Long Term Health Concerns

This is a bit more serious than my usual posts, but I figured this is the right place for the conversation.
I'm relatively young (about 1/4 of the age of @The Hippy ) and have been smoking daily for 3 years now.
So far, I have noticed almost no negative effects and things are going well. Given my needs, I don't expect to stop smoking anytime in the next 40 years.

With that being my reality, I was curious whether anyone had any tips or things to look out for as time goes on.
I understand the product is safe, but I also know that I'm starting to see some minor issues develop that could be associated.

For example:

• My short term memory was never amazing, but now seems to be getting worse. Some days I can't remember a conversation from the day before. Not sure if the memory I lose is only conversations I have while stoned, I've just noticed my wife pointing out more things I'm forgetting.
  
  
• Cough - this one is pretty self-explanatory, but I have noticed a cough developing. I used to think vape/shatter was the solution to this, but I find that this is even harder on my lungs and, when looking at the hardware I use, it's become clear that my shatter dabs involve inhaling some liquid oil that isn't entirely vaporized
  
  
• Energy levels - when I am medicating, energy levels are very high and I feel great. If I take 2 days off the medicine, I feel like a bag of shit and have no energy. My wife might go so far as to say I get grumpy and irritable to be around.

Just thinking out loud. Might start taking some memory pills as that's the only one that I have any concern about, but I'm also trying to think ahead knowing that I'm going to be medicating for years and years to come.

I would suggest using a vape and some edibles on occasion to help aleviate the coughing.

Energy levels...I use Sativa in the day and Indica at night. The memory problems well sometimes I write it down.

gwheels said:

Energy levels...I use Sativa in the day and Indica at night. The memory problems well sometimes I write it down.

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I am starting to write everything down, but no miraculous difference just yet

Try switching to a different vape and doing cardio exercise a few times a week. I sometimes use a water tool because the vape can be dry. Ive noticed when i use more cbd the memory issues arent as bad.

Sometimes I walk up stairs and forget what I went there for lol

What was your first question again? Being stoned does make you forgetful but stopping for a week will cure that.

The long term effects of cannabis is something I might know a little about. Been toking since 1982 started growing my own under hid lights in 1988. I did have issues with coughing and shortness of breath from 84 to 99 but after I quit tobacco in 99 my issues were minimal. Four years ago I bought an azir extreme q since using it i cough less then my non smoking friends.

As far as energy goes when i stop toking i have way too much. I find this handy when doing projects like rebuilding the deck or putting on a new roof.

I have a few vaporizers - I might start moving back to the Arizer Extreme Q and Solo instead of smoking joints every day.
I always forget that I can vape the flower itself, not just the extracts.

I'm also trying to take CBD pills every day, but I genuinely just forget most days.

herbs1 said:

Try switching to a different vape and doing cardio exercise a few times a week. I sometimes use a water tool because the vape can be dry. Ive noticed when i use more cbd the memory issues arent as bad.

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I do cardio every single day. Can't miss more than 1 day or I'll seize up and lose mobility pretty quick.
I can do 15 minutes of workout sober or 45 minutes on Pink Kush, so my smoking every day starts with a 4pm puff and physio/cardio/workout.
Doing daily cardio has definitely changed my life and also led to me losing 15lbs, despite constantly having the munchies.

I've been a heavy user since the early 70's. I started when I was 14, and will be 60 in a couple months...

Short term memory is definitely an issue, however, I managed to make it through a career as a software engineer, so with a little creative note keeping, not a problem.

Cough - always had one, but I also smoked cigarettes from about '76 till '2012 or so... Still coughing all the time though...

Energy - well, I suffer from chronic back pain (among many other ailements) which keeps me from being active, but looking back to when I was healthy, I think the pot made me, if not lazy, at least less motivated in the long run.

Overall, the benefits have far outweighed the negatives though....

Heavy User = Never NOT high...

Long Term Health Concerns


Every day forward, is one less concern!


Dude..
People get hit by trucks driving their bikes to work.

nuff said.

Do what YOU NEED TO DO..

im here for a good time not along time

roksonix said:

im here for a good time not along time

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Was my old boys tune and he lived by it...died by it too

I'm trying to have a good time, for a long time, but mostly working on the good time...

odam2k said:

Energy - well, I suffer from chronic back pain (among many other ailements)

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I'm a software engineer (although now I lead a team, don't write much) with a bulging disc and lower back compression.
Not expecting that to change, so just looking for best advice to keep enjoying life as much as I do now.

gb123 said:

Do what YOU NEED TO DO..

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I have no intentions of stopping, I am just looking for best advice from those who have been through it longer than I have.
I do want to reduce actual smoke, but aside from that haven't considered many adjustments.

roksonix said:

im here for a good time not along time

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Yup, that is what I used to think too. I even pressed the ESC key many times, but I am still here.

oddish said:

I do cardio every single day..... so my smoking every day starts with a 4pm puff and physio/cardio/workout.
Doing daily cardio has definitely changed my life and also led to me losing 15lbs, despite constantly having the munchies.

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That's the problem. Get high within the first 15 minutes of waking up. Keep the high going by medicating every 45-90 minutes until bedtime. Build up a higher tolerance and you will notice less negative effect.

@oddish I found in most cases of back pain I have experienced over the years, the best relief came from hash. That cheap black hash we called "redwrap" worked the best, but in most cases hash always worked better than cannabis. YMMV.

PS. Maybe a visit to a good chiropractor will help as well. It sure helped me when I needed it.

Farmer.J said:

That's the problem. Get high within the first 15 minutes of waking up. Keep the high going by medicating every 45-90 minutes until bedtime. Build up a higher tolerance and you will notice less negative effect.

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Dawn to dusk for sure. Keeps most of the pains away.

zoic said:

@oddish I found in most cases of back pain I have experienced over the years, the best relief came from hash. That cheap black hash we called "redwrap" worked the best, but in most cases hash always worked better than cannabis. YMMV.

PS. Maybe a visit to a good chiropractor will help as well. It sure helped me when I needed it.

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Hash I haven't tried in a long while.

Chiropractor I visit on the regular. Also physiotherapist who does acupuncture, dry needling, cupping and massage. Backs suck.