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Marijuana Myths: Ten Most Common
Concerns About Cannabis
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| 1. Marijuana
contains hundreds of compounds/chemicals. |
| 2. Marijuana
is stronger today and therefore more dangerous. |
| 3. If
used as a plant the dosage cannot be controlled. |
| 4. Marijuana
is dangerous because it is smoked. |
| 5. Marijuana
destroys the immune system. |
| 6. Marijuana
is highly addictive. |
| 7.
Marijuana is a gateway drug. |
| 8. Marijuana
use during pregnancy will cause fetal problems. |
| 9. A
legal, marijuana pill is already available. |
10.The
medical use of marijuana sends a message to teens that it
is not a dangerous
drug and may therefore encourage use by teens. |
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| 1. Marijuana
contains hundreds of compounds/chemicals. The cannabis
plant does contain approximately 400 chemicals, many of which
are also naturally found in other herbs or vegetables that
are consumed. A tomato contains about 360 compounds. Unique
to the cannabis plant are approximately 60 chemicals called
cannabinoids, some of which are present in trace amounts. top |
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| 2. Marijuana
is stronger today and therefore more dangerous. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
(delta-9-THC), more commonly referred to as THC, is the primary
psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana. The percentage of
THC in the marijuana is measured to determine the potency.
THC levels may range from < 0.1% in non-psychoactive hemp-type
cannabis (grown for its fiber), to over 10% in extremely
potent cannabis (sinsemilla) . The female plants are separated
from the males to prevent fertilization so that the energy
of the female plant will develop the flower and resin rather
than the seed. The THC content is higher in the flower and
resin. The marijuana has not become stronger, but rather
the growers have learned how to grow the plant to yield sinsemilla
rather than fertilized (seed producing) plants often yielding
only 1% to 2% THC. Cannabis has an extremely wide margin
of safety. In fact, prior to cannabis prohibition a 1915
Eli Lilly label for Tincture of Cannabis illustrates the
lack of concern regarding toxicity by stating, "Dose,
10 minims, increased till its effects are experienced." There
has never been a recorded overdose from cannabis. One would
have to smoke 1500 pounds in 15 minutes to cause a lethal
dose (Petro, 1997). top |
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| 3. If
used as a plant the dosage cannot be controlled. Prior
to the marijuana prohibition when pharmaceutical companies
created extracts and tinctures of cannabis, they were able
to provide fairly uniform preparations. The government-grown
marijuana, under crop management, provides a relatively consistent
supply that is processed into a cigarette form for the patients.
Research is being conducted in The Netherlands and Great
Britain to develop different strains of marijuana with varying
amounts of some of the primary cannabinoids to determine
if different combinations can provide more specific symptom
relief. For example, cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive
cannabinoid, appears to be more efficacious in decreasing
spasticity and therefore a hybrid with a greater amount of
CBD may be preferred for patients with multiple sclerosis.
Some patients will be more comfortable taking this medicine
in its natural state, while others may prefer a pure extract
of a particular chemical. top |
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| 4. Marijuana
is dangerous because it is smoked. Historically,
cannabis has been used therapeutically in tinctures, extracts,
teas, salves, poultices, and even as suppositories. In Jamaica
a cannabis ophthalmic solution called CanasolÒ has
been developed for glaucoma patients. The cannabinoids are
fat-soluble compounds that present a technical problem (how
to quickly enter the human physiological system) for alternative
delivery systems. Research is being conducted to develop
aerosol or other safer inhaling devices for medication delivery.
Although smoking may present potential pulmonary risks, smoking
marijuana is the most efficient delivery system at this time.
Because the effects are experienced very shortly after inhalation,
the patient is able to titrate the amount needed. This route
is especially helpful when used to ease nausea and vomiting.
A higher potency of marijuana will also allow patients to
smoke less to achieve a therapeutic dose without the risk
of overdose. GW Pharmaceuticals, a British pharmaceutical
company, has developed an oral mucosal cannabis spray (Sativex®),
that is rapidly absorbed through the oral mucosa and has
proven an effective medication in clinical trials with multiple
sclerosis patients. The American Cancer Society has provided
grant funding to Audra Stinchcomb, PhD, from the University
of Kentucky who is in the process of developing a cannabinoid-based
dermal patch. top |
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5. Marijuana destroys
the immune system. Research studies siting toxic
effects from marijuana on the immune system have been based
on extremely high doses of THC given to animals. There is
no conclusive evidence that demonstrates harm to the immune
system when used in therapeutic doses for humans. To the
contrary, the use of cannabis provides AIDS patients with
a strong appetite, enabling them to eat a balanced diet to
help nourish their immune system. top
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| 6.
Marijuana is highly addictive. While many persons
do use marijuana in a social or recreational manner, there
are occasions in which
persons become dependent (psychologically) upon it and may
need help. Compared to other commonly used psychoactive drugs,
marijuana is not highly addictive and has a low abuse potential.
(See drug comparison chart.) The Institute of Medicine conducted
an 18-month study on the therapeutic potential of cannabis,
Marijuana and Medicine: Understanding the Science Base (1999),
and concluded that cannabis is not highly addictive. When
used as a medicine, marijuana is much less addictive than
many of the controlled drugs already available and does not
present an undue risk to the patient. top |
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| 7. Marijuana is a gateway
drug. Based on scientific review of this myth, the
1999 report by the Institute of Medicine finds that, "There
is no evidence that marijuana serves as a stepping stone
on the basis of its particular drug effect.” The report
further states, “Instead it is the legal status of
marijuana that makes it a gateway drug." (Because marijuana
is illegal, a user must go through an illegal market to obtain
the drug.) top |
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| 8. Marijuana use during
pregnancy will cause fetal problems. As a general
rule, any medication/drug should be used with great caution
during pregnancy because of the potential risk to the fetus.
The mothers' use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs, or lack
of prenatal care has confounded most U.S. studies on the
use of marijuana during pregnancy. Studies by Melanie Dreher,
PhD, RN conducted in Jamaica and Dr. Peter Fried in Canada
show minimal effects on the fetus during pregnancy. Both
researchers have continued to follow the infants through
longitudinal studies and found no significant developmental
problems. Fried did report a poorer score on an "executive
functioning" skill in children ages 9 to 12 years of
age, but even Dr. Fried has questioned the significance of
this measurement. top |
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| 9. A legal, marijuana
pill is already available. MarinolÒ is a
synthetic form of THC, the pure psychoactive chemical in
marijuana. Pure THC appears to cause more dysphoria than
the combination of cannabinoids found in the natural plant.
Research is showing that other cannabinoids or combinations
of cannabinoids show more therapeutic potential than THC
alone. Some patients have found Marinol® helpful, but
many complain of the dysphoria and the inability to regulate
a therapeutic dose. In July of 1999 Marinol® was lowered
from Schedule II to the Schedule III class of controlled
substances based on its safety, which now allows use for
off-label (other than FDA approved) indications. top |
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10. The medical use
of marijuana sends a message to teens that it is not a dangerous
drug and may therefore encourage use by teens. Lying to children
and teenagers about a drug sends a more troublesome message. Hopefully children
are taught that all drugs and medicines present risks and medicine should
only be taken under parental/medical supervision when they are sick. Reports
from teens have indicated that it is easier for them to obtain illegal marijuana
than it is to obtain regulated alcohol or prescription drugs. top |
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