New research indicates that MJ is far less benign than advocates would have us think:

In the study, which looked at 127 adolescents between the ages of 14 and 19 being treated at an outpatient substance abuse clinic, 90 percent said marijuana was their drug of choice. All were assessed and surveyed — both right away and at 3, 6, and 12 months later — on aspects including whether or not they thought the drug was causing problems in their lives and various psychiatric symptoms. Eighty-four percent met diagnostic criteria for cannabis dependence, with 40 percent reporting withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, depression and difficulty sleeping. Interestingly, Kelly said, of those who experienced withdrawal symptoms, the ones who were unconvinced that any of their problems were related to the drug had the toughest time quitting.  Read the whole article>>>