Question: A number of requests have come to the Journal for more information about marijuana: should it be available without legal control? Is there valid medicinal indication? Is it addictive? Is it hallucinogenic?

What is the truth about this controversy in face of the conflict among scientists, health professionals, and lay-people regarding, particularly, the actual dangers to health as well as possible medicinal benefits of this plant.

We asked our Science Editor to explain. Here it is, about as succinct and current as you can get!--Editor

Answer: Marijuana is the most commonly-used illicit drug in America and England at the present time. Millions of older children, young people, and even adults smoke it.

THE MARIJUANA PLANT

 About a hundred cultivars of marijuana are grown throughout the world. Reaching a height of 3 to 18 feet, each stem may bear from 1 to as many as 15 leaves. The most commonly studied toxin in marijuana is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), but many other compounds, that are found in the plant naturally or are produced in the smoking or heating process, are also being studied. Several of the compounds in marijuana smoke are identical to those in tobacco smoke. THC, however, is unique to this plant. The content of THC in the plant or the smoke can vary tremendously--there can be a 60-fold variation in the amount of THC in various marijuana products! This provides tremendous reason for conflict and misunderstanding: a chemical laboratory dealing with very weak marijuana can get results that are not representative of strong marijuana such as is used worldwide by many people. Thus, some scientists may pronounce marijuana as fairly innocent, but other scientists in other parts of the world, especially with access to more potent cultivars of marijuana, can very easily find effects throughout the body that are dangerous indeed.

HOW MARIJUANA AFFECTS THE BODY

Tracer studies have demonstrated that the THC of marijuana passes from the lungs through the blood into the brain. Enzymes in the brain cannot break down THC nearly as quickly or as thoroughly as they can nicotine from tobacco smoke--so that the acute effects of marijuana are far longer-term than those of nicotine. Some THC can linger a full week in the body.

HOW IS MARIJUANA SMOKED?

It is crucial thing to understand how marijuana is smoked, because marijuana smokers often inhale much more deeply and desperately to get as much THC as possible into the lungs and then into the blood with each breath. Therefore the amount of poisonous carbon monoxide and tar from marijuana smoke entering the lungs can do more damage than does the same amount of tobacco smoke. The British Lung Association reports that the tar from marijuana cigarettes contains up to 50 percent higher concentrations of carcinogens like benzopyrene and benzanthracene than does tobacco smoke. Of course, usually many more tobacco cigarettes than marijuana cigarettes, sometimes called "roaches," are used per day.

The average marijuana or cannabis cigarette smoked in the 1960s contained about 10 mg of THC. But nowadays, it may contain as much as 150 mg. Meanwhile the pro-marijuana lobby will hammer away with old data from old, weak samples in an attempt to whitewash the effects and thus justify the modern use of much stronger marijuana materials. The British Lung Association reports that almost 45 percent of 16 to 29 year-olds in the U.K. said they had used Cannabis at some point. ⁽¹⁾

BRAIN ELECTRONICS

Marijuana interferes with normal brain waves; it also depresses the electrical activity of the frontal cortex--the very seat of character and moral power. This has been shown and measured not only electronically but also by new brain-scanning methods.

MEMORY AND LEARNING

Recent memory suffers significantly after modest marijuana use, as shown when students are given a list of numbers and then told to repeat them backwards. This proves to be very difficult for them because the brain is handicapped by marijuana chemicals. And the examined students not only remember less, but they fabricate more! And because marijuana use has been demonstrated to reduce motivation, to reduce cognition, to reduce learning, focused ability, and the ability to concentrate, it is no wonder that fewer teen-age marijuana-users finish school.

We would readily admit that more is involved here than just marijuana use; what is called the "sample selection" factor in science would indicate that people who gravitate to marijuana use and/or other users, and who settle into heavier use, may very well be of a different population than those who generally learn and succeed in life. Nonetheless, animal studies can take care of these genetic and personal variables, and it is quite obvious that marijuana definitely reduces learning and distorts behavior.

SELF-CONTROL TESTS

One moderate dose of marijuana given to a monkey under strict control of dosage, species, time, and environment, can cause the monkey to perform as poorly in anticipatory avoidance behavior as a rat when tested under control conditions (without marijuana). This is damning evidence that self-control is diminished when using marijuana.

AGGRESSION

It is true that if small doses of weak marijuana are given to a small group of students, the more common effect is, first, mild euphoria, and secondly, seduction and drug-induced "peace."  Many of these people are under so much stress, guilt, pressure, and unsolved emotional and moral issues that  the partial oblivion granted by either marijuana or alcohol is considered to be a marvelous goal, when, in fact, instead of solving problems, this drug leads to more serious problems.

In the brain lab, when accurate genetic and environmental controls can be maintained, it has been possible to show that chronic use of marijuana will often reduce aggression if the environment is placid. But research from Brazil has shown that if the lab animals are restricted to only two hours of feeding per day, they will become very aggressive and fiercely fight each other. These fights can last up to half an hour!

