Cannabis is probably the world’s most popular casual use drug that is illegal in most nations. It has become so widespread that many people wouldn’t think twice about asking to light up at a friend’s or to smoke in public places. It is an ancient drug that has been used throughout history for medical, magical, and pleasurable purposes. Thanks to the scare-tactics of propaganda in the 1960s and 1970s, there are many myths surrounding the drug – this list intends to put things straight once and for all.

1. Top 10 Common Myths
About Cannabis
Cannabis is probably the world’s most popular casual use drug that is illegal
in most nations. It has become so widespread that many people wouldn’t
think twice about asking to light up at a friend’s or to smoke in public places.
It is an ancient drug that has been used throughout history for medical,
magical, and pleasurable purposes. Thanks to the scare-tactics of
propaganda in the 1960s and 1970s, there are many myths surrounding the
drug – this list intends to put things straight once and for all.
JAMIE FRATER JANUARY26, 2009
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2. 10
Fat Storage
Myth: Cannabis’ active ingredient THC gets stored in body fat and its
effects can last days or even weeks
Fact: It is true that cannabis (like many other drugs) enters the body’s fat
stores, and it is for this reason that it can be detected long after use, but
that is the only part of this myth which is true. The fact is, the psychoactive
aspects of the stored cannabis are used up quickly and while the residue of
the drug remains, it no longer has any effect on the person. Furthermore,
the presence of THC in body fat is not harmful to the fat, the brain, or any
other part of the body.

3. 9
Memory Loss
Myth: Cannabis use causes memory loss and a general reduction in logic
and intelligence
Fact: This is another myth which has elements of truth to it – no doubt the
reason it is believed by so many. Laboratory tests have shown that
cannabis diminishes the short term memory – but only when a person is
intoxicated with it. A person who has taken cannabis will be able to
remember things learned before they took it but may have trouble learning
new information during intoxication. There is no scientific evidence
whatsoever to suggest that this can become a long-term or permanent
problem when sober.

4. 8
Scientific Proof
Myth: Cannabis has been scientifically proven to be harmful
Fact: Let us start with a quote: “the smoking of cannabis, even long term, is
not harmful to health.” This quote comes from the peer-reviewed British
medical journal The Lancet (founded in 1823). There is certainly no
scientific consensus on cannabis use, and certainly no scientific proof that
casual use is dangerous to health.

5. 7
Loss of Motivation
Myth: Cannabis use causes apathy and a lack of motivation
Fact: In fact, studies done on test subjects in which they were given a high
dose of cannabis regularly over a period of days or weeks found that there
was no loss in motivation or ability to perform. Of course, abuse of any
intoxicating substance over long periods will reduce a person’s ability to
function normally, but cannabis is no better or worse. Furthermore, studies
indicate that cannabis users tend to have higher paid jobs than non-users.

6. 6
Crime Statistics
Myth: Cannabis causes crime
Fact: Some people believe that cannabis use leads to violence and
aggression, and that this, in turn, leads to crime. But the facts just don’t
stack up. Serious research into this area has found that cannabis users are
often less likely to commit crimes because of its effect in reducing
aggression. Having said that, because of the number of nations that have
outlawed cannabis, most users in the world are technically classified as
criminals merely for possessing the drug.

7. 5
Braindead
Myth: Cannabis kills brain cells
Fact: Cannabis does not cause any profound changes in a person’s mental
ability. It is true that after taking the drug some people can experience
panic, paranoia, and fright, these effects pass and certainly don’t become
permanent. It is possible for a person to consume so much of the drug that
they suffer from toxic psychosis, but again this is not unique to cannabis
and is very rare.

8. 4
Gateway to Other Drugs
Myth: Cannabis is a gateway drug – in other words, it leads to abuse of
more potent drugs
Fact: For most people, cannabis is a terminus drug, not a gateway drug.
Users of high strength drugs such as heroin or LSD are also statistically
more likely to have used cannabis in the past, but this is just toying with
statistics; when comparing the number of cannabis users with hard-drug
users, the numbers are extremely small – suggesting that there is no link at
all.

9. 3
Modern Potency
Myth: Cannabis is more potent now than in the past
Fact: The reason that this myth has come about is that samples taken by
drug enforcement agencies are used to test for potency but they are a tiny
sample of the cannabis on the market. The vast majority of cannabis taken
today is the same potency as it has been for decades. In fact, even if the
potency were greatly higher, it would make little difference to the user as
cannabis of varying potency produces very similar effects. Furthermore,
there is statistical data on cannabis potency dating back to the 1980s which
is more reliable than present methods of detection, and that shows little or
no increase.

10. 2
Lung Damage
Myth: Cannabis is more damaging to the lungs than cigarettes
Fact: First of all, people who smoke cannabis but not cigarettes tend to
smoke far less frequently – thereby limiting their exposure to the dangers in
the smoke. Furthermore, smokers of cannabis are not inhaling the many
additives that go into commercial cigarettes to make them burn down faster
or to stay alight. There has even been some evidence that marijuana
smoke does not have the same effect on the bronchial tubes as cigarette
smoke, so even heavy use may not lead to emphysema.

11. 1
Cannabis and Addiction
Myth: Cannabis is highly addictive
Fact: Less than one percent of Americans smoke cannabis more than once
per day. Of the heavy users, a tiny minority develop what appears to be a
dependence and rely on the assistance of drug rehabilitation services to
stop smoking but there is nothing in cannabis which causes physical
dependence and the most likely explanation for those who need assistance
is that they are having difficulty breaking the habit – not the “addiction”.
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12. Sources:
1. Mellinger, G.D. et al. “Drug Use, Academic Performance, and Career
Indecision: Longitudinal Data in Search of a Model.” Longitudinal Research
on Drug Use: Empirical Findings and Methodological Issues. Ed. D.B.
Kandel. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 1978. 157-
177.
2. Johnson, L.D., et al. “Drugs and Delinquency: A Search for Causal
Connections.” Ed. D.B. Kandel. Longitudinal Research on Drug Use:
Empirical Findings and Methodological Issues. New York: John Wiley &
Sons, 1978. 137-156.
3. Schreiber, W.; A. M. Pauls and J. C. Kreig (February 5, 1988). “[Toxic
psychosis as an acute manifestation of diphenhydramine poisoning]”.
Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift 113 (5): 180–183. PMID 3338401.
4. Degenhardt, Louisa, Wayne Hall and Michael Lynskey. “Testing
hypotheses about the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis,”
Drug and Alcohol Dependence 71 (2003): 42-4.
5. King LA, Carpentier C, Griffiths P. “Cannabis potency in Europe.”
Addiction. 2005 Jul; 100(7):884-6
6. Turner, Carlton E. The Marijuana Controversy. Rockville: American
Council for Drug Education, 1981.
7. Stephens, R.S., et al. “Adult marijuana users seeking treatment.” Journal
of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 61 (1993): 1100-1104.