MARIJUANA...
IS A DANGER TO HEALTH AND SAFETY !
Physicians, counselors,
many researchers, and virtually all knowledgeable people are opposed to the use of
marijuana as a recreational drug. Research on the health and safety effects of
marijuana strongly correlates with many mental, emotional, psychological, physical and
spiritual problems. In addition, many crimes, accidents, job and school performance
problems have been associated with the use of marijuana. While not everyone that uses
marijuana becomes drug dependent, the reality is that as with alcohol and other drugs
marijuana use certainly can lead to profound, chronic and progressive chemical dependency.
Its use can be
very serious, dangerous, and have a profound impact upon the quality of life for hundreds
of thousands of Americans and their families.
In 1995, according to the Drug Abuse Warning
Network, there were over 47,100 marijuana related admissions into hospital
emergency rooms.
According to the Department of
Health and Human Services, in 1996 there were over 196,000 admissions of people
into drug treatment programs who stated that marijuana was their primary drug of
addiction.
According to a major study of motor
vehicle collision victims in a regional Trauma Unit in Toronto, marijuana was the most
commonly found drug in impaired drivers other than alcohol!
For many users it causes mild-to-severe
distress and it may have even more profound physical or psychological effects especially
for the following:
-- to individuals who are engaging in activities that could
potentially place themselves
and others at risk for personal injury
such as operating machinery, use of firearms,
swimming, boating, driving, etc.;
-- to women who are pregnant or trying to conceive;
-- to people who have a family history of chemical dependency
(especially children of
addicted parents);
-- to individuals using other drugs including alcohol and/or
prescription medications
(even over the counter brands);
-- to all individuals who are predisposed to emotional issues and
problems;
-- to all children and adolescents; and to individuals who
demonstrate some degree
of chemical dependency on any substance.
The consumption of marijuana is recommended.
