million Americans used marijuanaregularly. The same survey showed that in 1995, 8.2% of teenagers use the drug on a regular basis, while in1998 that dropped to 7.1%(Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia, 1998).Marijuana use usually begins between theages of 12 and 18, mostly because of curiosity. Many people who try marijuana use it only a few times orvery infrequently, while others become regular users. Some regular users become dependent and have a greatdifficulty stopping its use. Though people believe that marijuana improves their talents and capabilities, scientists have found that it does impair all abilities (World Book Encyclopedia, 1999). In a recent study, researchers traced the record of more than 65,000 San Francisco Bay Area members ofthe Kaiser Permanent Health Plan for an average of ten years. They found no increase in the deaths among the14,0000 patients who Said they were marijuana users between 1979 and 1987 (San Francisco Chronicle,1997). AIDS patients were the only group pot smokers found to have a higher death rate than the eithernonsmokers. But their mortality rate was virtually the same as it was for the AIDS patient who didn’t smokemarijuana. Though marijuana doesn’t cause death, it does expose smokers to a criminals and violence, by branding marijuana a crime is exposing smokers to these hazards. It also can lead to risky sexual behaviorand impair driving ability. Marijuana smokers have also been shown to make more clinic visits for coughs, colds, and flu than non-smokers.A far as life experiences go I know that I have seen allot in my 30 years of life. First of all, growing up asa teenager in the 80’s , marijuana and every other drug was readily available to me in my neighborhood. It hasbeen very clear to me that pot is the most forgiving of all the drugs out there including alcohol. I have neverseen anyone get ill from smoking ma...
