Allergy or
Pharmacologic Response?
People often label adverse affects to cannabis as an allergy, but this diagnoses is often based on symptoms alone and not an actual allergy test. Often the symptoms are a pharmacologic response, i.e. a reaction to a drug, cannabis. As cannabis is a known neurotoxin, carcinogen and genotoxin, a nonallergic response to such a toxin would not be unusual. Let's take a closer look at what an allergy is and then look at an example of a pharmacologic reaction to cannabis.
What Is An Allergy?
Cleveland Clinic defines an allergy in this way:
"Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to something that’s usually not harmful — like pollen, pet dander and certain foods."
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The Mayo Clinic goes on to say:
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"The immune system makes protective proteins called antibodies that attack invaders such as germs. But with allergies, the immune system makes antibodies that mark a specific allergen as harmful, even though it isn't. Coming into contact with the allergen causes an immune system reaction that can inflame the skin, sinuses, airways or digestive system."
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The Mayo Clinic goes on to list a number of symptoms that include:
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Sneezing
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Runny, stuffy nose
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Tiredness
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Watery, red or swollen eyes
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Hives
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Itchy skin or rash
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Shortness of breath
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Vomiting or diarrhea
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Feeling dizzy
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Anaphylaxis
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NOT An Immune Response
A study of Belgian Police Personnel who were exposed to cannabis showed that 42% of study participants had respiratory and / or skin responses to the exposure. However, these participants lacked the marker indicating an immune system response, suggesting this was a non-immune reaction.
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The lack of immune reaction rules out an allergic reaction in this case.
Neurotoxic Responses
There are many examples of reactions to cannabis that suggest neurotoxicity rather than an allergic reaction. Our page "What is a Neurotoxin?" provides a definition of a neurotoxin, a list of some symptoms, and examples of other neurotoxins. Some symptoms are:
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Muscular issues, like weakness, spasms, and twitching
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Motor coordination issues
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Nausea and / or vomiting
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Cognitive Impairment
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Diarrhea
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Fatigue
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Cannabis is also a known carcinogen and genotoxin, resulting in a variety of other symptoms, including the development of a number of different types of cancers. Following are a few articles from our Cannabis Article Library discussing the above symptoms and more as a result of cannabis use.
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Cannabis Exposure and Tachycardia, Spasms / Tremors
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Marijuana and Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) - Nausea, Vomiting, Severe Abdominal Pain
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CBD Effects: Tremors, Cognitive Impairment, Motor Coordination Issues, Diarrhea, Etc.
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​Increased Risk for Heart Attack
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Cannabis and Breast and Testicular Cancer
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