Pubdate: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 Source: State Journal-Register (IL) Copyright: 2009 The State Journal-Register Contact: http://www.sj-r.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/425 Author: Chris Kneopfle Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09.n125.a06.html DON'T UNDERESTIMATE DANGERS OF MARIJUANA Marijuana And Your Kid: 1.) A study based on data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that teenagers 12 to 17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more likely to have thoughts of committing suicide. The same study linked increased anxiety and panic attacks to past year marijuana use. 2.) Heavy users of marijuana at age 18 increased their risk of schizophrenia later in life by six times. Further reports have found marijuana use increased the risk of developing schizophrenia among people with no prior history of a disorder and that early use of marijuana (age 15 vs. age 18) increased the risk even more. In addition, youth with a personal or family history of schizophrenia are at an even greater risk of marijuana-induced psychosis. 3.) Eight percent of depressed teens abused or became dependent on marijuana during the year they experienced depression compared with only three percent of non-depressed teens. Teen girls are especially at risk. More girls than boys felt depressed in the course of a year and substance abuse can compound the problem. Daily use of marijuana among girls is associated with a fivefold increase in the odds of developing depression and anxiety. Marijuana and your heart: From this data, the researchers conclude that the relative risk of a heart attack jumped 4.8 times within the first hour after smoking, then dropped to 1.7 times in the second hour. All of the above are direct quotes from Internet sources. There's much more online. The modern plant is quite strong. Thus, while the change in penalty for small amounts of the drug may have been necessary to unclog a packed legal system, let's not kid anyone, it really isn't a feel good moment, unless maybe you're stoned. Chris Kneopfle Springfield - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin