What cannabis does to your body in first 24 hours as new study makes ‘surprising’ find about effects

While many people can’t stand the smell of it and won’t even consider going near it, others swear by the use of cannabis.

In the UK, recreational cannabis is a Class B drug and is illegal. However, some people are able to get an NHS prescription for medical cannabis and products with small amounts of CBD are available to buy alongside regular items in the supermarket.

But, with other countries or states having legalised weed, it’s been found that more middle-aged people have used it than ever before.

Researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz used data from the UK Biobank for a study, with participants aged 40-70. They looked at the impact on the brain, as cannabis can quickly have an impact on the body after using.

It can be prescribed for medicinal purposes. (Getty Stock Image)

New study’s findings

"More older adults are using cannabis. It's more widely available and is being used for different reasons than in younger folks—such as for sleep and chronic pain," said lead author of the study, Anika Guha Ph.D., during a Q&A with Medical Press.

It was noted that the ‘overall finding was that greater lifetime cannabis use among middle-aged and older adults was generally associated with larger brain volumes and better cognitive function'.

They decided ‘moderation seemed to be best’ as they found most parts of the brain they looked at ‘demonstrated a positive relationship between brain volume and cognitive performance'.

But Guha did say it is still ‘nuanced’ as she added: “I think sometimes people have seen my poster on this project or they see the headline and they say, 'Great, I'll just use more cannabis'.

“But it's more complicated than that. I think it depends on how people are using it and what outcomes you're looking at.”

She noted that the majority of those who used cannabis were using it a while ago when it ‘looked very different to what’s available today’.

It remains illegal in the UK. (Getty Stock Image)

What do the first few minutes of cannabis use do to the body?

It may take anywhere between two and 10 minutes to feel the effects of smoking weed, but it’s said that the initial thing you may notice is an increase to your pulse rate.

WebMD suggests that your heart rate can rise by 20 to 50 beats, and stay there for up to 3 hours after you use cannabis.

When that starts, the blood vessels in the eyes will dilate, and your eyes will probably turn red as a result.

By 20 minutes

At this point, for those who have smoked, the THC (the main psychoactive compound in cannabis) will be fully absorbed into your blood and moving through every molecule of your circulatory system.

If you're taking an edible, it won't happen for a while longer, since the THC needs to be absorbed by your liver.

Once the THC is fully settled in your system, it can alter the body's neural chemistry and stimulate the part of your brain that responds to pleasure, unleashing a heap of dopamine, which is responsible for the relaxed, euphoric sensation - though it's important to note that this could also cause anxiety or panic, depending on the individual.

Around now is also when you might be hit with the 'munchies' and want to eat all the food in sight.

This happens when the THC gets to your brain and finds the olfactory bulb (which impacts your sense of taste and smell), and convinces you you're hungry, even when you're actually not.

If you're hoping to avoid this, but still want to light up, the best course of action is to eat a solid meal beforehand.

Here come the munchies. (Getty Stock Image)

By half an hour

After around 30 minutes, things will reach maximum intensity and maybe last for five to six hours.

But if you're using an especially strong strain of THC, it could go on for even longer.

As the munchies and the dilated pupils start to show themselves, you might also start experiencing other effects like sleepiness, drowsiness, impaired movement, poor memory, giggles, or confusion.

A full day

Most of the effects of cannabis should wear off within a few hours, but traces of it can still show up in a urine test for two to three days after - even longer if you're a regular user.

And for up to 24 hours, your judgement might be impaired and your conversations and thoughts might seem a whole lot deeper than they actually are - sorry to break that one to you.