subject: More About Marijuana's Place in our Society [print this page] Whatever it's called, and however it's used, marijuana can produce adverse physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral changes. Contrary to popular belief, marijuana can be addictive. Marijuana smoke, like cigarette smoke, can harm the lungs. The use of marijuana can impair short-term memory, verbal skills, and judgment and distort perception. It also may weaken the immune system and may even increase a user's likelihood of developing cancer. Studies also show that the increasing use of marijuana by very young teens may have a profoundly negative effect upon their development.
