George Putnam
Friday, March 14, 2003

It is this reporter's opinion that the masters of marijuana – the cannabis kids, the purveyors of pot – having failed at legalizing their favorite drug, now turn to the medicinal value as their excuse. But have they stopped to consider the devastating repercussions of the use of this drug on our youth?

Many years ago I met Dr. Hardin B. Jones, Professor of Medical Physics and Physiology at the University of California, Berkeley. With him, I embarked upon a yearlong television news study of cannabis – its effect on the mind AND the body.

We covered the lungs and the respiratory system; sex reproduction and offspring; the heart and circulatory system; immunity and resistance; the cells and chromosomes; cannabis and the psyche; the brain and mind; cannabis and society; driving and flying; dependence; crime; and medicine. It was perhaps the most exhaustive and challenging report in which I, as a reporter, have ever participated.

We studied hundreds of scientific experiments – conflicting studies – and the overall story of cannabis, the enigmatic drug. The discoveries we made have stood the test of time and though the purveyors of pot and their advocates have tried, the facts against marijuana as the stepping stone to more dangerous drugs remain.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse lays it on the line: It states quite clearly, "Marijuana is addictive," that "more teens are in treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined."

Most significant of all, it quotes teens as saying their parents are the single most important influence when it comes to drugs. Parents ARE the ANTI-DRUG and they must:

• know their children's friends;

• ask them where they are going and when they'll be home;

• take time to listen;

• talk to their teens about marijuana; and

• stay close to their teens and they'll keep them drug-free.

In the course of our overall television news study on marijuana, another doctor and I visited the Norco Heroin Rehabilitation Center in California. In answer to those who say, "Marijuana is not the jump-off point," we had to interview 125 recovering heroin addicts before we found a single one who had not started by smoking marijuana.

"Parents. The Anti-Drug." [1-800-788-2800 – www.theantidrug.com] published a full-page letter to parents entitled "Here's What the Experts Say about Marijuana and Teens." It was a devastating indictment, declaring that marijuana is not a benign drug, that it impairs learning and judgment and often leads to the development of mental health problems.

Here's what the experts say today about marijuana and teens:

Marijuana is not a benign drug; its use impairs learning and judgment and may lead to the development of mental health problems.
           – American Medical Association

Smoking marijuana can injure or destroy lung tissue. Marijuana smoke contains 50-70% more of some cancer-causing chemicals than does tobacco smoke.
           – American Lung Association

Teens who are high on marijuana are less able to make safe, smart decisions about sex, including saying 'no.' Teens who have used marijuana are four times more likely to have been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant than teens who haven't.
           – The National Campaign to Prevent Teen
              Pregnancy

Marijuana can impair perception and reaction time, putting young drivers, their passengers and others on the road in danger. Teens, the highest risk driving population, should avoid anything that might impair their ability to operate a vehicle safely.
           – The American Automobile Association

Marijuana use may trigger panic attacks, paranoia, even psychosis, especially if you are suffering from anxiety, depression or having thinking problems.
           – The American Psychiatric Association

Marijuana can impair concentration and the ability to retain information during a teen's peak learning years.
           – National Education Association

Recent research has indicated that for some people there is a correlation between frequent marijuana use and aggressive or violent behavior. This should be a concern to parents, community leaders and all Americans.
           – The National Crime Prevention Council

In these troubled times, the last thing we need is a drug-saturated society ... so it's up to parents to guide their children to live productive, clear-thinking lives and teach them, especially by example, to say NO to drugs.

Further Reading

Jones, Hardin Blair & Helen C. Sensual Drugs: Deprivation and Rehabilitation of the Mind. Cambridge University Press, 1977.

Jones, Helen & Paul Lovinger. The Marijuana Question and Science's Search for an Answer. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1985. With a foreword by C. Everett Koop.

http://www.enjoy-life.com/health/articles/marij.text.html

The legendary George Putnam is 88 years young and a veteran of 68 years as a reporter, broadcaster and commentator ... and is still going strong. George is part of the all-star line-up of Southern California's KPLS Radio – Hot Talk AM 830. Click here for George's complete bio

... and check out a new feature article in "Insight" magazine on George

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Health Issues

Editor's note:
Shop NewsMax.com’s store for the best deals on books, tapes, videos and more! Click Here Now!