9. Lowers Blood Pressure
Cannabis is what doctors and scientists call a “vasodilator.” That basically means that it opens up your blood vessels. And when that happens, your blood starts flowing through your veins more quickly. This, in turn, lowers your blood pressure.
Think about it like this: If you turn on a garden hose and then pinch it shut, the flow of water coming out the other end decreases. At the same time, the hose is building up some serious pressure. That’s exactly what happens in your veins.
When blood vessels contract, it’s harder for blood to flow. And this causes your blood pressure to rise. But when blood vessels expand and open up, the opposite happens. Blood flows more freely, and blood pressure goes down.
Although you might not feel all this happening inside your body, there is one telltale sign that this is happening: bloodshot eyes. Red eyes are probably the most classic sign that somebody’s been toking.
It’s tempting to assume it has something to do with sitting around in a cloud of smoke. But this isn’t actually what’s making your eyes turn red. It’s the improved blood flow. When the blood vessels in your eyes open up, the increased blood flow gives your eyes a redder color.
Interestingly, this is also why cannabis can be a good treatment for people with glaucoma. The decreased blood pressure relieves the built up pressure glaucoma patients deal with. Studies show that THC can reduce intraocular pressure by as much as 25%.