Exposing Marijuana Myths: A Review of the Scientific Evidence

A.Exposing Marijuana Myths: A Review of the Scientific Evidence B.Marijuana Use Is Increasing At An Alarming Rate C.Marijuana Potency Has Increased Substantially D.Marijuana Is A Drug Without Therapeutic Value E.Marijuana Causes Lung Disease F.Marijuana Impairs Immune System Functioning G.Marijuana Harms Sexual Maturation And Reproduction H.Marijuana Use During Pregnancy Harms The Fetus I.Marijuana Causes Brain Damage J.Marijuana Is An Addictive Drug K.Marijuana-Related Medical Emergencies Are Increasing L.Marijuana Produces Amotivational Syndrom M.Marijuana Is A Major Cause Of Highway Accidents N.Marijuana Is A “Gateway” Drug O.Dutch Marijuana Policy Has Been A Failure Introduction Since the 1920s, supporters of marijuana prohiion have exaggerated the drug’s dangers. In different eras, different claims have gained prominence, but few have ever been abandoned. Indeed, many of the “reefer madness” tales that were used to generate support for early anti-marijuana laws continue to appear in government and media reports today. For a while in the 1970s, it seemed as if scientific inquiries were beginning to influence the government’s marijuana policies. Following thorough reviews of the existing evidence by scholars 1 and official commissions, 2 criminal penalties for marijuana offenses were lessened and a number of states moved in the direction of decriminalization. 3 However, in response to lingering concerns about marijuana’s potential toxicity, the government expanded its funding of scientific research, mostly through the newly-created National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Probably the most important studies of the 1970s were three large “field studies” in Greece, Costa Rica and Jamaica. These studies, which evaluated the impact of marijuana on users in their natural environments, were supplemented by clinical examinations and laboratory experiments oriented toward answering the questions about marijuana that continued to be debated in the scientific literature. The data from these studies, published in numerous books and scholarly journals, covered such matters as marijuana’s effects on the brain, lungs, immune and reproductive systems, its impact on personality, development, and motivational states, and its addictive potential. 4 Although these studies did not answer all remaining questions about marijuana toxicity, they generally supported the idea that marijuana was a relatively safe drug—not totally free from potential harm, but unlikely to create serious harm for most individual users or society. In the years since, thousands of additional studies have been conducted, many of them funded by NIDA, and together they reaffirm marijuana’s substantial margin of safety. Our review of that body of work reveals an occasional study indicating greater toxicity than previously thought. But in nearly all such cases, the methodologies were seriously flawed and the findings could not be replicated by other researchers. Especially since the 1980s, when the federal government’s renewed war on cannabis began, both the funding of marijuana research and the dissemination of its findings have been highly politicized. Indeed, NIDA’s role seems to have become one of service to the War on Drugs. Dozens of claims of toxicity appear in its documents, despite the existence of scores of scientific studies refuting their validity. At the same time, studies that fail to find serious toxicity are ignored. In the following pages, we review the scientific evidence surrounding the most prominent of the anti-marijuana claims.

Sativa/Indica Good Information about the Cannabis that suits you!!!

