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What to Know

Gannett Health Services
110 Ho Plaza
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-3101
Tel: 607 255-5155
Fax: 607 255-0269
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What are the physical effects of marijuana?

The effects of marijuana can vary widely, depending on the potency of the drug, the location of where it is used (e.g., how safe the individual feels in that environment), and other factors about how the individual is feeling at the time. The drug tends to cause an increase in heart rate, reddening of the eyes, and dryness in the mouth.

Typically, marijuana produces an initial relaxing and stimulating feeling followed by drowsiness. People frequently report that their senses are enhanced, including an increase in appetite. In some cases, users report experiencing anxiety or paranoia. For some people sensitive to the chemical agents sprayed on the plants, marijuana use may cause painful migraine headaches. In larger quantities, stronger strains, or when eaten, marijuana may produce mild hallucinations.

Is marijuana harmful?

There are several potential factors to consider regarding marijuana’s harms—overdose, accidents, its effect on lungs, its impact on memory, and the question of dependency. On one hand, it is impossible to overdose on marijuana. On the other hand, it impairs judgment and complex coordination as well as slows reaction time. Automobile accidents and stupid mistakes are the biggest short-term risks associated with marijuana (Kuhn et al, 1998, p 123).

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How do you know if your marijuana use has become a problem?

The effects of marijuana can be so subtle that it can be tricky for an individual to identify the extent to which marijuana has become a problem in his or her life. Please call Gannett (255-4782) and ask to schedule an appointment with an AOD educator who can help you examine this issue.

Can you really become addicted to marijuana?

Yes. The most up-to-date classification system, as set forth by the American Psychiatric Association, diagnoses marijuana dependency when an individual experiences at least three of the following over a 12-month period:

  • Increased tolerance (experiencing less effect with same amount or needing more to become high)
  • Withdrawal (e.g., irritability, restlessness, headaches, and insomnia when use is discontinued)
  • Using more or for longer periods than intended
  • Persistent desire to or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use
  • Considerable time spent in obtaining or using the substance or recovering from its effects
  • Important social, work, or recreational activities given up or reduced because of use
  • Continued use despite knowledge of problems caused by or aggravated by use

Dependency is a complex diagnosis. If you are concerned about your marijuana use or that of a loved one, consider talking about with someone you trust—family member, friend, or professor.  Also, you may want to look into the range of services available at Gannett and the Ithaca community.

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How does marijuana affect respiratory health?

Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson (1998) break down the topic on marijuana’s effect on the lungs into two questions: 

  1. Does chronic marijuana smoking impair the function of the lungs?
  2. And, does chronic marijuana smoking promote lung cancer? 

In answer to the first question, yes. Some studies have found that the lungs of chronic, heavy users produce less airflow than non-users. 

The lung cancer question is more difficult to answer. In this case, the THC (the psychoactive element in marijuana) isn’t as much the problem as much as it is the smoke itself. While marijuana users inhale a fraction of the smoke compared to a tobacco smoker, they hold the smoke longer and deeper, and almost all of the carcinogens found in tobacco smoke are also in marijuana smoke (Kuhn et al, 1998, p 134).

Does marijuana affect learning and memory?

Some people are concerned that marijuana use may cause long-lasting damage to their memory.  Research suggests that marijuana impairs memory and other cognitive functions for up to 48 hours after using, but there is little solid evidence to suggest longer-term harm to memory and cognitive functions. 

In research with college students, every day users were compared on a battery of cognitive tests with those who used only one time per month (Pope et al, 2001). After 24 hours of abstinence, daily marijuana users (versus those who used only one time per month) were more likely to repeat the same mistakes, had a hard time generating new solutions to problems, and had more problems with some types of memory tests. But, among those students who used once per month, those who had used daily in the past showed no difference in test scores from those who had never used heavily. 

Despite these findings, it is still possible that marijuana use can cause subtle damage to hippocampus circuits, which are central to memory formation. Also, as with any drug, chronic exposure as a child or adolescent could result in changes in the brain since the brain is developing during these years.

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What are the physical effects of Ecstasy/MDMA?

Ecstasy produces a mild, euphoric state within 20 to 40 minutes after ingesting a tablet, with the peak effect occurring 60-90 minutes after. You may also feel a little rush of exhilaration accompanied by nausea. Users report the “high” as feeling intensely empathetic, with a sensation of understanding and accepting others. This is also accompanied by feelings of increased physical sensitivity and a desire to touch. Its stimulant effects can increase your energy and decrease appetite.

