DON'T OVERLOOK MARIJUANA'S HEALTH RISKS

In the debate on legalizing marijuana, the health risks of marijuana
are often overlooked.

Legalizing marijuana will almost certainly lead to a decrease in its
price and an increase in its use, according to a recent Rand Corp.
study. And because no drug or medicine is without side effects,
increased marijuana use will mean increased health risks.

But what kind of risks? Supporters of legalization say marijuana is no
more harmful than caffeine, whereas advocates of criminalization
suggest that marijuana is highly toxic. Like other complex health
issues, the truth lies somewhere in between.

The California Society of Addiction Medicine is an association of
physicians specializing in the treatment of alcoholism and other
addictions. Though neutral on the issue of marijuana legalization
itself, the society is concerned that Proposition 19, which
Californians will vote on in November, spreads misinformation about
marijuana by stating: "Cannabis is not physically addictive, (and)
does not have long-term toxic effects."

Unfortunately, this statement ignores a large body of national and
international scientific research over the last four decades that
proves marijuana can be addictive.

About 9 percent of adults who use marijuana develop an addiction to
it. Among people who begin smoking before the age of 18, this number
is as high as 17 percent.

Although addiction to marijuana does not cause dramatic physical
dependence, it can lead to substantial problems in education, work and
relationships. In fact, addiction to marijuana is defined by the
inability to stop using despite recognition of harmful consequences.
Without harmful consequences, there is no diagnosis of addiction.

The short-term effects of marijuana intoxication are well established.
As part of the high produced by marijuana, intoxication impairs memory
and learning. Marijuana use also impairs driving, causing a twofold to
threefold rise in accidents.

The long-term effects of marijuana are not often recognized because
they are subtle, but they can have a cumulative impact over time. In
people with preexisting vulnerabilities, marijuana use can unmask
psychiatric problems such as schizophrenia. Many people with anxiety
and depression use marijuana to soothe their symptoms; however, there
is evidence that over time it may actually make these problems worse.

Smoked marijuana irritates the linings of the respiratory passages and
can lead to inflammation and bronchitis. It has been linked to
precancerous changes in the lungs.

Long-term marijuana use has not been shown to reduce general
measurements of intelligence; but there is evidence that the
processing of highly complex information is slowed.

The bottom line is that although marijuana is less hazardous to health
than many other legal or illegal drugs, it is not without risk, and
voters and potential users need to fully understand this.