It is my experience that no group of drug users more staunchly and irrationally defends the use of their drug of choice than marijuana users.
In fact, based on past experience I will get a lot of ranting rebuttals to my stand against marijuana. It is not a friendly, benign ‘soft’ drug
The facts are the more you use…the worse it gets.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has reported that marijuana can be harmful both from immediate effects and damage to health over time.
Specifically…
1. Multiple studies have shown that marijuana can hinder the users’ short term memory and ability to handle difficult tasks (Schwartz et al. 1989). Students may find it difficult to study and learn.
While many of the long-term effects of marijuana use are not yet known, studies have shown that:
2. Daily marijuana smokers who did not use tobacco had more sick days and doctor visits for respiratory problems than a similar group who did not smoke either substance. A person who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have (Tashkin et al. 1987).
Other studies have shown that:
3. The regular use of marijuana may play a role in cancer and problems of the respiratory, immune and reproductive systems. Heavy marijuana use can affect hormones in both males and females.
4. Both animal and human studies have shown that marijuana impairs the ability of T-cells in the lungs’ immune defense system to fight off some infections.
5. Because of the drug’s effects on perceptions and reaction time, users could be involved in automobile accidents (NIDA 1995). According to the 1996 NHSDA, nearly one million 16-18 year olds (11 percent) reported driving at least once within two hours of using an illicit drug in the past year (most often marijuana) (SAMHSA 1998).
Although it is not yet known how the use of marijuana relates to mental illness, some scientists maintain that regular marijuana use can lead to chronic anxiety, personality disturbances, and depression (NIDA 1995). Some frequent long-term marijuana users show signs of lack of motivation and tend to perform poorly in school (Pope 1996). A recent study demonstrated similarities between marijuana’s effect on the brain and those produced by such addictive drugs as cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and nicotine (Volkow 1996).
I usually try to add some extra related posts. Using some custom software I own I searched the net for the 50 most recent posts on the keyword ‘marijuana’. Every single on was about legalizing it, growing it or ‘pro’ use. Not one of 50 postawas about harm or dangers. A sign of the times
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Self control is important to use addictive, if marijuana useful in medic why not? Once more self control. If that dangerous for us leave it. I don’t think addictive is the solution.
.-= ronaldmalvoy´s last blog ..Lpgen2 Review =-.
marijuana, despite the bad effects on excessive use of it ,this plant has a big role on science and in medication..but because of its components it promotes an unusual behavior to the one using it.
.-= angel82´s last blog ..True Blood Season 1 Episode 5 s01e05 “Sparks Fly Out” =-.
I have a very popular article about whether or not Marijuana is addictive or not, and people comment on it almost every single day. There are 2 camps of people here: one is a very small group who has a spouse or a loved one who is addicted to marijuana, and they agree with the research that talks about some of these detrimental effects that the drug can have. They see it ruining their loved one’s life.
The other group of people who comment are much larger by comparison, and they are “the defenders” as Bill puts it. They are defending their use of the drug and telling me how stupid I am for suggesting that it is addictive or dangerous in the least.
The funny part is that, while I am in recovery today, I used to be firmly in the second group of people, and would argue with anyone for hours about how Marijuana was not bad for you at all and carried no risks.
For my own story, I eventually “graduated” beyond marijuana, started using many other drugs (including alcohol), and can now look back and see the drug for what it really is. The bottom line for me is that weed still allows a person to self medicate and escape reality. That alone makes it very, very dangerous in my opinion. It medicates emotions. This makes it very seductive and very addictive, at least for me……
.-= Patrick´s last blog ..Stop Drinking and Start Creating in 2010 =-.
Not sure where you are going with this. The negative effects of marijuana far out weigh any benefits…see part 2 of the series http://addictionrecoverybasics.com/marijuana-sucks-heres-why-part-2/
IF ANY ONE READING THIS DOES DRUGS (STOP) IT
DESTROYS FAMILIES, IT IS VERY HARMFUL TO YOUR
BODY AND IT CAN EVEN DESTROY YOUR BRAIN TO
WHERE YOU CAN NOT EVEN THINK CLEAR, AND IF ANY
OF YOU READING THIS HAVE CHILDREN, AND IF YOU DO
DRUGS, YOU ARE JUST THE SAME AS TELLING THEM IT
IS OK, WELL IT IS NOT OK, AND IT IS NOT COOL …
“marijuana, despite the bad effects on excessive use of it ,this plant has a big role on science and in medication”
That is news to me. Until now I have heard only bad things about it.
Nice articel thanks for posting !
I’d love to see the link between marijuana and schizophrenia explored more then simply stating ‘there is one’. I know the herb mitigates my personality breaks a lot.
arsenic and cyanide occur in nature lets smoke them too!
Nice article on Marijuana. Marijuana is really harmful for us. It has an adverse effect on the human body.
Hundred percent agree!!! I wouldn’t dare to touch or even take a look at it. I’ve heard that some people even call it MJ, I was so foolish that they are actually referring to Marijuana. Cool info.
In California prop 19 that will legalize all marijuana to those 21 years and older might actually win. I am concerned about the possibility of more people becoming addicted to it. I do also see the other side and how it could generate a lot of tax $. That’s why it might pass.
.-= Orchid Recovery Center´s last blog ..Orchid Recovery Center – Outstanding Job And A Wonderful Program =-.
The claim that there is little evidence of issues of long term use is a concern. Particularly as the evidence should be available given the wide continued use of this substance.
A little bit of grass aint gunna kill you but I used to smoke it everyday till it made my life boring and I’m really glad that I stopped. I think weed is nice in moderation but some of my friends just sit on their ass and play video games because their high most of the time, I think it has become the root of most of their troubles.
When I first got to college I was selling it so naturally the new friends I made were stoners. Looking back on it I had some good experiences but I wish I had gotten to know some of the non-stoners in my dorm building, they just seemed like more exciting people to be around. Now that I am done being a pothead I have all sorts of new friends from classes, work, clubs at school, etc. I get my kicks from doing stuff and accomplishing things, so glad I stopped smoking. Oh yea, and my grades are better!
This is the corniest thing I have ever written, but its how I feel.