Mother dies from cannabis poisoning

For many, cannabis is seen as a safe drug, especially because it is grown from a plant. However, recently the drug tragically claimed the life of Gemma Moss, a mother of 3 from Bournemouth. A most-mortem investigation found that she had moderate to high levels of the drug in her system, which triggered a cardiac arrest. The investigation found nothing abnormal about her body and that, physically, she appeared to be a completely normal young woman. She was a practising Christian and a devoted mother.

Deaths from cannabis poisoning are rare and Miss Moss is believed to be the first female in Britain to have died from the toxicity of the drug, although in 2004 a 36 year old man also died from cannabis toxicity. However, cannabis deaths have been recorded in other countries. Whilst the risk of death from the drug is low, there are other dangerous effects from using cannabis.

Tragically, Miss Moss was aware that smoking cannabis was an unhealthy habit and had tried to cut down. After once being a regular user of the drug, according to her mother, she quit 2 years before her tragic death. However, she started using the drug again after suffering from depression and having difficulties sleeping.

The most widely documented effects of cannabis are related to the effects on the brain. The drug acts as a depressant. For some, this can make them chilled out and relaxed, but for others it can lead to feelings of panic, anxiety and paranoia. There are also links between cannabis use and mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. Regular cannabis use can make it difficult to concentrate and lower motivation, which can have serious consequences for those already suffering from depression.

In recent year, cannabis has been cultivated to become a lot stronger. Therefore, the myth that cannabis is a “natural” drug is now completely redundant. Because little research has been done on the stronger strains of the drug, it is difficult to know what the long term effects are.

The physical effects of cannabis are similar to those of smoking. These include coughing, chest infections, high blood pressure heart disease and cancer.

Contrary to popular belief, cannabis also has similar addictive properties to smoking. Regular use can lead to cravings, even if the user has not used for a long time. Withdrawal symptoms can include irritability, nausea, mood changes and insomnia. Tragically, it was the insomnia that Miss Moss tried to treat with cannabis use. According to the coroner, this claimed her life.

Miss Moss had been receiving medication for depression, but she eventually turned to cannabis instead. This will not help the condition and will only give a short term high. Our drug rehabilitation programmes focus on the causes of depression in our clients and how to make lifestyle changes to combat it. This is done in conjunction with our therapy sessions to help our clients come to terms with their problems. If you or a loved one are a regular user of cannabis or suffers from depression, call Cassiobury Court on 0800 500 3129 for effective drug rehabilitation treatment.