Exploding the Myth of marijuana as a “soft” drug

A review of the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) position paper reveals that marijuana is anything but a “safe” drug! Marijuana is fat soluble. It is stored in the body and not excreted in the urine. The International Narcotics Control Board found that with marijuana, there is new evidence confirming well-known mental health problems. Marijuana is associated with depression and low motivation. The New England Journal of Medicine cites research that shows that within a certain subset of the population, schizophrenia and psychosis are precipitated by marijuana use. These studies have been replicated.The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes legalization of marijuana.The British Medical Society found marijuana linked to heart disease, emphysema,bronchitis and lung cancer. The Institute of Medicine found only modest effects of cannabis on nausea, pain, and appetite stimulation. Pain management techniques have proved immensely helpful in assisting patients with pain management. The DEA clearly states that “the clear weight of the evidence is that marijuana is harmful.” Other FDA pain medicines have proven safer than ” medical marijuana.” The DEA state that organizers behind the “medical” marijuana movement have not addressed the standards of modern medicine. There is no standard prescribing information, no quality control and no safety regulation. The National Institute Office on drug abuse notes that the potency levels of marijuana are the highest ever. The National Office of Drug Control policy found that marijuana worsens depression as well as leads to more serious mental illness. In 30 years of clinical practice, this writer has seen thousands of cases wherein marijuana acts as a stepping stone to other drugs. It appears that the real impetus behind the “medical” marijuana movement is profit making. The association of horrific motor vehicle accidents and marijuana is well documented. Science and not simply what the public wants and needs should drive policy in this area. There IS a drug epidemic amomg our youth!!! It is time to debunk the Great Marijuana Myth which contributes to the erroneous perception among youth of marijuana’s dangers. Referring to the soft cited slogan, “Drug use is life abuse.” Do we really care about our youth or are we going to turn a deaf ear to the findings of science on marijuana!