🍃😲 High Times and DNA Twists: Is Mary Jane Changing Your Genes?
TL;DR; 🧬🍁 Recent study reveals a connection between marijuana use and changes in the human epigenome. But, wait… what does that even mean for your health?
Hey there, weed enthusiasts and skeptical souls! 🌿 Ever thought how lighting up that joint might be tweaking your DNA game? 🧐
Lifang Hou, MD, PhD, our main scientist-in-chief from Northwestern Medicine, got down to the nitty-gritty of this. While millions of us are getting high (I mean, 18% of ALL Americans? That’s a lot of munchies! 🍕), do we even know what’s going on inside our cells?
Here’s a buzzkill for ya: Despite the green wave 🌊 of legalization across states, we’re kind of clueless about Mary Jane’s long-term effects on our bodies. Lifang’s like, “Hey, we’ve got some new info, but take it with a grain of salt, ‘kay?”
🔬Science Time: Hou and team took blood from more than 900 folks (participants of the CARDIA study) and got all detective on it, looking at DNA methylation. Sounds fancy, huh? In simpler terms, it’s a process that can alter gene expression.
Their big find? They spotted between 22 to 132 DNA methylation markers associated with recent and cumulative marijuana use. And many of these changes? Well, they’ve been linked to things like mental health disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders). 😱 BUT, and that’s a big but, the study doesn’t outright say toking up causes these changes or that these changes cause any health outcomes. They’re just, well, observing.
Drew Nannini, DO, PhD, another brainy dude from the study, says they’ve opened a whole new can of worms. Or, um, can of weed? 🌿🐍 “We’re just scratching the surface,” he muses. “More research is needed. We need to see if this holds true in different groups of people and if these changes lead to any actual health effects.”
Disclaimer: The info here isn’t advice, fam. It’s just a look at some intriguing science stuff. Always do your own research, especially when it comes to health matters. 🚫👩⚕️
So, next time you roll one up, light it, and take a deep inhale 🌬️🍃, remember there’s still a lot we don’t know. Is marijuana more than just a gateway to the fridge at 2 a.m.? 🌜🍔
Question Time: With all this info in mind, would you think twice about your relationship with cannabis? Or do you reckon it’s just another herb in the garden of life? Let’s chat! 🤔💬
