Cannabis Myths Quiz
List of questions
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You cannot overdose on cannabis
- Fact
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Myth
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Myth! Cannabis poisoning is the medical term for a variety of symptoms caused by the overconsumption of cannabis (Salas-Wright et al., 2019). Cannabis poisoning symptoms can include psychological symptoms of anxiety, paranoia and psychosis, as well as physical symptoms of abdominal pain, decreased blood pressure and heart palpitations (Salas-Wright et al., 2019). In a review of over 33 million emergency department observations in the United States, those who displayed cannabis-related poisoning were significantly more likely to meet criteria for a mental health disorder (Salas-Wright et al., 2019). Many of these patients displaying cannabis-related poisoning had also consumed other substances including heroin, amphetamine, cocaine, or benzodiazepine (Salas-Wright et al., 2019).
Salas-Wright, C. P., Carbone, J. T., Holzer, K. J., & Vaughn, M. G. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of cannabis poisoning diagnosis in a national emergency department sample. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 204, 107564-107564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107564
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Myth! Cannabis poisoning is the medical term for a variety of symptoms caused by the overconsumption of cannabis (Salas-Wright et al., 2019). Cannabis poisoning symptoms can include psychological symptoms of anxiety, paranoia and psychosis, as well as physical symptoms of abdominal pain, decreased blood pressure and heart palpitations (Salas-Wright et al., 2019). In a review of over 33 million emergency department observations in the United States, those who displayed cannabis-related poisoning were significantly more likely to meet criteria for a mental health disorder (Salas-Wright et al., 2019). Many of these patients displaying cannabis-related poisoning had also consumed other substances including heroin, amphetamine, cocaine, or benzodiazepine (Salas-Wright et al., 2019).
Salas-Wright, C. P., Carbone, J. T., Holzer, K. J., & Vaughn, M. G. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of cannabis poisoning diagnosis in a national emergency department sample. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 204, 107564-107564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107564
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If you hold in smoke you will get more high
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Myth
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Myth! A controlled smoking study of 7 regular cannabis consumers found that breathholding of cannabis smoke enhanced absorption only up to 10 seconds (Azorlosa et al., 1995). The increased length of breath-holding is associated with increased tar in the lungs (McClure et al., 2012). Canada’s lower-risk cannabis use guidelines recommend avoiding breath-holding as this results in more toxic material being consumed (Fischer et al., 2017).
Azorlosa, J. L., Greenwald, M. K., & Stitzer, M. L. (1995). Marijuana smoking: Effects of varying puff volume and breathhold duration. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 272(2), 560-569. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7853169/
Fischer, B., Russell, C., Sabioni, P., Van Den Brink, W., Le Foll, B., Hall, W., Rehm, J. & Room, R. (2017). Lower-risk cannabis use guidelines: A comprehensive update of evidence and recommendations. American Journal of Public Health, 107(8), e1-e12. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303818
McClure, E. A., Stitzer, M. L., & Vandrey, R. (2012). Characterizing smoking topography of cannabis in heavy users. Psychopharmacology, 220(2), 309-318. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2480-4
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Myth! A controlled smoking study of 7 regular cannabis consumers found that breathholding of cannabis smoke enhanced absorption only up to 10 seconds (Azorlosa et al., 1995). The increased length of breath-holding is associated with increased tar in the lungs (McClure et al., 2012). Canada’s lower-risk cannabis use guidelines recommend avoiding breath-holding as this results in more toxic material being consumed (Fischer et al., 2017).
Azorlosa, J. L., Greenwald, M. K., & Stitzer, M. L. (1995). Marijuana smoking: Effects of varying puff volume and breathhold duration. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 272(2), 560-569. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7853169/
Fischer, B., Russell, C., Sabioni, P., Van Den Brink, W., Le Foll, B., Hall, W., Rehm, J. & Room, R. (2017). Lower-risk cannabis use guidelines: A comprehensive update of evidence and recommendations. American Journal of Public Health, 107(8), e1-e12. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303818
McClure, E. A., Stitzer, M. L., & Vandrey, R. (2012). Characterizing smoking topography of cannabis in heavy users. Psychopharmacology, 220(2), 309-318. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2480-4
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Myth
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People with a personal or family history of psychosis should not consume cannabis
- Fact
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Myth
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Myth! A longitudinal study conducted in 2005 revealed that adults who consumed cannabis were not at an increased risk of psychosis, even with the COMT gene (Caspi et al., 2005).
