There are just some people
who don't understand marijuana...
Doesn't Marijuana cause brain damage?
The truth is, no study has ever demonstrated cellular
damage, stupidity, mental impairment, or insanity
brought on
specifically by marijuana use -- even heavy marijuana
use.
This is not to say that it cannot be abused, however.
If it doesn't kill brain cells, how does it get you
`high'?
Killing brain cells is not a pre-requisite for getting
`high.' Marijuana contains a chemical which
substitutes for
a natural brain chemical, with a few differences. This
chemical touches special `buttons' on brain cells
called
`receptors.' Essentially, marijuana `tickles' brain
cells.
The legal drug alcohol also tickles brain cells, but it
will
damage and kill them by producing toxins (poisons)
and
sometimes mini-seizures. Also, some drugs will
wear out the
buttons which they push, but marijuana does not.
Don't users of marijuana withdraw from society?
Marijuana itself does not make normal people anti-
social.
In fact, a large psychological study of teenagers found
that
casual marijuana users are more well adjusted than
`drug
free' people.
Isn't marijuana a gateway drug?
Doesn't it lead to use of harder drugs?
This is totally untrue. In fact, researchers are looking
into using marijuana to help crack addicts to quit.
There
are 40 million people in this country (U.S.) who have
smoked marijuana for a period of their lives -- why aren't
there tens of millions of heroin users, then? In Amsterdam,
both
marijuana use and heroin use went *down* after
marijuana was decriminalized -- even though there was
a short rise in
cannabis use right after decriminalization. Unlike
addictive drugs, marijuana causes almost no
tolerance. Some
people even report a reverse tolerance. That is, the
longer they have used the less marijuana they need to get
`high.'
So users of marijuana do not usually get bored and
`look for something more powerful'. If anything, marijuana
keeps
people from doing harder drugs.
I don't want children (minors) to be able to smoke marijuana.
How can I stop this?
Legalize it.
They can smoke it now; it is about as easy
to get as alcohol.
There would be less marijuana being sold
in schools, playgrounds, and street corners, though, if
it
was sold legally through pharmacies -- because the
dealers
would not be able to compete with the prices. If you
are a
parent, the choice is really up to you: Do you want
your
children to sneak off with their friends and use
marijuana
which they bought off the street, or do you want to
talk to
them calmly and explain to them why they should
wait until
they are older? Your children are not going to walk
up to
you and tell you that they use an illegal drug, but if it
was not such a big deal they might give you a chance
to
explain your feelings. Besides, would you rather
children
use speed, cocaine, and alcohol?
Many people think that marijuana enhances their sex
lives.
It is not an aphrodisiac, that is, it does not make
people
want to have sex. What it does do for some people is
make
everything more sensual -- it makes food taste better
and
feelings and emotions more vivid.
Marijuana contains THC. THC is a bronchial dilator,
which means it works like a cough drop and opens
up
your lungs, which aids clearance of smoke and dirt.
Nicotine does just the opposite; it makes your
lungs
bunch up and makes it harder to cough anything up.
Aren't you afraid everyone will get hooked?
Marijuana produces no withdrawal symptoms no matter
how
heavy it is used. It is habit forming (psychologically
addictive), but not physically addictive. The majority of
people who quit marijuana don't even have to think
twice
about it. Comparing marijuana to addictive drugs is
really
quite silly.
For a drug to be physically addictive, it must be
reinforcing, produce withdrawal symptoms, and
produce
tolerance. Marijuana is reinforcing, because it feels
good,
but it does not do the other two things. Caffeine,
nicotine
and alcohol are all physically addictive.
Copyright 1997 - 2000 Psychotropics Cornucopia, Inc. All Rights Reserved
CANNABIS.COM and the slogan "Quality Marijuana and Hemp Information" are service marks used by Psychotropics Cornucopia, Inc.
Any other trademarks, trade names, service marks, or service names used on this site are the property of their respective owners.
Page updated on Jul-31-2000 02:00 ET
who don't understand marijuana...
