by Katrina Rodriguez

Created on: October 13, 2004   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

Marijuana is a naturally occuring plant. It may be enhanced by growing procedures such as special lighta and fertilizers. Marijuana is most often smoke is pipes, bongs, or by rolling it as one would roll a cigarrette.

FACT: Marijuana has never in even one case been determined to cause death, stroke or seizure.

FACT: Marijuana DOES kill brain cells.

FACT: Marijuana is legal is several states for medicinal use.

FACT: Marijuana has been decriminlized in over 20 states. The offense is a misdemeanor and qualifies the offender for NO jail time.

FACT: Marijuana is used regularly by more than 20 million Americans, many of whom use it daily.

FACT: Marijuana has been proven to be far less hazardous to the human body than alcohol. There re NO reported cases of overdose death, no reported cases of liver or kidney failure (as with alcohol).

FACT: Marijuana is an anti-depressant.

FACT: Marijuana calms anxiety, helps with appetite increase for cancer patients, helps with pain in glaucoma patients.

FACt: Marijuana is NOT a substance which causes iratic behavior or unexplained bouts of anger and depression (as with alcohol)

FACT: Marijuana is NOt physically addictive (no physical withdrawal symptoms for ex-users) BUT it is thought to be psychologically addictive as with many other habits such as nail biting or inner cheek chewing.

MYTH: Marijuana may make a person a "space case". There is no proof or even a reliable study to support the claim that marijuana injures the brain or memory of humans, beyond that which prescription drugs or alcohol do.

MYTH: Marijuana causes infertility. This has been proven false, acording to the National Medical Association reports as well as the Surgeon General Report.

MYTH: Marijuana lowers sperm count. This is of course possible, (since cigarette smoking also lowers sperm count) though speculative and unproven. However, regular use of alcohol DOES lower spem count and makes sperm inactive and slow.

For these and more facts, you can visit the American Medical Association site, the National Medical Association and other facts concerning laws may be found on the NORML - National Organization for Marijuana Legalization.

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