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In the United States, it is quite common to hear about the war on drugs and what the government is trying to do to stop the inflow of drugs. Every government agency from the federal government all the way down to the city government is doing their part to stop the flow of drugs. Border patrols are doing what they can at the borders, while the DEA and local police departments are setting up specialized narcotic units to help get a grip on this growing problem.

Marijuana Marijuana can now be legally bought in Colorado

Even with all of this talk about the war on drugs, many Americans don’t think it should pertain to marijuana. If you listen to these people talk, they actually say that marijuana is not a real drug because you cannot become addicted to it. And since it isn’t a “real” drug then there is no reason that it should be illegal.

In a recent report, ninety percent of cannabis users also smoke tobacco, said Arpana Agrawal, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis.

Recent research published in the European Journal of Immunology, reveals why marijuana users are more susceptible to certain types of cancers and infections by suppressing the body’s immune functions.

The research, led by Dr Prakash Nagarkatti from the University of South Carolina, focused their research on cannabinoids, a group of compounds found inside the cannabis plant, including THC (delta-9 tetahydrocannabinol).

While most immune cells fight against infections and cancers to protect the host, a unique type of immune cell, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) actively suppress the immune system. The presence of these cells is known to increase in cancer patients and it is believed that MDSCs may suppress the immune system against cancer therapy and actually promote cancer growth.

A team of researchers from Australia and the U.S. led by Dr. Louisa Degenhardt at the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, have made the case for estimating the role that cannabis (aka marijuana) plays as a risk factor for psychosis worldwide.

This could give an idea of the extent of impact cannabis has on our public healthy globally. The information could be very valuable for guiding health policymakers in their decisions regarding services, research and health policies.

Researchers are reporting "convincing evidence" that marijuana smoke damages the genetic material DNA in ways that could increase the risk of cancer.

In a recent report in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention, thrill-seeking young men in their 20’s are more likely to drive under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) and engage in reckless driving,

“We observed that dangerous driving behaviours are interrelated. Individuals scoring high on impulsivity or sensation-seeking scales demonstrated an elevated risk of driving under the influence of marijuana,” states senior author Jacques Bergeron, a professor at the Université de Montréal’s Department of Psychology.

The study also found that men with self-reported DUIC tend to be associated with an increased risk of being involved in a car accident.

Research appearing in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research shows that teenagers who are heavy users of marijuana are more likely than non-users to have disrupted brain development.

In the photo, the yellow areas in the brain of a heavy marijuana smoker show brain regions with the most significant abnormalities. These areas correspond with those under development during normal adolescent years. (Credit: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Pediatric researchers found abnormalities in areas of the brain that interconnect brain regions involved in memory, attention, decision-making, language and executive functioning skills. The findings are of particular concern because adolescence is a crucial period for brain development and maturation.

A research report states that human male fertility is impacted by chronic marijuana users. Evidence shows that the sperm has decreased ability to fertilize due to poor penetration of the female egg.

A study from Vanderbilt University that appears in the Journal of Clinical Investigation reveals that marijuana use at the time of conception and early in pregnancy prevents embryos’ safe passage from the ovary to the uterus, resulting in early pregnancy failure.

Marijuana, the most widely used illegal drug among women of reproductive age, binds to 2 receptors — cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1, CB2) — which are found in the brain and other organs including sperm, eggs, and newly formed embryos. Normally, these 2 receptors are activated by the naturally occurring signaling molecule anandamide. Anandamide formation by the enzyme NAPE-PLD is carefully balanced with its degradation by the enzyme FAAH, resulting in a finely tuned local “anandamide tone” in embryos and the oviduct. This balance is required for normal embryonic development, transport along the oviduct, implantation in the uterus, and full-term pregnancy.

The results of the study show that drugs such as THC persist and swamp these finely tuned signaling systems and as such the use of THC-containing drugs such as marijuana may lead to ectopic pregnancy and/or impaired fertility in women.

A pothead is one who habitually smokes marijuana which is often called “pot,” “grass,” “weed,” “reefer,” or “mary jane”.

Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of Cannabis sativa, the hemp plant.

Most users smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints, among other names; some use pipes or water pipes called bongs. Marijuana cigars called blunts have also become popular.

Unscientific Research About Marijuana Abuse

Here are comments from a previous distributor of marijuana regarding his observation of his pothead clients over the long term.

Potheads:

* suffer from poor memory
* are lethargic
* have low vitality
* have lower sexual appetite
* have abnormally coated tongues and bad breath
* are more susceptible to infection and colds that last for months
* can not smell or taste as well as nonheads
* have blood-shot eyes
* have pale skin

The above is an unscientific study but revealing anyway.

Scientific Research About Marijuana Abuse

Potheads – Regular Users of Marijuana:

* Heart begins beating more rapidly (within minutes)
* Blood vessels in the eyes expand making the eyes look red
* Experiences intense sensations, colors, and sounds
* Time appears to pass very slowly
* The mouth feels dry
* Hands may tremble and grow cold
* May feel depressed or experience anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic
* Short term and long term memory impaired
* Attention and judgment impaired
* Coordination and balance is impaired
* Lack self confidence
* Lack motivation and pursuit of goals
* Immune system’s ability to fight off infectious diseases is impaired
* Increases risk of chronic cough, bronchitis, and emphysema
* Increases risk of cancer of the head, neck, and lungs
* Students get lower grades and are less likely to graduate from high school
* Workers have more problems on the job such as increased absences, tardiness, accidents and job turnover