Babies born to mothers who use marijuana during pregnancy have an eleven-fold increase in nonlymphoblastic leukemia. (Robison LL et al. Cancer 63:1904-1919, 1989)

 In males, marijuana diminishes testosterone production and lowers sperm counts. In females, marijuana disrupts hormone cycles. (Gold MS. Marijuana, NY:Plenum Medical Book Co., p. 69-71)

 Marijuana contains some of the highest cancer causing substances known. Marijuana contains carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, acetone, benzene, toluene, vinyl chloride, dimethylnitrosamine, methylethylnitrosamine, benz(a)anthracene, benz(a)pyrene, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and many more.(Huber, Gary: Pharm. Biochem.Behavior Vol.40. P.630, 1991. National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine report, Washington DC 1982, Marijuana & Health 1982)

 Marijuana smoke produces airway injury, acute and chronic bronchitis, lung inflammation, and decreased pulmonary defences against infection. Smoking one marijuana cigarette leads to airway deposition of four times as much cancer-causing tar as does tobacco smoke. (Tashkin DP. West J Med 158:635-637, 1993)

 Cases of cancer, including cancer of the mouth, tongue, larynx, jaw, head, neck, and lungs have been reported in young marijuana smokers. (Donald PJ Otolaryn Head & Neck Surg 94:517-521, 1986. Ferguson RP et al. JAMA 261:41-42, 1989. Taylor FM. South Med J 81:1213-1216, 1988, Donald PJ Adv Exp Med Bio 288:33-46, 1991)

 Marijuana causes decreased resistance to diseases such as herpes. (Cabral GA et al. Proc Soc Exp Bio Med 182:181-186, 1986)

 In a recent study of blood samples taken from 1441 impaired or dead drivers across Canada, marijuana was found in 38% of the samples. The study underestimates the drug use because in a number of cases, if alcohol were found, drug analyses may not have been done. (K. Wayne Hindmarsh, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Wayne K. Jeffery, R.C.M.P. Police Forensic Lab)

 Marijuana causes many mental disorders, including acute toxic psychosis, panic attacks, flashbacks, delusions, depersonalization, hallucinations, paranoia, depression and "uncontrollable hostility". (Jenike MA. Drug Abuse. In:Rubinstein E, Federman DD, eds, Scientific American Medicine, NY:Scientific American, Inc., 1993)

 A roadside study of reckless drivers not believed to be impaired by alcohol found that 45% tested positive for marijuana. (Brookoff D et al. New Eng J Med 331:518-522, 1994)

 Marijuana has long been known to trigger attacks of mental illness, such as bipolar (manic-depressive) psychosis and schizophrenia. It has been shown that marijuana users are six times more likely to develop schizophrenia than are non-users. (Andreasson S et al. Lancet 2:1483-1485, 1987)

 Marijuana is a "gateway drug". Children who smoke pot are 85 times more likely to use cocaine than non marijuana users. (Joseph A. Califano, Jr., President of The Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse)

(Source: Lambton Families In Action For Drug Education Inc.)