Is Smoking Marijuana Safe? Get a Doctor’s Take

The past couple of years have witnessed multiple states legalizing medical marijuana. Many doctors, researchers, and patients testify that medical marijuana can have a significant impact on many different types of chronic pain and other health conditions and complications. But what about smoking weed just for fun?

According to internist Paul Knoepfelmacher, MD, more research is needed to understand how marijuana affects your health. Recreational marijuana has historically been considered a Schedule 1 drug, the same category as heroin and LSD. This label is assigned to drugs that have no medical value and can be highly addictive. However, current research suggests this label may not be accurate for recreational marijuana. The research on long-term health effects of marijuana are limited, but some findings suggest that heavy use of recreational marijuana could affect lung function, increase heart rate, or have psychological effects. (By comparison, here’s how smoking cigarettes affects the body.)

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Sanjai Sinha, MD

Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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