There always seems to be a cloud of confusion surrounding the differences between sativas and indicas. It’s important for those who partake to understand the differences between the two types available because each will have it’s own unique effect on the user. It’s high time we clear the air. plants are short and compact, usually growing wider and rounder than plants. Indicas will give you a delicious body buzz, and will occasionally make you believe that you’ve turned into a cube of melting butter. Famous for their overwhelming sedative effects, indicas are the perpetrator of couchlock, a condition which makes removing oneself from soft and comfortable places next to impossible. Medically, indicas are useful for the treatment of chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety. Many people prefer to smoke indicas at night, and they are often used as a sleep-aid. Sativa plants are much taller, sometimes growing up to 25 feet. Because they have a higher THC content, sativa highs are cerebral, psychoactive, and may cause mild hallucinations. Many people prefer to smoke sativas during the day because the high is more uplifting and energizing. Sativas are often used medically for nerve-based pain, such as Fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis. People who require something on a daily basis for pain management tend to prefer sativas because they are less likely to inhibit one’s ability to function in a work environment. As a pot smoker, I cannot stress the importance of choosing the correct type of marijuana to smoke in accordance with whatever activity you may have planned. For example, I like to smoke sativa before I go on long runs. Usually, smoking weed prior to a run energizes me and urges me to run faster. I get lost in a wonderfully hazy time-space continuum. A sativa high keeps my mind so engaged with the way the sunlight flickers on glass buildings and the symphonic sound of sprinkler heads tick-tick-ticking that the sheer discomfort of my feet relentlessly pounding against the pavement barely even registers. In fact, it feels good. That is the power of sativas. Once, before heading out on one of these runs, I smoked a bowl generously packed by my roommate, who smokes only indica. I should have known better than to stray from sativas for this activity, but I truly believed that I could compensate for any differences between the two types of weed through sheer force of will. Needless to say, after running only a mile, I felt an overpowering urge to lay in the cool shade of drooping tree boughs — to close my eyes and let the soft grass lull my body in a peaceful, gorgeous sleep. Next thing I knew, I found myself slowing to a stop as I passed a Sonic Drive-In, unable to fight the compulsion to order an Extra Large Cherry Cream Slush. I dragged my feet all the way home as I sucked down my sugary drink, thinking about nothing but the soft furry blanket on my couch that awaited my return. That is the power of indicas. So, if you’re in your cubicle, under a shower of fluorescent lights, with a huge stack of paperwork to sort through, don’t start your morning by smoking an indica. You run the risk of waking up in a puddle of your own drool with your boss staring down at you and your unfinished task, scowling. Instead, stay alert and smoke a sativa. On the other hand, if you are dog-tired and you want to zone out for a while, choose an indica and experience it’s melty gloriousness.

Deep Green Festival in the Bay Area

Second Annual Earth Day Celebration of Cannabis, Health, & Ecology with music by The Luminaries, The Dogon Lights, Jillian Ann, Señor Oz, DJ Feral, Chlorophil, more

Website: http://www.deepgreenfest.com

Price: $12-$25 for festival only, $40-$60 for conference, or $50-$75 for joint festival/conference tickets

Cannabis Facts

Marijuana

It's a plant, so it's natural, and natural is always good-right? Think again, because both natural and synthetic versions of marijuana can cause a long-lasting, negative impact on your developing brain.

AKA

Blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, bud, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, green, trees, smoke, sinsemilla, skunk, weed, hash, tea, chronic, 420

What is it?

A green and brown mix of dried flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa.39 The main active chemical is THC (tretrahydrocannabinol), which moves quickly through the bloodstream to the brain and other organs throughout the body.39 Marijuana is a mild hallucinogen that can also act as a depressant or a stimulant.

The Risks

You may hear people ask, "If it's dangerous, why do so many people have medical marijuana cards?"40 It's true that scientists have determined that the cannabis plant has the potential for addressing a range of medical conditions. But it's also true that when you're young and your body is still growing, marijuana actually has the potential of inflicting a long-lasting, negative impact on your developing brain.

Using marijuana at a young age can result in structural and functional deficits of the brain. This could cause you to develop weakened verbal and communication skills, lowered learning capabilities and a shortened attention span.40

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

In addition to the possible effects on your brain, smoking marijuana may also be hazardous to your developing lungs. Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.41

You may have heard people argue that marijuana is a "gateway drug" to harder drug use. Some say this is a myth, others insist it is a fact. The truth is that there is a link. Research shows that the earlier you start using marijuana, the more likely you are to become dependent on it or other types of drugs later in life.42

THE BOTTOM LINE

Some movies and music make "stoner" culture seem cool, natural and like it's not a big deal. But if being fit and getting good grades are some of your goals, using marijuana can become a big deal, fast. Marijuana limits your brain's effectiveness, slows your thinking and impairs your coordination. A number of studies have also shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. 41