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Marijuana Demystified: 5 Health Myths Debunked
Medical Daily ^ | Aug 20, 2014 | Anthony Rivas

Posted on 08/20/2014 10:40:32 AM PDT by ConservingFreedom

Like it or not, marijuana use has increased exponentially since President Nixon declared a war no drugs in 1971. Today, marijuana — or weed, pot, cannabis, Mary Jane — is the third most popular recreational drug in the United States, behind only alcohol and tobacco. Upward of 24 million people have used it, based on the latest estimates, with 14 million using it regularly. But despite a growing warmth toward the drug, and two states (Washington and Colorado) legalizing its recreational use, there are still some people on the fence about its safety and usefulness. So, to educate you nonbelievers out there, here are five marijuana myths debunked.

It’s a Gateway Drug

This may be the biggest farce cooked up by marijuana opponents, but it makes sense. People who have tried marijuana may eventually go on to try harder drugs in search of a stronger high, and their experimentation leads them down a dangerous path toward addiction. But the science behind whether or not this is true overwhelmingly shows that it’s not.

“Because it is the most widely used illicit drug, marijuana is predictably the first illicit drug most people encounter,” a report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) said. “In the sense that marijuana use typically precedes rather than follows initiation of other illicit drug use, it is indeed a ‘gateway’ drug. But because underage smoking and alcohol use typically precede marijuana use, marijuana is not the most common and is rarely the first ‘gateway’ to illicit drug use. There is no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs.”

So what is the cause of other illicit drug use? As the IOM report suggested, other studies have also implicated alcohol and tobacco use as gateway drugs. But an alternative gateway may just be the trials and tribulations some kids face while growing up. “Whether marijuana smokers go on to use other illicit drugs depends more on social factors like being exposed to stress and being unemployed — not so much whether they smoked a joint in the eighth grade,” Dr. Karen Van Gundy, an associate professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, told CBS News.  

It’s Harmless

Although smoking weed won’t mess with a person’s body too much, it can cause a couple of the same issues that tobacco smokers experience, with the most likely one being respiratory problems. Ailments like bronchitis may sometimes develop as users inhale the tars from the rolling papers in joints and blunts. Because of this, eating marijuana-infused foods or smoking from a vaporizer, which heats the weed up just enough to release the THC (its active ingredient), may be healthier.

Smoking weed and getting behind the wheel is also relatively dangerous, with a number of studies this year finding that teens who drove while high were likely to get in crashes. One of the studies found that the number of people who crashed their cars while high tripled over the past 10 years. A person who drives while high can be up to two times more likely to crash. When accounting for teens only, another study concluded that a teen’s lack of driving experience paired with marijuana’s (or alcohol’s) effects led many teens to drive recklessly, even when not impaired, thus increasing their risk of a crash.

When it comes to more serious illnesses, marijuana may have more benefits than harms (we’ll get into that later). Despite a controversial study earlier this year suggesting it causes brain damage, other studies have shown no correlation, let alone cause. “Results indicated no significant effect of cannabis use on global neurocognitive performance,” one 2012 study said. Other opponents argue it can cause lung cancer, a condition not one study has found a link to yet.

It’s Addictive

With the majority of drugs being addicting — alcohol, tobacco, heroin, cocaine, etc — it’s easy to go ahead and say that marijuana’s addicting, too. But it’s a little more complex than that, and no, it’s not addicting. But users can develop a dependence, or a bad habit of lighting up. According to a 1994 study on the topic, however, only four percent of users develop this dependence. Compared to weed, alcohol and tobacco dependence was found among 14 and 24 percent of study participants. In a more recent study from 2007, only about nine percent of users developed dependency to the drug, whereas 15 and 24 percent of cocaine and heroin users went back again and again.

Breaking any habit can be really difficult, a recent study showed, but it’s possible with some dedication.

It Makes Users Lazy

The stereotypical stoner is all too real, unfortunately. At 30 years old, he still lies in his parents’ home, unemployed, smoking weed in his room while playing video games. Although marijuana users may never get rid of the reputation of being lazy, some evidence points to it not affecting a person’s motivation at all.

