OHA release - Whether you use cannabis, have questions about it, or care for someone who uses it, clear health information can help you make informed choices.  Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has released updated 2026 Cannabis Public Health Statements. These statements bring together findings from hundreds of studies and reports about how cannabis may affect health.  The findings describe a range of health risks. They also show that certain cannabis-based medicines may help treat specific conditions. The effects can vary depending on the product, its ingredients, and how someone uses it.  What has changed?  Cannabis products, policies, and research have changed since OHA last updated its statements in 2017. The new statements reflect more recent evidence about potential harms and benefits.  “We set out to capture as much recent data and evidence as possible, from hundreds of studies and reports,” said Tom Jeanne, M.D., M.P.H., OHA’s deputy state health officer and epidemiologist.  OHA first developed the statements in 2015, after Oregon voters passed Measure 91 in 2014, which legalized recreational cannabis use, sales, and possession.  The updated statements are available to everyone, including community members, health care providers, local public health agencies, and lawmakers.  What are the potential health risks?  The review found evidence linking cannabis use with several health harms:  Lung problems: Cannabis smoke contains tiny particles that can harm the lungs. Heavy smoking can lead to chronic bronchitis, which can cause an ongoing cough and mucus. Vaping cannabis products has also been connected to serious lung injury.  Heart problems and cancer concerns: Cannabis use may lead to heart attack or stroke. Cannabis smoke, including secondhand smoke, contains chemicals that can cause changes in lung cells that may lead to cancer. Cannabis use is also linked to testicular cancer.  Crashes, burns, and poisoning: Driving after using cannabis increases crash risk. Vaping device failures and making cannabis oil at home with butane can cause severe burns. Cannabis poisoning can require emergency care or a hospital stay.  Memory and learning problems: Cannabis can affect attention, memory, learning, and decision-making. For people who use it often, some effects may last up to a month after use.  Mental health and addiction concerns: Cannabis use has been linked to suicide and psychosis. Psychosis can involve seeing or hearing things others do not. This is especially concerning for teens, people who use cannabis for a long time, and people who use high amounts of THC. Frequent use and high-THC products can also cause cannabis use disorder—difficulty controlling use even when it’s harmful. Cannabis may worsen bipolar disorder.  Effects during pregnancy and childhood: Cannabis use during pregnancy can mean babies being born smaller than expected, or at a low birthweight. It may also later lead to problems with attention, learning, and school performance.  Risks for young people: Cannabis use during childhood and young adulthood is linked to challenges in school, substance use problems, depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. Regular use may also cause psychotic symptoms and disorders when they become adults. Children who eat cannabis edibles can become very ill and may need hospital care.  Digestive problems: Cannabis use may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Long-term use can lead to repeated episodes of severe vomiting.  What are the potential benefits?  The review found evidence that certain cannabis-based medicines can help with specific health conditions, but these findings do not mean all cannabis products offer the same benefits.  Examples include:  Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy; Certain seizure disorders; Muscle stiffness and spasms from multiple sclerosis; Chronic pain in adults.  The review also found evidence of short-term improvement in airflow through the lungs. This finding does not remove the lung risks linked to smoking cannabis.  Talk to your health care provider before using any cannabis product to help with medical conditions.  What is still unknown?  Cannabis research continues to grow, and products continue to change. Studies do not always clearly describe the products people used or how much THC, CBD, or other ingredients they contained. That makes it harder to know how findings apply to a particular product.