Long-term cannabis use has no negative impact on health, according to a Spanish study

The results of a study that analyzed data from 600,000 Spanish residents who regularly use cannabis indicate that long-term cannabis use does not contribute to a decline in health.

Cannabis Use in Spain

Cannabis use among the Spanish population is among the highest in Europe, second only to France. Personal and private use of cannabis is decriminalized in Spain, although consumption or possession in public may result in a fine.

Published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, researchers used a sample of 419 participants from among the 600,000 respondents to a 2019–2020 national population survey who lived in Catalonia and had used cannabis in the previous 30 days.

Using specific methods to analyze the respondents’ data, the researchers determined that the sample of 419 regular cannabis users was sufficient to represent cannabis users with an accuracy of more than 95%.

The people included in the’sample of cannabis users had an average age of 33, worked mainly in the service, administrative, or retail sectors, and nearly three-quarters of them had pursued some form of higher education (after leaving high school at age 16).

When asked about their past drug use, 60% of the sample reported having used MDMA, 57% reported having used cocaine, 51% had used LSD, magic mushrooms, or other psychedelics, 40% had used amphetamine, and 23% had used ketamine.

Commenting on the sample’s past drug use, the study’s authors stated: «The study sample reported higher levels of drug use than the general population … However, this higher level of use does not appear to be associated with adverse health effects, as reflected by the indicators used.»

Comparison with the general population

Most of the indicators used by researchers to assess the health of the respondents showed no deterioration compared with the general population. These indicators include BMI, cholesterol levels, positive health perception, and fruit and vegetable consumption.

88% of the sample had a positive perception of their health compared to the general population, 67% of cannabis users had a normal BMI compared to the general population, and 76% of the cannabis sample walked for ten minutes or more per day, compared to 70% of the general population.

To assess mental health, the researchers asked several questions, including «How do you feel while using cannabis?» « 94 % of those surveyed reported feeling »happy,« 92 % felt »full of ideas,« and 81 % felt they »understood the world better.”.

The researchers noted in their study that «most indicators did not show any deterioration in the health of regular cannabis users compared to the general population.» It was observed that users suffered more from sleep problems and that approximately 40 % of the sample wanted to stop using cannabis, suggesting a pattern of dependence. Approximately 30 % of the sample were able to stop taking prescription medications thanks to cannabis. Social support and sleep problems—not cannabis use—were predictors of depression and well-being scores.”

The study’s authors recommend including more questions about cannabis in future national population surveys and warn of the risk that the Cannabis users develop addiction problems.

«When comparing our sample with data obtained from the general population through the ESCA, we found that cannabis users had better indicators regarding positive perceptions of health, BMI, cholesterol and blood pressure issues, the presence of chronic diseases, physical limitations in daily activities, mode of transportation (with cycling being preferred by cannabis users), and depression,» the researchers said.

«Although these differences cannot be attributed solely to cannabis use, they suggest that regular users of this drug do not experience significant adverse effects in terms of key indicators of overall health. We must remember that assessing the specific impact of cannabis use on health is difficult because health is a highly complex construct influenced by multiple variables.»

«In addition, A potential dependency was also observed, suggesting that sustained cannabis use over many years may be associated with a higher risk of developing such a dependence. Another significant finding is that the frequency of cannabis use does not appear to be linked to depression and well-being scores, whereas social support and sleep problems are strong predictors.»

«In conclusion, these findings suggest that long-term cannabis use may not play a central role in public health, whereas other health behaviors and complex variables are more closely linked to health. We suggest including cannabis-related items in national health surveys, as they would provide valuable data to inform ongoing public debates regarding its regulation.»

The complete study can be viewed here.