“[Teens are] smoking more weed because they do not perceive it to be as harmful as did teens in the past”, Kristen Gwynne writes (pars. 1), referring to a 2011 survey by the National Institute of Drug Abuse which indicates that “while alcohol use hits historic lows”, “Marijuana use continues to rise among U.S. teens” (Johnston et al. 1). But is marijuana really harmless? According to Judge Francis Young’s “infamous” 1988 court docket 86-22, it would require approximately 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of marijuana in an average joint to cause death (57), and so while overdosing is quite common in habitual users, it is very unlikely to impossible that marijuana can kill in and of itself. Despite this, an increasing frequency of marijuana
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According to the Surgeon General, cigarette smoking and second-hand exposure to tobacco smoke led to over 480,000 premature deaths annually from 2005-2009 (659), and a 2013 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that “In 2012, 10,322 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.” (5). However, in a report by Joanne Brady and Dr. Guohua Li, the researchers found that while the alcohol prevalence in fatal motor vehicle crashes remained stable from 1999 to 2010, the presence of cannabinol increased nearly three times from 4.2% to 12.2% (Brady and Li 4). This statistic represents the death of nearly 3,000 individuals, as of 2010, directly as a result of marijuana …show more content…
1). The study indicated that “the earlier you begin smoking, the more marijuana you smoke and the more frequently you smoke” (Bobinchock pars. 5); hence, the more cognitive impairment – up to twice as many mistakes on executive function tests (Bobinchock pars. 2). “Marijuana isn’t really a benign substance”, the researchers concluded. While recreational use of marijuana may pose definite threats, research also continues on potential uses for the drug in the field of medicine. Particularly of interest are the cannabinoid’s pain killing properties, and some research even proposes that it may function as a protector of the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis patients (Durand and Holland
According to the Surgeon General, cigarette smoking and second-hand exposure to tobacco smoke led to over 480,000 premature deaths annually from 2005-2009 (659), and a 2013 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that “In 2012, 10,322 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.” (5). However, in a report by Joanne Brady and Dr. Guohua Li, the researchers found that while the alcohol prevalence in fatal motor vehicle crashes remained stable from 1999 to 2010, the presence of cannabinol increased nearly three times from 4.2% to 12.2% (Brady and Li 4). This statistic represents the death of nearly 3,000 individuals, as of 2010, directly as a result of marijuana …show more content…
1). The study indicated that “the earlier you begin smoking, the more marijuana you smoke and the more frequently you smoke” (Bobinchock pars. 5); hence, the more cognitive impairment – up to twice as many mistakes on executive function tests (Bobinchock pars. 2). “Marijuana isn’t really a benign substance”, the researchers concluded. While recreational use of marijuana may pose definite threats, research also continues on potential uses for the drug in the field of medicine. Particularly of interest are the cannabinoid’s pain killing properties, and some research even proposes that it may function as a protector of the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis patients (Durand and Holland