Potential short-term negative effects may include anxiety, confusion, depression, sleep problems, and paranoia. Also, people may experience muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and increased body temperature. Some deaths have been associated with ecstasy, usually as a result of heat stroke. 

If you decide to use ecstasy, it is important to stay cool and hydrated. Ecstasy can also be dangerous for people with heart problems.

Are there any real risks to Ecstasy/MDMA?

Ecstasy became very popular in the late 1990s because it was considered to be a drug with an easily-controlled, pleasant high, and no harmful side effects. There is growing evidence that Ecstasy might not be so harmless—with both short-term effects for occasional users and those who experiment with the drug and long-term damage that can come with frequent use or a single high dose. 

Some users report “Tuesday blues,” such as feeling depressed, anxious, irritable and having difficulty concentrating for several days after use.Evidence suggests that long-term use or a single high dose of Ecstasy can cause a long-term loss of serotonin, an important chemical in the brain that regulates mood. This sort of damage could cause subtle but significant impairment to cognitive abilities, memory, arithmetic calculation, complex attention, and increased impulsiveness. 

Gannett's Counseling and Psychological Services can help you with problems such as depression or anxiety that might be due to Ecstasy use.

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What are the physical effects of prescription stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall)?

Ritalin, Adderall, and other prescription stimulants are central nervous stimulants commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These stimulants can help those diagnosed with ADHD to focus and concentrate. However, if misused or abused, prescription stimulants can be addictive and cause serious health risks.

Some students who do not have a prescription for these medications take these drugs thinking they will help them pull “all nighters,” either to study or party. For people not diagnosed with ADHD, taking a single dose of these medications may increase mental alertness and decrease fatigue. However, depending on the dosage, you may find yourself to be depressed and irritable after the peak effect of the drug. Other side effects include dehydration, hot flashes, appetite suppression, stomach pains, palpitations, nausea, heavy sweating, decreased libido, headaches and even involuntary movements, even death.

For more information about the appropriate use and risks of misuse related to prescriptions stimulants, check out ACHA's Guide for Students.  

Is it harmful to use Ritalin, Adderall, and other prescription stimulants?

Adderall and Ritalin are prescription stimulants that are used to treat ADD and ADHD. They are not available (legally) without a prescription, and people who are on them need to be monitored by a health care professions. They are not prescribed as a study aid, or to help someone stay awake. And there are significant risks associated with taking them:

  • They are habit-forming, meaning that people who use them excessively or improperly can become physically and psychologically dependent on them. And when the drugs stop, many individuals crash and experience withdrawal. The potential to overdose is also a concern. 
  • They can be "gateway" drugs for further substance abuse. Chemical cousins of cocaine, they can be similarly addictive, leading to riskier use of even more risky substances. 
  • They can have many serious side effects, including insomnia, digestive problems, vomiting, irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia), extremely high blood pressure, allergic reaction, loss of appetite, sexual dysfunction, abnormal behavior, confusion, nervousness, psychotic episodes, and seizures. 
  • They affect different people in different ways. Because they appear to have been "safe" for one person to take does not mean they will have the same affect on someone else.
  • They can interact negatively with many other substances. 
  • It's illegal to take these and other prescription stimulants without a doctor's prescription.

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Who's using Ritalin, Adderall, and other prescription stimulants?

There have been numerous articles published in the popular press describing frequent use of Ritalin and Adderall among college students. National-level research as well as data collected at Cornell suggests otherwise.

According to the spring 2010 American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) II Survey, 7 percent of university students surveyed nationwide said they had used stimulants that were not prescribed to them within the past 12 months. Cornell participated in this survey and found 5.5 percent of all students (7.0 undergrad, 2.7 grad/professional) reported use within the past 12 months.

To further assess the reasons for stimulant use, we asked an additional question in the ACHA-NCHA II survey about using prescription stimulants to enhance academic performance without a prescription. Among undergraduate students surveyed at Cornell:

  • 91% reported never using a prescription stimulant to enhance academic performance (e.g., stay awake for long hours) without a doctor’s prescription. 
  • 3% had used them but not in the past year. 
  • 4% had used them in the past year, but not in the past 30 days. 
  • only 2% reported using these medications without a prescription in the past 30 days.

A survey conducted in 2005 showed virtually the same results.

For more information

Review ACHA-NCHA II survey data, both national and Cornell specific (pdf).

National-level research:

  • Non-medical use of prescription stimulants among U.S. college students, McCabe, Knight, Teter, & Wechsler, 2005 (pdf)
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies. (April 7, 2009). The NSDUH Report: Nonmedical Use of Adderall among Full-Time College Students. Rockville, MD. (web)

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