The Hidden Long-Term Effects of Marijuana on Mind, Body, and Soul

Cannabis has various therapeutic properties that have utilized for decades. Like most medicines, it has more than one effect on your system, and it's important to consider all of those effects.

With growing acceptance and a newly revised classification on the DEA list of controlled substances, it's rapidly becoming a household medicine.

Cannabis is something I recommend to certain patients who I believe would benefit from its hypnotic and sedating properties.

But I also offer caution around regular, long-term use, which often isn't discussed. Regular cannabis use can positively impact your mental state, but it also affects your digestion and immune system, which is particularly important if you have digestive issues or seasonal allergies.

The Emotional Impact of Cannabis

Sleep and dreams to be paramount to your mental and emotional health. Without a good night’s sleep, your system is generally less resilient and you may feel foggy. Getting a full night’s rest is important, and that’s where cannabis can be useful. But it’s also a double-edged sword because it impacts the amount of time you spend in the part of your sleep cycle known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

REM sleep occurs when you’re on your way back to wakefulness. During REM sleep, your brain is active, and you start dreaming. Research from 2019 iterates that dreams are crucial to your emotional wellness because they’re essentially your subconscious's way of working out your emotional stress—your fears, problematic beliefs, traumas, etc.

Many psychologists ask their patients to record their dreams for this reason. It offers clarity into your perspectives and how they may be influencing your mental and emotional health. I also ask patients to record their dreams so we can discuss them, as I find the process of unpacking the dreams to be therapeutic for patients and informative for me.

Cannabis makes it more difficult to remember your dreams, and because you spend less time in REM phase, you will have fewer dreams. Less time in the REM phase means less opportunity for your subconscious to untangle emotional stressors.

The Antihistamine-Like Effects of Cannabis

Cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating inflammation, immune function, and digestion. While it’s not classified as a true antihistamine, some users report side effects similar to anti-histamines.

Common Antihistamine-Like Effects

• Dry eyes and mouth

• Drowsiness or slowed mental activity

• Reduced alertness

  
  

2016 research suggests that cannabis may also reduce stomach acid secretion, especially with chronic use. This can impair digestion and nutrient absorption, leading to bloating, discomfort, or poor protein breakdown over time.

If you rely on cannabis and struggle with fatigue, poor digestion, or foggy thinking, low stomach acid could be a hidden factor.

What About Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)?

While occasional dry mouth or slowed digestion might seem mild, chronic cannabis use can, in rare cases, lead to a much more severe condition known as Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS).

CHS is characterized by:

• Recurring nausea and vomiting

• Abdominal pain or cramping

• Relief through hot showers or baths

  
  

Many people don’t realize their cannabis use is the cause, leading to repeated ER visits and unnecessary tests. What makes CHS tricky is that cannabis is often used to treat nausea, so users may increase consumption, unknowingly worsening the problem.

The only known resolution is stopping cannabis use entirely. If you're experiencing unexplained digestive distress, nausea, or cycles of vomiting—and you're a regular cannabis user—it's worth exploring whether CHS could be playing a role.

And even if you don’t develop CHS, persistent digestive symptoms like bloating, fatigue, or poor appetite might be your body signaling that cannabis is affecting your digestion.

👉 Want to better understand your digestion? Learn more about gut health here.

Cannabis and the Immune System: What You Should Know

Your immune system is constantly balancing two major responses:

• Th1: Active, short-term immune defense (like fighting infections)

• Th2: Longer-term regulation (involved in allergies, inflammation, and tissue repair)

Cannabis has been shown to suppress Th1 responses while increasing Th2 responses, especially with regular use.

What This Means for Regular, Long-Term Users

• You may become more prone to allergies (seasonal, food, chemical)

• You may develop chronic, low-grade inflammation or immune imbalance

If you're wondering about cannabis and the immune system: This shift in immune balance can be subtle at first but may become a barrier to deeper healing over time.

When Cannabis Masks a Deeper Issue

Many people reach for cannabis not just to relax, but to escape something they can’t name. Whether it’s discomfort, boredom, or a certain void . . . it may be pointing to a deeper issue.

Numb Instead of Present

• Cannabis often prevents people from fully feeling and moving through emotions.

• Over time, this can disconnect them from clarity, motivation, or purpose.

• In a sense, it stunts the growth of your soul by hindering you from connecting with troubling emotions and growing from them.

Common Root Causes Being Suppressed

• Trauma or emotional wounds

• Chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation

• Underlying digestive or hormonal imbalances

• A lack of meaning, connection, or grounded purpose

In naturopathic medicine, we understand that symptoms are not mistakes, they’re messages. Cannabis can quiet those messages, but it can’t answer them; only you can.

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Natural Alternatives for Anxiety, Sleep, and Mood Support

If you’re trying to cut back or take a break from cannabis but don’t want to feel overwhelmed, there are natural tools that can support you in reconnecting with your body:

Naturopathic Support Options

• Adaptogens like Ashwagandha or Rhodiola rosea can support energy and mood

  
  

• Calming herbs like Passionflower, Skullcap, or Chamomile for calming the nervous system

  
  

• Breathwork or meditation to regulate your nervous system, and although they aren’t nearly as sedating as marijuana, their effects will add up over time as you learn to self-regulate

  
  

• Homeopathy to support emotional healing, improved awareness of problematic patterns, and shifts in perspective

  
  

• Dreamwork or journaling to process the deeper messages your body may be holding

  
  

The Hidden Long-Term Effects of Marijuana: What Is Your Body Telling You?

Cannabis is an herbal medicine, and like all medicines, it has a time and a place. But if you find yourself needing it more often, or struggling with symptoms when you try to stop, it may be time to ask what your body is really trying to say.

True healing doesn’t come from suppressing and silencing. It comes from listening.

By stepping away from suppression and toward root-cause healing, you open the door to deeper emotional clarity, physical balance, and spiritual insight.

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As a naturopathic physician, I believe that every person is unique—and so is their healing path. I take time to understand your story, lifestyle, emotional health, and physical health before making recommendations.

Whether I’m using nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, or lifestyle

counseling, my goal is always the same: to identify and treat the true cause of illness so your body can restore balance on its own.

If you’re interested in a personalized, natural approach to health, I invite you to join my newsletter for more insights.

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