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Another Look at Marijuana
Marijuana is the third most commonly used (after alcohol and caffeine) mind altering drug in the United States. Nevertheless, opinions and feelings about Marijuana smoking vary widely.
>Marijuana is seen by many as a Gateway Drug leading to "harder drugs" like cocaine, methamphetamine (crank) and heroin
>Other people believe it is safer by far than alcohol
>Some research has linked marijuana to serious health problems.
>Other Medical Authorities see it as harmless, and even as an important medicine
There is now respectable scientific research to support BOTH the ideas that Marijuana is VERY DANGEROUS and that it is NOT DANGEROUS AT ALL.
THERE IS CLEARLY A NEED FOR A BALANCED VIEW. WHILE MANY OF THE ‘"HORROR STORIES" HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE, ALL THE FUSS IS NOT ABOUT NOTHING.
WHAT IS MARIJUANA???
Marijuana is a plant which is dried and smoked. Its strength or potency or "how high it gets you" varies from sample to sample depending on the amount of THC (the active ingredient in pot) it contains. Since the THC is found in the sap or resin of the plat, sometimes this resin is collected, dried, and smoked as "hash" or "hashish". A solution called "has oil" is said to be an even stronger form of THC. However, "pure THC", sold on the streets, always turns out to be something else, frequently PCP or a psychedelic like LSD.
WHAT ARE ITS IMMEDIATE EFFECTS?
The most frequently reported sensations include relaxation, drowsiness, emotional changes (usually positive), changes in how things are perceived and how time is experienced, and alteration of the actual thinking process itself. Smokers usually like these feelings, at least once they get used to them.
Physiological and Behavioral Changes may include increased heart rate, some muscle weakness, impaired complex reaction time, impaired immediate memory, impaired driving skills, etc.
WHAT ARE ITS LONG-TERM EFFECTS???
It is not clear. Most studies are based on chronic (sometimes even daily) marijuana smokers. There is little definitive evidence that infrequent (less than weekly) smoking creates long-term physical or psychological problems. This doesn’t mean it does not, it just means it hasn’t been shown that it does.
Even the studies on chronic (weekly or more often) smoking are vague and contradictory.
There is considerable evidence that heavy smoking may lead to or worsen bronchitis in some users. Some authorities suspect it may be also linked to emphysema and cancer; there’s no conclusive evidence one way or the other.
In some test tube studies, marijuana has altered cell structure in some tissues. It isn’t clear what this means, but it isn’t good news. It does NOT mean, however, that it causes chromosome damage leading to birth defects.
Marijuana does lower the amount of male hormone. In animals this leads to smaller size and irregular sexual maturity development. It’s not clear what it means for humans, but heavy smoking adolescent males are the principle group it might affect.
SOME studies, which have been contradicted by OTHER studies, have linked Marijuana to brain damage, problems with the reproductive process, and long-term mental illness.
WHAT’S THE VERDICT ON MARIJUANA AND HEALTH PROBLEMS???
The jury is still out and arguing loudly. It is probably safe to say that if a medicine were tested by the Food and Drug Administration and the results looked the way the tests on marijuana have turned out so far, the drug would NOT be approved for distribution to the public.
People who are concerned with the safety of foods and medicines should know that there are ongoing suggestions from much current research that Marijuana is not the completely harmless substance it was popular to assume it was a couple of years ago.
On the other hand, a hook-up between Marijuana and a host of serious health problems has not been proved in such a way as to convince the majority of researchers.
DOES THIS MEAN THAT MARIJUANA USE DOESN’T CAUSE PROBLEM???
ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Counseling and Drug Treatment Centers find Marijuana (and often just Marijuana) implicated in difficulties with marriage, emotions, employment, the criminal justice system—in short, with many, many problems.
HOW DOES MARIJUANA CAUSE PROBLEMS???
Marijuana feels good to most people. Users report that it is relaxing, stimulating, "different," and fun. So they get into the habit of returning to it frequently for these good feelings.
HOWEVER:
Some things are more compatible with being high than others. Music or walking in the park is fun when stoned; doing homework is not. Result: Patterns of frequent dope smoking become patterns of avoiding uninteresting (but maybe important!) tasks.
Because Marijuana is an easy and dependable source of good feelings, many people come to prefer it to more difficult sources—feelings of accomplishment after doing a tough job or success after taking an emotional risk, for example. Result: Patterns of Marijuana use tend to become patterns of low accomplishment and predictable choices for the easier, softer roads.
Because Marijuana can handle negative emotions (boredom, tension, etc.) it can become a user’s main way to cope with feeling bad. His "natural talents" for making himself feel better get "rusty" through disuse.
Use of marijuana to enhance social situations, whether to make a party "more fun" or deal with uneasiness in a strange situation, quickly become habitual. Once I know I don’t have to be nervous if I’m stoned, it is very difficult to come to a party straight and deliberately "choose" to be nervous.
MANY PEOPLE SMOKE MARIJUANA SOMETIMES AND REPORT NO PROBLEMS. COULD’T A PERSON JUST KEEP AN EYE ON HER USE AND STOP IF IT GOT TO BE A PROBLEM???
That is at least theoretically what every person who ever got into trouble with a drug planned on doing.
HOWEVER:
After one has been using for a while, a decision that one’s Marijuana use is "out of hand" is a decision to give up all the good feelings, many of one’s friends and favorite activities, as well as one’s main way of handling boredom, tension, etc. For the same reasons it is difficult to be objective about a person whom one feels very strongly about (whether a person one loves or hates), it is almost impossible to see the truth of one's relationship to a substance that does so much for one.
THE MARIJUANA DEPENDENT PERSON IS SOMETIMES THE LAST TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF HIS SITUATION.
HOW CAN SOMEONE WHO USES MARIJUANA KNOW IF IT IS A PROBLEM???
The soundest approach is NOT to debate whether or not one’s problems are due to dope smoking, but to try and get a fell picture of one's life as a whole. If you are having problems in any area of your life AND YOU TAKE DRUGS, the chances that the drugs are complicating things is GREAT.
Free or low cost drug information, counseling, and/or support groups are readily available in this day and age.
IT’S WORTH A PHONE CALL OR AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME TO EXPLORE YOUR SITUATION WITH
REGARD TO YOUR DRUG USE. IF YOU OR A FRIEND WANTS MORE INFORMATION, Click Here....
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