Marijuana: Not the Harmless Drug It Was Once Thought

In the 1960s, John Lennon described smoking marijuana as "just a mild giggle." Today, a similar soft perception -- a misperception -- is contributing to marijuana's renewed popularity among young people.

Marijuana flourished during the '60s and '70s. By 1979, surveys revealed that 15 million Americans were using marijuana at least once a week and that 60 percent of high school seniors had used marijuana at least once. This psychoactive drug, a popular counterculture symbol of the '60s and '70s, steadily decreased in popularity during the 1980s. But today it is still by far the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. In 1985, 28.6 million Americans had used marijuana at least once during the past year compared with 18 million in 1994.

Most alarming has been the recent resurgence of marijuana use among young people. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) 1996 Monitoring the Future study, the percentage of 8th graders who reported using marijuana in the last month increased from 3.7 percent in 1992 to 11.3 percent in 1996. For 10th graders, monthly use rates went from 8.1 percent to 20.4 percent.

"Our surveys show a direct correlation between the increased use of marijuana among young people and young peoples attitudes about the drug," said Alan I. Leshner, PhD, former director of NIDA. "As kids perceive marijuana use as less risky, use goes up."

Leshner said it is difficult to explain this disturbing trend. He suggests that a decrease in antidrug messages in the media, an increase in pro-drug messages through the pop culture, and a lack of awareness among parents about marijuana's harmful effects have contributed to the drugs resurgence.

One thing is clear today: Marijuana is not the harmless drug it was once thought. It causes physical and psychological damage, is addictive, and can lead to the use of more powerful mood-altering drugs. Some of marijuana's harmful effects include:

Acute effects. Marijuana's effects vary from person to person, depending on the drug's potency, dosage and method of intake. Marijuana can impair speech, thinking, judgment, short-term memory, coordination and balance. The drug can cause drowsiness, delusions, impaired vision, severe vomiting, headache and dizziness, all hazardous effects to anyone attempting to drive.

Increased potency. Marijuana today is much stronger. The average potency of marijuana, or the THC content (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) that produces the "high," has increased from an average of 1 percent in the 1960s to 3 percent today. Greater availability of even more potent marijuana, up to 15 percent THC, increases the risk of intoxication.

Marijuana dependence. Research confirms that marijuana is addicting. More than 100,000 people who enter addiction treatment each year report marijuana as their primary drug of abuse.

Fetal effects. Long-term studies of children who were exposed prenatally to marijuana indicate a link with impaired intellectual ability. Other studies suggest marijuana may cause symptoms similar to those associated with fetal alcohol syndrome (eg, mental retardation).

Upper respiratory problems, cancer. Heavy and extended use may contribute to ailments such as sore throats, coughs, bronchitis and pneumonia. Marijuana contains about twice as much tar as a tobacco cigarette and has more cancer-causing compounds than cigarettes. Studies show that a person who smokes five joints per week may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a pack of cigarettes every day.

Heart problems. Because marijuana has been shown to increase heart rate and alter blood pressure, it poses a risk to people suffering from heart conditions.

Lost motivation. Chronic use may lead to a motivational syndrome, a condition marked by loss of drive, energy and motivation and increased passivity.

Problems for young people. Because of the acute effects mentioned above, marijuana use can cause poor performance in academic and athletic activities. Also, there's a strong link between drug use and unsafe sex, a combination that contributes to unwanted pregnancies and the spread of HIV, the virus causing AIDS.

Most troubling is that young people in particular are not getting the message about marijuana. "At the core of our agenda must be a clear and consistent message: Marijuana is illegal, dangerous, unhealthy and wrong," said Leshner.

Two NIDA pamphlets on marijuana -- "Marijuana: Facts for Teens" and "Marijuana: What Parents Need to Know" -- are available by calling the National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information at (800) 729-6686.

--Published March 16, 1998




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