1) “Cannabis has no credible medicinal benefits” -- MYTH!
That is simply false! The best review of the research to date on medical cannabis, published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, looked at more than 10,000 studies to evaluate medical cannabis' potential benefits and harms. The review concluded that there’s “conclusive evidence” for medical marijuana as a treatment for chronic pain, as well as multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
An endless supply of studies and first hand accounts also prove the efficacy of cannabis use for a wide variety of illnesses and symptoms, including: chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety, nausea, some cancers, and more.
Cannabis may still have many further benefits that we don't even realize yet, which is why the majority of doctors favor legalization and further research.
The best way to determine whether you may benefit from the prescribed use of cannabis is to consult with your primary care physician.
2) “Cannabis is dangerous” -- MYTH!
Cannabis, like any other drug/medicine, is not 100% safe, and may not work well for every patient. However, studies clearly prove that cannabis is significantly less dangerous than alcohol, tobacco, and many other drugs.
Though the average level of THC is higher today than before, since potency does not equal dose, users are able to ingest less of a product with higher levels of THC to achieve the same result. Regardless, this issue can largely be solved by regulating the levels of potency -- just as we do with alcohol.
Additionally, opponents of medical cannabis like to cite personal anecdotes and cherry-pick studies, but most of the time their evidence simply confuses correlation with causation.
The best way to determine whether you may benefit from the prescribed use of cannabis is to consult with your primary care physician.
3) "Medical dispensaries will automatically become recreational dispensaries" -- MYTH!"
In New Jersey, Alternative Treatment Centers (ATC's) DO NOT automatically become recreational dispensaries. Every town/community will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to allow recreational cannabis dispensaries to exist within their jurisdictions (including currently operating ATC's), and will have to change local zoning laws in order to allow recreational cannabis dispensaries (if they choose to do so).
4) “Cannabis is physically addictive” -- MYTH!
The science behind this is a bit controversial. Cannabis can definitely be psychologically addictive -- as can money, television, and McDonald's -- but the large majority of medical cannabis users never demonstrate serious physical dependence, leading many experts to conclude that it does not fit the standard definition of " physically addictive".
Even researchers who insist that cannabis addiction exists will also readily admit that the estimated rate of addiction (9%) pales in comparison to alcohol (15%) or tobacco (24%), and that the severity of dependence is minuscule relative to other drugs (including alcohol).
5) “Synthetic Cannabis is a safe alternative” -- MYTH!
Synthetic cannabis is often poorly regulated and is definitely NOT safe. Please consult a doctor before trying synthetic cannabis!
6) “The problems and costs with legalization outweigh the benefits” -- MYTH!
Per usual, opponents of cannabis like to cite personal anecdotes and cherry-pick studies, but most of the time their evidence simply confuses correlation with causation.
Moreover they emphasize every small problem with legalization but never address the far more serious problems with the status quo.
Regardless, two facts remain indisputable: (1) Cannabis is far less dangerous than alcohol, tobacco, and virtually all other drugs; and (2) The problems cited by opponents of cannabis legalization hold more truth when applied to alcohol, tobacco, and prescription medications (i.e. effects on crime, health, addiction, minors, etc).
7) “Cannabis will cause mayhem on the roads” -- MYTH!
Cannabis is not 100% safe and can lead to impaired driving and potential harm if not used responsibly. But the same is true of alcohol and a variety of medications, which studies have proven cause far greater impairment than cannabis.
In fact, research shows that increased crash risk from cannabis use is "so small you can compare it to driving in darkness compared to driving in daylight."
Additionally, fully autonomous vehicles will soon render this issue insignificant, which will be an amazing achievement for public health!
8) “Cannabis will lead to more crime, particularly near dispensaries” -- MYTH!"
According to a wealth of research, there is no credible evidence that cannabis dispensaries cause any increase in crime. In fact, quite the opposite!
While it is theoretically true that dispensaries can be targets for theft (because they often have a lot of cash, just like banks), this can easily be solved by allowing dispensaries to work with banks and credit card processors - just like any pharmacy.
Regardless, Voltaire takes security and regulatory compliance very seriously. We will take every precaution necessary, and we will facilitate an ongoing relationship with the local police department to ensure the safety of our patients and the community at-large.
