Cannabis

Harm The study on mania clearly research whether the correlation was caused by people with mania symptoms or if marijuana caused the symptoms. Quote-Previously it has been unclear whether cannabis use predates manic episodes. We wanted to answer two questions -- does cannabis use lead to increased occurrence of mania symptoms or manic episodes in individuals with pre-existing bipolar disorder? But also, does cannabis use increase the risk of onset of mania symptoms in those without pre-existing bipolar disorder?"-end quote. (1) Then they said the results of the research, Quote-The observed tendency for cannabis use to precede or coincide with rather than follow mania symptoms, and the more specific association between cannabis use and new onset manic symptoms, suggests potential causal influences from cannabis use to the development of mania. It is a significant link.-end quote.(1) Gateway drug My opponents link that my opponent claims helps disproves marijuana as a gateway drug, the site itself claims that the research doesn't disprove the gateway drug theory. Quote-The research does not disprove the gateway theory; it merely shows that another explanation is plausible.-end quote. (2) The research I showed in a much more recent study (2013 opposed to my opponent's 2002) and showed that marijuana increases impulsive behavior, this impulsive behavior can cause users to move to harder drugs. Quote-It had previously been argued that this increased impulsivity after cannabis administration was only experienced by occasional users, but that regular users were no longer affected in this way. Published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, the results provide evidence for how drug use may trigger addictive behaviours.-end quote. (3) Anti-cancer effect In the study I gave about marijuana can cause cancer was a study done in reaction to it already being known that marijuana can increase the likeliness of certain types of cancer and infection. Quote-An international team of immunologists studying the effects of cannabis have discovered how smoking marijuana can trigger a suppression of the body's immune functions. The research, published in the European Journal of Immunology, reveals why cannabis users are more susceptible to certain types of cancers and infections.- end quote. Claiming that marijuana can not cause some cancers and infections complete ignores not only previous studies but it also ignores the research that says how it causes these problems. My opponent then provides a highly bias link that claims that these 43 studies show that marijuana cures cancer. If one were to go to the actual studies, they would notice two things. One, none of these studies say the cancer is cured, it is only reduced. Two, the studies don't deal with marijuana itself but specific extracted compounds from it. The reason why this matters is that the benefits of individual compounds does not justify the use of the whole plant which has harms. Correlation vs Causation My opponent claims that marijuana legalization doesn't increase marijuana usage. Yet marijuana usage spikes up in any state it is legalized. Quote-The average reported past month marijuana use for young adults (ages 18 "" 25) in Colorado has increased from 21.43 percent in 2006 to 27.26 percent in 2011. That is a 27 percent increase.-end quote.(4) Quote-The average reported past month marijuana use for adults (ages 26 ) in Colorado has increased from 5.32 percent in 2008 to 8.19 percent in 2011. That is a 54 percent increase.-end quote (4) Marijuana legalization has even had a slight increase in children use. Quote- In academic school years 2008 "" 2010, an average of 20.75 percent of Adams County high school students surveyed indicated they were current marijuana users (at least once in the last 30 days). That number increased 39 percent during academic years 2010 "" 2012 to 28.85 percent.-end quote.(4) Quote- In the academic school years 2008 "" 2010, an average of 5.65 percent of Adams County middle school students surveyed indicated they were current marijuana users (at least once in the last 30 days). That number increased 50 percent during academic years 2010 "" 2012 to 8.5 percent.-end quote(4) Clearly legalization increase marijuana use dramatically compared to when it wasn't legal. 1. http://www.sciencedaily.com... 2. http://www.rand.org... 3. http://www.sciencedaily.com... 4. http://www.rmhidta.org...