Caspi, A., Moffitt, T.E., Cannon, M., McClay, J., Murray, R., Harrington, H., Taylor, A., Arseneault, L., Williams, B., Braithwaite, A., Poulton, R., Craig, I.W. (2005). Moderation of the effect of adolescent-onset cannabis use on adult psychosis by a functional polymorphism in the catechol-o-methyltransferase gene: Longitudinal evidence of a gene x environment interaction. Biological Psychiatry, 57(10), 1117-1127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.01.026
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Myth! A longitudinal study conducted in 2005 revealed that adults who consumed cannabis were not at an increased risk of psychosis, even with the COMT gene (Caspi et al., 2005).
Caspi, A., Moffitt, T.E., Cannon, M., McClay, J., Murray, R., Harrington, H., Taylor, A., Arseneault, L., Williams, B., Braithwaite, A., Poulton, R., Craig, I.W. (2005). Moderation of the effect of adolescent-onset cannabis use on adult psychosis by a functional polymorphism in the catechol-o-methyltransferase gene: Longitudinal evidence of a gene x environment interaction. Biological Psychiatry, 57(10), 1117-1127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.01.026
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Weed will make you a criminal; Weed will make you violent
- Fact
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Myth
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Myth! This myth developed in the early 1900s from the use of propaganda films that showed unrealistic outcomes of the link of consuming marijuana and violent crimes (Boyd, 2010). One study revealed that there was no association between both short- and long-term cannabis consumption and aggressive behavior, including the use of other factors such as alcohol consumption (Denson & Earleywine, 2008). Another study found that legalization of medical cannabis led to a decrease in crimes such as burglary, robbery, and larceny (Huber et al., 2016).
Boyd, S. (2010). Reefer madness and beyond. In M. Deflem (Ed.), Popular culture, crime and social control (pp.3-24). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1521-6136(2010)0000014004
Denson, T. F., & Earleywine, M. (2008). Self-reported use of alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs and aggression: A structural equation modeling analysis of an internet survey of long term marijuana users. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 16(2), 164-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926770801921469
Huber III, A., Newman, R., & LaFave, D. (2016). Cannabis control and crime: Medicinal use, depenalization and the war on drugs. The BE Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 16(4). https://doi.org/10.1515/bejeap-2015-0167
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Myth! This myth developed in the early 1900s from the use of propaganda films that showed unrealistic outcomes of the link of consuming marijuana and violent crimes (Boyd, 2010). One study revealed that there was no association between both short- and long-term cannabis consumption and aggressive behavior, including the use of other factors such as alcohol consumption (Denson & Earleywine, 2008). Another study found that legalization of medical cannabis led to a decrease in crimes such as burglary, robbery, and larceny (Huber et al., 2016).
Boyd, S. (2010). Reefer madness and beyond. In M. Deflem (Ed.), Popular culture, crime and social control (pp.3-24). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1521-6136(2010)0000014004
Denson, T. F., & Earleywine, M. (2008). Self-reported use of alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs and aggression: A structural equation modeling analysis of an internet survey of long term marijuana users. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 16(2), 164-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926770801921469
Huber III, A., Newman, R., & LaFave, D. (2016). Cannabis control and crime: Medicinal use, depenalization and the war on drugs. The BE Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 16(4). https://doi.org/10.1515/bejeap-2015-0167
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Having cannabis in your system (ex. blood test) means you are high
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Myth
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Myth! Actually, THC can remain detectable for days following cannabis use (Odell et al., 201). When 11 dependent cannabis users abstained from cannabis, THC was detectable in oral fluid for 3 days and blood for at least 7 days (Odell et al., 2015). THC-COOH was also detectable in urine for at least 7 days (Odell et al., 2015).
Odell, M. S., Frei, M. Y., Gerostamoulos, D., Chu, M., & Lubman, D. I. (2015). Residual cannabis levels in blood, urine and oral fluid following heavy cannabis use. Forensic Science International, 249, 173-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.01.026
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Myth! Actually, THC can remain detectable for days following cannabis use (Odell et al., 201). When 11 dependent cannabis users abstained from cannabis, THC was detectable in oral fluid for 3 days and blood for at least 7 days (Odell et al., 2015). THC-COOH was also detectable in urine for at least 7 days (Odell et al., 2015).
Odell, M. S., Frei, M. Y., Gerostamoulos, D., Chu, M., & Lubman, D. I. (2015). Residual cannabis levels in blood, urine and oral fluid following heavy cannabis use. Forensic Science International, 249, 173-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.01.026
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Myth