For decades, cannabis opponents controlled the messaging around the popular plant and cultivated any number of lies about its effects. Out of all the drugs out there—legal and otherwise—weed can be singled out as the most misunderstood.

1. http://mtvernonwamedicalmarijuana.blogspot.com/2015/12/top-3-myths-about-marijuana.html
Top 3 Myths about Marijuana
For decades, cannabis opponents controlled the messaging around the popular plant
and cultivated any number of lies about its effects. Out of all the drugs out there—legal
and otherwise—weed can be singled out as the most misunderstood. Here are the top
three marijuana myths that persist to some degree today, and the facts that debunk
them.

2. http://mtvernonwamedicalmarijuana.blogspot.com/2015/12/top-3-myths-about-marijuana.html
1. Marijuana is as addictive as heroin
It is now frequently stated that marijuana is profoundly addicting and that any increase
in prevalence of use will lead inevitably to increases in addiction.
The Facts
Essentially all drugs are used in "an addictive fashion" by some people. However, for
any drug to be identified as highly addictive there should be evidence that substantial
numbers of users repeatedly fail in their attempts to discontinue use and develop use-
patterns that interfere with other life activities.
In fact, more than 90% of people who try cannabis do not become addicted. However,
heroin has a 23.1% lifetime dependency level, cocaine is at 20.9%, alcohol is at 22.7%
and nicotine is at a staggering 67.5%.
2. MARIJUANA IS A DRUG WITHOUT THERAPEUTIC VALUE
Proposals to make marijuana legally available as a medicine are countered with claims
that safer, more effective drugs are available, including a synthetic version of delta-9-
THC, marijuana's primary active ingredient.

3. http://mtvernonwamedicalmarijuana.blogspot.com/2015/12/top-3-myths-about-marijuana.html
The Fact
The reality is that cannabis is something of a wonder drug. The majority of American
medical doctors think marijuana should be legal according to Web MD survey reported
in April—and with good reason. It alleviates symptoms related to chemotherapy, AIDS,
certain cancers and especially glaucoma. Cannabis is effective medicine for millions of
people, and legalizing it would provide more of them access to it.
3. MARIJUANA IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS
Marijuana’s opponents claim that it, too, causes significant impairment and that any
increase in use will lead to increased highway accidents and fatalities.
The Fact
In actual driving studies, marijuana produces little or no car-handling impairment –
consistently less than produced by moderate doses of alcohol and many legal
medications. In contrast to alcohol, which tends to increase risky driving practices,
marijuana tends to make subjects more cautious.