A recent study conducted on the subject of marijuana and cigarette smoking revealed that for the first time in US history, more teens are smoking marijuana than cigarettes. 23 percent of high school seniors in the study reported having smoked marijuana recently, compared to just 19 percent having smoked cigarettes recently.
This is a dramatic change from where this country was no less than a decade ago. Due to this large increase in marijuana use and decrease in cigarette smoking, there has been much speculation as to a reason for the trend. Some have said it’s due to the recession, some of said the marketing and propaganda of the drug; many different opinions from both sides of the issue have been offered up.
Scientific Comparisons Between The Two Substances
We’re going to look at the actual comparisons between the two on a purely scientific level. There is no question that both have adverse health effects, with marijuana use having adverse mental health effects as well. The argument still rages on however from pro-marijuana people that marijuana is better for your health than cigarettes. Here are some facts for you to look at in order to form your own objective opinion.
• According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana smoke contains 50-70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.
• Marijuana smokers generally inhale deeper (one-third greater depth), inhale more smoke (two-thirds more smoke) and hold the smoke in their lungs longer (up to four times longer). All of this can lead to an even larger increase in exposure to the smoke.
Based on that, the idea that marijuana is better for your lungs and health in general is not true. Of course someone who is pro-marijuana is going to look at the issue from a slanted view and try to find ways that marijuana is better for your health than cigarettes. However physical health is only one aspect this issue; it is true that neither one of these substances is good for your health, but only one of them has adverse effects on your mental health – marijuana. Scientific evidence demonstrates that marijuana can impair your ability to drive, creates slower reaction time in general, slower thinking, etc.
When looking at the above facts from an objective point of view, it is easy to see that marijuana is not as safe as some people have led us to believe. The facts are out there from many scientific institutions that illustrate this.
According to narcononhawaii.org the message being sent across the country by the pro-marijuana propagandist is that marijuana can cure almost any ailment. The truth of the matter is that marijuana has never been proven to cure anything. The drug has been shown to temporarily relieve pain, stress, etc. Yet all it’s really doing is covering up the symptoms of a deep-seated problem. Still many use the drug and think that it is okay.
There are many reasons for this including that the drug is widely promoted as safe or “natural.” Because of this many teens think that it is acceptable to use marijuana and then become addicted to it.
Marijuana has just as many side effects as other illicit drugs and is addictive. The center narcononhawaii.org as well as other Narconon programs has seen many patients enroll solely because of marijuana addiction problems. There are also may more who start smoking marijuana and it acts as a gateway to other drugs.
For more information on the dangers of marijuana or to get someone help through narcononhawaii.org contact us today.
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