Notes+and+Sources

Source1)http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=2W6222216019&site=src-live Notes-**//marijuana//** to relieve **//the//** pain and nausea **//of//** cancer, AIDS and other debilitating illnesses.

Souce2)http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/help/ask-the-doc/long-term-effects-of-smoking-pot.aspx# notes-" In terms of physical consequences, smoking marijuana is linked to many of the same problems as **[|tobacco]**smoking (such as cough, phlegm and wheeze). **[|Marijuana]**users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which further increases the lungs’ exposure to carcinogenic smoke." The most damaging one is probably the risk of developing a psychiatric illness such as **[|depression]**, anxiety or other psychotic symptoms. Marijuana has never been shown to help these psychiatric problems over time and there is a mountain of research to show that if you smoke marijuana now, then your psychiatric problems are not likely to get better on their own — actually, they are more likely to get worse.

source3)http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/marijuana-use-and-its-effects notes-Signs of using marijuana include: These effects are reduced after three or four hours. However, marijuana hangs around in your system for as long as 24 hours after smoking. The lingering effects mean you're impaired for several hours after the high wear off Signs of using marijuana include: These effects are reduced after three or four hours. However, marijuana hangs around in your system for as long as 24 hours after smoking. The lingering effects mean you're impaired for several hours after the high wears off. Other short-term psychological effects of pot include: These psychological signs of using pot also generally ease after a few hours. But residual effects can last through the next day.
 * rapid heart rate
 * increased blood pressure
 * increased rate of breathing
 * red eyes
 * dry mouth
 * increased appetite, or "the munchies"
 * slowed reaction time
 * rapid heart rate
 * increased blood pressure
 * increased rate of breathing
 * red eyes
 * dry mouth
 * increased appetite, or "the munchies"
 * slowed reaction time
 * distorted sense of time
 * paranoia
 * magical or "random" thinking
 * short-term memory loss
 * anxiety and depression

Many experts also believe that marijuana is physically addictive. Symptoms of withdrawal from pot might include:
 * aggression
 * anxiety
 * depressed mood
 * decreased appetite

Source4)http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1670252/marijuana_should_be_legal_in_the_united.html?cat=17 by robert headly One of the biggest arguments is the fact that marijuana has been proven to be less harmful than other tobacco products and alcohol as well. It is also worth noting that studies have yet to prove any addictive measure in marijuana while nicotine in cigarettes is extremely addicting. I just find it hard to swallow that marijuana is illegal because of the dangers even though studies have proven it's less dangerous than alcohol or cigarettesIn our society many good people get a negative image because they like to smoke weed. The only difference between these people and smokers and drinkers is that they are breaking outdated laws.

Source 5)http://hubpages.com/hub/Marijuana-as-a-Medicine Cannabis Science Inc., have found marijuana to have even more medicinal properties. After the outbreak of the dangerous and contagious swine flu, researchers quickly recognized that the symptoms, mainly pain related, could be treated with marijuana. Unfortunately, by smoking the drug, the irritating effects of the smoke would likely cause more harm than good for the infected individual. This, however, did not stop pro-medical marijuana developers from finding a successful way to deliver the drug to patients. Rather than completely discounting traditional flu remedies, researchers embraced them by making marijuana throat lozenges. These lozenges are an effective and non-toxic way for patients to ingest the THC

Columbia University conducted a study on the usefulness of marijuana in treating the symptoms of HIV/AIDS patients. All participants were asked to smoke four times a day and were then monitored on their behavior. The study concluded, obviously, that all smoking patients had a significantly larger appetite which had been previously curved by the HIV medication. Not only did patients claim to eat massive amounts of food, but also stated that they felt a considerably lower amount of HIV related pain.

A study by Complutense University of Madrid found that marijuana is actually an extremely effective way to treat brain cancer. Through testing on lab rats with human cancer cells implanted into their brains, the study concluded that the active ingredients in marijuana force the cells into a process called autophagy. In this method, although still unknown why, THC reacts with the cells in a way that it causes the cancer cells to absorb each other but leave all other brain tissue completely healthy.