MJ Side Effects

Ok I got a question for the long time smokers and vapors. Have you have any side effects from the long term use of mj. I have smoked flowers since I was 13 on an everyday basis. I first smoked at 11 then became a regular habit at 13. I mean literally everyday. Im 36 now 23 years straight. I have had a doctors tell me I have bery healthy lungs also had a brain scan for headaches mri/cat which ever one sees everylittle vein and was told I have an incredibly healthy brain. The only problem i have ever had was the greenish grey thick sticky phlegm. But since switching to vape only has dissipated. Anyone have and input? Also must note I am not a cig smoker. Strictly sticky.

Similar. I *was* a cig smoker and joint smoker both quite heavy. I also had chronic bronchitis and asthma since I was a baby (obviously before smoking anything.) Amazingly now that I've quit tobacco and strictly vape I have clear lungs, clear phlegm and zero asthma. Actually I find it quite astonishing. Since I use ecigs and vape as well I'm not sure which one has the most positive effect. I believe vaping dries out my lungs with hot dry air and the PG from ecigs acts as a germ barrier. Win win

10 years vaping exclusively daily, save for a couple of weeks T-break here and there, with the maximum of about a month. I'm heavily dependent on it, primarily for sleep....no vape=no sleep, and that's why I always cave back into it after the break, because I literally start going insane. Other than that, anytime I take a break I notice my breathing improves, brain fog dissipates, and I lose a shit-tonne of water weight. I also become an anxious, irritable prick and hate myself. So, I don't take many breaks

biohacker said:

10 years vaping exclusively daily, save for a couple of weeks T-break here and there, with the maximum of about a month. I'm heavily dependent on it, primarily for sleep....no vape=no sleep, and that's why I always cave back into it after the break, because I literally start going insane. Other than that, anytime I take a break I notice my breathing improves, brain fog dissipates, and I lose a shit-tonne of water weight. I also become an anxious, irritable prick and hate myself. So, I don't take many breaks

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I don't think you can "literally" go insane and then be not insanse when you go back to vaping.

I think he means he goes "insane" without sleep, I can relate.

Joel W. said:

I think he means he goes "insane" without sleep, I can relate.

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Yea most likely. Just my problem with the use of the word "literally" people tend to use it in the least literal sense lol

I should have added the many positive side effects as well. Nothing is black and white in this world, and everyone has to pick their own poisons. I'm constantly re-evaluating my relationship with this medicine, as I try to continue to self improve in all other aspects of my life. I just wanted to add a bit more balance and perspective to my first post. I've had horrible MJ side effects in the past, but positive ones as well. One of the worst was when my speech started to become affected. But on the flip side it has helped me calm down and get to sleep more times than not.

biohacker said:

I should have added the many positive side effects as well. Nothing is black and white in this world, and everyone has to pick their own poisons. I'm constantly re-evaluating my relationship with this medicine, as I try to continue to self improve in all other aspects of my life. I just wanted to add a bit more balance and perspective to my first post. I've had horrible MJ side effects in the past, but positive ones as well. One of the worst was when my speech started to become affected. But on the flip side it has helped me calm down and get to sleep more times than not.

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That's exactly where I was going next with this post, I want to also hear about the positive it has brought.

When I smoked joints and a little pipe I was getting a smokers cough in the mornings. Also I caught every little cold that came around. I hated the smell of cannabis in my nose, clothing and hair. I would burn incense in my house. The incense I noticed didn't burn very clean either, with little pieces of soot in the air. So I was breathing that in too. All the cannabis had about the same taste burnt and a couch lock feel.

Vaporizing is a whole different way of life basically. I feel healthier which is the most important thing. Plus I don't catch a cold but maybe once a year. I don't feel I live in a constant fear of destroying my lungs. Now it's a nice clean high - not always a couch lock feel unless I use a heavy indica and want one. I have my medical certification now and able to buy several different strains. I can taste the cannabis I'm using and I don't smell like a stinky mj pipe anymore.

If you still smoke cannabis try the vaporizing lifestyle for a month with no smoking. I think you will agree this is a more positive and healthier way of life and more enjoyable.

I find it fun collecting and trying different vaporizers and accessories.

CarolKing said:

When I smoked joints and a little pipe I was getting a smokers cough in the mornings. Also I caught every little cold that came around. I hated the smell of cannabis in my nose, clothing and hair. I would burn incense in my house. The incense I noticed didn't burn very clean either, with little pieces of soot in the air. So I was breathing that in too. All the cannabis had about the same taste burnt and a couch lock feel.

