Marijuana

[mr.willy]

[At least one of the authors, professor Nutt is highly biased as a campaigner for drug legalization and the article is suspect to great deal of ideological bias. One of the methods of those wanting easier access to illegal drugs and to make these substances respectable and "mainstream" (including George Soros who heavily funds the effort) is to push the following false argument: "Alcohol is legal. Alcohol is more harmful than illegal drugs. Therefore illegal drugs should be made legal." The argument is sloppy and deceptive. Alcohol related costs, morbidity and mortality are much higher than illegal drugs because it is used by many, many more people. Arguments that it is pharmacologically more dangerous are unfounded and compare apples and oranges. Given that alcohol and tobacco health, economic and social costs are much higher than those for illegal drugs (because their use is much higher) actually helps demonstrate that illegal drugs should be kept illegal. The law acts as a deterrant such that a VERY low percentage of people use any illegal drug other than cannabis, and cannabis use is much lower than alcohol or tobacco use as well. However, the flood of lies and misinformation aimed at selling legalization never stops. Its effectiveness can be seen in California. For example, in Europe, which is traditionally more liberal in views on such issues, only 23% of adults would vote to make cannabis accessible (legal) - range low of 10% in Sweden to high of 49% in Netherlands). Yet all the smoke and mirrors and obfuscating the facts in California actually have many of itss citizens blinded to the truth - legalization will not affect the cartels, will not make any income for state or local governments, and will create new health and social problems and compound problems that already exist. Soros, professor Nutt who co-wrote the article, and their ilk will laugh while everyone else pays for it.]

Thanks to my friend that sent what I posted above. ;D ;D

[Terry]

        Legal cannabis for the rest of us?                                                                                 By Madison Park,                                                                                                                                 CNNNovember 2, 2010 7:13 a.m. EDT
Marijuana can relieve pain and even depression to some extent, but can also impair motor function.STORY HIGHLIGHTS
California votes on Proposition 19 Tuesday, which would permit recreational marijuana use
10 percent of people who try marijuana become addicted, according to federal data
Marijuana can relieve pain, stimulate appetite and act as antidepressant
(CNN) -- Marijuana makes you slow and raises the risk of addiction, memory problems and cognitive functions, some health agencies warn.

But its enthusiasts counter that in addition to fueling creativity, pot is a natural herb with health benefits, relieving pain and improving quality of life for chronically ill patients.

Medical use of marijuana is legal in 14 states and the District of Columbia. On Tuesday, California voters will decide whether their state will be the first to legalize recreational marijuana use.

The vote on Proposition 19 is being closely watched as the Golden State is often seen as a bellwether. It was the first state to authorize medicinal marijuana in 1996.

Prop 19 would allow people 21 and older to possess, cultivate or transport up to 1 ounce of marijuana for personal use.

The intense debate about marijuana legalization has caused science to get lost in the rhetorical shuffle, said Alan Budney, professor of psychiatry and a research scientist in the Center for Addiction Research at the University of Arkansas.

"The government wants to put things out in sound bites," he said. "The pro-marijuana camp puts out sound bites. It's all or nothing."

The medical evidence on marijuana is "not black and white," Budney said. "When people say one thing, you can bet it's somewhere in the middle. It's all pretty gray."

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

California marijuana vote draws unlikely foes, allies into ring

Proponents for legalizing its use often say that marijuana is far less damaging than alcohol, which is legal.

"Have you ever heard of a fight in a bar caused by smoking marijuana? Or killing someone because of marijuana?" asked Dr. Lester Grinspoon, a psychiatrist and retired professor at the Harvard Medical School who has published several books and articles in drugs and drug policy.

"You probably never will, because number one, alcohol enhances aggressiveness, marijuana does the opposite," he said. "People don't want to punch anybody. They want to be friendly and left alone. It doesn't cause the violence. It's a safer recreational drug because of that."

In pop culture, marijuana is often portrayed as an innocuous drug. In a show of support for Prop. 19, actor Zach Galifianakis appeared to light up a joint on HBO's "Real Time" with Bill Maher on Friday.

Referendum Highlights
California will vote on the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 in November. Among the referendum's provisions, it:

• Allows people 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use.
• Allows for the cultivation, in plots no larger than 25 square feet, and transportation of marijuana for personal use.
• Enables local governments to tax the estimated $15 billion in marijuana transactions each year.
• Allows local governments to maintain prohibitions on marijuana, much like a dry county would alcohol.
• Permits the legislature to develop a statewide regulatory system for commercial cannabis.
• Bans public consumption, possession on school grounds, smoking in front of minors and providing marijuana to those younger than 21.
• Maintains prohibitions against driving under the influence of drugs.

Source: Tax Cannabis 2010 Medicinal marijuana is used to stimulate appetite, relieve pain and reduce nausea.

