Myths about Marijuana and Why You Shouldn’t Believe Them

Amidst plenty of myths attached to the use of marijuana, it is easy to fall into the trap of misinformation. Most people around the world believe these myths that have no scientific or researched explanation to be true. Here are some myths about marijuana and facts to debunk them.

1. SYNTHETICALLY MANUFACTURED MARIJUANA IS SAFE.

Synthetic weed is 100 times stronger than naturally grown weed. Hence, it can have an amplified impact on the human body and brain which is very unsafe. Since it is artificially manufactured, it contains toxic chemical compounds such as nail paint removers that are very harmful for human consumption.

2. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OVERDOSE ON MARIJUANA.

To debunk this myth, let’s first understand what is meant by overdose. When a person consumes something in more than the safe or normal amount, it is called overdose. Hence, you can overdose on weed. However, it won’t kill you. A marijuana overdose can be identified by the hallucinations, skin color turning pale, unresponsiveness of the user, and so on.

3. MORE PEOPLE ARE IMPRISONED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION.

The fact against this myth is that the number of people arrested for the possession or use of marijuana is much less than the number of people arrested for committing violent crimes. The data has been verified by the American Civil Liberties Union. Among those arrested for marijuana offenses, less than one percent of imprisonments are due to the possession of marijuana.

4. MARIJUANA CAUSES CANCER.

Even though marijuana contains carcinogenic compounds, it doesn’t cause cancer. A study made by UCLA in 2006 clearly states that even heavy consumption of weed doesn’t lead to lung cancer. On the other hand, pot smoking is associated with increasing the capacity of the lungs and helping treat tumors.

5. THE USE OF MARIJUANA IS ADDICTIVE.

Marijuana use is not addictive. However, it may cause a certain level of dependency but even that is only in the heavy pot smokers. When compared to other drugs, only 9% of pot smokers become dependent on the pot while 15% of cocaine users and 24% of heroin users show dependency on drugs.

6. USING MARIJUANA LEADS TO CRIME AND DELINQUENCY.

It might be true that most criminals consume drugs. However, there is no evidence for the myth that marijuana use promotes criminal behavior in the users. As a matter of fact, marijuana doesn’t induce violent behavior as is the case with alcohol. Researches show that weed reduces aggression in consumers. So consuming marijuana won’t lead to committing crimes.

7. THE USE OF MARIJUANA IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN TOBACCO OR ALCOHOL.

The myth that the use of marijuana is more dangerous than tobacco or alcohol is a complete lie. Despite tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption being legal, there are fewer health risks involved with pot smoking. The use of marijuana doesn’t cause organ damage and lung cancer as caused by alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana has medicinal benefits which are used to treat several types of tumors and chronic pain.