But first, supporting evidence that it does get people lazy. A study from July looked at the brains of 19 users and measured concentrations of dopamine, the chemical linked to reward, pleasure, and motivation. They found that longtime and frequent users, who tended to have more THC in their bodies were also the ones who had lower levels of dopamine in their brains. The researchers suggested that marijuana could cause a controversial — and not entirely official condition — called “amotivational syndrome,” characterized by laziness.  

But amotivational syndrome may affect other non-marijuana users just as much. One study published in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors found that the syndrome affected about five to six percent of the population, both users and nonusers. These findings were later supported by another study, which also found there was no difference in motivation.

What it comes down to is, if you’re lazy when you smoke weed, you were probably lazy before, too.  

It Has No Medicinal Purpose

To say marijuana has no possible health benefits is to deny hundreds, if not thousands, of pages' worth of proof. Simply looking at this Collective Evolution article will point you in the direction of 20 studies proving its cancer-fighting benefits. According to the National Cancer Institute, cannabinoids may inhibit tumor growth by causing cell death, blocking its growth, and blocking the development of blood vessels that aid in metastasis. These marijuana ingredients may also help reduce inflammation in the colon, reducing colon cancer risk, as well as killing some kinds of breast cancer cells. And that’s only cancer.

Marijuana has also been implicated in treating glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, PTSD, anxiety, and a host of other conditions. Its medical use has already been approved in 23 states, even as leading politicians begrudgingly admit its benefits.

As more states sign on for medical marijuana and local governments notice the revenue pulled from recreational weed — sales in Colorado are expected to reach $1 billion during this fiscal year — it’s likely to become a slippery slope toward the end of prohibition.  


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: authorondrigs; bsarticle; cannabis; decriminaledfraud; fraud; ibtz; legalizedfraud; libertarianagenda; marijuana; pot; retreadtroll; snakeoil; wod
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To: ConservingFreedom
Evidence? Seems to me that anyone who loves pot that much is already smoking it, making legalization a moot point.

Oh, they are. I can show you half a dozen. All on welfare or jobless.

221 posted on 08/20/2014 3:15:59 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: driftless2

Not true at all. It was available commercially in pharmacies the 1850s, and not requiring a prescription. The 1930s was the era of the anti-drug propaganda exploitation movie (Reefer Madness and its hilarious cohorts), so clearly there had to be some serious usage. And by 1964 (fifty years ago) it still wasn’t anywhere near universally illegal.

We already know. There is no effect.


222 posted on 08/20/2014 3:18:49 PM PDT by discostu (Villains always blink their eyes.)
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To: ConservingFreedom
Wrong as usual: http://www.casacolumbia.org/download/file/fid/640.

I don't have any interest in looking at your links. The world is full of libertarian nuts creating content which other libertarian nuts link to and point "See! It proves it!"

I had one nut actually link back to stuff he himself wrote on his own blog trying to PROVE he was right.

Sophistry has nothing on these boobs.

223 posted on 08/20/2014 3:20:36 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: ConservingFreedom
Just like the mob continued to get rich from alcohol after Prohibition ended? ROTFL!

"WAAAAAAAAAH!!!! They get Alcohol! I want my WEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDD!!!!!"


224 posted on 08/20/2014 3:22:08 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: A_Former_Democrat
Ok so let’s do it your way. Legalize it and let’s create another addiction, another host of problems. Genius. As if we don’t have enough crap to deal with nowadays. And then when you and others realize your mistake, how do you propose to undo it? That I’d like to hear.

I can tell you exactly how it's going to get undone. When anarchy gets to a certain point, a dictator comes along, shoots all the troublemakers and establishes himself in power.

That's what happened in China, and that's what will eventually happen here. Everyone will become government property, and the dictator won't put up with people damaging HIS property.

Mao solved China's opium problem by executing everyone caught with the drug.

