tha_hashassin

i found this on the NORMAL site too.

Myth: Marijuana is Harmless

Just as most experts agree that occasional or moderate use of marijuana is innocuous, they also agree that excessive use can be harmful. Research shows that the two major risks of excessive marijuana use are: (1) respiratory disease due to smoking and (2) accidental injuries due to impairment.

Marijuana and Smoking:
A recent survey by the Kaiser Permanente Center found that daily marijuana-only smokers have a 19% higher rate of respiratory complaints than non-smokers.1 These findings were not unexpected, since it has long been known that, aside from its psychoactive ingredients, marijuana smoke contains virtually the same toxic gases and carcinogenic tars as tobacco. Human studies have found that pot smokers suffer similar kinds of respiratory damage as tobacco smokers, putting them at greater risk of bronchitis, sore throat, respiratory inflammation and infections.2

Although there has not been enough epidemiological work to settle the matter definitively, it is widely suspected that marijuana smoking causes cancer. Studies have found apparently pre-cancerous cell changes in pot smokers.3 Some cancer specialists have reported a higher-than-expected incidence of throat, neck and tongue cancer in younger, marijuana-only smokers.4 A couple of cases have been fatal. While it has not been conclusively proven that marijuana smoking causes lung cancer, the evidence is highly suggestive. According to Dr. Donald Tashkin of UCLA, the leading expert on marijuana smoking:5

“Although more information is certainly needed, sufficient data have already been accumulated concerning the health effects of marijuana to warrant counseling by physicians against the smoking of marijuana as an important hazard to health.”

Fortunately, the hazards of marijuana smoking can be reduced by various strategies: (1) use of higher-potency cannabis, which can be smoked in smaller quantities, (2) use of waterpipes and other smoke reduction technologies,6 and (3) ingesting pot orally instead of smoking it.

Footnotes

1. Michael R. Polen et al. “Health Care Use by Frequent Marijuana Smokers Who Do Not Smoke Tobacco,” Western Journal of Medicine 158 #6: 596-601 (June 1993).

2. Donald Tashkin, “Is Frequent Marijuana Smoking Hazardous To Health?” Western Journal of Medicine 158 #6: 635-7 (June 1993).

3. D. Tashkin et al, “Effects of Habitual Use of Marijuana and/or Cocaine on the Lung,” in Research Findings on Smoking of Abused Substances, NIDA Research Monograph 99 (1990).

4. Paul Donald, “Advanced malignancy in the young marijuana smoker,” Adv Exp Med Biol 288:33-56 (1991); FM Taylor, “Marijuana as a potential respiratory tract carcinogen,” South Med Journal 81:1213-6 (1988).

5. D. Tashkin, “Is Frequent Marijuana Smoking Hazardous To Health,?” op. cit.

6. Nicholas Cozzi, “Effects of Water Filtration on Marijuana Smoke: A Literature Review,” MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) newsletter, Vol. IV #2 (1993) (Reprints available from MAPS and Cal. NORML).

so maybe not lung cancer, but it does look like the studies show a higher incidence of throat, neck and tounge cancer in marijuana only smokers.

KWhite

You are very welcome, I am glad when anything helps us all along.
Kelly

Adikkal

Yeah KWhite,

One thing though. Admittedly i didn't check ALL your links, but the ones i did look at, namely the "Stoned Drivers" one, seemed misleading to me.

It states that a higher percentage of drug free drivers cause accidents than people who had marijuana in their blood.

Well you'd bloody well think so wouldn't you considering the majority of the population are drug free. In the sense of illegal drugs that is. I thought 50% was alarmingly high for marijuana users.

At the time of the post i dont have the other website open, so at a later date i will look at it again and make sure what i'm saying is correct.

I might have misread.

Pleasantly,
Adikkal

KWhite

What you say concerning marijuana driving does seem to lead to that interpretation.
What has actually been revealed is the lessening of the "aggression" factor, and a heightening of the "caution" state of mind.
It is interesting to note, every study has found these same results, one done in Scotland I believe actually spoke as to how no proof of impairment was evident. This was a long time ago, but the response was quick, "It is not a case of marijuana not impairing drivers, this shows the inadequacies of the current testing" sounds like "Lets get this spun opur way pronto!" to me.
The same type of studies upon which our alcohol laws are based.
Now, please do not get me wrong, I do believe you are impaired, I have *Shamefaced* driven drunk, stoned and sober, and in my old age, I prefer sober.
*Hey we all learn*
What they are saying is that marijuana users are typically calmer, and less prone to rash decisions or aggressive behaviour than those either alcohol inebriated or sober.
Knowing they are impaired, they slow down, and watch carefully.
This reminds me of a friend, whose mother got busted in Montana.
Montana has no speed limit on their highways, nightime being the exception, where 75 becomes the law I believe.
It seems she was cruising along the interstate at a whopping 30 mph. this piqued a police officer's interest, and she was stopped, stoned and holding.
She was just not comfortable with going faster.
Now this provides a danger in the other direction, anywhere but Montana *I have driven through Montana, great place, but not a lot of traffic, hmmm maybe that is why it is so great??*
I hope this answers your query a bit.
Kelly
*Note: To my knowledge, the general results of this study have been reproduced in : Scotland, Australia, Canada*

Adikkal

Yeah, that was exactly what i thought.

Stoned drivers are more cautious drivers, less likely to run redlights etc. But slow drivers can cause other impatient drivers to make those foolish decisions which may lead to accidents.

If you live in suburbia, and just had to drive along quiet streets to get home and you were stoned, it should be ok.

As long as there's no other cars on the road, stoned drivers should be sweet as. But please, for everyones safety, drive safely, drive sober.

Adikkal

Fab4Fan6

Well, I've dealt with marijuana and it's effects on a very personal level, and I'm telling you, all the arguments in the world can't hold a CANDLE to the mind-changing power of seeing someone you love, in an intense state of suffering, being helped by this substance.

lijnbaansgracht

So what, even if your right. does that have anything to do with MY LIFE. The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.

greypoe

Id like to find out more about carcinogenic chemicals. Lately ive learned not to fully trust past research. There have been alot of poor control methods and misinformed reasoning in the past. I want to know how we know what we know about carcinogenic chemicals. So if you know a good link where i might find out what methods we used to discover this, post it.

lijnbaansgracht

I really couldn't give a sh*t! If we keep following all of the rule to make a change, you know what we become, THEM. Trying to do whats popular, convincing everyone to believe we are right, making the correct decision all of the time. Sounds like my job, not my life. I want to run down the street naked with green jello smeared all over me with a joint in one hand and a beer in the other. I want to show some hot young sweet mama a brand new crisp fifty dollar bill and phuck all day on the beach eating hamburgers and fries and get sand flees up my ass. I'm not trying to find the perfect life to live, it aint out there, I want to LIVE!!!

greypoe

Marijuana has 1000s of chemicals. These are chemicals the resin collected from the enviroment. Marijuana collects chemicals from the enviroment so it may teach other plants about their enviroment. Plants help each other adapt.
Marijuana alters our genes too, therefore it helps us adapt too.