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 ...
Restrictions on liberty are liberal. Or more precisely; statist and totalitarian.
So is Irrational Fear based upon “what if’s”
You already have the failed model of Prohibition...
Yet you reject clear history and substitute more fear.
I guess we all change with age. :)
I’m curious as to when? When I served, it seemed that marijuana was a quick ticket to a mast where I saw a lot of guys lose pay, and repeat offenders lost rank, but I never saw anyone booted for it.
“If somebody’s gonna smoke a joint in their house and not do anybody any harm, then perhaps there are other things our cops should be looking at to engage in and try to clean up some of the other problems we have in society.”
Sarah Palin
I thought that was postal workers? Oh, that's in peoples side yards.
I’ve seen it before.
And why are you not addressing directly what I posted instead of taking a tangent?
There will be no tax windfall like the doper crowd tries to tell the naive, and the cost of social programs needed to deal with the further decay of the American people, will grow and law enforcement will have more to do, not less, because the drug culture will grow.
So? I don’t see people getting busted for a joint.
So what? The government takes more than it should in taxes. You call me a liberal and you complain that there aren’t enough taxes?
Same argument was made against repeal of prohibition.
“There will be no tax windfall like the booze crowd tries to tell the naive, and the cost of social programs needed to deal with the further decay of the American people, will grow and law enforcement will have more to do, not less, because the drinking culture will grow.”
Wrong then and now.
Fallacious logic!
"Perfect World" fallacy!
Yes, let's first cure cancer, get rid of nuclear arms, and achieve world peace before allowing individuals to make personal lifestyle choices (and suffer the consequences).
I, too, am an adamant critic of welfare, of the nanny state, of gun-restriction laws, etc. I am a dyed-in-the-wool Conservative. And that's why I abhor the nanny state interfering in our personal lives.
RE-legalize it!
Regards,
Prohibition and drug laws are two different things.
Greetings freepersup:
Water is essential to life, yet without proper treatment, most water is unsafe for human consumption. So alcohol, unlike marijuana, is responsible for the advancement and survival of western civilization.
Until the 19th century, before bacteria was determined as a cause of diseases, water was unsafe to drink. So alcohol containing beverages, mostly in the form of beer, would render water safe for human consumption. BTW, through natural selection, no humans are allergic to beer.
Cheers,
OLA
“in what world does your imagination swim in thinking that when marijuana is legalized that the statistics won’t eventually catch up or surpass?”
In what world does your imagination swim where you dont realise that anyone who wants to do drugs...already is.
There...a direct answer.
Hear hear! I also abhor the violation of the Constitution by the Federal gov and the unending cascade of unintended consequences that brings. That does far more harm than all drug use ever could.
That was childish and ridiculous.
You are posting to a 56 year old who brags of “40 years experience smoking pot.”
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