Marijuana predates any recorded history and the cannabis plant has been used, in one form or another, as both a pain reliever and an ingredient in certain teas. Its use also has roots in both spiritual and religious ceremonies throughout history. No one can deny that there has been a spike in recreational use of cannabis over the last 100 years. To this day, the never-ending debate rages on as people are fiercely divided over whether medical use of the drug should be legalized. As anyone who has taken a junior high school health class will tell you, marijuana has been labeled a gateway drug. Recent studies show that marijuana’s illegal status proves to be more of a catalyst for deadlier substances because of the lengths one has to go through to obtain it. This isn’t the only myth surrounding marijuana. Listed below are the top 10 most believed myths as compiled by MedicalCannabis.com:
1. There are hundreds of compounds/chemicals in marijuana-There are approximately 400, compared to a tomato that has roughly 330.
2. It is stronger today which makes it more dangerous- The marijuana has not become stronger.
3. As a plant the dosage cannot be controlled- Prior to the marijuana prohibition when pharmaceutical companies created extracts and tinctures of cannabis, they were able to provide fairly uniform preparations.
4. Smoking marijuana is what makes it dangerous- Higher potency of marijuana will also allow patients to smoke less to achieve a therapeutic dose without the risk of overdose.
5. Marijuana Destroys the immune system- There is no conclusive evidence that demonstrates harm to the immune system when used in therapeutic doses for humans.
6. It is highly addictive- Compared to other commonly used psychoactive drugs, marijuana is not highly addictive and has a low abuse potential.
7. Marijuana is a gateway drug-The 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine finds that, “There is no evidence that marijuana serves as a stepping stone on the basis of its particular drug effect.”
8. Use during pregnancy can cause damage to the fetus- Studies by Melanie Dreher, PhD, RN conducted in Jamaica and Dr. Peter Fried in Canada show minimal effects on the fetus during pregnancy.
9. A marijuana pill is available and completely legal- MarinolÒ is a synthetic form of THC, the pure psychoactive chemical in marijuana.
10. Medical use send the message to teens that it is not dangerous and encourages usage- Reports from teens have indicated that it is easier for them to obtain illegal marijuana than it is to obtain regulated alcohol or prescription drug.
I was glad to find out that someone in your position is not blinded by ignorance!
