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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: ansel12
Prohibition and drug laws are two different things.

How so? Alcohol is a drug and it required a Constitutional amendment to prohibit it. Why isn't that required to prohibit other drugs. If you can't give a legal Constitutional answer then don't bother.

161 posted on 06/23/2011 2:06:10 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: TigersEye
Don't waste my time like that, the doper argument is huge windfall taxes, they are lying.
162 posted on 06/23/2011 2:06:41 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: ansel12

“Prohibition and drug laws are two different things.”

LMAO...only in your mind...

I love how conservatives who scream for the feds to stay out of their health care....

Turn around scream for the feds to stick their nose into everyones blood stream and urine.....

We now return you to the war on plants...


163 posted on 06/23/2011 2:08:32 AM PDT by Crim (Palin / West '12)
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To: Berlin_Freeper
You're a liar who has been called on that BS already. I am not bragging I am answering anecdotes with my own anecdotes.

Now answer the question I asked you before or are you incapable of confronting the legal issues?

164 posted on 06/23/2011 2:09:28 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: Crim

So your saying there will be no increase in usage if it is legalized?

Really.


165 posted on 06/23/2011 2:10:08 AM PDT by Puckster
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To: ansel12

Don’t waste my time with your straw man of what the “doper argument” is. It’s a non-sequitur.


166 posted on 06/23/2011 2:10:43 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: ansel12

“That was childish and ridiculous.”

Why...because I used your own words to illustrate that your position is a illogical?


167 posted on 06/23/2011 2:11:10 AM PDT by Crim (Palin / West '12)
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To: Puckster

Why would there be? Pot is available everywhere to anyone who wants it now.


168 posted on 06/23/2011 2:12:33 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: TigersEye
I'm going to bed in a few, so I don't have time to explain the thousands of years of Western Civilization being alcohol based, and all the reasons that trying to eliminate alcohol from western man and his culture, and his cities, was different from trying to deal with the sudden appearance of drug abuse, in our youth population as multiculturalism was growing.
169 posted on 06/23/2011 2:12:37 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: OneLoyalAmerican
BTW, through natural selection, no humans are allergic to beer.

So, for how many generations has natural selection been acting upon the beer-allergies of American Indians?

Sorry, forgot: "They ain't human."

Regards,

170 posted on 06/23/2011 2:13:43 AM PDT by alexander_busek
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To: OneLoyalAmerican
BTW, through natural selection, no humans are allergic to beer.

Sounds nice, but I'm afraid it's false. First, there is alcohol intolerance, which is nasty if not actually harmful. Skin flushes, mucous membranes go into overdrive, which causes itching, flushing, runny nose, leaky rear, and even more graphic and off-putting symptoms.

Since I know that you'll point out that isn't a histamine reaction, aka a true allergy, it should be noted that allergies to yeast are not uncommon, and yes Virginia the yeast in beer will cause a reaction. As will the much rarer allergies to graminea (barley), and humulus, hops.

171 posted on 06/23/2011 2:14:20 AM PDT by Melas (Sent via Galaxy Tab)
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To: ansel12

Marijuana use has been a part of human culture for thousands of years longer than alcohol. It was a part of American culture from the time the first ships arrived from Europe. In Colonial times it was a legal requirement to plant so many acres of hemp and the seed was provided by the government because of its vital importance.


172 posted on 06/23/2011 2:15:47 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: TigersEye
You specifically posted of your 40 years experience.

That is bragging.

173 posted on 06/23/2011 2:16:06 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Puckster
“So your saying there will be no increase in usage if it is legalized?

Really.”

I'm saying quite clearly that anyone who wants to use drugs...already is using drugs...The law doesnt stop anything...it only facilitates the black market.

The idea that masses of people are going to rush out and start using drugs is a strawman argument.

The same argument was used against the repeal of prohibition of booze...and it was proven to be wrong...

Alcohol use actually dropped after repeal.

174 posted on 06/23/2011 2:17:00 AM PDT by Crim (Palin / West '12)
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To: Crim

No, because it was so illogical, think about it some more.


175 posted on 06/23/2011 2:17:31 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: Berlin_Freeper

No, it was an anecdote to counter the point that had been made to me. Your emotional problems that color your perceptions are not my problem but I won’t allow you to use that as an excuse to lie about me.


176 posted on 06/23/2011 2:18:07 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: TigersEye
Well, even though you just committed to your statement.....wow, very naive.

There are many people I've known over the years that the only reason they don't use it is because it's illegal.

Their family and jobs come first and they wouldn't jeopardize both by testing positive for a drug test.

I can stand by my original post then.

177 posted on 06/23/2011 2:18:22 AM PDT by Puckster
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To: Puckster
There are many people I've known over the years that the only reason they don't use it is because it's illegal.

Yeah, right. ROTFL

178 posted on 06/23/2011 2:19:48 AM PDT by TigersEye (Who crashed the markets on 9/15/08 and why?)
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To: TigersEye
Man, what a waste of time, you trying to confuse hemp, and pot as an intoxicant.

Pot was never used in the Western world as an intoxicant, we used alcohol, just as in America, hemp was hemp, and pot was not smoked. The Arab world and parts of India used hemp, but also smoked cannabis, it was their intoxicant instead of using alcohol, and it shows.

179 posted on 06/23/2011 2:23:27 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: Puckster

And your friends dont have the same 4th amendment rights as legislators who dont have to pee in a cup...

“Drug Testing Political Candidates Violates Fourth Amendment, Supreme Court Rules”

http://www.ndsn.org/mayjun97/georgia.html

“All animals are equal....some are just a little more equal...’

This fact ALONE should outrage any conservative...

Equal protection under the law?

Not for you prole...that’s only for the political class....piss in a cup or no job for you...

Of course....synthetic urine is legal to buy...

http://www.drug-testing-detox.com/products/quick-fix-urine.html

Drug tests only catch the stupid.

You’d be better off giving an IQ test...any stupid ass can pee in a cup on command.


180 posted on 06/23/2011 2:25:56 AM PDT by Crim (Palin / West '12)
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