Which long-term health effects are associated with cannabis use?

• A. Potential cognitive effects, risk of psychosis in vulnerable individuals, respiratory effects with smoked cannabis, and possible dependence.
• B. Immediate liver toxicity and cardiac arrest.
• C. No health effects in adults.
• D. Cannabis use improves memory and lung function.

Answer: (A)

Long-term cannabis use is associated with a range of health effects, not just one outcome. The most consistently supported are: subtle to measurable cognitive effects on attention, memory, and learning, especially with heavy use begun in adolescence; an increased risk of psychosis in individuals who are genetically or clinically vulnerable, with higher risk tied to high-potency cannabis and early initiation; respiratory effects from inhaling cannabis smoke, such as bronchitic symptoms and airway irritation (even though cancer risk is less clear than with tobacco); and the potential for dependence, with withdrawal symptoms and cannabis use disorder in some users, particularly with regular, heavy use. These possibilities reflect real, studied consequences over time and help explain why cannabis use is not without health considerations. Other choices don’t fit the evidence because cannabis is not known for causing immediate liver toxicity or cardiac arrest as a long-term effect, it does not improve memory or lung function, and adults can indeed experience health effects from use.