Mythjs_of_Marjana

Myths about Marij I chose to write my paper about several things that are misunderstood by many people about Marijuana. The first thing I wanted to point out that most people think is true is, “Marijuana is More Damaging to the Lungs Than Tobacco. Marijuana smokers are at a high risk of developing lung cancer, bronchitis, and emphysema.” This has been proven a myth. There have been lots of reports done by the American Thoracic Society and it does not appear that marijuana is more damaging to the lungs than smoking tobacco. And it has also been proven that many people that smoke marijuana exhibit no obstruction of the lungs small airway. And so this means people do not actually develop cancer, bronchitis, and emphysema from smoking marijuana. “Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke contains a number of irritants and carcinogens. But marijuana users typically smoke much less than tobacco smokers, and over time, inhale much less smoke. As a result, The risk of serious lung damage should be lower in marijuana smokers.” Marijuana has actually been given to people who are suffering from cancer, bronchitis, and emphysema and it has helped them and is used to promote good health. Studies have also proven that marijuana can actually save lives and restore people’s vision and keep you from going blind. The next thing I would like to point out is that, “Marijuana Causes Crime. Marijuana users commit more property offenses than nonusers. Under the influence of marijuana, people become irrational, aggressive, and violent.” This has been proven a myth. “The fact is every serious scholar and government commission examining the relationship between marijuana use and crime has reached the same conclusion: marijuana does not cause crime.” Many marijuana users do not commit more crimes when they use marijuana than when they do not. It has also been proven by studies that the main crime marijuana users commit is having possession of marijuana, and that marijuana also decreases aggression. And every year the government and law enforcement spend countless hours trying to apprehend marijuana dealers and growers. When they should utilize there time better dealing with much more serious crimes like murder. If the government would legalize and regulate the sale of marijuana, large tax revenues would be available to help the government. And the increased revenue would help the country be a better place to live. These benefits are all from a simple plant called marijuana, but yet the government will not allow this to happen so the country can enjoy all the good that would come out of this plant being legalized. And up until the 1900s marijuana was not illegal and it was banned because the nation needed relief from drug use. And that is when the government put a ban on all the drugs that they believed to be addictive. Another thing I would like to point out is that, “Used over time, marijuana permanently alters brain structure and function, causing memory loss, cognitive impairment, personality deterioration, and reduced productivity.” This has also been proven a myth. There are not any tests or studies that have been able to detect any sign of brain damage in humans that use marijuana, even if it is from a long term high-dose use. “An early study reported brain damage in rhesus monkeys after six months exposure to high concentrations of marijuana smoke. In a recent, more carefully conducted study, researchers found no evidence of brain abnormality in monkeys that were forced to inhale the equivalent of four or five marijuana cigarettes every day for a year. The claim that marijuana kills brain cells is based on a speculative report dating back a quarter of a century that has never been supported by any scientific study.” And I that is why I believe that marijuana is less harmful to smoke than drinking alcohol. One reason is because you can not overdose on it. Another reason is because science has proven alcohol to be much more damaging than marijuana. Zimmer, Lynn and Morgan, John. Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts: A Review Of The Scientific Evidence. New York: The Drug Policy Alliance. - http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/