UNDERSTAND MARIJUANA DANGERS

As a social worker with a long history in substance abuse counseling,
I would like to provide correct clinical information about marijuana.
Society needs to understand the dangers because they are not hearing
about them, and the information on the streets are lies and
misperceptions.

Marijuana is dangerous and addictive, not a benign drug. It causes
medical, psychiatric, learning and social economic problems and
diseases. It's five times more carcinogenic then tobacco and it will
cause cancer. As a controlled substance it will cause psychosis.

Marijuana causes cognitive problems such as difficulty concentrating,
maintaining and shifting focus, memory, and processing information.
These cognitive skills people need to drive, learn and communicate.
These cognitive problems last up to 17 hours after use. Long-term use
can lead to brain damage that can make these problems permanent.

Marijuana causes breathing and lung diseases, heart disease, a
decrease in white blood cells, anxiety, panic attacks, depression and
even sexual dysfunction. People who use marijuana weekly are three
times more likely to have suicidal ideation than those who don't.
Marijuana now rivals cocaine as the No. 1 drug-induced reason people
end up in the emergency room. It leads to behavioral changes such as
impulsiveness, quick to anger, disobedience, aggression and violence.

The federal office of the National Drug Control Policy has pamphlets
on marijuana titled, "Marijuana Myths and Facts," and "What Americans
need to know about Marijuana." These can be obtained from the
Internet. I encourage everyone to stay away from marijuana.

Marc Myers LCSW

Yuba City