There's only one way I can think to start this post. The video below. Watch it... love it... then watch it again (seriously, it never gets old).
"Smoking the reefer." We all know what it means. Weed. Pot. Dope. The Devil's Lettuce. Jolly Green. The colloquials are endless. Despite it being the most commonly abused drug in the world, recent strides in governmental legislation have paved the way for increased marijuana use. Sometimes that use is recreational (as is permitted in Colorado [a state where, suspiciously, many of my friends are now living]). Other times, that use is specific to medical treatment (as is permitted in 29 states and the District of Columbia). The medical uses span chronic pain symptoms, to mental illnesses (such as anxiety), to terminal diseases (especially cancer). And, for the most part, people seem to be on board with this. I couldn't tell you how many times I've heard a statement that sounds a lot like: "Well, my doctor can prescribe me Vicodin, why not marijuana?" I get it. At a base level it makes sense. We've all heard the defenses. It doesn't have any addictive chemicals. It has no known lethal dose and minimal drug interactions. Dare I say it: It's 100 percent safe, right? Wrong.
Disclaimer: This post will probably sting a little. Just remember that science doesn't care about your feelings.
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Addicted
Perhaps the most cited reason that marijuana advocates believe the drug should be legalized is the claim that it houses no addictive chemicals. In truth, we've spent many years as a society determined to find addictive chemicals in marijuana to build the case against it. And we haven't been able to do so. The problem is, when we start talking about addiction, individuals are quick to name chemicals that in and of themselves cause addictive behavior (especially nicotine), while ignoring chemicals in our own bodies that cause addictive reactions.
Marijuana acts by creating an initial sense of euphoria or happiness that is often followed by sedation or peacefulness. The drug is able to do this by mimicking the neurotransmitter dopamine. One (of many) of the functions of dopamine is to regulate feelings of pleasure. Rewarding sensations flood the brain as a result of increased dopamine levels, thereby creating a natural addiction. People crave pleasure, comfort, bliss, satisfaction. It could be argued that most people spend their entire lives on a quest to find these very experiences. What better way than a cheap plant that easily and quickly ingests into your system? The euphoric effects of dopamine found in marijuana, by way of our own brains, leads to repeated use. Again. And again. And again.
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You're Smoking
This is perhaps the most ironic aspect of marijuana use. Over the past few decades, our country has made significant strides in abandoning the practice of smoking tobacco cigarettes. What was once considered an elite social activity that everyone wanted to take part in is now considered gross and intrusive. My generation in particular has been at the forefront of abandoning this practice as a social custom and pressing the health complications that can arise from such. Yet, it's also my generation that seems most open to the idea of legalizing marijuana. Do you see the irony?
You smoke marijuana.
Now before you exit this post, thinking I'm an idiot for comparing the two (because, yes, I know, marijuana doesn't contain nicotine), let me give you one simple statistic - marijuana contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogens than tobacco cigarettes.
No, I'm not making that up. Yes, that's a true research finding. Please feel free to ask Google. Or Siri. Or Alexa (Although we all know Alexa is pretty much the equivalent of Siri's dumb cousin).
Carcinogens are, by definition, "Substances and exposures that can lead to cancer" (American Cancer Society). Understanding, then, the excess carcinogens associated with smoking marijuana, added to the fact that marijuana smokers often inhale more deeply and hold smoke in their lungs for longer periods of time thereby amplifying the negative effects of those carcinogens on the body, is crucial to understanding that marijuana is not harmless. In fact, it can be very harmful.
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Repeated Use
Studies on those who abuse marijuana repeatedly have shown a host of other physiological symptoms, including short-term memory deficits, increased blood pressure and consequent risk of heart attack, sexual dysfunction, weakened immune response and (linked with findings stated above) increased risk of cancer. Several studies have also linked marijuana use to gene variations influencing psychiatric disorders, such as psychosis (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
The Food and Drug Administration states: "[T]here is currently sound evidence that smoked marijuana is harmful. A past evaluation by several Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), concluded that no sound scientific studies supported the safety or efficacy of marijuana for general medical use."
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In Conclusion
I want to be very clear - I'm not saying I think medical marijuana should be outlawed. I'm also not saying it should be legal in every state. The legal and political ramifications are outside the scope of this blog. What I want is for people to understand that the drug (and, yes, it is considered a drug) is not harmless. In recent years, society has begun idolizing cannabis as the perfect substitute for all other medications. This simply isn't so. It's possible that the harmful effects of marijuana are far less damaging, in your opinion, than those posed by prescription narcotics. And maybe that will be the subject of a future blog. But the reality stands: There is harm associated with marijuana, even when it is used for medical purposes.
So be smart. Know the effects. Know the science. And make an intelligent, informed decision about whether or not to partake. And while you're doing that, stop being one of those advocates who posts Facebook memes about it being totally safe. At least, until the letters "M.D." follow your name.
