Debunking the falsehoods of doobies

    As it was stated before, "Despite more than 70 years of federal marijuana prohibition, Americans’ consumption of and demand for cannabis is here to stay. It is time for state lawmakers to acknowledge this reality" (Armentano). America has a clear and present demand for marijuana, to deny this fact one would have to be in a state of denial. The American government has been giving marijuana the cold-shoulder for decades based on the myths that marijuana is a gateway drug and the myth that it kills brain cells.

    In 1974, the Heath/Tulane study claimed to pump 30 marijuana joints a day into the lungs of monkeys. After 90 days the monkeys began to die. Brain damage was determined after counting the dead brain cells of the monkeys that have been subjected to marijuana and monkeys that were not. They claimed marijuana killed the monkey's brain cells. However, it was later discovered that the test was not administered in the manner in was supposed to be given in. Dr. Heath and Dr. Tulane were actually pumping 63 marijuana joints into the monkeys for 5 minute intervals for 3 months. Inturn it was found that the monkeys were being suffocated and were losing brain cells from suffocation, not marijuana smoke. Poor monkeys.

     "because underage smoking and alcohol use typically precede marijuana use, marijuana is not the most common, and is rarely the first, “gateway” to illicit drug use. There is no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs" (Szalavitz7), marijuana strangely developed this "gateway drug" myth. Alcohol and tobacco tremendously effect the human body in very negative ways. So much so that one can die from excessive or prolonged use of the two substances (alcohol and tobacco).

     The United States will not implode when marijuana is made legal for citizens to use with caution and responsibility. The saying that "only time will tell" runs positive on the side of marijuana. I have shown facts that debunk the myths associated with marijuana that have been grinded and conditioned into our psyche as true facts. Hate it or love it, marijuana is not nearly as bad or insidious as the government and certain interest groups would like to have you think.

 

Armentano, Paul, NORML Deputy Director Maryland, Lawmakers To Debate Marijuana Legalization Bill Tomorrow March 18, 2013

Gieringer, Ph.D, Dale. "Marijuana Health Mythology." norml.org. N.p., June 1994. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. http://norml.org/library/health-reports/item/norml-s-marijuana-health-mythology#12

 

 The Truth About The Study That Says Marijuana Kills Brain Cells http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g66BYWeufFc

Szalavitz, Maia. "Marijuana as a Gateway Drug: The Myth That Will Not Die." time.com. N.p., 29 Oct. 2010. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/29/marijuna-as-a-gateway-drug-the-myth-that-will-not-die/