Vaporizing is a whole different way of life basically. I feel healthier which is the most important thing. Plus I don't catch a cold but maybe once a year. I don't feel I live in a constant fear of destroying my lungs. Now it's a nice clean high - not always a couch lock feel unless I use a heavy indica and want one. I have my medical certification now and able to buy several different strains. I can taste the cannabis I'm using and I don't smell like a stinky mj pipe anymore.

If you still smoke cannabis try the vaporizing lifestyle for a month with no smoking. I think you will agree this is a more positive and healthier way of life and more enjoyable.

I find it fun collecting and trying different vaporizers and accessories.

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I can agree with feeling healthier I have had no grey green phlegm since vaping.

For me, I feel the benefits outweigh the side effects..

For me, lately when I get really high, like right now, it's almost like I am on the verge of laughing out loud or cracking up inside. It feels almost like a sneeze is coming on but not in my nose, but higher above my eyes and temples. I suppose it's like the permagrin I experienced as a kid but different. Maybe it's just new strain hitting me differently or all the funny shit on this forum lately? Maybe I am just in a better mood or could it be the higher temp vaping.

I dunno, but I do like it..

If I chose a hot a vape and party for most of the day I can get the "next day" score throat and some mild congestion thing. My question was could it turn into something chronic for an old man like myself? A little study told me that it could so I took some steps to address the situation, additional exercise, better filtration and more attention to the condition of the bud I use paid dividends (better buzz) above the throat and congestion thing. So to the question "have you have any side effects from the long term use of mj" the answer is yes but it turned into an opportunity to up my MJ consumption game. Enjoy

I've only been at it 40 years so I have a ways to go before I can comment on anything long term

Seriously - since switching from combustion to vaping my lungs are clearer and my old asthma symptoms have subsided. I do keep waiting for some memory related issues to kick in but so far nada.

I began getting high, essentially on a daily basis from the get-go, in 1975 (17yrs old) ... quit in Sept. of 2005, and one of the few main reasons I quit was the way every day blazin' was affecting my breathing ... additionally, MJ was my ball & chain and at 47 yrs I needed a change - and never considered going back until this past March 2015, when a co-worker, almost out of the blue, offered me 2 grams of some very good bud. Despite every intention of not getting high Monday thru Thursday, guess what ... I maybe abstained for a day once every couple of weeks for the next four months (until just before I picked up my Airizer ExQ on eBay).

And more to the point of what this fine forum is about, despite having not burned one in 9 1/2 yrs., it only took 2 or 3 months of primarily smoking' bowls, along with an occasional doobie.

When I came home from work that March Monday (via the head shop :-) with my first buzz in almost a decade ("Hey honey, guess what I did after work?"), my wife (#3 of 6 yrs, but she knows the story/history) and I decided to wait on buying a vape until we were sure I'd maintain a much more healthy relationship (thanks Dr. Andrew Weil :-).

Four months of combusting after such a long time away enabled me to now (just into my second month vaping) have an even greater appreciation for this wonderful method of extraction than I might otherwise might not have had.

Negative side effects of of MJ for me at least were (1) becoming dependent on it to where it was too much of a priority at the expense of my duties and obligations as a student, then as a husband and father, and (2) all the health related issues associated with combusting the ganj on a daily basis.

These two negative side effects can be avoided with (1) willpower and (2) a nice vaporizer or two (an Airizer Air is on the way :-)


An additional side note about not being able to sleep ... it took only 4 to 6 weeks into my 9.5 yr tolerance break to be able to fall and stay asleep relatively well ... the first four of these past five months - same deal with the sleeping ... now that I'm not getting high everyday, it's still a little tricky with the falling and staying asleep.
What seems to be working is that I'm only getting high well into the evening maybe one night a week ... the other times I'll enjoy my last balloon just before or after dinner. Therefore, it's more of an "i didn't get high today" feeling at bedtime.
I'm strictly vaping in the moderate range to avoid the sedation associated with higher temps, with a result of a great buzz and surprisingly none of the crash & burnout I'd come to associate with smoking all day ... I can therefore, much easier, not feel the need to stay high (because of the dreaded "burned out" alternative).

Fortunately, upon starting up again five months ago, sneaking it at work was never a problem, like it had been throughout most of 30 yrs ... I've continued right along with my regular exercise that began in '06 ... and the icing on the cake -- vaping an a legalization effort in full swing !!!