it does not wear them out as other drugs may. There is no evidence that marijuana use causes brain damage. Studies performed on actual human populations will confirm these results, even for chronic marijuana users (up to 18 joints per day) after many years of use. In fact, following the publication of two 1977 JAMA studies, the American Medical Association (AMA) officially announced its support for the decriminalization of marijuana. In reality, marijuana has the effect of slightly increasing alpha-wave activity in your brain. Alpha waves are generally associated with meditative and relaxed states, which are, in turn, often associated with human creativity *../../fashion/body_and_mind/9_better_living.html*. MemoryMarijuana does impair short-term memory, but only during intoxication. Although the authoritative studies on marijuana use seem to agree that there is no residual impairment following intoxication, persistent impairment of short-term memory has been noted in chronic marijuana smokers, up to 6 and 12 weeks following abstinence. What other myths have been going around about smoking a doobie?more marijuana myths Heart Problems It is accepted in medical circles today that marijuana use causes no evident long-term cardiovascular problems for normal persons. Marijuana smoking, however, does cause changes in the heart and body's circulation characteristic of stress, which may complicate preexisting cardiovascular problems like hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, and coronary atherosclerosis. Marijuana's effects on blood pressure are complex and inconsistent as of yet. Hormones Chronic marijuana use has not been found to alter testosterone *../../love/drzimmer/17_love_answers.html* or other sex hormone levels. In contrast, heavy alcohol use is known to lower these same testosterone levels. Reproductive Damage No trustworthy study has ever shown that marijuana use damages the reproductive system, or causes chromosome breakage. Studi...
