CANNABIS IS WORSE FOR LUNGS THAN TOBACCO WHEN SMOKED- WRONG
Cannabis causes brain damage- WRONG. Studies on human populations of cannabis users have showed no evidence of brain damage, despite efforts to prove it.
Cannabis dangers the reproductive system - WRONG. Absolute nonsense as all cannabis users with children know. The claim is usually based on the work of Dr. Gabriel Nahas who experimented with tissues in dishes in the laboratory, and the work of researchers who dosed animals with huge amounts of cannabinoids (extracted from cannabis); the scientific community rejects the claims. In the case of the animals they all returned to normal after 30 days. Also see Greek Study on previous page.
Marijuana suppresses the immune system - WRONG. Two studies in 1978 and 1988 showed that cannabis actually stimulated the immune system.
see US: Wire: Marijuana Use Does Not Accelerate Hiv Infection: Reuters, 18 August 2003
Cannabis impairs short term memory - WRONG. This statement may be partially true for people who stop concentrating or become too involved with a particular activity. In other people it actually improves short term memory. In either case the effects on memory disappear when the cannabis has worn off.
Cannabis lingers in the body like DDT - WRONG. Although cannabis does linger in the fatty tissues of the body by clinging onto fatty cells and dissolving, this is not like DDT which is highly toxic. Cannabis can stay in the body for 30 days or more, although the effect has worn off after hours. Vitamin A is also fat soluble but potentially toxic. This is no reason to prohibit cannabis use.
Cannabis is a gateway drug - WRONG. Tobacco is far more likely to be a gateway drug. Many people who smoke tobacco find it easier to smoke cannabis than non-smokers. On the other hand those who first took cannabis may have later tried tobacco when the cannabis ran out. Few cannabis users ever take illegal drugs. The personality (either no - hopers or explorers) which is likely to be attracted to experimenting with drugs may well have tried cannabis first. This is no argument against legalisation. WHY PUNISH THOSE PEOPLE WHO INDULGE IN ONLY CANNABIS BECAUSE OTHERS ALSO INDULGE IN DRUGS? In any case punishment does not stop drug use. See Jamaican Study and Shafer Report
Marijuana gateway risk overblown: study
Cannabis use a-motivates - WRONG. Dr. Andrew Weil (Rubin & Comitas Ganja in Jamaica, 1975) said a-motivation [is] a cause of heavy marijuana smoking rather than the reverse.
Cannabis causes a decline in cognitive abilities
- WRONG
US: Cannabis Use and Cognitive Decline in Persons under 65 Years of Age
Pubdate: 1 May 1999
Source: American Journal of Epidemiology
Copyright: 1999 Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
Ref: Am J Epidemiol 1999; 149:794-800
Mail: 111 Market Place, Suite 840, Baltimore MD 21202 U.S.A.
Website
Authors: Constantine G. Lyketsos, Elizabeth Garrett, Kung-Yee Liang, and James
C. Anthony (Osler 320, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street,
Baltimore, MD 21287-5371)
"The purpose of this study was to investigate possible adverse effects of
cannabis use on cognitive decline after 12 years in persons under age 65 years.
This was a follow-up study of a probability sample of the adult household
residents of East Baltimore. The analyses included 1,318 participants in the
Baltimore, Maryland, portion of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study who
completed the Mini-Mental State (MMSE) examination during three study waves in
1981, 1982, and 1993--1996. Individual MMSE score differences between waves 2
and 3 were calculated for each study participant. After 12 years, study
participants' scores declined a mean of 1.20 points on the MMSE (standard
deviation 1.90), with 66% having scores that declined by at least one point.
Significant numbers of scores declined by three points or more (15% of
participants in the 18--29 age group). There were no significant differences in
cognitive decline between heavy users, light users, and nonusers of cannabis.
There were also no male-female differences in cognitive decline in relation to
cannabis use. The authors conclude that over long time periods, in persons
under age 65 years, cognitive decline occurs in all age groups.
This decline is closely associated with ageing and educational level but
does not appear to be associated with cannabis use."