One of the issues is that people believe how marijuana affects them is how it affects everyone, said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"They base it on their own experiences, and it is possible you can smoke and have no ill effects. It's also possible you can smoke until age 100 and have no ill effects. Whether you're vulnerable to toxic effects of smoking or marijuana is dependent on unique genes."

"We don't know what genes we're carrying -- it's like playing roulette," she said. "If you have a genetic risk for addiction or higher sensitivity, all of those can result in serious adverse effects of smoking marijuana."

The drug could increase risk of psychotic episodes and impair short-term memory, motor coordination and decision-making, Volkow said.

CNN Political Ticker: Proposition 19

Marijuana contains more than 400 chemical constituents, and its main psychoactive ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol, THC for short.

It binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain in areas that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, appetite, pain and movement coordination.

This could lead to the feeling of calmness, euphoria and creativity.

"It's a great antidepressant, and you feel good," Grinspoon said. "It is a slight alteration of consciousness. It does open up one's mind and new ideas come to mind."

Oaksterdam's Richard Lee: Make weed legal like Budweiser, not orange juice

Grinspoon said he had staked his professional career on the notion that "cannabis is the least toxic psychoactive drug known to man."

Unlike alcohol, there has not been any deaths from overdose of marijuana, he said.

Study: Alcohol 'most harmful drug,' followed by crack and heroin

"It's also much less harmful in so many other ways," he said. "There are things like cirrhosis from alcohol, but there's no such organ damage with cannabis."

Volkow said the impression that marijuana is harmless is wrong. Along with effects in the brain, she said chronic marijuana smoking could inflame lung cells, increasing the risk of chronic bronchitis.

"There is no scientific evidence that it's benign," she said. "Indeed, there's substantial evidence of adverse effects. What are consequences of marijuana? Number one, of the people who get exposed, 10 percent will become addicted. Despite what everyone wants to believe, the evidence is there."

Cannabinoid receptors are found in the cerebellum, an area of the brain that's indispensable for coordination. This has raised concerns that legalizing marijuana would increase the number of people driving stoned.

Teens (and parents) not always truthful about drug use

People shouldn't drive after using marijuana because of safety reasons, Grinspoon said, but they're not likely to cause the same problems caused by drunken drivers.



Video: Legalizing pot, who supports it? RELATED TOPICS
Marijuana
Medical Treatments and Procedures
Drug Policy
Proposition 19
Psychoactive Drugs
"If you see someone driving on the right side of the road, driving timidly ... that's someone driving stoned," he said. "They drive timidly, not to justify that. It's just the opposite of the alcoholic who gets arrogant on the road."

"They have no urgency about them; that might be part of their driving slow."

Budney said that cannabis is useful in some conditions as science continually evolves.

"We know marijuana affects the system; we don't know how much," he said.

"Heavy use of marijuana, just like any substance, is going to interact with brain," he said. "Something you smoke is going to have an effect on the lungs. If you do too much of it, how serious are those effects? We know it affects memory, complex tasks."

According to a USC/Los Angeles Times Poll, 51 percent of likely voters said they would vote against legalization while 39 percent indicated they supported the measure.

[Palehorse]

No answer.. ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D:

I do not answer inquiries that are not germane to the subject at hand.

[mr.willy]

The people of Californian recognized that legalizing marijuana will not make their citizens healthier.


"Run Palehorse The sky is falling upon you!"  ::D: ::D: It would appear the day of reckoning came and Marijuana went up in smoke.  ::D:

[Palehorse]

The people of Californian recognized that legalizing marijuana will not make their citizens healthier.


"Run Palehorse The sky is falling upon you!"  ::D: ::D: It would appear the day of reckoning came and Marijuana went up in smoke.  ::D:

I am not running. It is just a symptom of the scare tactics you righties keep utilizing. 

[mr.willy]

It is just a symptom of the scare tactics you righties keep utilizing

::D: ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D: ::D:

[Terry]

[Palehorse]

"To the last, I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee." ~ Melville / Moby Dick

[mr.willy]

"To the last, I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee." ~ Melville / Moby Dick

Palehorse those are the famous last words that was spoken by Capt. Ahab as he is about to die following the failed quest for revenge, are you about to die?????????

[Terry]

Palehorse those are the famous last words that was spoken by ME as I'm about to die following the failed quest for revenge, are you sorry for me?????????

Willy done got tired adel'n with "U" guys!
if "U" cann't beat'm go way with "U"r tail between "U"r legs  ::D:  ::D:  ::D:

[Terry]

"To the last, I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee." ~

I am not running. It is just a symptom of the scare tactics you righties keep utilizing. 
righty is GONE  :(  ::)  :-\  ::O:  ::(:     :'(

[winterstorm42]

I really think that Marijuana should be legalized.  It has a lot of medicinal uses, and I have never in my life heard or seen anyone smoke marijuana and go out and commit a crime.  Or overdose.  Marijuana comes from the earth.  All natural.  I have never in my life smoked Marijuana.  But, I know plenty of people who do.