Another most ominous observation is that, under stress plus marijuana, these animals will sometimes engage in self mutilation. They will actually eat their own feet. ⁽²⁾ This tends to put light on suicide urges in marijuana users. Because these animals do not normally self-mutilate, their brains are clearly being perverted by marijuana. These measurements and observations fit very nicely with modern studies that mathematically correlate marijuana use with violence and criminal behavior. Of course, marijuana use is not the only factor in these complicated behaviors, but it is a valid risk factor for antisocial, criminal, sexual, and other behavioral aberrations.

Dr. Strongsky of the Swiss National Science Foundation, reports in a study of 9,268 Swiss adolescents that one quarter of the adolescents surveyed were classified as past or current marijuana users. Prevalence of risk-related behaviors, antisocial behavior, accidents, and suicide attempts were elevated for marijuana users compared to non-marijuana users. And we are sad to report that these risks were even more elevated when marijuana was combined with other illicit drugs, many of which are much stronger, of course, than marijuana. ⁽³⁾

MOTIVATION AND MARIJUANA

Studies in man, monkey, rat, mouse, and gerbil all show less motivation under steady marijuana use. This is dramatically obvious in the case of gerbils. Normal gerbils will dig holes for safety--security--in a natural ecology. When given marijuana, they stop digging the holes. This fits nicely with the observation that when human beings engage in socially reinforced, steady marijuana use, things like school, work, and normal goals fade into the smoky abyss of synthetic marijuana bliss.

MARIJUANA AND PSYCHOSES

Research throughout the world has found severe psychiatric reactions in marijuana users. It seems that in predisposed people, marijuana is a significant factor in precipitating schizophrenia. Dr. Arseneault and his associates of the Institute of Psychiatry of the Kings Colony of London, currently estimate that there is a two-fold increase in development of psychosis in steady marijuana users. They predict that on a population level, elimination of marijuana use should reduce the incidence of schizophrenia in typical communities by approximately eight percent!

This, although not massive, is important, for it should be pointed out that many people are teetering on the edge of mental disease, at the very best. When a significant factor comes along, it can tip the balance toward trouble. Suicide by female marijuana abusers, as reported from Paris, Belgium, and elsewhere, apparently is associated with unstable people taking heavy doses that are much stronger than average American street marijuana.

THE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE

After a big argument, a soldier in Vietnam shot a man with an M-14, then put down the rifle, went to his bed, and resumed smoking his marijuana. Another solider in Vietnam saw an Afro-American wearing a T-shirt sporting the name "Ho Chi-Minh" in enlarged letters. He took his gun, shot the man, and came running back to his buddies, thinking that he would be acclaimed as a hero for ending the war. Finally, as his very strong Oriental marijuana was metabolized by his liver, he sank into grief, understanding somewhat that he had killed one of his own fellow soldiers!

MARIJUANA AND MITOCHONDRIA

Scientists from UCLA have studied the effect of marijuana on mitochondria (the power houses of cells). They report that minute concentrations of THC, as incredibly dilute as one-half of one-millionth of a gram per milliliter, can diminish the function of mitochondria! At concentrations of 2.5 to 10 micrograms per milliliter, the mitochondrial membrane potential (the electrical power of the mitochondria) is compromised as early as 1 hour after THC exposure. And this effect was apparent for up to 30 hours after THC exposure. No wonder marijuana users are low on energy!

Using a red fluorescence-dye technique, the researchers showed that the lower response in mitochondria that had been exposed to marijuana smoke extract was still five times less than those exposed even to tobacco smoke extract. These results, they say, suggest that exposure of the linings of the lungs to THC may have an important adverse bearing on health and physiological status. ⁽⁵⁾

MARIJUANA AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

THC can inhibit the immune system in the brain so much that amoebic encephalitis can occur. This immunal suppression indicates the potential of marijuana to alter the capacity of brain immune cells to mount a full complement of responsiveness to brain infection by this opportunistic parasite. ⁽⁶⁾ Exposure of human T cells to THC suppresses their proliferation, inhibits the release of interferon with GABA, a natural immune substance, and imbalances the T hardware function, indicating that the immune capacity is compromised. Hence, when marijuana smokers have a suppressed ability to fight invasion, inflammatory substances like cytokines and nitric oxide build up, and the capacity to kill bacteria is deficient. Thus, the habitual exposure to THC appears capable of compromising human cell-mediated immunity, and tus the body's defense system. ⁽⁷⁾

MARIJUANA AND CANCER

The long-term relationship of marijuana to cancer is very controversial, and the jury is still out in most analytic circles. It should be pointed out, however, that there are significant amounts of cancer-causing chemicals in marijuana tar. This is a very objective evidence of risk, and each marijuana cigarette may be more harmful than a typical tobacco cigarette--not only because of its chemistry, but as previously mentioned, because of the way it is typically deeply inhaled. There are obvious evidences of considerable inflammation inside the lungs of marijuana smokers and field-cancerization (the state of becoming cancer) can occur in bronchial epithelium due to exposure to marijuana smoke. Several case studies do suggest this. However, although the implications seems quite apparent, research has not yet yielded obvious results of an undeniable relationship between marijuana use and lung cancer. And so the controversy regarding the true risk of cancer from marijuana uses remains undecided.

