Various postings I have seen on Facebook have asserted, actually asserted, health benefits in smoking Marijuana. It is, I admit, a proven fact that marijuana can inhibit pain in some suffering individuals, but, they need not smoke it.

Some of the short-term effects are:

• Rapid heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased rate of breathing
• Red eyes
• Dry mouth
• Increased appetite
• Slowed reaction time

Although these short-term effects diminish somewhat after three or four hours, marijuana remains in your system up to a month after use. Lingering effects mean you will be impaired for several days to weeks after the high.

Other short-term effects of MJ:

• Distorted sense of time
• Paranoia
• Magical or “random” thinking
• Short-term memory loss
• Anxiety and depression

Many will dispute my assertion that Magical or “random” thinking and a Distorted sense of time are hallucinations, but since they really do not happen, distorted time, or magical thinking manifested, what else could they be? Anyway, people are on average paranoid enough without being prompted to be more so by a drug. Short-term memory loss? Sounds like an effect alcohol provides if someone over imbibes. Anxiety? Depression? I can live without those effects as well.

Desire children? Heavy marijuana use lowers men’s testosterone levels and sperm count as well as the quality of the sperm. Heavy pot use diminishes libido and fertility.

Although marijuana may not be physically addictive, despite the fact that even some occasional users report withdrawal symptoms, the drug is psychologically addictive, as anything that provides a preferred state, a good feeling, would be. Heavy users have higher rates of dependence, just as alcoholics do.

Symptoms of withdrawal include:

• Aggression
• Anxiety
• Depressed mood
• Decreased appetite

Although it can not be said that MJ is a “gateway” drug, it is true that pot smokers are more likely to use other drugs after trying MJ.

Smoking anything is unnatural and permanently damaging to lung tissue. Converted to an oil or put into capsules, or even brownies, would be safer alternatives.

For some reason MJ advocates think that employers will stop screening for MJ after its legalization. Since MJ has such long term effects, affecting motor skills, I would very much doubt that. I, personally, would not want to work in a dangerous environment along side someone under its influence.

In closing I say, I advocate the legalization of MJ for only one reason: People are going to use it anyway, so it should be taxed. Taxed to the hilt.