Reply #59: No, science agrees with me

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"Number of mortalities due to cannabis: 0

While it is true that no deaths due to diseases have been recorded from marijuana use, that doesn't take into account deaths occuring while unde the influence of pot. "

Wrong.

"Not really. The marijuana using public has the same or lower rate of automobile accidents as the general public. Studies of marijuana smoking while driving showed that it does affect reaction time, but not nearly as much as alcohol. Also, those who drive `stoned' have been shown to be less foolish on the road (they demonstrate `increased risk aversion'.) Recent studies have emphasized that alcohol is the major problem on our highways, and that illicit drugs do not even come close to being as dangerous."

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-19

A joint may have 4 times more carcinogens than a cigarette, but who smokes 20 joints a day?

I'm not sure the point you're trying to make here. By your statement, one joint is four times as harmful as one cigarette.

Smoking marijuana regularly (a joint a day) can damage the cells in the bronchial passages which protect the body against inhaled microorganisms and decrease the ability of the immune cells in the lungs to fight off fungi, bacteria, and tumor cells. For patients with already weakened immune systems, this means an increase in the possibility of dangerous pulmonary infections, including pneumonia, which often proves fatal in AIDS patients.

Marijuana smoke and cigarette smoke contain many of the same toxins, including one which has been identified as a key factor in the promotion of lung cancer. This toxin is found in the tar phase of both, and it should be noted that one joint has four times more tar than a cigarette, which means that the lungs are exposed four-fold to this toxin and others in the tar.

What I am pointing out is that although one joint has more four times as many carcinogens than one cigarette, one pack of cigarettes have at least five times as many carcinogens as one joint. And few people smoke five joints every day.

Many, however, smoke MORE THAN one pack of cigs each day. Tobacco smokers get a larger dose of carcinogens than pot smokers.

As for the lung infection part, not true: http://www.cannabis.com/untoldstory/hemp_9.shtml

1997 UCLA School of Medicine study (Volume 155 of the American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine) conducted on 243 marijuana smokers over an 8-year period reported the following: "Findings from the long-term study of heavy, habitual marijuana smokers argue against the concept that continuing heavy use of marijuana is a significant risk factor for the development of chronic lung disease." "Neither the continuing nor the intermittent marijuana smokers exhibited any significantly different rates of decline in lung function as compared with those individuals who never smoked marijuana." The study concluded: "No differences were noted between even quite heavy marijuana smoking and nonsmoking of marijuana."

And as for the AIDS patients, Marijuana is often prescribed to help with the severe nausea associated with HIV medicine. So it actually HELPS them keep their life saving medicine down.

"Today, AIDS patients use marijuana to treat their symptoms without any aparrent problems. Some studies suggest that marijuana may actually stimulate certain forms of immunity. Researchers have tried to show major effects on the healthy human's immune system, but if marijuana does have any substantial effects, good or bad, they are either too subtle or too small to notice."

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-25

Cannabis has no withdrawal. No tolerance, and therefore no addictive qualities.

Though many people believe it isn't, marijuana is physically addicting. Each year, 100,000 people in the United States alone are treated for marijuana dependence. Heavy marijuana smokers who quit smoking may experience the same symptoms of withdrawal as users of nicotine or other drugs.

Wrong also.

"arijuana produces no withdrawal symptoms no matter how heavy it is used. It is habit forming (psychologically addictive), but not physically addictive. The majority of people who quit marijuana don't even have to think twice about it. Comparing marijuana to addictive drugs is really quite silly."

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-19