There are many myths about cannabis. These are mostly spread by vested interests and people with half knowledge of the facts. Here are some of the top myths about cannabis and the real facts behind them.
Myth: Cannabis Causes Permanent Mental Damage
People believe that smoking cannabis, especially by adolescents, leads to permanent mental illness. They also believe that during intoxication people behave irrationally.
Fact: This is only a half truth. There is no scientific basis is in the assumption that smoking cannabis will lead to brain impairment in either adolescents or adults. In very large doses cannabis can cause temporary toxic psychosis. This is more likely to happen when cannabis is eaten rather than smoked.
Myth: Cannabis is more potent nowadays.
Fact: Cannabis continues to have the same potency levels as earlier. Data does not support the belief in an increase in THC levels. Also, even if potency levels were to increase, the psychotic effects would remain the same. It is not now a more harmful drug.
Myth: Cannabis smoking leads to experiments with other more dangerous drugs such as heroin.
Fact: Most users of cannabis do not experiment with other more dangerous drugs. Many of the users of heroin and cocaine have also indulged in smoking cannabis, but this is no conclusive proof that cannabis introduced them to other drugs.
Myth: Cannabis is more dangerous than tobacco to the lungs.
Fact: Moderate smoking of cannabis does not cause much harm to the lungs. As cannabis smokers use the drug less frequently than tobacco smokers, the final result is that cannabis causes less harm to the lungs.
Myth: The Netherland’s Cannabis policy has failed.
Fact: The Netherlands allows people to legally cultivate and smoke cannabis. This has not lead to a percentage increase in the number of smokers. In fact they have fewer cannabis smokers than the United States. The percentage of population smoking cannabis in the Netherlands is comparable to that in other European countries.
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