Myths And Facts About Marijuana

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug extracted from flowering tops of female plants of cannabis sativa. Marijuana has a synthetic form of chemical THC, and used to treat few medical complications. In the United States, FDA has approved marijuana as a treatment option for cancer, and the symptoms of HIV, and influenza. According to Monitoring Future Survey 2007, among the students of 8th, 10th, and 12th grades observed a decline of 20% in marijuana drug abuse compared to last year.

Myths and Facts
Marijuana is popular drug among teens, and has adverse effects on health. The widespread perception about marijuana is a benign natural herb used in treatments, distracts the serious message that marijuana abuse is not good for everyone, especially for young teens. Therefore, it is good to know the myths and facts about the marijuana abuse.

Myth: Marijuana is harmless
Fact: Marijuana abuse is harmful in many ways. Memory loss, distorted perception, trouble in problem solving, and many more short-term effects of drug abuse. Potential ability of a student is disturbed with marijuana abuse. Poor academic performance, and cognitive deficits are few long-term effects of this abuse.

Myth: Marijuana is not addictive
Fact: Many people believe that marijuana is not addictive, but recent studies revealed that students are depending more on this drug. If the abuser of marijuana is not used the drug for a period then he can develop withdrawal symptoms like irritability, anxiety, difficulty in sleeping etc., and these makes it difficult to stop the abuse. Marijuana addiction is three times more serious than any other illicit drug addiction.

Myth: Marijuana offense is not severely
Fact: Many people considered police arrest the marijuana law violator but they did not give any imprisonment. In 2007, more than 2 million people were arrested for marijuana offense, and about more than 10,000 members are in prison. Despite of many criminal, and civil sanctions, marijuana is easily available.

Myth: Marijuana is not harmful than tobacco
Fact: The abuser assumes that abusing marijuana is not harmful than tobacco. Smoking marijuana is five times more harmful than tobacco. With both tobacco, and marijuana abuse, abuser observes the similar effects, but the affects of Marijuana drug abuse on body are more dangerous than effects of tobacco.

Myth: Marijuana is not popular as MDMA
Fact: According to National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2.1 million Americans, age 12 and older had abused MDMA at least once in a year. The same report reveals, 25 million Americans age 12 or older abused marijuana once in their lifetime. These figures convey a clear message that marijuana abuse is more than MDMA abuse.

The above information helps you in knowing seriousness of Marijuana drug abuse. By discussing these facts, you can discuss and prevent kids from the drug abuse.

Marijuana, The Myths and Facts

Marijuana or Cannabis or any one of several names is a drug prepared for human consumption in an herbal form. The fact that using Marijuana is in fact Drug abuse should be apprised by people. People have tried to whitewash Marijuana by terming it safer to use than other drugs; however, it has the potential to do real psychological harm, not just physical harm. The fact is that Marijuana is a hallucinogenic drug, that can lead to addiction and abuse.

Marijuana’s Addiction Symptoms

Marijuana is both emotionally and mentally addictive. The mind becomes Marijuana obsessed and you start gravitating towards friends and people who are like minded. Full blown addiction causes the person to function under the Marijuana high. Their misconception that marijuana is what they need to solve their problems causes constant abuse.Addicts hate to be without their stash and are constantly concerned with the next hit. In short, you live, breathe and dream Marijuana. Some classic symptoms are:

” Marijuana tolerance: To achieve intoxication, the need for marijuana increases, and its effect decreases with continued use of the same amount of marijuana.
” Greater use of marijuana than intended: Marijuana taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended.
” Unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control marijuana use.
” For using marijuana a great deal of time is spent.
” Reduction in social, occupational or recreational activities is caused due to it.
” significant problems will be caused due to continued use of marijuana despite knowing about it.

Myths and Facts about Marijuana Abuse and Addiction
There are several myths surrounding the use of Marijuana; however you should remember that interpretations vary – so the reader is urged to keep an open mind.

Cause for Permanent Mental Illness Marijuana users become irrational and often behave erratically when intoxicating them.

Even though there are not any scientific evidence showing that marijuana causes psychological damage or mental illness, psychological distress like feelings of panic, anxiety, and paranoia are caused following marijuana ingestion.

Marijuana is Highly Addictive. Long term users experience physical dependence and withdrawal and often need professional drug treatment to break the addiction.

It is not for those who smoke Marijuana occasionally and in very small quantities but for those who are long term users.

Marijuana is far more potent today than in the past. Much more dangerous drugs are being used by today’s youngsters than their counterparts from the past.

This is a highly debatable point as common sense tells us it must be true considering that man has always tried to improve everything so why not Marijuana.

Marijuana offences are not severely punished. Few marijuana addicts are arrested or sent to prison – this encourages the continued use of the drug.

But statistics shows that the number of arrests have more than doubled and is increasing. Many drug users get arrested, tried and jailed and are stopped form doing this mistake. End of the drug rule -be it Marijuana or any other drug -is wished by every country’s law.

Marijuana is more damaging to the lungs than tobacco. Marijuana smokers are at elevated risk levels of developing lung cancer and related diseases.

This has been disputed – the belief being that moderate marijuana smoking poses minimal danger to the lungs. Unlike heavy tobacco smokers, heavy marijuana smokers exhibit no obstruction of the lung’s small airway. Smoking is smoking – no matter what it is you are smoking – so wise up.

3 Myths about Teen Use of Marijuana Debunked

It is not uncommon for parents of a teen abusing a variety of illegal mind altering substances, to attempt to make a deal with the teen; “that if they quit everything else, they will be allowed to just use pot.” This is not surprising given that Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in the world, primarily because of the euphoric effects it provides its users and the comforting false information spread worldwide about the drug. Here are three myths about marijuana use, every parent should know.

Myth #1: You cannot get physically addicted to marijuana.

On the contrary, you can become addicted to marijuana. People who use the drug on a daily basis, will usually experience withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, poor appetite, and they can also become aggressive.

Myth # 2: Marijuana is Natural, so it must be good for you.

There are plenty of plants which are poisonous to human beings, so just because something is natural does not mean is safe for you. The negative effects of marijuana on the human body, primarily affect cognition. While subtle, the effects of marijuana, if used consistently over time can prove challenging to reverse. Some of the negative effects that marijuana has on the cognition are, loss of short term memory, and a slower processing speed, subsequently slowing down the brain’s ability to solve problems. In the case of adolescents, prolonged marijuana use will also slow or stall cognitive maturity and neuroplasticity.

Myth # 3: Marijuana is Mother Nature’s Natural Healer for Illnesses Which Cause Pain.

There is some truth to this, however the primary chemical in Marijuana, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) has been supported by numerous studies, as the main factor for patients suffering from AIDS, to gain weight and slow the process of wasting away. THC is also a primary factor, that prevents cancer patients from experiencing chronic nausea. As a result of these findings the FDA has approved a number of THC pills, in which the primary chemical, THC has been filtered and extracted from marijuana. This is because, actual marijuana has over four hundred cancer causing chemicals, besides THC, and when these chemicals interact with THC in the body, the costs far outweigh the benefits of euphoria.

Ugo Uche MS., LPC