Posted by admin in Uncategorized on May 21st, 2009 | 4 responses

The hot issue of legalizing marijuana use over the United States is also highlighting the debate if there are really marijuana long term effects on its users. Marijuana has long been banned in most parts of the world but the idea of prohibition appears to be softening in the United States.

Marijuana is the dry mixture of different parts of the hemp plant, Cannabis Sativa. It has become the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. Thirteen states already legalized its medicinal used. However, the federal law of the country still prohibits possession, use and sale of marijuana.

There are various medical conditions where marijuana is being used for treatment. Marijuana is found to have medical benefits for cancer patients and other debilitating diseases. States like California has a marijuana medical program wherein patients prescribed with marijuana treatment are given identification cards so that they will not be apprehended by the police if found using marijuana.

Activists in favor of legalization argue that if anything, marijuana long term effects are quite minimal. Their argument gained more weight with a recently published report on a study conducted at the University of California School of Medicine. The report reveals the findings of the study wherein marijuana long term users were subjected to a series of tests. The results of the test did not reveal significant effects. Researchers found them to have minimal malfunction in the area of learning especially new information.

On the other side of the spectrum are those that are concerned over marijuana long term effects on its users. They counter that smoking marijuana over long term period of time will bring its users negative effects on physical health and psychological being. For them, marijuana is dangerous because it contains a psychoactive compound called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC among other chemicals. Smoking pot once, results to a distorted perception. Doing so continuously over time would have adverse effects on the body and the mind.

For one, marijuana is usually smoked. And as seen with cigarette smoking, it damages the mouth, throat and the respiratory system. Many experts believe that marijuana is much more dangerous than tobacco. Marijuana long term effects are said to be present in the lung’s immune system, weakening it against respiratory diseases. Marijuana is also believed to affect fertility. On the psychological aspect, anti marijuana legalization groups believe that continuous use make the user prone to mental problems like paranoia, schizophrenia and others. Not to mention that addiction to marijuana can lead to addiction to stronger drugs like heroin and cocaine.

Legalization activists see that decriminalizing the use of marijuana will have an effect on economy and lessen the illegal drug trade. They want the government to regulate marijuana use like what the government are doing to alcohol and tobacco cigarettes. They feel that regulated use would save a lot money spent in arrests, prosecutions and convictions of marijuana users. Not to mention, they think that the government can profit from its regulated sale that otherwise enrich the pockets of drug syndicates.

On the other hand, those who believe in marijuana long term effects that legalizing marijuana would only increase the abuse on the substance.