Why marijuana is bad for you

The “Debate”

The question, “Is marijuana bad for you?” is a pertinent question considering the running debate over its value (or lack of it) for medicinal purposes, legalization in Colorado and Washington State, decriminalization in other areas, and the estimates that more than 150 million people worldwide use the drug. Marijuana refers to the dries leaves, seeds, stems, and flowers of the Indian hemp plant. Hashish – which is on average six times stronger – is made from the resin of the same plant. The word “cannabis” refers to Indian hemp or any of the drugs derived from it. The chemical found in cannabis which produces the psychoactive effect is known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (also called tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC). THC is classified as a Schedule I hallucinogen under the US Controlled Substances Act, which describes Schedule I drugs under the following criteria:

1.       The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.

2.       The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.

3.       There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

Despite this classification, the drug has received medical (or quasi-medical) status in a number of states. Because of these circumstances, proponents for the drug contest its classification under Schedule I. “Medical marijuana” has been administered for such ailments as nausea, loss of appetite, muscle tension or spasm, pain, insomnia, and glaucoma. A synthetic pill form, called marinol, also exists.

With all the discussion about marijuana, it would be wise to know some more facts about it. Marijuana – pot, weed, grass, herb, Mary Jane, ganja, dope, hemp, home grown – is a drug, just as alcohol, painkillers, cocaine, crystal meth, LSD, and heroin are drugs. Is smoking weed going to affect a person the same as snorting coke or injecting heroin? Certainly not. But the fact remains that marijuana use carries with it certain physiological and mental effects. What does it do to the body and mind?

The Facts

§  When a person inhales a joint, they will usually hold the smoke in much longer than they would a tobacco cigarette, resulting in considerably more potential damage to the lungs. This practice increases the user’s risk of contracting bronchitis, respiratory inflammations, and lung cancer. Some studies have isolated twice the carcinogens in marijuana smoke than tobacco smoke – important facts considering that tobacco kills 5 million people worldwide annually. It is estimated that one joint is equivalent to 5 cigarettes. One New Zealand study has placed the risk at 20 times more.

§  Through sophisticated growing techniques, the percentage of THC in cannabis has increased several percent over the decades. One form, called Sinsemilla (Spanish for “without seeds) appears to have risen from 7.5% to 24% THC content.

§  THC remains in fatty tissue of the body for months, possibly longer. Thus, someone smoking pot weekly is building up THC in his or her body to such a degree that they are – in one way or another – constantly under the influence of the drug.

§  In a survey of adults aged 26 or older who had used marijuana before age 15, 62% went on to use cocaine at some point in their lives, while 54% abused psycho-pharmaceuticals (prescription drugs that affect brain chemistry). While those statistics may or may not be shocking, they point out a pertinent fact: Marijuana use builds up tolerance, which often leads the user to first increase the dosage, then seek more powerful drugs to get high.

§  Smoking dope will produce effects such as euphoria, accelerated heartbeat, disorientation, poor coordination, and paranoia – often directly followed by sleepiness or depression. THC affects the internal organs of the body, including the spleen, liver, lungs, sexual organs, and of course the brain. Long-term results include lesions (wounds) in the lungs and brain, suppression of immune system (reduced resistance to colds, infections, bronchitis, etc.), growth disorders, sexual dysfunction, apathy, memory loss, and chronic lack of comprehension.

§  Marijuana use by pregnant mothers is damaging to the fetus, with premature birth reported as one result. Evidence also exists indicating that prenatal use can bring about abnormal cell division, mental abnormalities, birth defects, and increased risk of leukemia (blood cancer) in children.

§  More recently, a new batch of pseudo-legal substances have become available under the heading of “synthetic marijuana” or synthetic cannabinoids – chemical compounds developed to approximate the effects of the THC in cannabis. Varieties include “Spice” and “K2” covertly marketed under harmless names like “plant food,” “herbal incense,” and labeled “not for human consumption.” So far, reports of the immediate effects of these compounds include agitation, increased heart rate, dilated pupils, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and hallucinations.

Drugs vs. Life

Those are just a few of the salient facts regarding cannabis. Marijuana – or any drug – has a certain appeal due to the temporary escape afforded by getting high. But there is always a price. Reality invariably creeps back into the picture gradually or shockingly. With those highs come lows that increase in frequency and severity.

On the other hand, one can choose education in the facts regarding drugs, and can choose awareness, mental acuity (sharpness of thought), and physical health – in short, LIFE!