It used to be claimed that there is new evidence showing marijuana is more harmful than was thought in the sixties. More recent studies have confirmed marijuana's safety, refuting claims that it causes birth defects, brain damage, reduced testosterone, or increased drug abuse problems. Some studies even suggest that the active ingredients in the plant, know as cannabinoids, have anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidant, and neuro-protective properties (see Emerging Clincial Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids by NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano). The current consensus is well stated in the 20th annual report of the California Research Advisory Panel (1990), which recommended that personal use and cultivation of marijuana be legalized, An objective consideration of marijuana shows that it is responsible for less damage to society and the individual than are alcohol and cigarettes.
