10 CANNABIS MYTHS AND FACTS
Myth #10: Cannabis’ active ingredient THC gets stored in body fat and its effects can last days or even weeks
Fact: It is true that cannabis enters the body’s fat stores, and it is for this reason that it can be detected long after use, but that is the only part of this myth which is true. The fact is, the psychoactive aspects of the stored cannabis are used up quickly and while the residue remains, it no longer has any effect on the person. Furthermore, the presence of THC in body fat is not harmful to the fat, the brain, or any other part of the body.
Myth #9: Cannabis use causes memory loss and a general reduction in intelligence
Fact: The cannabinoid system actually reverses dementia and is used to traet alzhemiers.
Myth #8: Cannabis has been scientifically proven to be harmful
Fact: “The smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health.” This quote comes from the peer-reviewed British medical journal The Lancet (founded in 1823). There is certainly no scientific consensus on cannabis use, and certainly no scientific proof that casual use is dangerous to health.
Myth #7: Cannabis use causes apathy and a lack of motivation
Fact: Studies done on test subjects in which they were given a high dose of cannabis regularly over a period of days or weeks found that there was no loss in motivation or ability to perform. studies indicate that cannabis users tend to have higher paid jobs than non-users.
Myth #6: Cannabis causes crime
Fact: Some people believe that cannabis use leads to violence and aggression, and that this, in turn, leads to crime. But the facts just don’t stack up. Serious research into this area has found that cannabis users are often less likely to commit crimes because of its effect in reducing aggression. Having said that, because of the number of nations that have outlawed cannabis, most users in the world are technically classified as criminals merely for possessing the plant.
Myth #5: Cannabis kills brain cells
Myth #4: Cannabis is a gateway drug – in other words, it leads to abuse of more potent drugs
Fact: Cannabis is not a gateway drug. Users of high strength drugs such as heroin or LSD are statistically more likely to have used cannabis in the past but also smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol, and abused prescription drugs, suggesting that there is no link at all.
Myth #3: Cannabis is more potent now than in the past
Fact: The reason that this myth has come about is that samples taken by drug enforcement agencies are used to test for potency but they are a tiny sample of the cannabis on the market. The vast majority of cannabis taken today is the same potency as it has been for decades. In fact, even if the potency were greatly higher, it would make little difference to the user as cannabis of varying potency produces very similar effects. Furthermore, there is statistical data on cannabis potency dating back to the 1980's which is more reliable than present methods of detection, and that shows little or no increase.
Myth #2: Cannabis is more damaging to the lungs than cigarettes
Fact: First of all, people who smoke cannabis but not cigarettes tend to smoke far less frequently – thereby limiting their exposure to the dangers in the smoke. Furthermore, smokers of cannabis are not inhaling the many additives that go into commercial cigarettes to make them burn down faster or to stay alight. There has even been some evidence that marijuana smoke does not have the same effect on the bronchial tubes as cigarettes. Cigarettes take 500,000 lives yearly. Cannabis has NEVER claimed a life in over 10,000 years of use.
Myth #1: Cannabis is highly addictive
Fact: Compared to other substances, marijuana is not addicting. It is estimated that 35% of tobacco users will become addicted, 23% of heroin users, 17% of cocaine users, and 15% of alcohol users. Cocaine and heroin are more physically harmful and nicotine is much more addictive. It is much harder to quit smoking cigarettes than it is to quit smoking pot.
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