Notes+and+Sources

13 states in the U.S. have legalized marijuana for medical uses--Why not make it all 50? What are the exact symptoms and things going on do you have to have to get a prescription for medical marijuana? How close do officials watch the people with the power to get marijuana? How long do they get to keep it and how many times can they get more?

According to County district attorney Steve Cooley it is estimated that there are about 1,000 illegally operated marijuana shops in LA alone. So why can’t authority find them if they know that there is illegal marijuana business going on and stop them? Or better yet, legalize it and get tax money of it.

Marijuana was legal until 1914 and only became illegal to try and get cocaine and other substances under control.

Many argue that smoking cigarettes is worse than smoking pot, and vise verse. Smoking anything in general is bad for anyone, it doesn’t matter what it is. Someone could smoke paper if they wanted to and it’s still not going to be good for heath issues.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.html?xid=rss-health

Ever heard of MedGrow Michigan? It's a cannabis college in Michigan. It will teach you alllll you need to know about pot. How to grow it. How to cook with it. Horticulture. Labs. Everything you can think of. http://www.medgrowmi.com/curriculum/ Check it out.

If they have a college, can it not just be legal? How does this college get away with having a school not only devoted to pot, but having pot and giving it to people?

[] "The major active chemical in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the mind-altering effects of marijuana intoxication" THC enters the brain by passing through the lungs into the bloodstream, and then affects various centers in the brain, causing several health risks outlined below.
 * __Harms/benefits __**
 * Harms **

Health risks include: impaired thinking and memory; diminished balance and coordination; increased chance of heart attack; increased risk of respiratory infection; increased risk of lung cancer, mouth cancer, and cancer of the respiratory tract; and possible hallucinations. "Studies show that 6 to 11 percent of fatal accident victims test positive for THC. Marijuana use may also hamper the ability of the immune system to fight off infections. In addition, marijuana may be addictive. Research has shown that "people trying to quit report irritability, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety. They also display increased aggression on psychological tests, peaking approximately 1 week after they stopped using the drug. Benefits ** Medical benefits to marijuana use benefits primarily treat symptoms of various diseases, including: treatment of nausea often associated with cancer chemotherapy treatment; reduction of pressure in the eyes benefiting individuals with glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the U.S.; relief of pain often associated with cancer; and possible protection of nerves from the damage caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), thus reducing tremors and muscle spasms associated with the disease.
 * 

More recent research has discovered additional benefits to marijuana use. A University of Saskatchewan study suggests that the use of marijuana may stimulate the growth of brain cells. The study has shown that "a synthetic substance similar to ones found in marijuana stimulates cell growth in regions of the brain associated with anxiety and depression, pointing the way for new treatments for these diseases" (U of S Research). In addition, a study conducted by the Scripps Research institute shows that THC prevents the formation of harmful plaque in the brain, which suggests that THC "may be the most effective drug for treating the declining effects of Alzheimer's disease"

It is difficult to say whether the risks or benefits of marijuana use outweigh one another. There does not appear to be any general health benefit that would endorse recreational use, and the risks appear great. However, specific benefits to treat certain conditions or symptoms are evident, and may outweigh the risks in certain circumstances. Doctors and researchers are studying these benefits in an attempt to use the information to create safer and possibly risk-free treatment
 * Conclusion **


 * __alcohol__**
 * __[]__**

Alcohol affects the brain and the nervous system by slowing down the drinker's reactions and making him feel tranquilized and relaxed. Alcohol dulls the brain. When someone takes alcohol, his inhibitions are lowered making him more aggressive and hostile. When taken in higher dosage, alcohol can cause mental block out, impairing the person's concentration and ability to judge situations properly. This will also create distorted coordination and emotional reactions. The liver is one of the primary targets of chronic alcohol abuse. Alcoholic hepatitis results when the liver cells are damaged due to recent heavy drinking. On the other hand, liver cirrhosis is a result of a long-term excessive alcohol use wherein large areas of the liver are destroyed or scarred. Damage to the liver may become extremely serious and life threatening. The blood vessels found in the skin surface usually widen as a result of alcohol intake because of the alcohol's vasodilator properties. This is the reason why the skin of heavy drinkers appears flushed. Chronic alcohol abuse results in the inability of the blood vessels to shrink back to normal giving the person a permanent reddish look. Cardiomyopathy is a major health risk alcohol abusers are likely to suffer. Long-term alcohol use creates damage and weakens the heart's muscular tissue resulting in heart failure. Anemia and bleeding disorders can also result from chronic alcohol abuse

[]


 * __SMOKING__**
 * Hair:**
 * Smell and staining
 * Brain and Mental Effects:**
 * [|Stroke]
 * [|Addiction]/[|nicotine withdrawal]
 * [|Altered brain chemistry]
 * Anxiety about harm caused by smoking
 * Eyes:**
 * Eyes that sting, water and blink more
 * [|Macular degeneration]
 * [|Cataracts]
 * Nose:**
 * Less sense of smell
 * Thyroid**
 * [|Graves Disease]
 * [|Thyroid Disease]
 * Skin:**
 * [|Wrinkles]
 * [|Premature aging]
 * Teeth:**
 * [|Discoloration and stains]
 * [|Plaque]
 * Loose teeth
 * [|Gum disease] (gingivitis)
 * Mouth and Throat:**
 * [|Cancers of the lips, mouth, throat and larynx]
 * [|Cancer of the esophagus]
 * Sore throat
 * Reduced [|sense of taste]
 * Breath smells of smoke
 * Hands:**
 * Poor circulation(cold fingers)
 * [|Peripheral vascular disease]
 * [|Tar] stained fingers
 * Respiration and Lungs:**
 * [|Lung Cancer]
 * [|COPD] (includes [|chronic bronchitis] and [|emphysema])
 * [|Cough and sputum]
 * [|Shortness of breath]
 * [|Colds and flu]
 * [|Pneumonia]
 * [|Asthma]
 * Complicates [|Tuberculosis]
 * Heart:**
 * [|Harms, blocks and weakens arteries of the heart]
 * [|Heart attack]
 * Liver:**
 * [|Cancer]
 * Abdomen:**
 * [|Stomach] and [|duodenal] ulcers
 * Cancer of [|stomach], [|pancreas] and [|colon]
 * [|Aortic aneurysm]
 * Kidneys and bladder:**
 * [|Kidney cancer]
 * [|Bladder cancer]
 * Bones:**
 * [|Osteoporosis]
 * [|Spine] and [|hip] fractures
 * Spine:**
 * [|Degenerative Disc Disease]
 * Male reproduction:**
 * Sperm: deformity, loss of motility, reduced number
 * [|Infertility]
 * [|Impotence]
 * Female reproduction:**
 * [|Period pains]
 * [|Earlier menopause]
 * [|Cancer of cervix]
 * [|Infertility] and delay in conception
 * Blood:**
 * [|Leukemia]
 * Legs and Feet:**
 * [|Gangrene]
 * [|Peripheral vascular disease]
 * [|Beurger Disease]
 * Immune System:**
 * Weakened [|immune system]

[]