As of July 2019, cannabis is legal in 40 states in some form or fashion. With marijuana more accessible now than ever before, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about the drug that are in desperate need of debunking.
Questions like “does cannabis kill your brain cells?” and “are cannabis users lazier than non-users?” have been asked for years now, but because the drug is so accessible, there is finally some legit data to correctly answer those questions.
So if you’re curious to know the real truth about marijuana myths, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll break down the top 10 marijuana myths, as well as provide some useful insight into the substance and why it’s not what you may think it is.
Now then, let’s get started!
1. Cannabis Kills Brain Cells
One of the biggest, if not the biggest misconceptions about the use of marijuana is the myth that it kills brain cells.
Simply put, it’s not true. While doctors are still not 100% certain of the long-term effects of heavy marijuana use on the brain, so far, studies have not indicated that it’s bad for the brain at all.
So, much like the idea that watching too much television will rot your brain, this is an idea we can finally leave in the past.
2. Marijuana Use Causes Cancer
It’s worth noting that smoking of any kind is not good for your lungs, and can lead to lung cancer. That, of course, includes smoking marijuana, so the risks are indeed 100% real.
But using marijuana in other ways has shown no link to any cancer of any kind, and thus, we can leave that myth in the past as well.
3. Cannabis is Gateway Drug
Another massive misconception about marijuana usage is that it can lead a user down a dark road filled with other, more dangerous kinds of drugs. Once again, this is simply not true.
Scientists have found no link between marijuana and other drug usages. In fact, the majority of marijuana users do not do any other kind of drugs, let alone have serious addiction problems that are the result of cannabis.
4. Medical Marijuana Use is a Scam
For years now, some people have had the idea that using marijuana for medical benefits is just a scam to enable them to use the substance legally for recreational purposes. While there are indeed people who take advantage of this system, studies have shown that there are legitimate medical benefits to using cannabis.
Marijuana has been scientifically proven to help with physical pain, as well as mental health, and is recommended by doctors all around the country as a result.
5. Cannabis is Highly Addictive
Firstly, the idea that marijuana isn’t addictive at all is completely false. There are in fact people who become very dependent on the drug and suffer from life-altering issues as a result.
With that being said, when compared to alcohol, or other drugs, cannabis is nowhere near as addictive and shouldn’t be classified as a highly addictive substance.
6. Marijuana is Completely Harmless
You’ve probably heard at some point in your life that marijuana is completely harmless and you shouldn’t worry about using the drug at all. While the basic concept behind this theory is true, it’s not 100% accurate.
There are indeed risks to using marijuana. Again, smoking of any kind can lead to lung cancer, and heavy marijuana usage can indeed lead to addiction issues. And driving while impaired is dangerous, and illegal, and should never be done.
With that being said, if used correctly, marijuana is much safer than alcohol, an intoxicant that is completely legal in the United States.
7. Cannabis Users Are Lazy
One of the most common misconceptions about cannabis users is that all who use it are lazy, non-intelligent individuals who don’t contribute to society in a positive way. This mostly comes from stereotypes created by movies and television and isn’t really the case.
While lazy people certainly do exist, there aren’t more who use marijuana than those who don’t. In fact, there are plenty of notable, highly successful individuals who are frequent cannabis users. Jon Stewart and Bill Gates are included in that list, just to name a few.
8. Cannabis Can Kill You
Again, the risks of driving while impaired are very high, and it should never be done, as there is always a chance of injuring or killing yourself or someone else. However, as long as you partake at home or in another secure environment, it’s quite safe.
Scientists have done studies on animals and have found no conclusive evidence that a marijuana overdose is at all possible. There has never been a documented marijuana overdose ever, so you can feel safe knowing that when using it.
9. Legalization Leads to Higher Crime Rate
Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational cannabis use in the United States. Following this shift, many Americans were interested to see what it would do their crime rate, especially regarding crimes involving marijuana.
Believe it or not, the cannabis-related crime rate actually dropped by 56%. So the idea that legalization leads to a higher crime rate is completely false.
10. Marijuana Isn’t Affordable
Folks who have never purchased marijuana may be curious to know how much it actually costs to use. Now that it’s legal, and taxed, some believe that it is too expensive, despite never having purchased it for themselves.
As of July 2019, the average price for a gram of marijuana is $10. So the idea that the drug is unaffordable, especially when compared to alcohol prices, simply isn’t true.
Still not convinced and want to know more about cannabis myths? You can read more here.
The Truth About the 10 Biggest Marijuana Myths
Well, there you have it! Those are the 10 biggest marijuana myths, including some that are now officially debunked!
When used safely, is a harmless plant that improves your quality of life. As long as you remember that driving under the influence of marijuana is still considered driving while intoxicated, and use caution when smoking, you’ll be good to go!
Be sure to check out our blog, where you’ll find more useful tips and tricks!
