Research has discovered that
men and women may experience different
results when using
marijuana. A 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that
men are 50% more likely to have smoked marijuana in the last month
then women. (Source)
It's believed that
cannabis responds to estrogen differently than
testosterone, which is the reason why the
effects differ by gender.
A 2014 Washington State
University study showed that female rats experience
greater negative side effects after
cannabis usage than male rats. The females showed a greater
sensitivity to painkilling properties which made the
cannabis more effective. The adverse development of tolerance
with females also made them more likely to
become dependent on the drug. During ovulation,
increased estrogen resulted in greater sensitivity.(Source)
Margaret Haney at the Columbia University Medical
Center has studied female usage of cannabis
and withdrawal. Due to
their increased dependence, she has shown that withdrawal can
be more severe for women. Lack of appetite,
insomnia, and irritability has reported to
be more severe in women who stop using marijuana. She states that the
only sensitivity experienced by men after using
marijuana is an increased appetite.
Source:
