High Hopes at Miracle-Gro in Medical Marijuana Field

Wall St Journal ^ | JUNE 14, 2011 | DANA MATTIOLI

[HiTech RedNeck]

Just about any hydrocarbon rubbed into a dried tobacco leaf would produce something that would light up quick and bright like a candle wick, not smolder like smoking tobacco. When you got up off of your can, were they snickering?

[miele man]

The owner got a big laugh out of it. The other guy with me chuckled too but I think he was quite surprised how quickly it affected me. I’ve not smoked a cigarette since 1995. I suspect even a couple draws off one now would knock me slam out. It won’t be happening.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Don't think the beer analogy works, or any analogy to booze. One can consume it for reasons other than a buzz, hence there are non alcoholic drinks. No one lights up a bong for any reason other than to get high.

[allmendream]

The line about weed killer was just there to set up the ‘funny’ “killer weed” line.

Miracle Gro is not neurotoxin - it is Nitrogen and other nutrients - chemical fertilizer.

[allmendream]

Appetite stimulation for those on Chemotherapy.

Not that “Medical” isn't 90% a ruse. But there are medicinal reasons for taking it - that is why “Marinol” (synthetic THC) is an FDA approved drug for appetite stimulation.

[SoCal Pubbie]

There's a medical reason to take hemlock too. I hardly think such treatments are germane to the conversation.

[allmendream]

If someone says there is no other reason to take it than to get high it is certainly germane to the conversation that there is - in fact - a direct medical benefit for a small minority of those supposedly smoking it for “medical” reasons.

[Gabz]

Interesting...they sound a bit hypocritical, eh?

When the policy was announced, employees who were smokers were given so many months to quit or they were out of a job. Also they do not hire smokers.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Okay, why don't you check the spelling and look for punctuation errors while you're at it?

Point taken, when posting to you I will strive for exact meaning and try to include all possible scenarios as well. Let me rephrase my earlier post:

“I believe your analogy between the recreational use of fermented starches, or beer (not to rule out malt liquor, ale, and other similar beverages) and the psychoactive chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol, found in the cannabis plant, or pot (but not the plants which produce the fibers which go into making industrial hemp, which is sometimes confused with the more potent variety) fails on one count, but not to the exclusion of others which I may have overlooked.

Beer, like other alcoholic drinks, can be consumed for taste as well as its mind altering properties. In fact there are types of beer which contain little or no alcohol at all. To my knowledge, no marijuana is made for the recreational market which offers no psychoactive properties.

Save for certain medicinal reasons, or perhaps within the context of research, I believe it can be generally stated with a reasonable degree of certainty that few if any recreational consumers of pot use the substance for any other reason than to experience its psychoactive effect.”

How's that?

[allmendream]

Perfect!

And I agree that the vast majority of those who smoke do so for the psychoactive properties, and even those who take it medicinally for appetite usually select strains with potent psychoactive properties, and would prefer it to an equally efficacious dose without any of those properties.

[Gabz]

Ping!

[danielmryan]

Don't think the beer analogy works, or any analogy to booze. One can consume it for reasons other than a buzz, hence there are non alcoholic drinks. No one lights up a bong for any reason other than to get high.

I've known my fair share of drinkers, and I can assure you that the alcohol is not considered an accessory by them. Granted that many drinkers don't necessarily drink to get plotzed - that was the point I made earlier - but where I come from, the alchohol is an essential part of the package. I always thought that near-beer was for kids who wanted to act like grown-ups without breaking laws.

[SoCal Pubbie]

I did not state that the desire for the mind altering effects of alcohol was NEVER a consideration when drinking. I simply meant to state the obvious that there are factors involved with both wine and beer, such as taste, complimentary aspects with certain foods, etc, that are not present, to my knowledge, with pot. I've never heard of anyone discussing the taste of weed, for example. Pot is used to get high, period.

Disclaimer: this does not apply to those using grass for “medicinal” purposes.

[varyouga]

Umm, there are many other aspects to cannabis beyond intoxication.

Frequent smokers don't get impaired by it. To them, it's just a cigarette or a pipe. Except not chemically addictive and less carcinogenic than tobacco.

Appearance is hugely important to modern cannabis fans. There are thousands of registered breeds with flowers spanning all colors of the rainbow. Some even sparkle and form geometric crystals of every conceivable shape. Truly an amazing flower.

The smell/taste is also very important. At least as much as it is to cigar smokers. Breeds can smell like mint, grapefruit, chocolate, orange, etc. Just to name a few.

It is also a unique spice when used for cooking. Like a spicy mint with a hint of pepper. I heard it makes the most amazing pesto. And no, eating it won't get you high unless it is specially prepared for that purpose.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Yeah, sure.

[varyouga]

It's true, there are several magazines devoted to the plant that have tons of photos and articles. Some even have a "centerfold" showing off the best looking one.

Here's just one example. Notice the orange-purple gradients, sparkling crystals on the leaves and white/orange crystal hairs. This particular breed tastes and smells like fresh blueberries. If you can't see the beauty, you are truly blinded by ideology.