Millions love marijuana — it's thought to be one of the most lucrative crops on earth and has enjoyed a reputation as a comparatively safe drug for decades. As ACA reports, these days the majority of marijuana sold in Australia is not natural and new research indicates its impact is frightening. But some still champion its therapeutic qualities.
Long considered a "soft" drug, marijuana is now being blamed for everything from depression to schizophrenia. The reason is most of it is grown hydroponically and is super-charged with chemicals, making it more and more dangerous. According to youth counsellor Jill Pearman, who has 23 years experience, what she's witnessed over the past 24 months has her increasingly concerned.
"People say there's no problem with cannabis, I say, 'Give it up for a week and see how you feel', and you can bet your bottom dollar they're climbing the walls and it's a common experience among all people who come in — anxiety, depression and stress," she says.
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