Cannabis: The Drug that Wasn't

Enemy_of_Real1ty · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject: Cannabis: The Drug that Wasn't

Today in the United States cannabis is the commonly used "drug". It is estimated that about four percent of the world's adult population use cannabis annually and 0.6 percent daily(United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2006), "Cannabis: Why we should care", World Drug Report 1, ISBN 9-2114-8214-3, <http>. Retrieved on 10 October 2006 p.14 )
,Not to mention all of the teenager use. In addition to being the most used "drug" it is also the most antagonized "drug" of today.
Everytime I watch TV for more than half an hour I always see one of those anti drug commercials, not for cocaine, nor herione (which is now currently the cheapest drug around where I live), nor crystal meth, nor any other drug that can cause illict harm to one's body, but for cannabis. And the history of these commercials is very interesting, it starts off with Reefer Madness made back in 1936 by the federal government. It showed that reefer caused psychosis among users that ended normally in either rape or murder, not to mention maniacle laughing and listening to jazz music. My favourite quote from the film was:
"Bureau Official: Here is an example: A fifteen-year-old lad apprehended in the act of staging a holdup - fifteen years old and a marijuana addict. Here is a most tragic case.
Dr. Carroll: Yes. I remember. Just a young boy... under the influence of drugs... who killed his entire family with an axe. "

Then as time went on and cannabis was actually researched, the commercials dramatically changed to something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RAHwZM41sM&NR=1 ,alright that was just for a laugh, but the actual message is the same. Slowly but surely the DEA is losing all of its arguements against cannabis use and has resorted to the gateway theory and the lazyman theory, not to mention the harmful effects list.

The gateway Theory is that people, upon trying cannabis for the first time and not finding it dangerous, are then tempted to try other, harder drugs. The most commonly associated drug with this theory is cocaine. It is said that people who try cannabis are 85 times more likely to try cocaine. Yet, 83% of cannabis users polled have never tried cocaine. ( I would like to thank NORML for these stats)This sickens me that the DEA still wastes its time dealing with cannabis instead of drugs like coke, meth, heroine, medicines,ect. The full article of debunking the gateway theory is here: http://www.marijuanalibrary.org/gateway.html
There are quite a few other articles out there too, I suggest anyone who doesn't know much about this check it out.

Despite research and the obvious success of Holland's campaign of legalizing cannabis, the DEA still tries to debunk cannabis as a harmful drug. While it is true that smoking can cause bronchitis, lung and/or throat irritation, as would tobacco smoking (which is legal) it causes nothing more than one would expect from smoking anything! And of course the occasional stumble from impairment. Instead of reading what a 19 thinks about the saftey of the "drug" read this short article put forth by formidable sources. http://paranoia.lycaeum.org/marijuana/facts/mj-health-mythology.html
It will lay out each myth of harmful effects caused by cannabis use, and it will debunk each myth with references that would be upheld in the scientific community. I STRONGLY recommend that you read the entire article, as it seems to clear up a lot of other myths that have been spread around.

As for the DEA, I'll let Drew Carey do the talking for me. http://reason.tv/video/show/57.html
Pay very close attention to what is said at the end.

And medical benefits of cannabis, the list is so long that I would not even be able to fit them all into this post, but here is the complete list of medicinal uses for cannabis.
http://boards.cannabis.com/medicinal-cannabis-health/126827-granny-s-links-cannabis-health-related-abstracts.html

I know all I did was spew a lot then post a link, but I figured, I'll bring up my points then leave the proof there for you to read in case you don't believe me. lol

~This is an article from my blog, I am also posting it on the forums to promote cannabis and the actual facts of this so called "drug"
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Hit_me_up024 · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject:

Marijuana is a perfectly safe drug-end point
Although I am against its legalization, just because its bad for business
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Props to Enemy_of_Reality

Enemy_of_Real1ty · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject:

Enemy_of_Real1ty · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject:

Actually, that reminds me, When I make the followup to a system that can be used in the US, I plan on using Holland's system as an example. The stats on users and crime rate and school grades is astonishing.
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AtheistEngineer · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

If anyone wants to make a "gateway" argument, it's alcohol, not marijuana, that is the "gateway" drug. Even then, you can't make generalized statements like that. The arguments for making marijuana illegal are old and tired, any responsible society should realize the ills of prosecuting such victimless crimes. When rapists start getting paroled to make room for cannabis dealers and uses, something has got to change.

Enemy_of_Real1ty · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject:

Ah I love it when people bash others for smoking pot and then go out drinking.
Alcohol is significantly more damaging than marijuana.
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joshuas3521 · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:39 pm Post subject:

Has anyone here tried the vaporizing technique? I'm looking into that, but a little stingy on the $150 for a good system. Still... looks really nice.
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Baillie · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject:

Hmmm...

This thread needs something... what is it... oh yeah! Jesus lolz!

[youtube]watch?v=0zFbc5MzAxk[/youtube]

Anyway, I just sort of thought that was relevant.

What were we talking about before...?
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Enemy_of_Real1ty · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject:

Vaporizers are nice. They give you a different high though. Its more of a mental high, cleaner in some way. 150 for one? That will get you a decent model, but the best is the volcano (500 bucks though).
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joshuas3521 · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

Enemy_of_Real1ty · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:49 pm Post subject:

SpecterOpacus · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject:

I'm all for debunking myths surrounding marijuana, but a recent study (2004) showed that long time use of marijuana affects the frontal lobe.

Meh.

Also, I don't see why people get pissy with the word "gateway drug." In terms of drug use, marijuana is pretty tame in comparison to say, heroine. Maybe I don't have the right definition.
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Enemy_of_Real1ty · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:16 pm Post subject:

Gateway Drug: habit-forming substance whose use may lead to the abuse of drugs that are more addictive or more dangerous.

This is true for some people, but not the majority, which the DEA is trying to convince everyone that it is.
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Hit_me_up024 · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject:

its so worth it though
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Props to Enemy_of_Reality

Enemy_of_Real1ty · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject:

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