Big Marijuana will have you believe that marijuana’s so safe you can use it every day to increase appetite or help you sleep, eat it as your favorite candy and even share it with your dog to keep him from barking. Pot shops have marketed their products as a fun, harmless way to relax for too long.
Myth:
Marijuana soothes and can even treats depression and anxiety.
Fact:
No evidence supports the claim “marijuana may be used to treat anxiety and depression”, marijuana use can cause bipolar disorder. Researchers at Warwick Medical School found evidence that directly associates frequent marijuana use during teen years with experiencing hypomania later in life. Hypomania is the manic phase of bipolar affective disorder and is recognized as a “period of elated mood, over-active and excited behavior [and] reduced need for sleep.”
Myth:
Marijuana cures nausea.
Fact:
While marijuana may treat some people’s nausea, it may also make it much worse. A new condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is increasing in the U.S. Severe nausea and vomiting as a result of cannabis ingestion characterize the condition. One patient suffered from such a severe case, it kept her from holding down a job until she quit using marijuana completely.
Myth:
You can’t get addicted to marijuana.
Fact:
Marijuana use disorder is a widely-recognized condition. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about 4 million people aged 12 or older suffered from a marijuana use disorder in 2016. Symptoms of the condition include severe impairment, marijuana-related health problems, heavy use, and failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home.
Myth:
You can’t overdose on marijuana.
Fact:
The first reported cannabis-associated death occurred in 2015 when an 11-month-old male had a seizure which caused his breathing and heart to stop. The official cause of death was myocarditis which doctors ruled could only result from the cannabis found in his system, according to the case report of the autopsy. The autopsy doesn’t report how the boy ingested marijuana, but it’s possible he ate a THC-laced edible. The rate of marijuana-related visits to Children’s Hospital Colorado doubled after recreational marijuana legalization. The University of Colorado reported in a study that calls to the Poison Control Center regarding marijuana went from nine in 2009 to 47 in 2015.
Jessie Schirrick 