Marijuana: Helpful or Harmful?

Upon reading our local newspaper, I was intrigued by a column highlighting city council business. Not being a native Galenian, I normally find the city council affairs uninteresting. I was a bit surprised to read that someone in our small rural town of Galena, IL proposed that the council apply for a medical marijuana license. “Galena should seize the day” the proponent said, stating that there is a $25,000 non-refundable fee to apply. The deadline of Sept 2 is fast approaching. As of June 2014, 23 states have legalized cannabis for medical use. Medical marijuana is now legal in Illinois.

The image of a legalized marijuana dispensary contradicts the image of this historical, tourist town. I’m trying to wrap my head around General Grant supporting marijuana. But it is true that the license could boost tourism and create jobs. Other small towns are competing for the 21 state licenses. There are merits to this new business venture.

Marijuana has legitimate medical applications. It has been used to reduce nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy and people with AIDS, as an appetite stimulant, and to treat pain and muscle spasms. Numerous studies show evidence that marijuana is helpful in other diseases and disorders such as seizures.

So far, only Colorado and Washington state have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Non-medical, recreational use of marijuana poses some difficulties.

Most proponents of marijuana state that marijuana is better than other substances. For instance, it is less harmful than alcohol. Being less harmful is not the same as healthy. While I agree that marijuana may be less harmful to the body than alcohol or other substances, it is not a healthy substance when used for non-medical purposes.

Gateway Foundation, an alcohol and drug treatment center in Illinois, states that marijuana is not as harmless as you think. Marijuana is now 275% more potent than it was 10 years ago. Marijuana smoke contains 50-70% more carcinogens than tobacco smoke. A user’s risk of heart attack more than quadruples in the first hour after smoking marijuana. Long term use can impair learning, memory, perception and judgment. It can lead to difficulty speaking, listening effectively, retaining knowledge, problem solving and forming new concepts; reduced alertness/concentration; decrease in reaction time; and lower IQ for adolescents.

It does not cause medical withdrawal similar to abrupt cessation of an opiate, but it has a high potential for psychological abuse. Excessive use of marijuana, like any other addiction, causes impaired functioning in some areas of life. Dependency upon marijuana, like any substance, can be identified by an inability to stop once started, and continued use in spite of negative consequences. Long term users who try to stop marijuana may have withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, sleeplessness, decreased appetite and drug craving.

An article in The Daily Signal “7 Harmful Side Effects Pot Legalization Has Caused in Colorado” by Cully Stimson suggests that making recreational use of marijuana legal is terrible public policy. The article cites negative impact to Colorado since it legalized the possession, sale and consumption of marijuana. The majority of DUI arrests involve marijuana, a higher percentage of Colorado youth were marijuana users (39% higher than the national average), drug related student suspensions increased (the majority were for marijuana violations), a higher percentage of Colorado college age students were marijuana users (42% higher than the national average), almost 50% of Denver adult arrests tested positive marijuana, there was a 57% increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations related to marijuana has increased 82% since 2008.

The article also makes the point that marijuana is business, whether medical or recreational. Although medical marijuana brings capital and jobs to a community, the social cost of recreational use is high. This may be a case of “be careful what you ask for”.

There are many facets to the question of whether marijuana is helpful or hurtful. It can be both, depending on it’s application, and the person using it.