It should be observed that to the post modern marijuana user, perception of truth and reality is a private personal experience and is as subjective as the feeling and philosophy of the person who often is so deeply submerged in New Age philosophy and presuppositions, that further studies are necessary to clarify this matter. It must be admitted, though, that cancers of the head and neck do seem to be promoted by marijuana smoking. ⁽⁸⁾ Many people who smoke marijuana also smoke tobacco, and the time it may take to generate lung cancer can be decades. To sort this all out will take long-term public health studies, lareg samples, and clear evidence.

GATEWAY ISSUES

From Australia comes an interesting study on marijuana involving 311 twin pairs of a median age of 30 years. Both monozygotic (identical) and dizogotic (not identical) same sex twins were studied. Differences for early cannabis use before the age of 17 were found. Individuals who had used marijuana by age 17 had the odds of additional drug use, alcohol dependence, and drug abuse and dependence, that were two to five times higher than those co-tiwns who did not use marijuana by 17 years of age. They controlled this study for other risk factors: early onset of alcohol or tobacco use, parental conflict or separation, childhood sexual abuse, conduct disorder, major depression, and anxiety. These associations did not differe significantly between monozygotic and dizygotic twins, thus implicating environment and marijuana use as the cause. ⁽⁹⁾ Many students in this area of marijuana research point out that more is involved than just marijuana in the tendency of human beings to look for something stronger, something more powerful, to alleviate their negative feelings. It is imperative to note one factor: tolerance to brain drugs is a common phenomenon.

WHAT ABOUT CLAIMS OF BENEFITS FROM MARIJUANA THERAPY

As is true with tobacco, marijuana--deceptive weed that it is--contains several substances, the use of which can be accompanied by favorable outcomes under carefully contrived circumstances. For instance:

GLAUCOMA (reduced eyeball pressure)

Pressure in the eyeball can be reduced, but the side effects on the brain, heart, and immune system, as well as irritation and abnormal vasodilation of the blood vessels in the eye (to such an extent that dark glasses are used to hide the evidence), make marijuana much more of a problem than a solution.

NAUSEA AND VOMITING

Oncologists treating advanced cancer patients found that marijuana does not help as much, and has more side ffects than do other agents. So this claim is more "excuse-logic" than truth. Why weaken the immune system while reducing a symptom, especially when better therapy, with fewer side effects, is available?

PAIN

Socially-reinforced placebo mechanisms, expectations, shallow, inappropriate euphoria, and frontal lobe deficits from deeply-breathed marijuana can combine to deceive people--among them not a few writers. It is too weak, unreliable, and risky for serius medical use. Marijuana is a medical loser.

PREVENTION AND CURE OF MARIJUANA-ABUSE

The core strategy is to overcome evil with good. Both youth and adults who are happy, busy, and successful don't need any deceptive weeds to "feel good." When young people are enjoying reality with family, friends, recreation, growing and achieving real goals while enjoying that "peace that passes all understanding," who needs brain-frying dope? Smart folks who know the truth and live abundantly will observe that marijuana users become more and more "out of it" spiritually, mentally, and physically, and then graduate to stronger drugs, bigger problems, more crime, a few suicides, many sick relationships, and sad, dull futures. Applied Christianity, trusting God, and helping others, works wonders to achieve happiness that lasts!

CONCLUSION

This brief survey of the latest research on marijuana clearly indicates that when they are abused seriously and regularly, the stronger types of marijuana deteriorate the brain, compromise the immune systen, and predispose to mental, social, sexual, and spiritual aberrations. One is reminded of the counsel given thousands of years ago: "Keep therefore the words of this covenant...lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the other gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; and it come to pass, when he heareth the words of his curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkness to thirst. The Lord will not spare him." ⁽¹⁰⁾

Marijuana use can never be safe for human use, and should never be legalized in informed cultures.

REFERENCES

(1). Marijuana Special Report: Cannabis smoking "more harmful" than tobacco. New Scientist.com, http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/marijuana/moreharmful.jsp. Nahas, G.G., et al., Eds, Marijuana and Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 1999, p. 239.

(2)

(3). Stronski, S.M., et al., Protective correlates of stages in adolescent substance use: a Swiss National Study. J Adolesc Health, 26 (2):420-7, 2000, abs.

(4). Arseneault, L., et al., Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence. Brit J Psychiatry, 184:110-7, 2004, abs.

(5). Sarafian, T.A., et al., Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol disrupts mitochondiral function and cell energetics. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 284(2):l298-306, 2003, ABS.

(6). Cabral, G.A., and Marciano-Cabral, F., Cannabinoid-medicated exacerbation of brain infection by opportunistic amebae. J Neuroimmunol, 147(1-2):127-30, 2004, abs.

(7). Roth, M.D., et al. Effects of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol on human immune function and host defense. Chem Phys Lipids, 121(1-2):229-39, 2002, abs.

Numbers 8-10 are missing in original magazine (it was stated turn to page 29 but not there).