MOST COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MARIJUANA
Marijuana is highly available drug and it can be purchased anywhere. On the street, in the pub, in the club, but actually, young people do not know enough about marijuana to be able to make an educated decision about taking cannabis.There are many misconceptions, or myths about marijuana among young people, which are spreading out of ignorance as is the case with users, or out of interest, which is the case with drug dealers and producers. Seven of them are most frequent, and must be addressed, so that young people and their parents can make an educated decision about their stand on marijuana use.
1. Myth: Legalization of Marijuana will not increase the abuse
the truth is actually quite contrary. Legalization INCREASES abuse in every case, because people tend to quite freely do the things that are legal.If we closely observe the Prohibition era data, and get pass all the increase in crime that was related to prohibition of alcohol, we can see that the number of alcoholics and related social were much lower than today, and liver cirrhosis were a rarity. The same goes with cigarette smoking. It decreased significantly with European ban of smoking in public place.
In the period of twelve years when marijuana was legalized in Dutch coffee shops, the use of marijuana was increased by 200 %, and the number of those addicted to cannabis that were seeking professional help increased by 25 %.
2. Myth: Marijuana smoking is not dangerous
Smoking of any type is dangerous because it heavily affects respiratory system. Compared to tobacco, marijuana has 70% more cancerous elements. Also, although marijuana users smoke less joints than cigarette smokers do cigarettes, they keep inhaled smoke much longer (and deeper) in the lungs. That’s why experiments showed a five times the amount of tar and absorption of carbon monoxide in marijuana users than in tobacco smokers.When THC (the main ingredient of marijuana) enters the brain it simulates the release of dopamine which activates the part of brain that is responsible for pleasure. After this euphoria, sleepiness and depression starts. Other symptoms are laughter, altered perception of time and increased appetite. For some, marijuana can cause anxiety, feelings of fear, distrust, or panic, and at higher doses cute psychotic reaction. Marijuana impairs balance and coordination, short-term memory and attention and other cognitive functions, and reduced critical thinking. It increases the likelihood of risky behavior and the risk of accidents.
Consequences can last even when marijuana gets completely decomposed in the body and manifests as memory problems, learning problems, and sleep disorders. Long-term consequences (after a chronic abuse) are addiction, chronic cough, bronchitis. Increased psychosis risk in sensitive persons, anxiety risk, and depression and anti motivational syndrome risk. Memory blackouts are quite common with frequent marijuana users. It affects other organs too: heart, reproductive system, blood pressure, and increases risk of throat and mouth cancer development. Marijuana can increase possibility of an heart attack in the first hour after using by four times! Hormonal misbalance is also one of the very bad consequences of cannabis
3. Myth: No one died from smoking marijuana
Marijuana has strong effect on driving abilities (concentration, movement coordination, reflexes etc.) and this harmful effect can last up to 24 hours after using. A large number of traffic accidents are a result of marijuana use. Studies show that alcohol as a factor in accidents holds its ground at about 40% while marijuana is gradually increasing (almost by 1% every year)Smoking marijuana can be addictive , see this experience !
4. Myth: Marijuana is less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol
The fact that cigarettes and alcohol are harmful and legal by no means diminishes the harmful effects of marijuana. Unfortunately, part of the consequences can only be estimated in the future. Advocates of marijuana often claim that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol because it makes you relaxed, so people are not violent. The truth is that marijuana causes a condition called anti motivational syndrome, which causes people to have no will to do anything. Some users (people who consume marijuana in larger quantities) particularly in the states of withdrawal show strong emotions of anger and rage.
5. Myth: Marijuana is medicine
So far, numerous studies have proved beyond doubt that marijuana stimulates tumor growth and reduces the defense capabilities of the organism, which accelerates the development of various diseases, including AIDS, if a person is infected with the virus. On the other hand it is also true that marijuana helps with certain conditions such as pain and nausea in the final stages of cancer or in patients with AIDS. Marijuana contains several compounds that have proven useful for treating a variety of diseases or conditions, which led many to conclude that marijuana should be legalized for medical use. The two cannabinoids are currently attracting attention in the therapeutic sense THC and CBD (cannabidiol) found in marijuana varying quantities. THC increases appetite and reduces nausea, but can also reduce pain, inflammation and spasticity. CBD is not psychoactive, and is useful in reducing pain, inflammation, control of epileptic seizures.One of the main reasons (there are several) that marijuana cannot be considered medicine is because harmful things it is causing outweigh its benefits. Unfortunately, the growing acceptance of medical marijuana led to a change in perceptions of the harmfulness of cannabis among young people.
And finally, if it was medicine, it does not mean that everyone can use it on the contrary. Each drug is taken for strictly certain illnesses and taking any medication when it is not medically indicated may be harmful, and in some cases have deadly consequences.
6. Myth: Marijuana is not addictive
In one study, among 200 marijuana users, 76% of them met the criteria for diagnosis of dependence, including withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms were the following: loss of appetite, a vague fear-anxiety, depression, restlessness, irritability, tremors, severe insomnia, sweating, increased deep tendon reflexes, and mood disorder. Since the symptoms are not so pronounced as in opiates it is unable to distinguish the symptoms of the crisis of symptoms of psychological distress for which they started using, they continue to consume marijuana, believing that they will feel better. 97% of drug users reported that they continued to take the drug and when they realized that this is a problem, because they could not stop taking. They needed it to function "normaly". On the other hand it is necessary to emphasize the fact that marijuana often leads to the use of other drugs.See patient testimony from USA , addicted to marijuana, crack cocaine, amphetamines
