The supplement is comprised of papers presented at a workshop held last year by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Research reported there suggests that marijuana use has many subtle effects on the bodys major systems, including temporary impairment of cognitive function, increased heart rate, increased prevalence of chronic cough and acute bronchitis, lower sperm count, and increased neurobehavioral abnormalities for children exposed in utero.

It is estimated that almost 14 million Americans, or 6.3 percent of the population age 12 or older, admit to illegal drug use, with marijuana being the most commonly used illicit drug.

WHAT IT MEANS: The research reported in this supplement describes how marijuana affects nearly every organ system in the body. These findings add to the evidence that marijuana use is associated with significant health hazards.

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Contact: Blair Gately
Bgately@nida.nih.gov
301-443-6245
NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse
4-Nov-2002