Is Marijuana Bad For You?
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Is Marijuana Bad for You?

Recreational use of marijuana is illegal in the United States and if you are caught you will land up in jail. Although lobbyists are trying everything they can to legalize it not for recreational use but for medical purposes. Some states in the US have legalized medicinal use of marijuana. If you check with people who have smoked marijuana or are still smoking they will have contradicting things to say about this drug. Marijuana is mostly smoked but it is also known to be brewed just like green tea. Therapeutic use of marijuana has no substantial scientific proof but it has been used for its medicinal qualities since a long time. Native American healers have been known to widely use this drug for therapeutic reasons.

Side Effects of Marijuana

Marijuana is also referred to as 'pot', 'weed', 'ganja', etc. and is one of the most used drugs in the United States. Kids in junior high to people as old as 75-80 are known to smoke this drug which has hallucinogenic qualities. A large number of the population has made recreational use of marijuana at least once in their lives. There are several side effects associated with the use of this drug especially since some of the chemical compounds are known to be carcinogenic meaning they cause cancer. Short term side effects include dry mouth and redness in the eyes. Diminished intellectual capacity is also seen in people who use marijuana for extended periods. One of the most significant side effects of marijuana is that it causes impotence and loss of libido. Men are also known to experience low sperm count when they use this seemingly harmless drug.

One of the main contents of marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) which is a known hallucinogen and can impair your decision making capabilities. It is also known to reduce the levels of depth perception in users. If you are wondering is marijuana bad for your health, well it can be because smoke inhalation can cause lung problems. Some of the other sideeffects of marijuana include memory loss and psychosis. It also causes temporary increase in heart rate and shortness of breath. People who stop smoking marijuana may experience withdrawal symptoms like irritability, depression and anxiety. It also affects the immune system adversely and makes the user more susceptible to infections and diseases. 

Does Marijuana Have Medicinal Uses?

Promoters advocating legalization of marijuana profess of the analgesic qualities of the herb and present several unverified studies that support this claim. People suffering from loss of appetite are known to benefit from using marijuana in prescribed dosages. Studies have also indicated that it is very useful for inducing hunger in people suffering from AIDS. Unverified claims also suggest the use of marijuana in treating people suffering from anorexia. This ability to stimulate appetite also makes it a vital tool for cancer patients who experience loss of appetite. 

Marijuana is also used to treat people who have mild nausea and vomiting problem. Some claims also suggest the use of this drug to treat severe headaches experienced by people with migraines. Alzheimer patients are also known to benefit but doctors believe the risks involved are far higher. Due to its analgesic attributes it is also used to treat chronic conditions like arthritis in many foreign cultures. Probably one of the most significant studies is the one which says that marijuana can help fight multiple sclerosis. Glaucoma an eye disease can be cured with the help of marijuana as it reduces intraocular pressure. 

Experts however believe that the side effects far outweigh the benefits of the drug and advise that people should refrain from using marijuana. Some however claim that using marijuana helps them achieve a heightened sense of awareness. For what purpose and how they utilize this is however not known as they probably were too high to explain.

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