Anti-Marijuana

"InfoFacts - Marijuana." __National Institute on Drug Abuse - The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction__. 27 Feb. 2009 http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html. __Effects on Heart__ __Effects on Lungs__ __Effects on Daily Life__ __Effects on Mental Health__
 * Higher risk of heart attacks because of increased blood pressure and heart rate.
 * Contains 50-70 percent more carcinogens (an irritant to the lungs) than tobacco smoke
 * Marijuana smokers are found to have dysregulated growth of epithelial cells in their lung tissue. This can lead to cancer.
 * Have a heightened risk of lung diseases.
 * More frequent acute chest illnesses
 * Research clearly shows that smoking mariguana causes problems in daily lives.
 * Heavy marijuana abusers report that marijuana impairs physical and mental health, cognitive abilities, social life, and career status.
 * Increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia.
 * Early use is a marker of vulnerability to later problems.
 * Chronic marijuana use, especially in a very young person, may also be a marker of risk for mental illnesses, including addiction, stemming from genetic or environmental vulnerabilities, such as early exposure to stress or violence.

"Marijuana Statistics." __EasyBib: Free Bibliography Maker - MLA, APA, Chicago citation styles__. 27 Feb. 2009. http://www.drug-statistics.com/marijuana.htm
 * Reaction time for motor skills, such as driving is reduced by 41% after smoking 1 joint and is reduced 63% after smoking 2 joints.
 * There have been over 7,000 published scientific and medical studies documenting the damage that marijuana poses. Not one study has shown marijuana to be safe.
 * Among teens 12 to 17, the average age of first trying marijuana was 14 years old.
 * 75% of drug-related criminal charges are connected to marijuana.
 * 65% of people arrested for marijuana related crimes are for simple possession.
 * A yearly survey of students in grades 8 to 12 shows that 23% of 8th graders have tried marijuana at least once and by tenth grade, 21% are "current" users. Among 12th graders, nearly 50% have tried marijuana at least once, and about 24% were current users.
 * Marijuana is the second most common drug, after alcohol, present in the blood stream of non-fatally and fatally injured persons.
 * The daily use of 1 to 3 marijuana joints can produce the same lung damage and potential cancer risk as smoking five times as many cigarettes.
 * Data has shown that people high on marijuana show the same lack of coordination on standard "drunk driver" tests as do people who have had to much to drink.
 * Today's marijuana is 10 to 15 times stronger than it was in the 60's

"Facts about marijuana for teens from NIDA." __NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse__. 03 Mar. 2009 .
 * In 2007, 36 percent of 12th-graders had used marijuana within the past year.
 * Marijuana affects memory, judgment, and perception.
 * Causes problems with memory and learning.
 * Causes distorted perception.
 * Causes difficulty in thinking and solving problems.
 * Causes impaired coordination.
 * Causes increased heart rate.
 * THC (a chemical found in Marijuana) interferes with learning and memory.
 * The heart rate, normally 70 to 80 beats per minute, may increase 90 or 120 beats per minute when taking marijuana.
 * People who abuse marijuana are at risk of injuring their lungs through exposure to respiratory irritants and carcinogens found in marijuana smoke.