The long-term effects of marijuanaMarijuana is a drug that divides people. Some claim it as the miracle drug of the 1990s, capable of alleviating the symptoms of many serious diseases. Others curse the day the cannabis plant was discovered. From pain relief to stimulating the appetite of chemotherapy patients, marijuana appears to have many benefits as a medicine. The legalization of marijuana is a major controversy in many parts of the world today, but the obvious negative effects that the drug induces have prevented its legalization. Many researchers have a strongly positive attitude towards marijuana. It has been said that “the drug is worth studying and even providing as a medicine for pain relief, severe nausea, and appetite stimulation for seriously ill patients” (Zimmerman 2). On a more negative note, in many cases of pregnant women smoking marijuana, studies have found that the chemicals in the drug terminated pregnancies early. Scientists have established a link between the activation of biological receptors that respond to cannabinoids (the psychoactive ingredients of marijuana) and the sudden termination of pregnancy at a very early stage (Ferguson 71). The short-term effects of marijuana have also been studied and are widely known. Some of these effects include memory and learning problems, distorted perception (sight, sound, time, touch), problems thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks (Ferguson 23 ). A new analysis by Bachman examines how marijuana is potentially devastating for adolescents because it suppresses motivation, drive and commitment to family and school. Although these researchers' studies have covered many topics about marijuana, the actual long-term effects caused by inhaled marijuana smoke is a topic that has not been covered in depth. The vast majority of people seem to think that smoking marijuana is only a temporary sensation, and that it has no long-term effects. Just the opposite is true, as marijuana has long-term harmful effects on the body. Studies show that when people smoke large amounts of marijuana for years, the drug negatively affects mental functions (Chopra 37). Researchers are still studying the many ways that THC (the main chemical found in marijuana) affects the brain. It's very difficult... middle of paper... to suggest that marijuana is an immunosuppressant. In chronic users, THC causes the area between nerve cells to widen, resulting in poor transmission of nerve impulses between these cells. This “tampering” has several effects on the nervous system including: difficulty understanding complex ideas, memory loss, irregular sleep habits, insomnia, decreased muscle strength and blurred vision. (Zhu and Sharma 243-244) There is not much information available on the evidence of the harmful consequences of smoking marijuana, as many long-term studies, which are needed, have not been conducted. Habitual use of marijuana, even one joint a day, can cause serious pulmonary, immune and psychological consequences. With chronic use, breathing may be limited, coughing may increase, and resistance may be reduced to lung infections such as pneumonia (Bloom 45). Respiratory cancer is a likely long-term consequence. Although it is commonly believed that there are no truly harmful effects on human health and that marijuana is only a temporary "soft drug", heavier use of marijuana.