Adverse effects of Cannabis

Some folks wonder why a person would want to go to the trouble of making their own medicine from plants when they could have the doctor write them a prescription for pills. Well, I can tell you one reason. Side effects.

Any drug, synthetic or natural will have some side effects. The difference is natural medicines in most cases act in a much gentler manner on the body than the synthetics. Many times the plant itself will contain other compounds that counteract the ones that cause the problems.

Maybe you've seen those ads on TV for pharmaceutical drugs. They always tell you about "possible side effects" such as;

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the hands, eyes, mouth, face, lips, or tongue; hoarseness); chest pain; dark urine; decreased urination; difficulty swallowing; infection (eg, fever, chills, persistent sore throat); irregular or slow heartbeat; stomach pain (with or without nausea or vomiting); symptoms of low blood pressure (eg, fainting, severe dizziness, lightheadedness); change in the amount of urine produced; dark or red-colored urine; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; joint pain; memory problems; muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (with or without fever and fatigue); numbness or persistent tingling of the hands or feet; pale stools; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent dizziness or lightheadedness; severe or persistent nausea or stomach pain; swelling of the hands, legs, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness, discomfort, or weakness; vision changes; yellowing of the eyes or skin, etc.

Here's some of the adverse effects from cannabis;

Trouble remembering things, Slowed reaction time, Difficulty concentrating, Sleepiness, Anxiety, Paranoia (feeling that people are "out to get you"), Altered time perception, red bloodshot eyes.

All things considered, I think I'd rather be slow, sleepy and red-eyed. How about you?