9) “Cannabis causes cancer” -- MYTH!
It's true that cannabis smoke, like tobacco, has carcinogens. But cannabis users rarely smoke nearly as much as tobacco users, and there are many other ways to ingest cannabis.
Nevertheless, while it would be understandable to assume that heavy cannabis use may increase your risk of cancer, experts have concluded that -- for reasons that are not yet fully understood -- there is "no [positive] association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect". In other words, something in cannabis may nullifiy the harm you might normally expect from ingesting carcinogens.
Though there is no evidence linking cannabis as a cause to cancer, there are many studies proving its value when treating cancer.
10) “Cannabis is a gateway to other, more dangerous drugs” -- MYTH!"
This myth has been around for decades, but it’s actually the criminalization of cannabis that forces users to engage with dealers, who usually peddle multiple drugs, which then provides access and an incentive to try other, more dangerous substances.
Being able to purchase cannabis from a qualified and safe dispensary undercuts the need for any black market connection, leading experts to conclude that there is "no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of cannabis are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs."
11) “Cannabis use will lower your IQ” -- MYTH!
This myth was the result of one widely criticized study that found a causal link between cannabis-use by developing brains (i.e. children 18 or younger) and a loss of roughly six IQ points once developed later in life.
If true, this would be undeniably serious, however the study was debunked in the same scientific journal four months later, due to concerns about omitted “third” variables, and a computer simulated re-analysis concluded that the study was indeed faulty.
12) “Cannabis will exacerbate the opioid epidemic” -- MYTH!
The available evidence clearly shows that states with medical cannabis have fewer opioid-caused deaths and hospitalizations.
In reality, medical cannabis can be an effective tool to treat chronic pain and combat the growing opioid epidemic! However, that does not make medical cannabis a silver bullet or panacea, and it can only be one part of a much broader and more comprehensive list of solutions to fix the opioid epidemic.
13) “Cannabis will increase usage by minors” -- MYTH!
This myth is based on the false assumption that the legalization of cannabis will lead to minors suddenly having far greater access than before. In reality, there is no relationship between the legalization of cannabis and the usage rates of minors.
14) “Opponents of cannabis are just being cautious” -- MYTH!
In reality, behind the anti-cannabis movement is a coordinated campaign funded largely by conservatives like Sheldon Adelson and companies like Insys Therapeutics (who sells Fentanyl, a drug up to 50x stronger than heroine).
Pharmaceutical companies could lose a fortune due to cannabis, so they are spending millions to lobby against it and spread misleading (or outright false) information.
For more info on Project SAM, click HERE.
15) “Cannabis needs more time and research” -- MYTH!
We are committed to transparency and intellectual honesty, and thus fully support further independent research into both the costs and benefits of cannabis.
Nevertheless, this talking point is habitually used by advocates of the status quo, and while more research is always welcome, there is already an enormous amount of evidence available to prove without any doubt that cannabis is safer than alcohol, tobacco, and most other drugs.
Similarly to climate change, though we should always support further good-faith research, we must not allow our perpetual lack of 100% understanding get in the way of making progress and providing qualified patients in New Jersey with the medicine they need to live a healthier and happier life.
16) “Everyone who smokes weed becomes a pot head” -- MYTH!
Most who try cannabis never become daily users and don't look like what you would expect, from President Obama to Bill Gates, George W. Bush, and Oprah.
Despite stereotypes perpetuated by the media, cannabis users are incredibly diverse when it comes to gender, age, race, income level, career, etc.
17) “Cannabis use causes crime and/or delinquency” -- MYTH!
Studies actually show that cannabis use lowers the risk of domestic violence.
While it's true that cannabis use is, unsurprisingly, higher among criminals, that does not prove causation, as criminals are more likely to use drugs.
18) “Legalization will cause cannabis use to skyrocket in New Jersey” -- MYTH!
This is an understandable hypothesis, but while it's true that cannabis use as a whole has become more common (as more people learn about the benefits and relative safety), research from Harvard University and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has found that "more liberal marijuana laws have had minimal impact on marijuana use, other substance use, alcohol consumption or crime rates".
