The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use: technical brief
Overview
Cannabis is globally the most commonly used psychoactive substance under international control. There is an increasing attention to health and social consequences of nonmedical cannabis use, including cannabis use disorders. This technical brief provides an evidence update on the impact of nonmedical cannabis use on health, building on the previous publication from 2016.
Conclusion
As presented in this brief update to WHO’s 2016 report on The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use (1), the nonmedical use of cannabis may have a broad impact on health and social development. This includes short-term adverse effects such as panic attacks, hallucinations, or increased risk of traffic injuries when driving while intoxicated. Regular cannabis use is linked to long-term negative effects on mental health, such as development of cannabis use disorder, cognitive impairment and early school-leaving, and poorer mental health outcomes, including an increased risk of psychotic disorders and a worse prognosis among those affected. Finally, there are adverse long-term effects of regular cannabis use on physical health – including chronic bronchitis, cannabis-associated functional nausea and vomiting, and growing evidence of increased risks of myocardial infarction and stroke among people using cannabis heavily – while uncertainties remain regarding cancer risks beyond those attributable to tobacco, with suggestive but inconclusive evidence linking cannabis use to testicular cancer.
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