do you believe that marijuana should be legal in the united states? tell me what you think of the drug that so many choose to smoke and why or why not it should be legal.

Not really. Marijuana linked to Schizophrenia


http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1102/upi_health.asp

I think it's a pretty weak link, MT. I found this remark by Joseph Rey, one of the scientists studying this, intriguing:

My conspiratorial self says this story is Bush War on Drugs propaganda that was somehow slipped into the media as news. But that's me just being imaginative...

I'm curious about something (maybe Kisov can help me) - is there a way to do a (voluntary) test to a person to tell either: a ) how recently a person smoked or b ) how saturated the marijuana is in a person's system? I'd like to get answers to this before I add my two cents to this debate (although if you know my political leanings, it should be an easy guess )

[QUOTE=Jaime,Nov 22 2002, 01:13 PM]Whether cannabis use triggers the onset of schizophrenia or depression in otherwise vulnerable individuals or whether it actually causes these conditions in non-predisposed people is not yet resolved[/QUOTE]



- is there a way to do a (voluntary) test to a person to tell either: a ) how recently a person smoked or b ) how saturated the marijuana is in a person's system?[/QUOTE]
I don't think it has been definitely proven that cannabis triggers or causes Schizophrenia, but just the fact that there is some evidence or suspicion that it may is enough to scare me. But then, I've only smoked about two cigarettes in my life. I don't mess around when it comes to my health.

Forgot about the testing. Not sure, but I would guess that there is a way to test for marijuana in a persons system.

MT

What about "medical marijuana"? Does anyone feel that should be allowed?

Apparantly, the Reagan administration felt it was ok. Check out this article: Stockbroker using Uncle Sam's medical marijuana for 20 years

I'm curious as why the policy changed in 1992 and no other members were allowed to join this program. Hmm, 1992, that was an election year, wasn't it? Sounds like we'd find some campaign donations by companies supporting such a ban, if we looked hard enough.

Funny aside note: I'm not one to do math but I thought the break down of the numbers might interest you all.

Mr. Rosenfeld gets 11 ounces of government marijuana a month that come rolled in cigarette form. Mr. Rosenfeld claims to smoke twelve of these a day.

11 ounces is 308 grams of marijuana. That comes to 10.2 grams per day (using a 30 day month) and .85 grams per joint. Which, in street terms, is a "phatty."

Does that seem like an awfully large amount of legal weed being sanctioned by the same government that imprisons cancerous old ladies living in California? Why the hypocrisy? Why do we allow it?

Is there any drug (ie. alcohol, nicotine, caffeine...) that doesn't cause health problems over time?

Here's an 8-year old boy who, under doctor supervision, ingests marijuana orally in the form of muffins in order to control his psychological disorders, which include: ADHD, PTSD, OCD, ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), IED (Intermittent Explosive Disorder), CD (Conduct Disorder) Bi-polar disorder, etc.

According to the article, "Over 16 doctors have tried Jeff on every medication under the sun....adderall, carbamazepine, clonazapam, clonidine, depakote, dexedrine, guanficine, imipramine, melleril, neurontin, propranolol, risperdal, ritalin, seroquel, wellbutrin, zoloft, and zyprexa....and then combinations of these medications too. NOTHING worked, and most had adverse side affects and reactions. We also have tried numerous behavioral modifications, therapies, and governmental agencies that specialize in treatment of special needs kids, but to no avail."

http://www.rxmarihuana.com/jeffries.htm

Just thought that was interesting.

Mike

That article is a United Press International article.

In it, they cite one source: The British Medical Journal.

Maybe we should read BMJ's article, instead of someone's interpretation:

http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/325/7374/1183

I like the parts that UPI left out, like:



...and:



...and:



That article is bogus. Sorry.

Mike

Even my husband and I disagree on this one. I haven't admitted it to him, but honestly I haven't made up my mind on the medical part. He thinks if it was legal there would be less crime involved. That is a hard one to argue. On the other hand we already have alcohol and tobacco. Do we need to add something else?
What scares me is there isn't enough "tell-tale" signs and it scares me that my Dr., Dent., some tech doing x-rays or more could be high on the stuff....or driving a car. I guess it really doesn't matter if it is legal or not that still could happen. So see? I argue with myself!

Don't be sorry. I'm glad marijuana's not linked to Schizophrenia. Thanks for the investigation.

MT

And alcohol is linked to liver failure, cigarettes linked to lung cancer...What's your point??

My point is I would hate for anyone to become Schizophrenic from smoking marijuana, but I've been told that there is no proof of a connection between marijuana and schizophrenia.


MT
I

Probably not

Of course marijuana should be legal - for medical and recreational use. The possession, distribution and use of marijuana are all victimless crimes - and the government has no business legislating what we may or may not do with our own bodies. I would argue in favor of decriminalizing all drugs, but the fact that marijuana, which is non-addictive, safer than alcohol or tobacco, and has proven medical benefits, is still illegal in this country is a disgrace.

I agree with Wertz, all drugs should be decriminalized. But since the specifics of this thread have to do with marijuana, it should be legal.

It shouldn't be legal. This is an addictive drug. It has been linked to deaths due to accidents and other deaths due to just smoking it. Maby and Maby only for doctor purposes only

I assume you're talking about driving. Keep in mind that alcohol, talking on a cell phone, and plain carelessness can also cause accidents.

I don't think anyone who advocates the legalization of marijuana, or any drug for that matter, would advocate its use while driving, working, or doing other similar public functions.