19) “Legalization will mean rampant advertising to all, including kids” -- MYTH!"
Actually, the legislation prohibits advertising targeted to children and specifically restricts when and where advertisements are permissible.
That said, if we allow kids to freely consume advertisements for alcohol, than it's clearly hypocritical to arbitrarily object to ads for a much safer substance.
20) “Legalization will increase homelessness” -- MYTH!
This is another case of confusing correlation with causation.
In reality, there is no clear evidence that cannabis legalization would have any noticeable influence on homelessness.
And if our opponents seriously cared about this issue, they would prioritize the many evidenced-based methods of reducing homelessness.
21) “Cannabis is particularly dangerous for minors” -- MYTH!
As always, we support further research, but as of now, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that the dangers of cannabis vary widely based upon age. To be clear, that does not mean cannabis is harmless for children, nor that we are endorsing the usage of cannabis minors (except for qualified pediatric patients, based on the expertise and recommendations of their physician).
Specific fears about the harms of cannabis on children largely stem from one widely criticized study that found a causal link between cannabis-use by developing brains (i.e. children 18 or younger), and a loss of roughly six IQ points once developed later in life. However the study was debunked in the same scientific journal four months later due to concerns about omitted “third” variables, and a computer simulated re-analysis concluded that the study was indeed faulty.
In the end, there is no clear evidence that cannabis represents a serious threat to the health and well-being of children in the same way that alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs clearly do.
22) “The problems and costs with legalization outweigh the benefits” -- MYTH!
Per usual, opponents of cannabis like to cite personal anecdotes and cherry-pick studies, but most of the time their evidence simply confuses correlation with causation.
Moreover they emphasize every small problem with legalization but never address the far more serious problems with the status quo.
Regardless, two facts remain indisputable:
Cannabis is far less dangerous than alcohol, tobacco, and virtually all other drugs.
The problems cited by opponents of cannabis legalization hold more truth when applied to alcohol, tobacco, and prescription medications (i.e. effects on crime, health, addiction, minors, etc).
23) “It's better to decriminalize than legalize cannabis” -- MYTH!
Decriminalization -- i.e. continuing cannabis prohibition but limiting the consequences to a fine -- though a minor improvement from the status quo, would nevertheless maintain or exacerbate many of our current problems: a thrivingblack market, racially skewed arrests, and the wide-spread use of an unregulated substance.
Thus decriminalization causes more problems than legalization, while also disregarding the immense savings and revenue that only comes with legalization (i.e. possibly over $1 billion annually that could go towards education, drug treatment and prevention, healthcare, and programs to assist with job training and re-entry).
The recent shift by cannabis opponents (like Project SAM) from complete prohibition to decriminalization is merely a cynical change in strategy based on polling data that shows Americans are increasingly unwilling to continue the status quo. If they truly cared about structural racism and alleviating the consequences of prohibition, then why were they virtually silent on police abuse and social justice issues until recently?
24) “Legalization will cause countless children/adults to visit the hospital” -- MYTH!
Post-legalization, if more people admitted to the hospital have marijuana-related issues, that may largely be explained by the fact that people are more likely to admit to marijuana use when it's legal.
Regarding children, this is an issue that can be solved through parental vigilance and strict regulations. According to NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), "The frequency of these incidences can be mitigated by the imposition of stricter regulatory controls, such as more stringent and overt product labeling and by limiting such products to single serving sizes."
Nevertheless, since these problems are even more serious for substances like alcohol and prescription medications, this is not a valid argument against marijuana.
25) “Evil corporations will always control the cannabis industry and behave like big tobacco” -- MYTH!
Though constantly regurgitated by Project SAM, this is a bad-faith argument because government oversight and regulations can -- and should -- be used to prevent monopolies and corporate malfeasance. But since this is true of every business, it is no more valid an argument against cannabis as it is against any other industry.
That said, we all have a responsibility to do better. Regulators need to crack down on bad business practices, dispensaries need to care more about their communities, and customers need to reward good cannabis businesses (while punishing cannabis businesses) when deciding where to make their purchase.
NOTE: We are committed to science, transparency, and intellectual honesty. You will notice that all of our sources are cited, and if you find ANY mistakes, please let us know and we will correct them immediately.
