Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY) Copyright: 2008 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Contact: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/614 Author: Candice Crayon Note: Crayon, of Rochester, is on the Teen Council. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) Friday Faceoff USING MEDICINAL MARIJUANA HAS TOO MANY RISKS Marijuana is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs throughout the United States. What makes marijuana most potent is the ingredient THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). A study in 1999 by the Institute of Medicine concluded that smoking marijuana is not recommended for the treatment of any disease and that there are more effective medications available. I agree with the Institute of Medicine's conclusion. Using marijuana does alleviate pain due to certain diseases and sicknesses, but only temporarily. For longer-term relief, you would have to smoke six or seven joints per day - and you would be too high to get anything done during the day. Plus, there would be harmful effects: shortness of breath, increased heart rate, impaired learning, loss of memory, anxiety and panic attacks. According to the National Institutes of Health, someone who smokes five joints per week may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day. Long-term risks include psychological dependence, lung cancer, lowered sperm production, and immune system damage. In addition, illegal drug use is the foundation of the criminal system. Legalizing marijuana would be like taking crack cocaine, putting it into a pill, selling it -- and then advertising against it. Sounds insane, right? Sure, smoking marijuana might make patients feel better, but what message would that send young people? Go get a fix; it doesn't matter. Drug use is OK. Marijuana, weed, mary jane, piff -- whatever you call it, it's still a drug. It's still marijuana with all its ill side effects, even if you slap a label on it with a doctor's signature. Marijuana should remain an illegal drug for all people, patients or not. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake