Marijuana Facts: 5 Pot Myths & Truths You Need to Know

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Marijuana is a highly misunderstood substance for which many people have developed adversity without knowing the facts. Now that a lot of states are pushing for its legalization, here are five facts about marijuana that you need to know:

You can't smoke the entire plant.

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves of the hemp plant, reports Ppcorn. It is also known as cannabis, "Mary Jane" or weed, among others. When the plant is eaten or its burning fumes are inhaled, its non-narcotic chemical compound known as THC increases production of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. It also produces other sensual effects, ranging from sedation to stimulation and decreased sensitivity.

THC and CBD found Marijuana are cancer killers.

Chicago Now reports that the primary cannabinoids in marijuana are found to kill cancer according to a recent research published in the April issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation. Study co-author Guillermo Velasco claims that marijuana's psychoactive ingredient kills cancer cells in the brain. He added that, while cancer cells were killed, the healthy ones were left alone.

More so, previous studies have also supported the same claims. A pair of scientists at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco spent about 20 years to prove how marijuana could stop metastasis in many kinds of aggressive cancer.

Nobody has died from using it.

Remarkably, there's no evidence that a person has died from the use of marijuana, Ppcorn reports. In fact, the artificial substance to mimic marijuana known as spice or "K2" has killed more people than the natural drug. More so, alcohol kills the most people 85,000 annually. Following are prescription drugs, killing 18,675 annually.

There is also no evidence to prove that marijuana causes significant lung damage or worse, lung cancer. Smokers of marijuana inhale the substance in such small amounts that there is virtually no health risk. Although, the same carcinogenic chemicals are marijuana smoke as in cigarette smoke, the plant seems to have an offsetting effect on the harmful properties of smoke, reports Chicago Now.

All sorts of people use it - not just stoners.

According to The Motley Fool, most Americans favor legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. It has been found to be useful in treating glaucoma, epilepsy, stroke and inflammatory bowel diseases among others. It is a pain reliever for the majority of its users and has been proven to have less addictive levels than chocolate or even sugar. The U.S. Shafer Commission conducted a research showing marijuana users tend to be less violent than people who are not under the influence of any substance.

There are two types of Marijuana.

Although there may be hundreds of different marijuana strains, they all fall in one of the two categories: "Sativa" or "Indica". Sativas are usually day-time strains that enhance the experience in social events, nature or listening to music. Caregivers recommend this type to patients seeking relief from depression, PTSD or fatigue. It often produces an enjoyable effect.

Meanwhile, Indicas are often smoked at night due to its lethargic effect. These are perfect for users suffering from any type of pain, nausea and anxiety.

Check out the video below on how to obtain medical marijuana card: