MARIJUANA: Brain Damage. Birth Defects. Addiction.

During the parent movement in the 1980’s, a drug prevention journalist named Peggy Mann scanned the globe, interviewing and reporting on research of the effects of marijuana on the body and brain. First Lady Nancy Reagan championed the cause with her “Just Say No” message. The adverse outcomes from smoking pot were causing more and more problems and there was tremendous curiosity among parents and kids as to what was really going on with this seemingly harmless recreational herb that made people relax, and giggle. Pot is fat soluble and what the research showed was that it stays in and damages every cell and organ in the body, particularly the brain and gonads. Public exposure to the harms resulted in a decrease in marijuana use of 50 - 60%, a level maintained until 2009, when pot use increased 11%.

Since Peggy died twenty years ago, the perception of risk regarding marijuana has diminished in spite of the fact that the potency is now 20 to 60 times greater and the deleterious effects are worse. Roger has years of experience with drug prevention, and we are fortunate that he has taken the time to write the book, and point out why the best scientists, including Dr. Robert DuPont, say that marijuana is the most dangerous drug. Everyone should take the time to learn the facts, including the 16.7 million Americans who smoke pot, most of whom have no knowledge of the even harms they are inflicting on themselves, let alone others.

Carla Lowe – Co-Founder Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana