|
Drugs -
Marijuana Dangers
The
Dangers of Marijuana
Impairing
Health
Long
Lasting Effects
Marijuana is fat-soluble, and it stays in the body for weeks,
unlike alcohol, which is water-soluble and leaves the body in hours. It is a
complex mixture of more than 400 chemicals and more than 60 cannabinoids,
including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive
ingredient. New harmful chemical components of marijuana are still being
discovered. (1)
Addiction
Marijuana is an addictive substance with known dependence and
withdrawal symptoms. (2) Addiction means continued use
of a substance despite harmful life consequences, and when someone stops
using after regular smoking, they experience irritability, shakes, cravings
and restlessness. Marijuana addicts don't quit easily.
Cancer
And AIDS
Smoked marijuana threatens patients with bacterial and fungal
infections; it has been demonstrated that infectious agents can be found on
marijuana leaves. Cancer and AIDS patients are immuno-compromised and are
extraordinarily sensitive to invasion by bacteria and fungi. (2)
Smoking
Everyone is concerned about the effects of cigarette smoking. One
study found that smoking a "joint" of marijuana caused over 10 times as
much lung damage as smoking one cigarette. Shouldn't we be at least 10
times as concerned about marijuana as we are about tobacco? (3)
Immune
System
Marijuana impairs immune system function and increases the risk
of illness. (4) White blood cells and other immune
system chemicals do not function properly when exposed to marijuana. Regular
users have a higher risk of developing pneumonia and herpes virus
infections.
Glaucoma
Marijuana has not been shown to be a safe and effective drug in
lowering intraocular pressure and preventing optic nerve damage for glaucoma
patients. (5) To maintain a low intraocular pressure
with marijuana, a person would have to smoke a joint every 1 to 2 hours, 10
to 12 joints a day, and 4,000 a year. In the last five years, the FDA
approved two new drugs for glaucoma, and more are expected soon. Each of
these drugs have been a significant improvement and far better than anything
that marijuana ever did. (6)
Medicine
THC, the marijuana ingredient associated with health benefits, is
currently available in pill form as MarinolTM.
- MarinolTM is research-tested and can be
prescribed in known and precise doses, unlike smoked marijuana. (7)
- For each medical condition for which smoked marijuana is claimed to be
beneficial, there are other drugs available that are superior to
marijuana. (8)
The
"New" Marijuana
Marijuana is much more potent today. In the 1970s, the THC
(psychoactive ingredient) content in marijuana was about 1-3%. Today, THC
content is typically 5-10% and can reach as high as 30% with high-tech
indoor growing methods. (9) Some parents today who
used marijuana in the past aren't sure how to talk to their children, but
it is very important that they do talk to their children and protect them
from the consequences of marijuana use.
Safety
For years, this country has maintained a national commitment to
ensuring that medicines are proven safe and effective by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) before being approved for use by the public. Medicine
must rely on science. Based on the thousands of studies that have been done,
the FDA and major medical groups do not support the medicinal use of
marijuana. It is inconsistent for a state to seek damages against the
tobacco industry for the uninvited costs to the state that smoking tobacco
has caused, and to then turn around and invite new costs to the state by
promoting marijuana.
Reproductive
System
In males, marijuana diminishes testosterone production and lowers
sperm counts. (10) In females, marijuana disrupts
hormone cycles. Marijuana depresses the reproductive function in both sexes.
Pregnant women who use marijuana can harm their infants; THC crosses the
placenta and enters breast milk. (11)
References
- Yamamoto,et al.Pharm. Biochem. Behav. 40:465-469.
1991.
- Voth, E.A. and Schwartz, R.H. "Medicinal applications
of delta 9 THC and marijuana." Annals of Internal Medicine.
126:791-8. 1997.
- Starr, et al. Medical Tribune. p. 17. 1994.
- Djeu, et al. Drugs of Abuse: Immunity and
Immunodeficiency. 1991.
- Dr. Keith Green, Ophthalmologist at the Medical College
of Georgia, CNN Interactive. "Study Casts Doubt on Marijuana's
Effectiveness as Glaucoma Treatment." As cited at http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9811/13/marijuana.glaucoma/.
Nov. 13, 1998.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. "The Use of
Marijuana in the Treatment of Glaucoma." As cited at: http://eyenet.org/public/glaucoma/gl_maryj.html.
1999.
- Final Order of Administrator of DEA (Drug Enforcement
Agency) denying the petition of NORML (National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws) to reschedule the plant material marijuana
from Schedule I to Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act. Federal
Register, V.54 #249, Dec. 29, 1989.
- "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science
Base." The National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine. Mch.
1999.
- Voth, Eric A. "Marijuana: Alleged Medicinal Uses -
Physical and Social Consequences." The International Drug Strategy
Institute. 1995.
- Gold MS. Marijuana. NY: Plenum Medical Book Co.,
pp. 69-71.
- Maykut, MD. "Health Consequences of Acute and Chromic
Marijuana Use." Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry.
9:209-38. 1985.
Back
to Dangers
of Marijuana Page
Back
to Drug Page
Disclaimer/Copyright
|
