By Roger Morgan, Take Back America Campaign rogermorgan339@gmail.com #stoppot
Stuart Reece and Gary Hulse, scientists from The University of Western Australia have identified that cannabis can alter a person’s DNA structure, causing mutations which can expose them to serious illnesses, and be passed on to their children and several future generations.[1] In reality, these findings aren’t new. They just reaffirm what scientists discovered decades ago.
In 1973, when the potency of pot was less than 2%, an American scientist named Dr. Akira Miroshima proclaimed “…In my 20 years of research on human cells, I have never found any other drug, including heroin, which came close to the DNA damage caused by marijuana.”
Miroshima pointed out that all animals and plants have their own specific number of chromosomes in the nucleus of each cell. Humans have 46, with the exception of sperm and eggs, which have 23 each. When the sperm and egg get together, the new starting cell has 46. However, Miroshima discovered that one-third of “weekend smokers” who averaged just two joints a week had only 20 to 30 chromosomes, about the same as a frog. What are the implications?
According to Dr. Reece, “Even if a mother has never used cannabis in her life, the mutations passed on by a father’s sperm can cause serious and fatal illnesses in their children. …… we found that cancers and illnesses were likely caused by cell mutations resulting from cannabis properties having a chemical interaction with a person’s DNA. Although a person may appear to be healthy and lead a normal life, the unseen damage to their DNA could also be passed on to their children and cause illnesses for several generations to come.”
Even low potency marijuana was associated with foetal abnormalities. Research at UC Davis (Sassenrath, 70s) showed still births increased from 12 to 44%. Babies that survived child birth had low birth weight, smaller head size, cardiac murmurs, small eye openings, broad low nasal bridge and low set ears. 41% required oxygen resuscitation at birth. In one study (Dalterio, U of Texas 70s), a baby was born without a skull, and the only party subjected to marijuana was the grandfather, meaning the effects were mutagenic, skipping one generation and affecting the next.
Then, there is the impact on the brain. Says Reese, “…Parental cannabinoid exposure has been linked to impaired intellectual performance, concentration and executive function, and hyperactivity amongst human child and adolescent offspring exposed in utero. Whilst some epigenetic changes have been shown to be reversible in the short term, others have been shown to be passed on to offspring for three to four subsequent generations.”
Bottom line! The increase in marijuana use and potency is not only affecting the mental and physical health of those who use it, but adversely affecting children three or four future generations out. This does not bode well for America; nor for that matter, mankind.
[1] Reese, Alert Stuart; Hulse, Gary Kenneth. Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis. School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, U of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.