225 posted on 08/20/2014 3:26:09 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: ConservingFreedom
Nobody's saying that. The point about the drug alcohol is to learn about other drugs, like how banning them causes more problems than it cures.

Tolerating them causes more problems than it cures. This is the kind of problem that Drugs caused in China.


226 posted on 08/20/2014 3:34:51 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: Ken H
Utter crap. It's been six months. Traffic fatalities have been lower in the past. You need years of data to draw a conclusion and tie it to one change.

More reckless Libertarian propaganda crap.

227 posted on 08/20/2014 3:37:07 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: Wolfie
I care about the topic, I don’t care if the Nanny Staters can’t handle the end of Marijuana Prohibition. See the difference?

It is a distinction without a difference. You obviously care what other people think or you wouldn't answer.

228 posted on 08/20/2014 3:40:53 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: DiogenesLamp

Lol. Ending a government usurpation of individual freedom is anarchy? You don’t understand jack about history, reality, or the US Constitution. You’re right about one thing though- we will probably get a dictatorship in the end, but since you already support an all-powerful government model, I don’t see why you’re complaining


229 posted on 08/20/2014 3:41:33 PM PDT by fr_freak
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To: discostu
If you can’t make a point without insults you don’t have one.

There is really no purpose to having a discussion with some people because there is no reasonableness from someone who posts just about every other day that we need to legalize drugs. Such people are not reachable.

Insults are the ONLY worthwhile point to be made. Demonstrating how utterly childish a person is might shame them into growing up.

230 posted on 08/20/2014 3:42:57 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: ConservingFreedom
Not the issue. Abuse is bad - why not fight it by banning alcohol and tobacco?

"WAAAAAAAAAH!!!! IF I CAN'T HAVE MY WEED! THEY SHOULDN'T GET ALCOHOL!!!!! WAAAAAAAAAH!!!! "


231 posted on 08/20/2014 3:45:56 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: DiogenesLamp

Insults are a logical fallacy. They are a lack of point. They are proof that you know facts cannot carry your case. They are an admission of being wrong. If you really think all you have is insults look to yourself, or just stop posting on these threads. Better yet go with both. You can’t sway anyone, all you do is look like a bully and spike up your blood pressure.


232 posted on 08/20/2014 3:48:19 PM PDT by discostu (Villains always blink their eyes.)
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To: ConservingFreedom
What's your opinion on Gay Marriage? Are you for or against?

Against.

And so why isn't THAT "Collectivist claptrap. March on, comrade." ? Is it only collectivist claptrap when it bothers you? That would appear to be a safe bet.

No, you recognize society has reasons for imposing standards of behavior, and some behaviors simply cannot be tolerated if society as a whole is to survive. You put "Gay" Marriage in that category, and I put "drugs" into that category but for the exceptions society has decided to tolerate despite the damage they cause each year.

233 posted on 08/20/2014 3:50:14 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: ConservingFreedom
It's not all or nothing - if it were, the drug alcohol would be illegal.

"WAAAAAAAAAH!!!! They get Alcohol! I want my WEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDD!!!!!"


234 posted on 08/20/2014 3:51:31 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: DiogenesLamp

He’s also against abortion (he’s a longtime retread). Another one where the absolute rights of the only consenting person around don’t count to him.

Hypocrite from hell.


235 posted on 08/20/2014 3:51:45 PM PDT by Monty22002
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To: DiogenesLamp
Utter crap. It's been six months. Traffic fatalities have been lower in the past. You need years of data to draw a conclusion and tie it to one change.

The point is not that legalization caused these beneficial effects. Such a conclusion cannot be made at this time.

The point is, the 3 biggies that prohibitionists assured us would happen - increased crime, increased traffic fatalities and increased underage usage - have not materialized.

We've had defacto legalized pot in this country since CA legalized medical mj in 1996. Crime and traffic fatalities have continued to plunge there, like everywhere else.

More reckless Libertarian propaganda crap.

What I find deliciously ironic is prohibitionists having to argue that legalized pot is not responsible for the improvements observed.

