By Max Sargent

Stoners have a bit of a reputation for being lazy. While there is certainly an element of sitting around and giggling to getting high, it turns out that it can be a positive force too.

However, is smoking weed every day good for you?

In short, uncontrolled, chronic cannabis use is probably detrimental to some degree, and can lead to some sort of abuse and tolerance. Obviously, at Royal Queen Seeds, we love weed. And we think the best way to encourage responsible, safe, and happy cannabis consumption is by sharing as much knowledge as possible.

So, we’re going to look at the effects of cannabis on the brain and the potential negative consequences of chronic use.


What Does Cannabis Do to the Brain?

THC interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) in a fairly straightforward manner. The ECS is found throughout the body and, though it isn’t fully understood, is thought to play a vital role in homeostasis (the body’s method of regulating systemic balance).

However, the influence of the ECS is much broader than this, and appears to be involved in memory, cognition, motor control, mood, and much more.

THC has an affinity for both CB1 and CB2 receptors. It is able to bind to CB1 receptors in the brain due to its structural similarity to the molecule anandamide, one of the body's endogenous cannabinoids that works as a neurotransmitter.

Anandamide (known as the “bliss molecule”) is made on demand and serves many purposes, including reward and learning. However, it is rarely available in high quantities and is broken down quickly in the body. THC, on the other hand, can be taken in large quantities and is not so easily broken down. This is why we get powerful, long-lasting highs that we can’t get from anandamide.

THC and Dopamine

THC does appear to be dopaminergic[1] (meaning it affects levels of dopamine), though its impact appears indirect, which may go some way to explaining how cannabis can cause dependencies without causing a full-blown physical addiction.

It is thought that THC affects dopamine levels by suppressing GABA inhibitors[2], although this is still conjecture.

Yet, while the links between THC and dopamine are poorly understood, it is important to consider this relationship before assessing the pros and cons of daily cannabis use.

Is Smoking Weed Every Day Bad?

Now that we know a little about how cannabis affects the brain, we have to ask the big question: Is smoking weed every day bad for you? And what is chronic marijuana use, anyway?

In order to answer these questions, you’re going to have to compare the following information with your own habits and experiences. One simple piece of advice, though: If you feel you would like to stop or cut down on your cannabis use, then you should.

However, if you’re happy with it, but wonder nevertheless if you smoke too much weed, there’s a lot to consider. Objectively assessing one's own behaviour is basically impossible, but we can get closer to the truth.

First, it’s worth figuring out if your cannabis use autumns into the category of cannabis abuse and dependency.

Is Smoking Weed Every Day Bad?

What Is Chronic Marijuana Use? Exploring Cannabis Abuse and Dependency

Cannabis abuse and dependency can be tricky to define, as they don’t come with the telltale signs of other, physical addictions. There is a slight difference between them, with abuse being how the drug is used and the effects it has, and dependency being how hard one finds it to stop using.

However, often the two come hand in hand. There are still many things we can look for when trying to discern whether our cannabis use is a mutualistic love affair or an unhealthy dependence.

One of the first and most obvious signs is this: Do you find yourself smoking even when you don’t want to? Do you often wake up in the morning and think that you’ll have a day off, only to find yourself stoned by the afternoon?

Are you spending money on cannabis when you can’t afford it? Is it stopping you from doing other things that you’d like to do? Or, do you find it enriches the things you love and doesn’t interfere?

Asking questions like this is a good start in understanding your relationship with cannabis.

  • What Causes Cannabis Dependency?

Drug dependencies occur when the receptors for neurotransmitters become desensitised. It is inextricably bound up with tolerance; as tolerance increases, so too can dependency.

As daily users flood the brain with THC, CB1 receptors will, over time, become desensitised to it. This means the amount of receptors available will decrease. So, if we want to get just as high as before, we have to take much more. When we do this, the receptors will continue to decrease. This causes tolerance, and is self-fulfilling if left unmanaged.

For dependency, it goes a little deeper than this, and often includes dopamine. When we take drugs that make us feel good, that activates the brain’s reward system. It essentially teaches us that taking the drug is a good thing, and we should make it into a habit. Dopamine is the master of reward.

The more often your brain associates an activity with dopamine release, the more it wants to do it. Couple that with desensitisation of the CB1, CB2, and dopamine receptors, and you have a recipe for dependency. Not only does your brain crave this thing more, but it gets less from it each time too. Then, as you take more to fulfil that craving, the higher amount further entrenches that dependency.

Thankfully, with a little willpower it is possible to manage this, and stop it occurring. The benefit is twofold: no debilitating dependency, and more satisfaction from your smoke!

What Causes Cannabis Dependency?

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Heavy Cannabis Use?

There are numerous potential negative effects associated with long-term, regular cannabis use. It’s worth noting that these are not guaranteed, and different people will exhibit different long and short-term effects.

Of course, we’re not just talking about mental effects either. Cannabis, especially if smoked, can have detrimental physical effects too. And bad news for blunt smokers; combusted cannabis is still full of carcinogens!

The following represents some of the potential long-term effects of cannabis use (predominantly smoking cannabis) referenced by medical institutions, drug abuse resources, and/or in high-quality studies:

Heart[3] and lung[4] problems (though it can be hard
to distinguish these from those caused by tobacco)
Weight gain[5]
Anxiety/depression[6], changes in mood Worsening verbal memory[7]
Low motivation Tolerance and dependence



Some of these are worst-case scenarios. Nonetheless, they are still worth considering.

