Heavy marijuana use linked to gum diseas

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Heavy marijuana use linked to gum diseas
14
Thu, 02-07-2008 - 9:57pm

Since the subject of marijuana use and 'safety' or hazards of was discussed recently I thought this was interesting.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2007
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 2:07am
I won't lie this study about marijuana sounds the most legit I've seen from any "supposed study" of marijuana pathology that I've ever seen. I have a friend whose grandfather has smoked marijuana for thirty years and I didn't notice gum disease but I could see how it could happen. If it's true I'm not excited but I love marijuana too much.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2003
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 9:46am

Not surprising really when you consider even cigarette smoking is linked to gum disease.

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 10:23am

If they are addicted, no, probably not.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2003
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 11:28am

<<If it's true I'm not excited but I love marijuana too much. >>


JW, you are very passionate in your defense of using marijuana.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 1:26pm

I am of two minds on soft drugs such as pot. They are drugs in the full sense of the term, just as alcohol is. They alter the brain chemistry in ways we are just learning about.
That young woman, unless she is reading peer-reviewed medical research journals which I seriously doubt, cannot say with any certitude that excessive pot use will not have long term impact on her quality of life. Stories of some grandfather are not proof. I can equally recount scores of examples of people my age that were users in my youth and the few that continued to this day. On the surface they may seem “successful” but they are not. They are psychologically damaged; using a drug to medicate themselves. Yes, some are using alcohol to self-medicate. Either are equally poor choices.

And, of course, there is no proof that pot smoking leads to hard drugs for every user. However, most addicts have smoke pot and have abuse alcohol. These are people who are more prone (genetically sensitive) to the disease of addiction than others. It is not that pot leads to hard drugs but that the route is there.

We do know, from numerous peer-reviewed research articles, that excessive use of any drug has long-term consequences. To honestly believe that a drug like pot that modifies a user's sense of well being artificially does not have long term effects is to have one's head in the sand. It is very telling that the one negative consequence that gets this young woman’s attention is “bad teeth”. That should be the last worry on any users mind; all teeth can be replaced but one’s life cannot. (This young woman might not have a physical dependence on the drug but she most certainly has a psychological dependence. Her last sentence in her last post says it all)

As I said, I am of two minds. I don’t believe that people should have criminal records because they smoke a joint or not. Kids make mistakes; they have a tendency to think in black & white terms. With time and maturity, they should grow out of this if they have not damaged their frontal lobes. As with alcohol, we have to educate people to the dangers and do all we can to protect minors. I do believe that the full force of the law should fall on pot growers and sellers.

In this area, the police have raided a couple of “grow up” houses in this upscale neighborhood. These are residential homes that were turned into “green houses” to grow pot by organized crime. These “grow ups” posed a serious fire and health hazards. They “rig” the wiring to steal enormous amount of electricity from the grid; the houses are inhabitable because of toxic mold. All this so some bored teenagers can self-medicate.

One’s freedom of choice in any society is not unlimited. The rights of others overrule the rights of an individual. That’s why we have laws. For example, here we have very strict anti-smoking laws. Smokers are not permitted to smoke in public areas, like restaurants and malls and in offices. Why? Because it has been shown that second-hand smoke is very dangerous. We have laws concerning alcohol consummation in public places; we have laws concerning drinking and driving. All these laws are designed to protect the innocent.

I had the very sad duty several years ago of attending the funeral of 7 young men killed in a horrific multi-car accident. They were high on pot on the time. Pot is NOT a harmless weed. Try telling that to the parents of these young men who will never see their sons graduate from college, get married and have lives.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 2:10pm

I can equally recount scores of examples of people my age that were users in my youth and the few that continued to this day. On the surface they may seem “successful” but they are not.


There are many ways to measure success too.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2007
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 2:52pm

You are so right Rose.


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 3:43pm


Like the new picture..

You hit the problem on the nail. They may appear to have "monetary success" but are they truly successful as human beings. Like any other form of drug use, are they confronting their problems and growing or are they using drugs to hide from life? Life is messy;it can be hard. But if you spend your life hiding from it in a haze of drugs, it will come back and haunt you.

I too dated a heavy pot smoker in grad school. It was brilant academically (in a field that did not require heavy analytical skills) but his social skills were terrible. I broke off with him because I increasing could not have a reasonable adult conversation with him. It was like talking through a fog. He didn't connect. When he was sober for long periods of time (before finals mostly), he was a really nice guy.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 3:47pm


I have read a recent report of some research being done that found possible genetic changes in the sperm of men who are heavy users of pot.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2003
Sun, 02-10-2008 - 5:10pm

Laws aren't always the best guage of what's good for us though are they?

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