Doesn't Marijuana cause brain damage?
The truth is, no study has ever demonstrated cellular
damage, stupidity, mental impairment, or insanity
brought on
specifically by marijuana use -- even heavy marijuana
use.
This is not to say that it cannot be abused, however.
If it doesn't kill brain cells, how does it get you
`high'?
Killing brain cells is not a pre-requisite for getting
`high.' Marijuana contains a chemical which
substitutes for
a natural brain chemical, with a few differences. This
chemical touches special `buttons' on brain cells
called
`receptors.' Essentially, marijuana `tickles' brain
cells.
The legal drug alcohol also tickles brain cells, but it
will
damage and kill them by producing toxins (poisons)
and
sometimes mini-seizures. Also, some drugs will
wear out the
buttons which they push, but marijuana does not.
Don't users of marijuana withdraw from society?
Marijuana itself does not make normal people anti-
social.
In fact, a large psychological study of teenagers found
that
casual marijuana users are more well adjusted than
`drug
free' people.
Isn't marijuana a gateway drug?
Doesn't it lead to use of harder drugs?
This is totally untrue. In fact, researchers are looking
into using marijuana to help crack addicts to quit.
There
are 40 million people in this country (U.S.) who have
smoked marijuana for a period of their lives -- why aren't
there tens of millions of heroin users, then? In Amsterdam,
both
marijuana use and heroin use went *down* after
marijuana was decriminalized -- even though there was
a short rise in
cannabis use right after decriminalization. Unlike
addictive drugs, marijuana causes almost no
tolerance. Some
people even report a reverse tolerance. That is, the
longer they have used the less marijuana they need to get
`high.'
So users of marijuana do not usually get bored and
`look for something more powerful'. If anything, marijuana
keeps
people from doing harder drugs.
I don't want children (minors) to be able to smoke marijuana.
How can I stop this?
Legalize it.
They can smoke it now; it is about as easy
to get as alcohol.
There would be less marijuana being sold
in schools, playgrounds, and street corners, though, if
it
was sold legally through pharmacies -- because the
dealers
would not be able to compete with the prices. If you
are a
parent, the choice is really up to you: Do you want
your
children to sneak off with their friends and use
marijuana
which they bought off the street, or do you want to
talk to
them calmly and explain to them why they should
wait until
they are older? Your children are not going to walk
up to
you and tell you that they use an illegal drug, but if it
was not such a big deal they might give you a chance
to
explain your feelings. Besides, would you rather
children
use speed, cocaine, and alcohol?
Many people think that marijuana enhances their sex
lives.
It is not an aphrodisiac, that is, it does not make
people
want to have sex. What it does do for some people is
make
everything more sensual -- it makes food taste better
and
feelings and emotions more vivid.
Marijuana contains THC. THC is a bronchial dilator,
which means it works like a cough drop and opens
up
your lungs, which aids clearance of smoke and dirt.
Nicotine does just the opposite; it makes your
lungs
bunch up and makes it harder to cough anything up.
Aren't you afraid everyone will get hooked?
Marijuana produces no withdrawal symptoms no matter
how
heavy it is used. It is habit forming (psychologically
addictive), but not physically addictive. The majority of
people who quit marijuana don't even have to think
twice
about it. Comparing marijuana to addictive drugs is
really
quite silly.
For a drug to be physically addictive, it must be
reinforcing, produce withdrawal symptoms, and
produce
tolerance. Marijuana is reinforcing, because it feels
good,
but it does not do the other two things. Caffeine,
nicotine
and alcohol are all physically addictive.
Copyright 1997 - 2000 Psychotropics Cornucopia, Inc. All Rights Reserved
CANNABIS.COM and the slogan "Quality Marijuana and Hemp Information" are service marks used by Psychotropics Cornucopia, Inc.
Any other trademarks, trade names, service marks, or service names used on this site are the property of their respective owners.
Page updated on Jul-31-2000 02:00 ET
