Scientists Finally Found The One Reason Weed Is Bad For You
New research finds only one physical health risk of marijuana, and it's not what you think.
Everyone's number one weed question (besides "can I microwave Cheetos" of course) is: is weed actually bad for you? This question is more relevant than ever, since marijuana use among Americans has doubled over the past decade and there's been more than 50 legislative initiatives to legalize or decriminalize cannabis this year alone.
With all that in mind, more people are also seeking treatment for marijuana-related health concerns. Are those concerns valid? And if so, just how valid?
A new study says you can puff for up to 20 years without suffering any major physical repercussions, besides a few loose teeth.
The study found long-term marijuana use only has one physical drawback, and it's gum disease. Originally published in JAMA Psychiatry, the research tested periodontal health, lung function and metabolism of 1,037 New Zealanders, 675 of whom had smoked pot through age 38.
According to The Guardian, 55.6 percent of people who used marijuana for more than 15 years had periodontal disease, while only 13.5 percent of people who'd never used marijuana did.
Could it be that stoners are just lazy when it comes to oral hygiene?
Good guess, but probably not. Researchers found that less frequent brushing and flossing wouldn't be enough to account for poor gum health and therefore it's possible cannabis itself is bad for gums.
Surprisingly, poor lung function was not associated with the negative health effects of long-term pot use—in this study, at least. That doesn't mean there isn't prior research proposing a correlation between getting high and bronchitis, infectious diseases, etc.
So, either continue your Googling or bookmark this article as definitive proof you can toke without major consequence. The choice is yours.