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Legalize cannabis? Not so fast, say medics
Bermuda Sun ^ | June 22, 2011 | Raymond Hainey

Posted on 06/22/2011 11:34:42 PM PDT by AustralianConservative

Government Senator Marc Bean recently called for a debate on the merits of decriminalising drugs in the wake of a report from the Global Commission on Drug Policy. A distinguished panel that wrote the report said the war on drugs had failed and recommended partial legalization as a solution to the blight of the illegal drugs trade on communities around the world.

Not so fast, warn medics.

Side effects of marijuana can include a heightened risk of psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, damage to memory and judgement and heart problems. Neurologist Dr Keith Chiappa said: “The use of marijuana, especially in younger age groups, should not be encouraged by any legalisation and should continue to be discouraged by specific programmes.”

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Chantelle Simmons said: “Cannabis use has been shown to be associated with difficulties in thought processes in 15-20 year olds.

“When you have a young adult, whose brain is still developing, there is a five times greater risk of schizophrenia.”

“It particularly adversely affects the developing brain and it’s also closely associated with psychosis.”

The Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute doctor added: “As a clinician, I try to focus on medical implications only, but I would have concerns that decriminalization would send a message that it was okay to encourage marijuana use.”

Dr Simmons added that studies had shown that marijuana use caused higher rates of depressive illness in adult women – four times the rate of depression found in non-users.

Teenage marijuana smokers have also been found to be less likely to complete high school and more likely to make poor career and life choices.

Dr Simmons said: “People say ‘it’s only weed, it’s natural’. It is a natural substance, but it can have significant adverse effects. It can not only cause psychosis, but exacerbate existing phychoses.”

(Excerpt) Read more at bermudasun.bm ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cannabis; marijuana; mentalhealth; pot; schizophrenia
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To: AustralianConservative

And would not a suitable quantity of liquor also change brain activity?


121 posted on 06/23/2011 1:35:35 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Hawk)
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To: Persevero
“It should therefore be left to the INDIVIDUAL to decide what is best for him!”

Only to a certain degree.

That goes without saying, Persevero...

"The freedom to swing your arms stops at my nose, etc."

Standard Libertarian principle.

Regards,

122 posted on 06/23/2011 1:37:08 AM PDT by alexander_busek
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To: TigersEye
You and the lefties have been winning the war against conservatism for 50 years, and it has driven us into the gutter, and into socialism and government control of our lives, and culture, let's take a moratorium on the anti-social conservative victories of the left and libertarians, and concentrate on welfare and economics for a while.

Calling liberalism libertarian, enables the left to double team conservative America from every angle, yet with the same goals.

123 posted on 06/23/2011 1:37:31 AM PDT by ansel12 (America has close to India population of 1950s, India has 1,200,000,000 people now. Quality of Life?)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Coffee changes brain activity.

BAN IT!!!!


124 posted on 06/23/2011 1:37:35 AM PDT by Crim (Palin / West '12)
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To: TigersEye

Depending on where that poster lives...it might have been TMI.

Just trying to be a FRiend.


125 posted on 06/23/2011 1:39:56 AM PDT by berdie (qill)
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To: ansel12

I have gardened a lot in my life. I also know the difference between ditch weed that hasn’t been tended much and very high quality pot that took time and expense to produce.


126 posted on 06/23/2011 1:40:00 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: Crim
Stoners want their drugs, the drug culture will still exist, it will just be worse.
127 posted on 06/23/2011 1:40:55 AM PDT by ansel12 (America has close to India population of 1950s, India has 1,200,000,000 people now. Quality of Life?)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
And would not a suitable quantity of liquor also change brain activity?

A suitable quantity of sugars or fats changes brain and hormonal activities. Especially rancid fats like you find in donuts and chips.

128 posted on 06/23/2011 1:41:44 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: ansel12

I dont consider Buckley to be a liberal...at least not in this plane of existance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_-dtU_esJ8

And I’m no liberal either...or a libertarian...


