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Can we handle the <br /> Truth about Marijuana? <br /> MYTH: Marijuana is a gateway drug. <br /> FACE. For every 104 people who have used marijuana, (here is only <br /> one regular user of cocaine and less than one heroin addict. (1) <br /> MYTH: Marijuana is addictive. <br /> FACE. Less than one percent of people who consume marijuana do so on <br /> a daily er near daily basis. An even smaller minority develop dependence <br /> on marijuana. Withdrawal symptoms, if experienced at all, are mild. (Z) <br /> MYTH: Marijuana lowers motivation. <br /> FAC1li For twenty five years, researchers have searched for amarijuana- <br /> Induced amotivational syndrome and have Palled to find It. Of course, <br /> peeple who are fwnstantty intoxicated, no maHer what the drug, are <br /> not likely to be productive. (3) <br /> <br /> ' MYTH: Higher concentrations of THC make marijuana <br /> more dangerous. <br /> FACi'r There is no possibility of fatal overdose from smoking marijuana, <br /> regardless of potency. Nigh potenry marijuana may be less harmful to <br /> the lungs because people can use less to achieve the desirod effects. (4) <br /> MYTH: Marijuana causes brain damage. <br /> FACT: No medical test used fe determine brain damage has indicated brain <br /> damage in humans who use marijuana -even aNer long-term use. (6) <br /> So, why fiid we arrest 642,000 Americans <br /> last year for marijuana offenses? ~ <br /> SOURCES: (I) DeparlmeM of HHS, Edmnd NoutelpH Story on Dnp Alias, 1997 (4) DepaHment d HHS, Na6and HataalpN fasroy m Drug Abusq 1997, Jonet, rl N al,'dmiui Pelewne <br /> d CannaWs Tdronre and Dperdeue; !assn! of Qnrol Plsmso[dopy4l 113-546 (1981) (3) Pope, H G el al,'Drvp Use and Ede Style Among Eo8e8e UnderproduNn In 1989 A rnmpadsm <br /> Wxh 1969 and 1978, Amsnran lauudd fSyrhoAy 117 998-081 (1990), 1(ondel, D N al,'The Impact of Drup Use on Eammps A lde-Span FMspsahe,' SoddFaces 71213-278 (1995) <br /> (1J OyamrM d HsaBh and Human SaMms,'Morljuona and de Cannah6srlds; pp, 131411n Oruy Aduse andOnp Abuse Eeseady Thad Lsennal pepon to raa0rsss Irom the Ssmtary (1991) <br /> (5) Namwa, J and H6dmorls, I'Neurobpiml and Nsurorodmkpkal Emmmaean al Gronk rannabh Snntart; Armah d Naurolapf 13407-10 (1963), SNre, FA artd Shaumann, JJ, <br /> 'Elemortmplnb8raphk and Eroled FbeMwl AMlod+h Human Alarljuam Rsseardr Hntarxd Furrow and Futwe Lends,' Omg Igrds 40 36948 (1990) <br /> A complete discussion of the effects of marl(uana Is available from MarfJuana Myths / Marl <br /> Juana Facts. A Review o/the <br /> Sclenflpc Fvldenre by Lynn Zimmer, ph.D and John Morgon, M D available Irom Flookworld Services 7-800-444-2544 <br /> Visit Drug War Facts at: www.drugsense.org <br /> Common Sense for Drug Polley Faundatton Kevin B Zeese, President, 103-354-5694, 703-354-5695 (fax), csdp@drugsense org <br /> <br />