Why shouldn't one be able to smoke dope in their own home? Where's the victim?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=www...3D%26ie%3DUTF-8

if you read this article you will see marijuana can cause insanity!
And if you go in sane it could be driven out of your home to your work, store and more

Are you kidding?!? That is propaganda from the 1920's. I'd like to think we've come a long way in the study of the brain since that silly poster was made.

i beg to differ. Have you ever saw a picture ( slideshow) of the effects of it. First you smoke it... second you feel on top of the world... third the cops catch you... fourth the cops and you get into a fight... fith your going to the judge saying " i didn't know what i was doing"

Maby this page will elp http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread11145.shtml it shows that this drug can lead to insanity! and this is about 3yrs ago

Boy, you ate up that D.A.R.E. stuff hook, line and sinker. Please understand the police and government are willing to lie to you to get you to believe marijuana will cause one to do insane things.

Check out this article, Truth or D.A.R.E, for some opinion that is closer to any truth than is promoted in D.A.R.E.

You'd be suprised how many succesful adults exist that regularly smoke marijuana in a responsible fashion. Because these people are responsible (and not fighting or doing other abnormal things as you seem to think they do), it is nearly impossible to tell they are smokers. They can't advocate it's legality for fear of reprisal by those misinformed or those unwilling to surrender control.

Are we on the same page here?

( check jamies book ) in that post i was talking about people who smoke constantly..

I agree to occasional smoking and drinking. But according to my health book it lowers you brain pattern...

Brain Pattern
|
|---------Nomral--------
|


Mairjuana

|----------Above normal---
|
|


thats why you feel "HIGH"

Actually, juber3, your previous post is the first time you have differentiated between different types of people who smoke marijuana.

Just because someone is prone to abusing a substance doesn't mean the substance should be illegal. Heck, there are people out there that inhale paint and glue, that doesn't mean they should be outlawed.

Ive heard from somewhere that this drug actually funds terrorism

It also feeds poor families in Mexico.

Drugs hardly fund terrorism, its actually OIL that funds terrorism. But we're still driving cars, arent we?

And I take it back, drugs have funded terrorism in the past (and may again in the future, but we're sort of forgotten about our south of the border terrorists). Pablo Escobar blew up a commercial airliner with his drug money, but its precisely because drugs are illegal that they yield a high profit and fund terrorism. If marijuana were legal, then crop growers in Mexico and Columbia would not fear CIA raids on their homes and families. Cartel leaders would not get such a distaste for the American government, and would not try to kill them. The cycle is stuck on repeat right now though. We are killing people because they are supplying a demand.

And, as Jaime previously stated, there are MANY people who smoke marijuana, but you would probably never know it. At my second job, I'm the only person who doesnt (well me and the owner). And, strange as it may seem, they are all still hard working responsible people. Taking drugs doesnt automatically make you a junkie, just as having a glass of wine doesnt make you an alcoholic, or eating a cow makes you a murderer.

Its unfortunate that people do become addicted to drugs, but its not a reason to have it outlawed. What we really need is more information available about drugs, so whoever decides to use them knows the risks involved (and not just DARE propaganda, I mean REAL information) and what to do in case something unexpected happens. We should also not stigmatize drug users for their personal choice.

More people die from cigarettes than from cocaine, but for some reason one's illegal and the other's not....

I highly agree with this. Knowledge is far more powerful in dissuading people from making choices that may negatively effect them. Making marijuana illegal merely creates an entirely new set of problems.

Jaime: You suggest that advocates of marijuana legalization would not recommend its use while "driving, working or doing other similar public functions" and, overall, I agree. However, while I wouldn't operate heavy machinery while stoned, I've always found that a joint or two are extremely useful tools for creative work. As a designer, I found cannabis to be almost essential when working on roughs and renderings - and, as a director, very helpful when working on script analyis and blocking. I also find marijuana fairly condusive to writing - though it doesn't always do wonders for one's tpying siklls.



Juber: You actually have a health book that says marijuana "lowers you brain pattern"? "Lowers your brain pattern"?? In what decade was this health book published? Sounds like something out of a fifties sci-fi movie. In your illustration, incidentally, it appears that marijuana raises your "brain pattern" - whatever the heck that is.

By the way, any time I've been "HIGH", getting into a fight with cops has been the last thing I'd be interested in pursuing.


Juber/Kim: Given that the CIA has frequently profited from illegal drug trafficking and is also responsible for acts of terror, I guess drugs do fund terrorism.



Cyan/Kim: One of the problems with anti-drug propaganda, be it "Reefer Madness" or D.A.R.E. pamphlets, is that the misinformation is so easily disproved. When kids realize that they've been mislead about cannabis, they could assume that they've been similarly mislead about cocaine or methamphetamines or heroin (which, to an extent, they probably have been) and could be more prone to "experiment" with harder drugs, imagining them to be as harmeless as a few joints. The only positive effect is that it could also lead them to question the authority of parents, teachers, the police, and civic leaders on other issues. Then again, what good is a bit of independent thought if one is strung out on crack?

Im sorry I posted the same question as yours. I failed to read what others were saying before I spoke out myself. I would like to add, Smoking marijuann should be a free choice to all americans.

As far as smoking marijuana causing death (aside from being in an accident or what have you), the toxicity level of THC is so high (no pun intended) that it is impossible to arrive at by any method of ingesting the drug. Unless maybe you could inject liquid THC by the bucketfull into your carotid artery. A human smoking marijuana will fall asleep or pass out long before they could come even remotely close to the toxic level.

I smoke marijuana. My friends do too. We aren't "pot heads." We just enjoy it as our recreational drug. It's a lot better for you than drinking that is for sure. By the way, here's an occupational list of my smoking friends. 6 are doctors. They don't smoke when they work any more than you would drink and work (actually since alcohol is physically addictive whereas pot is not, you would be more likely to develop the need to drink before work than smoke). 2 are lawyers. The rest are artists and musicians, which may come as no surprise.