Pregnant or lactating mothers should absolutely avoid ingesting or smoking cannabis, THC, or CBD products, as these compounds are critical for fetal brain wiring and development and can cross the blood-placental barrier.
Individuals aged 14-25 should avoid cannabis use (smoking, vaping, edibles) due to its detrimental effects on the developing brain, including accelerated thinning of the prefrontal cortex, increased risk of anxiety, depression, and psychosis later in life.
Individuals with a pre-existing genetic propensity for psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder should be extremely cautious or avoid cannabis entirely, as it can significantly increase the risk of psychotic episodes.
Regardless of the substance, smoking or vaping cannabis severely impairs endothelial cells in blood vessels, decreasing cognitive capacity, increasing stroke risk, impacting lung function, and leading to sexual dysfunction.
If a young person (14-25) has used cannabis, quitting immediately and focusing on healthy behaviors like cardiovascular exercise, adequate nutrition, avoiding nicotine, sufficient sleep, and social connection can facilitate some recovery of brain function.
Chronic cannabis use (twice a week or more) can paradoxically increase anxiety and depression over time, even for individuals who initially used it for anxiety relief, as the body’s cannabinoid receptor systems habituate.
Higher potency THC concentrations are directly associated with a greater risk of developing psychosis, major depressive episodes, or major anxiety disorders later in life, especially with chronic use.
If a specific strain or edible causes paranoia or anxiety, increasing the dosage is categorically false advice and will likely exacerbate the negative effects rather than alleviate them.
Regular cannabis use can lead to dependence because external cannabinoids (THC/CBD) out-compete natural endogenous cannabinoids, causing heightened anxiety and disrupted mood when not ingested.
It is your obligation to know the local laws regarding cannabis possession, use, and sale in your area and when you travel, as legality varies tremendously.
Do not mistakenly assume that because cannabis is a plant and naturally occurring, or because the body has cannabinoid receptors, that ingesting cannabis is inherently safe or appropriate for you.
There is no reliable way to predict how a specific cannabis strain or dosage will affect an individual, as responses can vary greatly even among people with similar personality traits.
Learn about Type 1 (THC dominant), Type 2 (equal THC:CBD), and Type 3 (CBD dominant) strains to better understand and potentially predict how different cannabis products might impact you.
Chronic cannabis users (twice a week or more) often experience changes in speech production, including reduced spectral tilt (vocal effort/intensity) and altered verbal timing, even when not under the influence.
Cannabis’s effect on sexual arousal depends on individual prolactin response; if cannabis elevates your prolactin, it will likely suppress sexual desire, whereas if it doesn’t, it may increase arousal.
Be critical of the perception that cannabis is universally safe or beneficial, especially as its legality increases, as this often overlooks documented negative health effects, particularly for young people.
Maintain optimal brain and body function by ensuring proper hydration and adequate electrolyte intake (sodium, magnesium, potassium), as even slight dehydration impairs performance.
Dissolve one packet of Element in 16-32 ounces of water first thing in the morning and during any physical exercise to ensure adequate hydration and electrolyte balance.
Use the Waking Up app for meditation, mindfulness training, Yoga Nidra, or NSDR (non-sleep deep rest) sessions, even short 10-minute ones, to restore cognitive and physical energy and explore different brain states.