This paper was written for a football coach who taught health. Evidently I am a social user of this narcotic and am not a believer in the research indicated.
ABSTRACT: This paper, entitled 'Mary Jane: The Devil Weed?' attempts to
examine what we know about marijuana and what problems are associated with
its use. The paper examines briefly the history of marijuana legislation,
marijuana's known effects, and conclusions about its danger.
Early in this century, the government waged a war of terrorism on
marijuana, or cannabis sativa. 'By 1937, forty-six states had laws against
the use of marijuana, and its use had already been made a criminal offense
under federal law' (Jaffe, 659). Andrews pointed out that 'not until some
time in the early 1930s did the Louisianna legislature pass a state regulation
making use of the drug illegal' (5). Jaffe noted that 'since the early 1900s,
marifuana has been considered the one drug that might introduce the
susceptible to hard drugs.'
Jaffe pointed out that 'since about 1950....
smoking of marijuana has been linked statistically to the use of other
illicit drugs....Most observers have concluded that the link is sociological
rather than biological and...marijuana is a marker for individuals who are
more prone to seek new experiences even when these violate social norms and
local laws.'
Andrews related that 'sensational newspaper stories relating...to crime
is generally held to be accountable for the sudden enactment of a law
prohibiting its use.' He went on to note that 'users were often subject to
heavy penalties--up to life imprisonment in Texas.' 'After caffeine, nicotine
and alcohol, marijuana is the fourth most popular abused substance' (O'Brien,
Cohen, Evans, and Fine, 175).
does marijuana deserve this reputation? We must first consider what it
is and what effects it has. The active ingredient is tetrahydocannabinol,
Other factors
people cite an increased risk of cancer because pot smoke is inhaled for longer. Well of course it is. If tabbacco cost as much as pot and was illigal, people would probably hold that down until all the nicotine was gone!
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