifestyles to live longer. His clinical experience has deepened his understanding of the psychology of the male patient and his knowledge of how best to communicate with men and their partners.
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