5 of 132

Yes

Write now Article Tools

A plethora of myths surrounds marijuana, giving the average American citizen inaccurate (and frequently laughable) information.

Myth number 1 is that marijuana is a "gateway drug." This myth was dispelled by the long-range study completed by the University of Pittsburgh's School of Pharmacy, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. More than 200 young men were tracked at intervals from ages 10-12 until they had reached the age of 22. Researchers were confounded when the young men defied the "gateway" paradigm. Some of the young men began using tobacco and/or alcohol, and then moved to marijuana usage. Others began using marijuana first, and then began using alcohol and/or tobacco. Others never used any substance except marijuana. The determining factor in what drug the boys first used was determined to be environmental, i.e. the characteristics of their neighborhoods. The conclusion of the researchers was that, "Abusable drugs occupy neither a specific place in a hierarchy nor a discrete position in a temporal sequence."

In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, lead researcher Dr. Ralph E. Tarter stated, ""It runs counter to about six decades of current drug policy in the country, where we believe that if we can't stop kids from using marijuana, then they're going to go on and become addicts to hard drugs." This is one study. Other studies regarding marijuana as a "gateway drug" yielded the same scientific evidence. Andrew Moral, associate director of RAND's Public Safety & Justice unit and the lead author, stated, "We've shown that the marijuana gateway effect is not the best explanation for the link between marijuana use and the use of harder drugs. While the gateway theory has enjoyed popular acceptance, scientists have always had their doubts. Our study shows that these doubts are justified."

Myth number 2 is that marijuana is addictive. There exists absolutely no empirical evidence to support this. Research indicates that less than 1% of people who smoke marijuana smoke it on a daily basis. Conversely, most tobacco users smoke on a daily basis, frequently as much as a pack of cigarettes a day, every day.

Myth number 3 is that marijuana is harmful to one's health. According to the British medical journal, The Lancet, even long term marijuana usage is not harmful to one's health. Marijuana does, however, have medicinal value in that it lessens the nausea of cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. In patients who suffer glaucoma, marijuana

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Should marijuana be legalized??
We want to hear your view. Write now!