As we see it, there are at least four good reasons to oppose the legalization of this drug. We also think it’s important to issue a sober warning to those who are inclined to regard it as harmless recreation or just a helpful form of medication.
In the first place, while most states have legalized marijuana for medical (or even recreational) purposes, it is still illegal to possess, use, or distribute marijuana according to federal law. People who develop a pot habit might possibly end up in jail.
Second is the question of what pot does to the individual who uses it. Marijuana smoke is actually more irritating to the mouth, throat, air passages, and lungs than tobacco smoke. What’s more, it contains 50 to 70 percent more cancer-provoking hydrocarbons. And pot-smokers tend to inhale deeply and hold their breath while smoking. As a result, long-term marijuana users, like their tobacco-puffing counterparts, are at higher risk than the general population not only for chronic lung disease but also for cancer of the upper respiratory tract and lungs.
As if these physical health risks weren’t enough, mounting scientific evidence shows associations between marijuana use and increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
To this list of marijuana’s physical effects it’s crucial to add a word about its impact on mental health and cognitive function. Frequent marijuana use can derail normal thought processes. It contributes to increased risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. It also raises the likelihood of clinical depression and can worsen bipolar disorder symptoms.
Marijuana impairs motor skills, concentration, and judgment, raising the risk of motor vehicle and other accidents. It also causes deficits in learning and memory. To make matters worse, a number of studies have demonstrated that these problems can continue for days or weeks after the immediate effects of the drug have worn off.
Long-term marijuana users are also known for developing a marked lack of motivation. Their personal goals and self-discipline literally go up in smoke. Other research has linked marijuana use with poor overall job performance. This includes increased tardiness, absenteeism, accidents, and workers’ compensation claims.
Third, the notion that marijuana is non-addictive is a myth. It’s true that marijuana-dependence expresses itself differently than alcohol dependence. Unfortunately, the dependence is every bit as real. There’s a reason it’s called “the drug of apathy.” It impairs an individual’s ability to make deep and meaningful attachments. It robs them of the ability to be intimate with other people. This promotes isolation, which feeds the need to smoke pot, which strains more relationships, which causes increased conflict in marriage or with co-workers and friends. You get the picture. It’s a vicious cycle. Heavy, long-term use of marijuana stunts emotional and social development. It kills motivation and prevents people from moving forward in their lives.
Fourth, marijuana keeps very bad company. For adolescents and young adults alike it can become a gateway drug, introducing them to the harrowing world of illegal drugs and the criminals who produce and distribute them. A gateway drug also creates pathways in the brain that invite experimentation with harder street drugs or prescription medications. Studies have shown that 90 percent of those currently using hard addictive drugs like heroin started with marijuana.
These, then, are the facts. They deserve careful consideration. If you’d like to discuss them at greater length with a member of our staff, feel free to call Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department.
Resources
If a title is currently unavailable through Focus on the Family, we encourage you to use another retailer.
The Last Addiction: Why Self-Help Is Not Enough
Finding Freedom from Addiction
Healing the Hurts Behind Your Addiction
Being Shaped By God’s Grace in the Midst of Addiction
Changes That Heal: How to Understand Your Past to Ensure a Healthier Future
Putting Your Past Behind You: Finding Hope for Life’s Deepest Hurts
Substance Abuse (resource list)
Referrals
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
National Institute on Drug Abuse
