MARIJUANA AND YOUR IMMUNITY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Maybe you’re a regular smoker and wondering whether weed is doing you any good, or perhaps you’re looking for an alternative treatment method for an ailment. Whatever the case, we’re sure you want to answer: does weed affect your immune system?

As cannabis consumption increases across the country, more doctors prescribe the herb, especially for medicinal use. Patients with cancer, epilepsy, and HIV sometimes consume weed, but does it help?

 

All the answers are here! 

We’ve gathered the facts to see whether you can plant that pack of autoflowering seeds and reap the benefits. We look at the pros and cons of cannabis on immunity and discuss how they interact to see if smoking weed lowers your immune system.

Let’s get rolling.

HOW DOES YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WORK?

Your body’s immune system is a sophisticated network that wards off infections and pathogens. It protects your overall well-being and keeps you healthy. The immune system also detects and gets rid of cells that don’t work properly. 

HOW DOES WEED AFFECT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM?

It’s tempting to roll yourself a fat one when you get the sniffles or feel a little under the weather—but maybe you should reconsider. What does weed do to your immune system?

When you inhale cannabis, it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). This set of compounds is closely linked to your immune system—in what way?

The ECS helps avoid inflammatory responses in your anatomy and protects your overall immunity. It even influences the way your immune cells function.  

Weed has two main cannabinoids—CBD and THC. Both compounds affect your immunity differently, and the CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors inside you determine how they interact with each other.

• A publication from 2020 shows that CBD suppresses inflammatory responses and may cause immune cells to die. Cellular death isn’t always bad—it’s a regular part of a cell’s life cycle and helps people by relieving inflammatory responses.
• Other evidence suggests that THC also dials down your body’s response to inflammation and alters how the immune cells responsible for antimicrobial activity function.

So, armed with this information, does marijuana reduce immunity?

DOES SMOKING WEED LOWER THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?

It’s clear that cannabis interacts with your immunity, but does smoking weed lower your immune system? Marijuana can either enhance or suppress your immunity, depending on a few factors:

• The strain type you choose
• The way you consume your weed
• Your existing levels of immunity

If you’re generally healthy and consume cannabis, you’ll likely find that weed does weaken your immune system. It may take longer to recover when you get a cold and enjoy a puff of your favorite strain.

The consumption method also affects how much marijuana lowers your immunity. A fun way to share your weed with other 420 friends is by passing around a bong or a joint. While you’re all having a laugh, you’re also exposing yourself to viruses and bacteria.

Inhaling smoke damages your lungs and respiratory tract, making your immune system suffer. If you can’t resist indulging in a bit of Mary Jane, edibles, oils, and tinctures are much better for your well-being. 

Does smoking marijuana weaken your immune system if you suffer from compromised immunity? Individuals with AIDs, HIV, and other autoimmune diseases—arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and celiacs—might find relief from their conditions. 

Immunocompromised people are often prescribed a regulated dose of cannabis, aiding their body with immune cell formation. With a small amount of weed, these individuals can better control their symptoms and live a more comfortable life. 

THE BENEFITS AND NEGATIVES OF MARIJUANA AND IMMUNITY

It’s clear that smoking weed does lower the immune system in some people, but it’s beneficial to the immunity of others. We take a closer look at the pros and cons to see whether it can help you boost your system or not. 

PROS OF WEED FOR THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

When you have an autoimmune condition, your body thinks it’s under threat, which causes a lot of discomfort. Your immune system fights back by forming an inflammatory response, which your ECS then defends against. 

Some experts believe that cannabis may help your system regain its balance by giving the ECS an extra boost in its anti-inflammatory battle. 

The immune system gets greatly affected when your condition is more severe, like in people with cancer and HIV. We’re still waiting for more research to back up the claims, but anecdotal reports suggest weed helps strengthen these individuals’ immunity. 

Further evidence claims that marijuana may benefit stroke, head injury, and tauopathy patients. It appears weed can modulate neurogenesis and neurodegeneration, which are essential functions in these people.

CONS OF CANNABIS FOR THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

For generally healthy individuals, it looks like cannabis does weaken the immune system. Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury and sickness and provides many benefits. It isolates damaged regions of the anatomy and traps harmful pathogens.

If you lit a joint or baked your favorite brownies every time you felt inflammation, your body would ask for it every time. Over time, you begin to rely on cannabis as a pick-me-up—which isn’t healthy. 

When you’re already ill, a puff or two also slows down the rate at which you recover. Whether you have a common cold, the flu, or any other virus, the symptoms last longer when you consume marijuana. 

IT’S UP TO YOU

Does weed affect your immune system? There’s no doubt it does—but whether the impact is positive or negative depends on a few factors. If you’re generally healthy but feeling under the weather, a toke or two only makes you worse—or at least lengthens recovery.

If you’re immunocompromised and want to enjoy a more comfortable life, a regulated dose of marijuana can help control symptoms. Speak to your physician to see if our good old friend Mary Jane can provide you some relief.

Remember, edibles, canna-oils, and tinctures are much better for your body than smoking. Read up on the different strains and see which one appeals to your needs. If you’re feeling adventurous, buy a bag of seeds and cultivate your own homegrown stash today.

Jennifer Gallagher

Jennifer Gallagher, an experienced cannabis grower at SeedSupreme Seedbank. During a 7-year career in the marijuana growing business, Jennifer has gained a high competence in this field. As far as weed is concerned, she knows it all inside out. Jennifer is an expert in pot-growing, as well as cannabis types and their effects. She’s also familiar with all legislation nuances.