marijuana verses tobacco
...318). Euphoria is a feeling of well-being or elation. Marijuana is also good for medical use. Nausea, appetite loss, pain, and anxiety can all be treated with marijuana(Hugghins). The THC in the plant has been proven to alleviate symptoms of several diseases, such as nausea during chemotherapy for cancer, increasing appetite for AIDS patients, lowering eye pressure for people with glaucoma, easing muscle pains and spasms, reducing menstrual pains, calming asthma patients, and even soothing migraines(Grispoon 2). Several doctors and certified physicians support using it medicinally. Fourty-four percent of oncologists, or cancer doctors, have made it known that these legal restrictions result in unnecessary pain and suffering for their patients(Kelly). Marijuanaa lowers testosterone levels and sperm counts in men, and raises testosterone levels in women("Marijuana2). Smoking high doses of marijuana over long periods of time can result in severe bronchitis.(Jaffe 318). Also, high doses of marijuana can cause tachycardia, paranoia, and delusions(Hugghins). Marijuana has many harmful effects on preadolescents and unborn babies. It affects short-term memory and comprehension. In pregnant women it affects the fetus and results in developmental difficulties in the child("Marijuana"). Tobacco is the name for any plant of the genus nicotina of the solanacece family("Tobacco"). Nearly one quarter of the world's population smoke tobacco or use chewing tobacco. Scientists predict that by 2020 tobacco is responsible for one-fifth of all deaths in the United States, 28% of those lung cancer, 37% vascular disease, and 26% pulmonary ailments. Out of all those deaths, lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of death for Americans in both men and women. There are over 4,000 harmful compounds in tobacco smoke. Nicotine is the most addictive substance in tobacco(Cheek 2). The tobacco plant contracts man y diseases. The tobacco masaic disease- mottling of the leaves caused by avirus infection. The black root rot- decay of the roots caused by a fungus. Tobacco wilt- bacterial destruction of the plant. Root knot-knot-like swellings caused by tiny parasites called eelworms invading the roots. These are some of the diseases that can affect the tobacco plant("Tobacco"). Tobacco is also responsible for causing many short and long term effects. The most well known effect of tobacco is cancer. NThe types of cancer are stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and oral cancer. Oral cancer is more associated with smokeless tobacco, but it can also develop from cigars and cigarettes as well. Pipes and cigars appeared to be safer than cigarettes(Tobacco1). About 80 countries produce tobacco. Between 9,000,000,000 and 10,000,000,000lbs. The American Cancer Society and Heart Association used television to mount an intensive campaign against smoking. The commitee described cigarette smoking as a health hazard and urged controls. Tobacco consumption has risen faster in the developing countries than in the advanced ones. It has been a source of revenue in many countries of the world. The death rates are ten times higher among smokers than among non smokers. People who are heavy smokers(two or more packs a day) the death rate is twenty times as likely to get lung cancer as a non smoker("Tobacco2"). Tobacco is very addictive. If someone who is in severe addiction, they can suffer frrom mood swings and sever anxiety. Tobacco smoke can cause shortness of breath, and over long periods of time tobacco can cause emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Raymond Pearl of John Hopkins University reported in 1938 that smokers had a much shorter life expectancy than those who didn't use tobacco.("Tobacco"1). Immediate decrease in cigarette sales and tobacco stocks dropped in value(Cheek 2). Tobacco can cause unsuccessful pregnancy if it is used by the mother. If the unborn child, tobacco can cause low birth weight and increased infant mortality. Tobacco users have constrictios of small blood vessels and thickening of artery wall, which can lead to the formation of blood clots. A frequent user of tobacco can get chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Tobacco also causes tooth decay and bad breath, or "smoker's breath"(Tobacco1). Critics declared that indulgence in tobacco was both harmful and barbaric. The conclusions reached by the commitee were cigarette smoking is a health hazard of sufficient importance(Tobacco2). At this day and age the federal government finds marijuana to be a big problem, and the laws seem to become more and ...