236 posted on 08/20/2014 3:59:23 PM PDT by Ken H
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To: discostu
They are proof that you know facts cannot carry your case.

They are proof that someone has better sense than trying to argue with a dope fiend, but still feels his lying propaganda needs to be pointed out as lying propaganda.

I do not want to be having this discussion. I am sick to death of having this discussion. I have been arguing with libertarian nuts about this crap for a decade, and I simply have no patience to put up with the pretext that they are reasonable or knowledgeable.

I want the Libertarians and the Homosexual Gaystapo which is just another leaf on the same tree, to sit down and shut up. People are sick of hearing this constant "You must accept us the way we are" crap. People are sick of them pushing their agendas onto the rest of us who are tired of hearing about it.

You don't want to shut up? Well since we aren't going to be able to have a debate, we might as well just go straight to the mockery.

237 posted on 08/20/2014 4:04:51 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp (Partus Sequitur Patrem)
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To: A_Former_Democrat
Lots of qualifiers and language in there to “soften” the impact of the pro-dopers

I live in California and know first hand that the laws here are a joke.

I know of one older guy, who got a medical certificate that enables him to grow up to 6 plants for personal use to deal with old sports and work injuries pain.

His son, who is 20 years old, applied for and got his own certificate, so he is also entitled to grow "... up to 6 plants." As to how and why? Severe headaches.
The further explanation?
There's this doctor in town...

Another personal example is a young woman I met 14 years ago. She is now 35 and on public assistance. Hers is a different path to oblivion. She started using at age 14, and discovered to her chagrin, that genetics plays a major role in the permanent and apparently irreversible damage resulting from marihuana use. Alcohol and other illegal drugs were also a factor.

This woman is one of the most erudite, well educated people I ever met--- when she is not being pursued by the demons of paranoia and the eating disorders, weight problems swinging from becoming skeletal to morbidly obese, resulting from the cocktail of mood altering drugs necessary to control mental issues including chronic depression, suicidal tendencies and the ever present paranoia.

Would she be "normal" had she refrained from illegal drugs?
No one, professional or not, will ever know for sure.

238 posted on 08/20/2014 4:47:55 PM PDT by publius911 ( Politicians come and go... but the (union) bureaucracy lives and grows forever.)
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To: DiogenesLamp

But you ARE arguing with people you ass-u-me are dope fiends. Just because you’ve turned to insults doesn’t mean it’s not arguing. Actually quite the opposite, you’re need for insults proves that ALL you’re doing is arguing, not debating, not changing minds, merely exercising heightened temper for no good purpose.

It’s simple really. If you feel you cannot carry the debate without insults you’re in one of two situations:
1 - you’re dealing with people that really are as dumb as you think in which case you’re just beating your head against the wall to no gain, you will not sway them and you will not sway witnesses because people aren’t swayed by bullies who can’t present a case.
or 2 - YOU’RE as dumb as the think they are in which case you’re beating your head against a completely different but just intransigent a wall.

Wanting the opposition to sit down and shut up is the sign of a lazy mind. I want the opposition to talk, I want them to bring their best arguments, their finest facts, their most bullet proof logic. Because only then can I KNOW that I’m right, if I can’t beat their best points with facts and logic of my own then I must reconsider. If you can only beat an room without opposition then you should probably be the one to sit down and shut up.

The only reason we cannot have a debate is because YOU cannot have a debate. The facts and logic don’t support you. And you know this, and as you continue to get more shrill and rude you prove you know this. What you’re really sick to death of is losing, and you aren’t grown up enough to admit it.


239 posted on 08/20/2014 5:02:28 PM PDT by discostu (We don't leave the ladies crying cause the story's sad.)
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To: discostu

Have you been reading the studies from a number of researchers lately? They’ve been on FR quite a bit. It appears there are a number of ill effects including stunting brain cells in youths. But we’ll know more in time as more people use the stuff. Which seems likely.


240 posted on 08/20/2014 6:02:34 PM PDT by driftless2 (For long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
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