129 posted on 06/23/2011 1:41:49 AM PDT by Crim (Palin / West '12)
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To: ansel12
If one single tomato plant could give you all the tomatoes that you needed, and keep you high for the entire year, and tomatoes were heavily taxed like booze and cigarettes, then everyone would plant a tomato plant every year, and if they didn't, there would be plenty of surplus from friends and neighbors.

Oh, my gawd! What a terrible scenario! Free, self-sufficient individuals not enthralled by Big Business, meeting their own needs! Our country would go to hell in a handbasket!

Regards,

130 posted on 06/23/2011 1:42:25 AM PDT by alexander_busek
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To: ansel12

I have never supported any liberal policies so your rant is meaningless and tasteless. I have voted for conservative Republicans my entire voting life.


131 posted on 06/23/2011 1:43:18 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: TigersEye
Gardening is not hard, and the growing of one or two plants is a heck of a lot easier than a full garden of vegetables, fruit, and flowers, and trees.
132 posted on 06/23/2011 1:43:32 AM PDT by ansel12 (America has close to India population of 1950s, India has 1,200,000,000 people now. Quality of Life?)
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To: enduserindy
Today I know alot of dysfunctional drunks but not one dysfunctional pot head.

Take the word of medical researchers. Pot does increase the risk of mental illness, it does cause problems, especially for youth.

People like you perpetuate the urban myth that pot is harmless. Young people want to believe that pot is harmless. It isn't.

133 posted on 06/23/2011 1:43:48 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever ( Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: TigersEye

Dope is liberal.


134 posted on 06/23/2011 1:44:16 AM PDT by ansel12 (America has close to India population of 1950s, India has 1,200,000,000 people now. Quality of Life?)
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To: berdie

Oh, I see what you mean. I think he was speaking of long ago. His understanding of pot horticulture is certainly dated by a few decades.


135 posted on 06/23/2011 1:44:45 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: ansel12

Henny penny.

Since you can predict the future...tommorrows lottery numbers should be a snap.

Lets use you same arument on guns.....

“gun nuts want thier concealed weapons...the gun culture will still exist...but it will be much worse”

Once again....anyone who wants to smoke pot...already is.


136 posted on 06/23/2011 1:45:17 AM PDT by Crim (Palin / West '12)
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To: Persevero
And the benefits of smoking pot are. . .

I have stock in Cheetos, Twinkies and Mountain Dew. Oh..wait..that just benefits me.

137 posted on 06/23/2011 1:47:08 AM PDT by Melas (Sent via Galaxy Tab)
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To: AustralianConservative

We are 14 trillion in debt. I don’t care if marijuana causes fluorescent orange testical discoloration. Stop spending MONEY ON THIS STUPID WAR ON DRUGS!!! What a TOTAL waste of my unborn grandkids’ money so some can feel better about themselves.


138 posted on 06/23/2011 1:47:13 AM PDT by douginthearmy
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To: ansel12

Gardening is something the vast majority of people do not and will not do. I don’t see the point anyway. If people grow their own there will be no black market and the gov can stop spending over a billion dollars per year not putting a dent in the black market.


139 posted on 06/23/2011 1:47:16 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: AustralianConservative
“Correlation does not equal causation”? Good red herring there. No evidence is ever good enough for potheads: from brain scan imaging to potheads defecating in parks.

Yes, because it is a well-known fact that only potheads defecate in parks!

When I was a kid (in the 1960s), there was a part of town where the winos hung out. You know: Those grisled, 65-year-old panhandlers who obviously looted "Goodwill" boxes for their clothes. The ones who, with slurred speech, would proposition ten-year-old kids for a "roll in the hay." Who slept in alleyways...

So, I guess that you're right and they were all actually marijuana smokers, not winos.

Regards,

140 posted on 06/23/2011 1:48:04 AM PDT by alexander_busek
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