The Common Sense Series
a publication of The
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
on the matter of
MARIJUANA AND THE HUMAN BODY
The moderate use of marijuana is neither harmless nor devastating
to the user. Unfortunately, the politics of marijuana has distorted
research findings and made it difficult to find out the truth
about marijuana's effect on human health. NORML believes that
honest, verifiable information is the most effective tool to
prevent the abuse of marijuana. This text examines the effects
of marijuana on the human body, as described by a comprehensive
report prepared for the Federal government by the most respected
scientific body in teh United States, the National Academy of
Sciences. This text first examines some of the exaggerated claims
made about marijuana and then provides the truth about marijuana's
effects on human health.
EXAGGERATED CLAIMS ABOUT MARIJUANA
Despite evidence to the contrary, many individuals and organizations
maintain that marijuana is an extremely dangerous drug. For example,
the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth attempts
to reach its societal and legislative goals by making the following
claims:
1. Marijuana is a harmful substance because it has 421 chemicals.
2. Marijuana is stronger than it was 10
years ago, and this new, potent marijuana presents dangers unrecognized
years ago.
3. Marijuana is far worse for the lungs
than tobacco.
4. Marijuana causes damage to the reproductive
system.
5. The psychoactive chemicals in marijuana
are fat soluble and stay in the human body for a month, increasing
the danger of exposure.
6. Marijuana causes brain damage and a
behavioral disorder known as amotivational syndrome.
7. Any use of marijuana is abuse, and marijuana
has no medical value whatsoever.
The National Federation of Parents supports prohibition
of marijuana because it believes that marijuana is so dangerous
that no one can use it safely. According to the National Institute
on Drug Abuse, which supports the NFP, many parents welcomed
discovery of reports suggesting marijuana's harmfulness because
the claims reinforced their own instincts about marijuana.
In fact, the reports used to justify the above claims have been
found to be inconclusive by other researchers. Hence, warnings
intended to dramatize the supposed ill-effects of marijuana are
often couched with phrases like "marijuana can...".
"Marijuana may...", or "If the experts are right...".
THE TRUTH ABOUT MARIJUANA
The Institute of Medicine of the National
Academy of Sciences conducted a 15-month
study of the health-related effects of marijuana in 1982. They
appointed a 22-member committee to analyze existing scientific
evidence bearing on the possible hazards to the health and safety
of users of marijuana. The report concludes: "the scientific
evidence published to date indicates that marijuana has a broad
range of psychological and biological effects, some of which,
at least under certain circumstances, are harmful to human health".
In a companion report providing policy recommendations to the
Academy's National Research Council, regulation of the marijuana
market is advocated as the most effective method of controlling
marijuana. The National Academy of Science's report rebuts many
of the exaggerated claims made about marijuana.
1. Of the 421 chemicals in marijuana, only 61 are unique to marijuana.
The chemicals are known as cannabinoids. One of them, delta-9
THC, produces the psychoactive effect and is the focus of most
research. The other 360 chemicals in the marijuana plant are
found throughout other natural substances.
2. The higher potency marijuana grown in
the United States represents about half of all the marijuana
consumed here. Because of it's higher potency many smokers use
far less of it than less potent marijuana.
3. Differences in dosage and frequency
of consumption render comparisons between marijuana and tobacco
consumption invalid, despite similarity in the composition of
their smoke. Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs. Heavy exposure
of the lungs to irritation such as smoke increases the likelihood
of lung cancer and other lung problems. Marijuana speeds the
heartbeat and is unhealthy for people with high blood pressure
or other cardiovascular ailments.
4. Marijuana does reduce the sperm count
and obstruct sperm mobility in males within the normal range.
These side-effects do not seem to affect human fertility, and
are completely reversible thirty days after cessation of use.
Marijuana, like other drugs, crosses the placenta. While the
effects of this are unknown and there is no evidence that marijuana
causes chromosome damage, we advise women to avoid the use of
marijuana, tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs not prescribed by
their physician during pregnancy and nursing.
5. The intoxicating chemical, THC, is broken
down by the human metabolism after two or three hours in the
body. The by-products of this chemical breakdown are referred
to as metabolites. These metabolites are fat soluble, and take
21-30 days to leave the human body via the urine. These metabolites
exert no psychoactive effect on the human body.
6. After reviewing all of the evidence,
the Academy concluded: "There is not yet any conclusive
evidence as to whether prolonged use of marijuana causes permanent
changes in the nervous system or sustained impairment of brain
function and behavior in human beings". "Interpretation
of the evidence linking marijuana to 'amotivational syndrome'
is difficult. Such symptoms have been known to occur in the absence
of marijuana. Even if there is an association between this syndrome
and the use of marijuana, that does not prove that marijuana
causes the syndrome. Many troubled individuals seek an 'escape'
into use of drugs: thus frequent use of marijuana may become
one more in a series of conterproductive behaviors for these
unhappy people".
7. "Cannabis and it's derivatives
have shown promise in the treatment of a variety of disorders.
The evidence is most impressive in glaucoma, where their mechanism
of action appears to be different from standard drugs: in asthma....
and in the nausea and vomiting of cancer chemotherapy... Similar
trials have suggested cannabis might also be used in seizures,
spasticity, and other nervous system disorders".
N O R M L ' s V I E W
1. NORML favors discouraging marijuana abuse and is opposed to
adolescent drug use.
2. Exaggerated claims about health hazards
lack credibility and encourage adolescents to try marijuana and
other drugs. Government research which relies on animal studies
and studies of adolescent drug abusers presents a skewed perspective
of marijuana's effects.
3. The illegality of marijuana, because
it equates use with abuse, discourages frank discussion of marijuana's
effects on health within the family and with doctors and nurses.
4. Over 35 million adult Americans use
marijuana regularly because they find it a relatively safe way
to relax. A regulated marijuana market would better protect their
health than the unregulated black market.
W H A T D O Y O U T H I N K ?
For further information:
NORML
8749 Holloway Dr.
Los Angeles, CA
213-652-8654