Pubdate: Wed, 15 May 2002
Source: Herald-Times, The (IN)
Copyright: 2002 The Herald-Times
Contact:  http://www.hoosiertimes.com/mv-to-top/index-ht.php3
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1498
Author: Susan Urbanek Linville

THE CASE AGAINST LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

This guest column was written by Susan Urbanek Linville, a science writer 
for the Wonderpage.

Several letters have been published in the past few weeks touting the 
safety and benefits of marijuana use. The authors' implied that definitive 
scientific evidence exists to support their claims and no additional 
research is needed to evaluate the impact and long-term effects of 
marijuana use. Is this truly the case?

Since 1970, more than 10,000 marijuana studies have been conducted. Some 
were mainly anecdotal, some fell short of the scientific rigor needed to 
make conclusions, and others were performed under acceptable scientific 
standards. It can be difficult for a layperson to evaluate this mass of 
data, but two recent publications should prove helpful: "Marijuana: What 
are the Risks? A Review of the Research Literature for Prevention 
Practice," Prevention Research Institute, Lexington, Ky., and "Marijuana 
and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," Institute of Medicine, National 
Academy Press. This second article has been mentioned as a source 
establishing the safety of marijuana. All unattributed quotes below are 
from that source.

Is marijuana safe? Some argue that marijuana is a natural herb with a 
history of medicinal use, but historic use does not equate safety. Foxglove 
is a natural herb with a 1,000 year history, once used to treat epilepsy, 
water retention and cardiac symptoms. But foxglove contains digitoxin, a 
glycoside that can cause death.

While doses of marijuana are not fatal, long-term use may trigger secondary 
problems such as cancer, heart attack and accidental death. Marijuana is a 
plant product that contains more than 400 chemical compounds. When exposed 
to heat, these compounds react, subjecting the smoker to some 2,000 
chemicals including hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, carbon monoxide, 
acetaldehyde, acetone and phenol as well as carcinogens found in tobacco 
smoke: benzopyrene, benzoanthracene, benzene and nitrosamine. Benzopyrene, 
in particular, has been implicated in lung cancer and is known to suppress 
a gene (P53) that governs cell growth.

It is true that no study has definitively linked marijuana smoking to lung 
cancer, but this is because a high percentage of marijuana smokers are also 
tobacco smokers and it is difficult to untangle the two effects. It is 
interesting to note that MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for 
Psychedelic Studies) and NORML (National Organization for the Reform of 
Marijuana Laws) are sponsoring research to develop vaporizers to reduce the 
amount of tar reaching the marijuana smoker's lungs. Their own literature 
(the MAPS Bulletin, Summer 1966) states: "marijuana tars are rich in 
carcinogenic compounds."

While marijuana use may not lead to sudden death in healthy individuals, a 
typical dose increases heart rate by 20-50 percent and leads to sodium and 
fluid retention, increasing the risk of heart attack, arrhythmia, chest 
pain or congestive heart failure for individuals in poor health.

Like alcohol, marijuana impairs the central nervous system. "Cognitive 
impairment associated with acutely administered marijuana limits the 
activities that people would be able to do safely and productively. For 
example, no one under the influence of marijuana or THC should drive a 
vehicle or operate potentially dangerous equipment." The typical THC dose 
results in a level of impairment just slightly less than an alcohol blood 
level of 0.08 percent. If current patterns of alcohol use and drunk driving 
are indicators of human behavior, legalized marijuana will lead to hundreds 
of secondary deaths each year.

Proponents of legalizing marijuana often claim medicinal use of 
cannabinoids as a primary justification. Marijuana, they claim, has been 
used to reduce nausea, glaucoma, convulsions, spasms, asthma, pain, and 
promote appetite. However, a closer look at the literature reveals some 
interesting conclusions. As an anti-nausea drug, "cannabinoids are mildly 
effective in preventing emesis," though they decrease in effectiveness over 
time and side effects (intoxication and impairment) are not well tolerated. 
Marijuana does decrease inner eye pressure, the cause of glaucoma, in 
normal individuals. "However, the effect is too short lived and requires 
too high doses and there are too many side effects to recommend lifelong 
use in the treatment of glaucoma." As an anti-convulsant, marijuana can 
both reduce and cause convulsions. Clinical studies with Parkinson's, MS 
and Huntington's patients, have shown little symptom abatement.

Prenatal marijuana use is associated with lower IQ, behavioral, attention 
and memory problems in offspring. Fortunately, most children recover after 
about age 6. Should they have to?

Marijuana use has been linked to low white blood cell counts. "A major 
concern with marijuana smoking in HIV-infected patients is that they might 
be more vulnerable than other marijuana users to immunosuppressive effects 
of marijuana or to the exposure of infectious organisms associated with 
marijuana plant material." Marijuana use has also been found to cause 
psychotic events in prone individuals and precipitate schizophrenic episodes.

Marijuana is no wonder drug. Like other recreational drugs, it has a 
variety of associated risks including increased risk of death due to 
cancer, heart disease and accident. As a drug for the treatment of disease, 
it is mediocre at best. It would be a refreshing change if proponents for 
legalizing marijuana would quit hiding behind the "safe drug" and "great 
medicine" rhetoric and admit the obvious. They want to get high without the 
fear of being thrown into jail.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart