Marijuana doesn't need contaminants to be dangerous. Just to give you an overview, I'll post some facts from a paper I wrote -- The Medical and Pyschological Reasons Marijuana Must Remain Illegal in Missouri (© 2014) --for presentation to the Missouri Certification Board's Drug and Alcohol Information Committee.
- The genotoxic effects – that is, the harm done to the genetic coding of an individual – of partially oxidized hydrocarbons created by burning either cannabis or tobacco have been widely examined as the likely source of genetic changes that lead to the carcinogenic state (Godschalk,2002). et al in a study examining various DNA abnormalities in lung tissue, 2002). As a result, any medical potential of cannabis is negated by the potential health impacts of using a smoked medicine (Watson, 2000).
- Marijuana smoke contains fifty to seventy percent more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke. One major research study reported that a single cannabis joint could cause as much damage to the lungs as up to five regular cigarettes smoked one after another. Smokers who engage in long-term moderate use of one to two joints per day, to heavy use of three or more joints per day, suffer from bronchitis, an inflammation of the respiratory tract (Hii, 2008).
- Conflicting reports of cell structure effects of cannabinoids are partially explained by the different experimental protocols, cell types, and animals used by investigators. Cannabinoids also suppress normal macromolecular synthesis (that is, replication of DNA, RNA, and protein) as well as reduce the level of histone gene expression. That is the gene that produces the baseline protein of DNA. In general these studies show that cannabinoids are detrimental to the health of an individual (Zimmerman, 1991).
- A pregnant woman who regularly smokes marijuana or hashish may give birth prematurely to an undersized, underweight baby. Over the last ten years, many children of marijuana users have been born with reduced initiative and lessened abilities to concentrate and pursue life goals. Studies also suggest that prenatal use of the drug may result in birth defects, mental abnormalities and increased risk of leukemia in children. Autopsy results on moderate to heavy users of cannabinoids confirm the more drastic changes in cell structure found in non-human studies, and birth defects among children parented by moderate to heavy marijuana users are nearly three times more prevalent than in the general population. (Van Dam, 2008).
- Marijuana changes the structure of sperm cells, deforming them. Thus even small amounts of marijuana can cause temporary sterility in men. Marijuana use can upset a woman’s menstrual cycle (Pletcher, 2012)). Studies in Australia in 2008 linked years of heavy marijuana use to brain abnormalities. This is backed up by earlier research on the long-term effects of marijuana, which indicate changes in the brain similar to those caused by long-term abuse of other major drugs. And a number of studies have shown a connection between continued marijuana use and psychosis (Novotny, 2010).
- Marijuana and its most active ingredients – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabidiol (CBD) – markedly affect cellular health. Cytogenetic studies have revealed that cannabinoids induce chromosome aberrations, confirmed in both laboratory and animal studies. These aberrations include chromosomal breaks, deletions, translocations, errors in chromosomal segregation, and outright loss of chromosomal material in cellular division. These changes are due to the mutative action of cannabinoids or to cannabinoid-induced disruption of cell-division events or both (Reese, 2008).
I could go on and on, but this information is enough -- or should be -- to convince people of the dangers of marijuana. These are far worse than the side effects of marketed commercial pharmaceuticals, yet advocates and legilsators have given approval to sell this stuff as medicine!
It's insane. No responsible pharmaceutical company would put poison like this int heir bottles and on pharmacy shelves, but they let this stuff get sold out of storefronts by people totally unqualified to make a diagnosis, much less sell a "medication."
Well I just did a quick research on your subject number 2 that marijuana smoke has 50-70% more cancer causing substances than tobacco smoke. Only 1 out of 20 sides with you that said that marijuana causes cancer, as the others said a resounding "NO" and the few others were undecided do to lack of study evidence over the years on the issue.
Then like I said since you are using the term marijuana which is the drug produced from the cannabis plant, then I would like to say again that in a research or study that you look into for your info make sure they are not combining the natural version of the plant with a laced version of it.
Like I said there is a big difference and I also stated I am not a marijuana condoner yet I am for one to use true untainted studies. For I have known many marijuana smokers in my life and not one of them has cancer from it, so if marijuana is that much harmful then a cigarette like you and that study you mentioned says. Where is the medical proof ???
If it is that much more harmful as you say, then pretty much every person who smokes marijuana should have cancer or at least 6 out of every 10 should. Which would give well enough data for polls to prove this point, however they don't as most studies say and show a lack of evidence.
You say far worse then the side effects of marketed commercial pharmaceuticals, yet you have more deaths each year form those legal drugs then you do from marijuana. Which is very slim in comparison as there is lawsuits on a number of legal drugs every year do to deaths and serious side effects.
I seen a couple of studies that said over 100,000 people die of prescription drugs every year !!!
If this many people were dying of marijuana then you can bet we would hear about it, but studies have shown the number for deaths do to marijuana per year is only in the 100's. And deaths by tobacco/cigarettes are above 400,000 per year.
