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now there are approximately 60 known cannabinoids which might have medicinal applications. There is a synthetic version of THC used to relieve nausea and stimulate appetite, Marinol, but its effects do not equal that of the herb, the whole being greater than any one of its parts. There are benefits of smoking marijuana beyond pain remedies going back centuries and alleviating nausea in chemotherapy patients, but also for treating nerve injury and multiple sclerosis, the wasting seen in AIDS patients, and THC has been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer's.

Much of the toxicity of tobacco cigarettes is due to the 599 additives on the list of ingredients released by the tobacco companies in 1994, that when burned create over 4000 compounds. Health agencies in the EU report that very few of these additives were used in their cigarettes prior to 1970. Tobacco cigarettes also contain the addictive compound nicotine, which is not present in cannabis. Despite the similarities and potential relevant differences between tobacco and pure cannabis smoke, tobacco is legal and marijuana remains illegal. Also, as published by Scientific American in 2006, marijuana cigarettes are 100 times less toxic to the human body than alcohol. Yet, marijuana is illegal and alcohol is legal. Canada's CBC News reported in January of this year that, between 1993 and 2003, 5% of U.S. drivers tested positive for cannabis and that drivers who heavily smoke marijuana are at 29% higher risk of causing a fatal crash. In that same article, however, it was pointed out that this does not take into account intoxication, which is what matters when looking at impaired driving. A 1990 study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Baltimore found that marijuana adversely affects complex human performance for less than 24 hours after smoking, similar to alcohol inebriation, though THC can be detected for up to 2 months depending on the individual's usage. A 2004 report states that alcohol is detected more often in accident-involved drivers than cannabis. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that 39% of traffic related deaths are attributed to alcohol use and that 18% of driver deaths have other drugs used in combination with alcohol, most of which were repeat offenders. It would seem that the legal drugs are causing more adverse health effects than marijuana.

The strict laws holding back citizens from exercising their free will of choosing what is best for their own health should be equal. There is no reasonable explanation for the legality of tobacco and alcohol while marijuana remains illegal. There is no reason for women to be abused while getting paid to do favors that others do for free and are protected.

Learn more about this author, Alicia M Prater PhD.
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