Marijuana – Family Council

Yet Another Study Shows Marijuana Use Raises Risk of Stroke

Mar 18, 2026Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

In spite of federal law, states across the country have enacted measures legalizing marijuana, and public opinion polling suggests many Americans do not think marijuana is as dangerous as other substances. But research continues to show marijuana is harmful.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge released a study this month that demonstrates marijuana use raises a person’s risk of stroke by 37%. The the results were based on health data from more than 100 million participants in multiple studies over the course of several years.

Unfortunately, marijuana has been found time and again to pose serious health hazards.

THC — the main psychoactive substance in marijuana — has been tied again and again to everything from heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects.

In fact, researchers now say marijuana use doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease.

Heavy marijuana use has also been linked to reduced brain activity.

A recent study from Columbia University found even “casual” marijuana use is connected to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and impulsive behavior in teenagers, and researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found teen psychiatric emergencies spiked in the wake of marijuana’s commercialization.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Traffic Stop Yields 500 Pounds of Illegal Marijuana

Mar 10, 2026Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

Arkansas State Police seized more than 500 pounds of illegal marijuana during a routine traffic stop last week.

In a statement, authorities said:

VAN BUREN, Ark. — Around 8 a.m. on March 2, 2026, an Arkansas State Police (ASP) Trooper stopped a box truck traveling eastbound on Interstate 40 near the 3-mile marker in Crawford County for a traffic violation. During the course of the traffic stop, Troopers searched the cargo area of the truck and discovered 507 pounds of illegal marijuana concealed inside three wooden crates.

The driver, Armen Grigoryan, 47, of Valley, California, was taken into custody and transported to the Crawford County Detention Center. He was booked on felony charges of Trafficking a Controlled Substance.

The truck was traveling from California to Memphis at the time of the stop.

Contrary to popular belief, legalization in California and elsewhere has actually emboldened drug cartels and spread illegal marijuana on the black market.

California has seized more than $1.2 billion in illegal cannabis since 2022.

In Maine, authorities have said there are hundreds of black market growing operations connected to Chinese organized crime groups.

Oklahoma’s lax marijuana laws have created similar issues, with law enforcement alleging that 40% of America’s illicit marijuana has come from legal grow sites in Oklahoma.

Last week’s traffic stop is another example of how Arkansas State Police routinely confiscate marijuana from these states.

Despite promises of regulation, oversight, and tax revenue, states that have legalized marijuana still battle organized crime, black market operations, and public safety threats.

Arkansans should remember all of this when it comes to any proposals to expand marijuana. Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

A Christian Reflection on the Dangers of Marijuana and THC

Mar 9, 2026Jerry CoxMarijuanaChurch Ambassador Network, Marijuana

Marijuana and drugs made from THC have spread across the nation, and marijuana’s supporters often say these products are completely harmless. But the evidence tells a very different story.

Marijuana can damage adolescent brains — resulting in permanent loss in IQ, difficulty thinking and problem-solving, reduced coordination, and increased risk of psychosis.

High-potency marijuana can trigger serious mental health problems.

One recent study found nearly half of drivers killed in car accidents had THC levels well above legal DUI limits. Another found car crashes increase in states where recreational marijuana is legal.

Medical marijuana has failed to live up to its promises. Researchers writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that “evidence is insufficient for the use of cannabis or cannabinoids for most medical indications.” Even worse, the study revealed that 29% of people using marijuana for “medical” purposes actually developed cannabis use disorder — meaning they became dependent or addicted.

Scripture reminds us to be sober-minded (1 Peter 5:8) and not allow ourselves to be dominated by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12). Marijuana and THC are not harmless. They can enslave the mind and dull discernment.

Christians have a responsibility to speak the truth about these dangers, offer support for those struggling with addiction, and teach that true peace and healing ultimately come from Christ.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.