Myths And Facts About Marijuana
Myth#1: The marijuana of today is more potent and thus more dangerous than many years ago.Fact: No medical evidence suggests that high-potency marijuana is more dangerous than low-potency marijuana. Literally, marijuana is one of the least toxic substances known to the mankind. In fact, high-potency marijuana should any day be preferred as less of it will be enough to attain the desired results.
Myth#2: Use of marijuana can lead to lung damage and cancer.
Fact: Cigarette smokers usually smoke about 20 cigarettes a day but no one smokes marijuana in the same quantity and frequency. According to a study by UCLA in 1997, even prolonged and heavy marijuana smoking causes no serious lung damage. Moreover, the risk of cancer from food products such as meat and salt far exceed the risk posed by smoking marijuana. In fact, ingesting marijuana in baked foods can completely eliminate the risk of cancer and respiratory diseases.
Myth#3: Marijuana use leads to harder drugs.
Fact: According to statistics of the government of the United States, over 75 percent of all Americans who use marijuana never use harder drugs. This in itself says it all. In fact, use of alcohol that is easily and affordably available leads to most drugs.
Myth#4: Use of marijuana is addictive in nature.
Fact: Medical studies have confirmed over a period of time that marijuana is less habit forming than caffeine.
Myth#5: Marijuana use is associated with emergency room admissions.
Fact: The US government reports every emergency room admission as a marijuana-related episode even if marijuana was taken fifteen days ago or even a month ago. The government even considers the mere possession of marijuana by any one as a marijuana-related episode.
Myth#6: Use of marijuana impairs learning ability.
Fact: According to a U.S. government study, heavy marijuana use may impair learning ability. However, it should be noted that the study says “HEAVY MARIJUANA USE” and “MAY” that suggests that even the study cannot precisely say that heavy use of marijuana impairs learning ability.
Sources:
1. Mellinger, G.D. et al. “Drug Use, Academic Performance, and Career Indecision: Longitudinal Data in Search of a Model.” Longitudinal Research on Drug Use: Empirical Findings and Methodological Issues. Ed. D.B. Kandel. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 1978. 157-177.
2. Johnson, L.D., et al. “Drugs and Delinquency: A Search for Causal Connections.” Ed. D.B. Kandel. Longitudinal Research on Drug Use: Empirical Findings and Methodological Issues. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1978. 137-156.
3. Schreiber, W.; A. M. Pauls and J. C. Kreig (February 5, 1988). “[Toxic psychosis as an acute manifestation of diphenhydramine poisoning]“. Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift 113 (5): 180–183. PMID 3338401.
4. Degenhardt, Louisa, Wayne Hall and Michael Lynskey. “Testing hypotheses about the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis,” Drug and Alcohol Dependence 71 (2003): 42-4.
5. King LA, Carpentier C, Griffiths P. “Cannabis potency in Europe.” Addiction. 2005 Jul; 100(7):884-6
6. Turner, Carlton E. The Marijuana Controversy. Rockville: American Council for Drug Education, 1981.
7. Stephens, R.S., et al. “Adult marijuana users seeking treatment.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 61 (1993): 1100-1104.- Tags: marijuana, marijuana smoking, Marijuana use
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