Moreover, addiction and dependency can cause a huge array of social and emotional problems themselves, including relationship breakdowns, job losses, financial issues, and depression. By taking away a person’s feeling of agency and control, drug dependencies can be highly debilitating.

What Are the Effects of Cannabis on Developing Brains?

As the brain is developing, the ECS is thought to play a crucial role, and so by artificially manipulating it, we are throwing it off balance at an important time.

The brain is far more malleable as it is developing, and therefore it is possible to change it, and for those changes to remain through adolescence. As well as increasing the likelihood of conditions such as psychosis and depression[8], there’s significant evidence that heavy cannabis use in adolescence can cause a considerate and irreversible decrease[9] in cognitive ability and memory.

Not only this, but the prefrontal cortex is rich in CB1 receptors. In heavy cannabis users, the grey matter in this area is known to be thinner than in control groups[10]. This is particularly prevalent in people who begin smoking in adolescence. Among other issues, there are strong links between this and psychosis.

The takeaway from this is that people should wait until adulthood to smoke cannabis. We don’t advise smoking it at all until the brain is fully developed. However, if you are going to, use it with moderation. You’ll thank yourself later in life!

How To Stop Smoking Weed or Reduce Cannabis Consumption

You may want to know how to reduce your use, or how to stop smoking weed cold turkey. If so, there are plenty of ways to go about it.

  • Tolerance Breaks

Tolerance breaks are a great way to keep your cannabis use in a healthy state. By reducing the brain’s tolerance, you reduce the likelihood of dependency, and all the negative effects associated with that. Not only do you save money, but you maintain the natural sensitivity of your neuroreceptors.

You can do it gradually or in one fell swoop. Doing it gradually involves cutting down the frequency and intensity with which you smoke. However, for those with a dependence or tolerance about which they are unhappy, stopping altogether can be much more effective. It’s one thing to not smoke, but it's quite another to try and maintain that motivation after a spliff!

Stopping for as little as 48 hours every 30 days can go a huge way toward managing tolerance and dependence.

Giving a tolerance break a go is a good way to figure out what your relationship with cannabis is really like. If you find it easy to not smoke for two days, then it’s far more likely your cannabis use is healthy. If, however, you find yourself yearning for just one little puff, it might be a sign you should really consider your habit.

Tolerance Breaks

  • Microdosing Cannabis

Much like reclaimed scaffold-board tables, faux-filament light bulbs, and avocados, microdosing drugs has become very popular over the last decade.

Microdosing cannabis can be a great way to change your relationship with it. Not only does it give your receptors and lungs a bit of a rest, but it makes you more likely to enact other positive changes too. By being a little less stoned all the time, there’s a greater chance you’ll actually go on that run or start that project you’ve been thinking about.

By microdosing instead of stopping entirely, you get the mental buzz and increased creativity of cannabis, without the lethargy.

Microdosing Cannabis
  • Use CBD Strains Instead

Using CBD-rich or CBD-exclusive strains can be a great way to cut down your (THC-rich) cannabis consumption. By vaping or smoking CBD weed, you still get to fulfil that craving and enjoy having a little smoke. And you get all the flavours too. This means that you can kick the THC without kicking the whole habit at once.

Moreover, CBD is thought to directly counteract the effects of THC. So if you’ve found that your cannabis habit has left you with some side effects, CBD could be a way to deal with some of those.

Use CBD Strains Instead
  • Lifestyle Changes

All the above methods deal directly with cannabis. However, sometimes thinking too much about it will only encourage the relationship. Forgetting about it and filling your time can be one of the best ways to stop smoking so much weed.

You’ll hate us for saying it, but exercising or getting a hobby will change your life. Even if it doesn’t stop you from smoking weed, you’ll find yourself far more enriched nonetheless.

Lifestyle Changes

Because that’s the thing; many of the potential negative effects of using cannabis everyday are indirect. Depression, laziness, a lack of meaning; you’d feel all these things if you sat on the sofa watching cartoons all day whether you smoked weed or not.

Cannabis can be a fantastic, enriching addition to life, but it can’t replace the meaningful contents of a life. Whether you use drugs or not, we all have to work for our own happiness.

Promoting Responsible Cannabis UseRQS emphasizes the importance of responsible cannabis consumption.

While many individuals use cannabis frequently without complications, some may be susceptible to developing adverse behaviours. We believe the herb should enhance one’s life, not hinder it.

Responsible use involves limiting consumption to adults only, refusing to operate cars or machinery while under the influence, and making an effort to resist abuse.

Stay Cultivated.

External Resources:
  1. Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol increases prefrontal cortical catecholaminergic utilization and impairs spatial working memory in the rat: blockade of dopaminergic effects with HA966 - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Separate and combined effects of the GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine and Δ9-THC in humans discriminating Δ9-THC - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. What effect does marijuana really have on weight gain? It's complicated https://www.sciencedaily.com
  4. Long-Term Effects of Smoking Weed: The Dangers of Marijuana https://americanaddictioncenters.org
  5. What effect does marijuana really have on weight gain? It's complicated https://www.sciencedaily.com
  6. Marijuana DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) https://www.drugabuse.gov
  7. Long-Term Marijuana Use Associated with Worse Verbal Memory in Middle Age - For The Media - JAMA Network https://media.jamanetwork.com
  8. Cannabis and psychosis: Neurobiology https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  9. The effect of cannabis use on memory function: an update https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  10. Cannabis use and progressive cortical thickness loss in areas rich in CB1 receptors during the first five years of schizophrenia - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: