02/01/2015 15:01
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Whether you are for or against the Prohibition of Cannabis, it is important to be aware of the facts around the cannabis plant and the consequences of prohibiting its use. Since the inherent focus of cannabis Prohibition is the plant itself, that's a fine place to focus the discussion.
The overt reason that cannabis is illegal is caused by its purported effects on human health. Those who demand cannabis' continued placement in Schedule I (no accepted medical value and high prospect of abuse) report that smoking cannabis produces an array of negative health problems. The most notable are that cannabis contains significantly more tar than cigarettes, and can lead to exactly the same health problems as cigarette smoking, for example cough, lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, and other conditions. While there is a small correlation with heavy cannabis use and bronchitis in certain individuals, there is not any c
orrelation at all for other difficulties. In fact, the largest study conducted that examined the relationship between lung cancer and cannabis use found that individuals who smoked cannabis actually had slightly lower incidences of lung cancer than non-smokers! Also, for people who smoked cigarettes and cannabis, the speed of carcinoma of the lung was significantly lower than for many who smoked cigarettes alone. This is simply one bit of evidence of cannabis' anti-cancer effects, and a large number of peer-reviewed research has found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) contain potent anti-cancer properties. It is for this reason that cannabis smokers furthermore have a 62% less likelihood of head and neck cancers.
Cannabis is additionally claimed to result in amotivational syndrome, slowed and reduced thinking, contribute to other cancers, and lead to harder drug use. All of these claims are simply not true. There is no evidence that individuals who use cannabis experience sharp drops in motivation for worthy endeavours, like physical activity and their career. If it was the way it is, how are our last three Presidents, the late Steve Jobs, the Google founders, and some of the smartest scientists, lawyers, and doctors in the world admitted past cannabis users? There are several successful people who continue to use cannabis instead of alcohol, and are most often more well off than their alcohol-consuming friends. This is also evidence that cannabis does not significantly slow thinking, and although while the initial one is on cannabis there can be short-term memory loss and slower processing, these inhibitions leave entirely once all the tetrahydrocannabinol is fully metabolized. And as referenced above, cannabis does not give rise to cancers, it protects from their website.
Finally, the gateway theory is also false (surprise!) If anything lends to the truth, it is the fact that cannabis is illegal, and that people exposed to it are open to other illegal drugs too. However, people don't use cannabis after which need to find a "better high", as a lot of Prohibitionists claim. Frankly, cannabis users are not stupid and definately will not pick a destructive substance if cannabis wasn't performing anymore. There is not any other "drug" like cannabis. You can't substitute alcohol, cocaine, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, or anything else for it, because those things hurt the body. Cannabis is the sole thing that will not permanently damage the body, and while there are some individuals who don't value their own safety and lives, the vast majority of everyone is not looking to throw away their futures for a quick high.
If cannabis was legal, it would help reduce the burden on law enforcement and minimize the size and power of prisons. It will draw in billions in tax revenue and jump start the economy. And irresponsible use would be combated with education, not incarceration, as is the case for alcohol and tobacco. The damage from Cannabis Prohibition is just too much on all fronts, and we need to end this madness as soon as possible.
The overt reason that cannabis is illegal is caused by its purported effects on human health. Those who demand cannabis' continued placement in Schedule I (no accepted medical value and high prospect of abuse) report that smoking cannabis produces an array of negative health problems. The most notable are that cannabis contains significantly more tar than cigarettes, and can lead to exactly the same health problems as cigarette smoking, for example cough, lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, and other conditions. While there is a small correlation with heavy cannabis use and bronchitis in certain individuals, there is not any c
orrelation at all for other difficulties. In fact, the largest study conducted that examined the relationship between lung cancer and cannabis use found that individuals who smoked cannabis actually had slightly lower incidences of lung cancer than non-smokers! Also, for people who smoked cigarettes and cannabis, the speed of carcinoma of the lung was significantly lower than for many who smoked cigarettes alone. This is simply one bit of evidence of cannabis' anti-cancer effects, and a large number of peer-reviewed research has found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) contain potent anti-cancer properties. It is for this reason that cannabis smokers furthermore have a 62% less likelihood of head and neck cancers.Cannabis is additionally claimed to result in amotivational syndrome, slowed and reduced thinking, contribute to other cancers, and lead to harder drug use. All of these claims are simply not true. There is no evidence that individuals who use cannabis experience sharp drops in motivation for worthy endeavours, like physical activity and their career. If it was the way it is, how are our last three Presidents, the late Steve Jobs, the Google founders, and some of the smartest scientists, lawyers, and doctors in the world admitted past cannabis users? There are several successful people who continue to use cannabis instead of alcohol, and are most often more well off than their alcohol-consuming friends. This is also evidence that cannabis does not significantly slow thinking, and although while the initial one is on cannabis there can be short-term memory loss and slower processing, these inhibitions leave entirely once all the tetrahydrocannabinol is fully metabolized. And as referenced above, cannabis does not give rise to cancers, it protects from their website.
Finally, the gateway theory is also false (surprise!) If anything lends to the truth, it is the fact that cannabis is illegal, and that people exposed to it are open to other illegal drugs too. However, people don't use cannabis after which need to find a "better high", as a lot of Prohibitionists claim. Frankly, cannabis users are not stupid and definately will not pick a destructive substance if cannabis wasn't performing anymore. There is not any other "drug" like cannabis. You can't substitute alcohol, cocaine, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, or anything else for it, because those things hurt the body. Cannabis is the sole thing that will not permanently damage the body, and while there are some individuals who don't value their own safety and lives, the vast majority of everyone is not looking to throw away their futures for a quick high.
If cannabis was legal, it would help reduce the burden on law enforcement and minimize the size and power of prisons. It will draw in billions in tax revenue and jump start the economy. And irresponsible use would be combated with education, not incarceration, as is the case for alcohol and tobacco. The damage from Cannabis Prohibition is just too much on all fronts, and we need to end this madness as soon as possible.