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 ...
“It should therefore be left to the INDIVIDUAL to decide what is best for him!”
Only to a certain degree.
Those who smoke a lot of pot or smoke pot regularly are not to be trusted with heavy machinery, serious responsibility, or, most importantly, with dependents. I don’t care about any studies you cite or don’t cite, I know this for a fact.
Wouldn’t leave my kids with a pot smoker babysitter - would you?
It sounds like you’re projecting. But how about picking on drug drivers? One word: Priorities.
The catch here is that there’s likely no ethical way to test whether pot “causes” schizophrenia, or is merely preferred by people who already have a tendency to become schizophrenic. That would take a lot of pot smoking. Animal models might be illuminating, but crazy monkeys are dangerous.
See? That's a straw man logical fallacy. No one has said anything about legalizing any drugs for children. If required to debate on the substance or stay in context you simply cannot do it. No self control I guess.
That’s pretty interesting. But is it information that should be shared?
I can handle heavy machinery, serious responsibility and take care of a dependent quite well. So do many other heavy pot smokers that I know. Your facts are bunkum.
I’d never let my kid be babysat by a pot smoker. Hope your kids turn out ok.
I suppose those sentences make sense to you but to normal people that's gibberish.
Good point – and while libertarians are getting stoned or in their think tanks I’ve had to deal with the consequences of soft on drug policies.
These people are drugs-first libertarians. They always defend drugs like a fired up preacher but never a man’s right to question them. They’re beyond accountability.
This is an intelligent question why?
Of course alcohol has caused more deaths because it IS legal....and in what world does your imagination swim in thinking that when marijuana is legalized that the statistics won't eventually catch up or surpass?
“We legalize drug use and have government subsidize the losers ...”
I’d agree it is either/or, but why not fight for eliminating the government subsidy of losers rather than against individual freedoms ? Let these people be stoned and starve to death so they delete their weak genes for the gene pool.
Why not, aren’t you guys pushing to legalize what they were doing?
Is a lack of information what we all need to make informed decisions? I notice that many here like to try and shout down opposing views like liberals on college campuses do. You don't want that do you?
So you do believe in laws when they suit you? And restrictions for your choice drugs? Talk about circular thinking. In any case, softening pot laws increase more drug use in general. I’ve lived in Europe. Doesn’t work.
It’s lousy quality pot if it’s not tended regularly. Most of what’s grown in the Sierras has a lot of money invested in irrigation, fertilizer and onsite growers to tend it and it’s still inferior to what most hydroponic growers produce.
There’s no ethical way to prove it? Rubbish. I’ve seen the brain scans. Read the Oxford literature. In any case, when it doubt go without: If one isn’t sure it can be tested then don’t dare experiment on brains.
Here’s a clue for ya...the most widely abused drugs are perscription drugs...
And anyone who wants to smoke pot...already is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_-dtU_esJ8
William F Buckley & Charlie Rangel debate war on drugs circa ‘91
Buckley wipes the floor with Rangle....check it out...
“However, high-dose smokers develop pulmonary symptoms (episodes of acute bronchitis, wheezing, coughing, and increased phlegm), and pulmonary function may be altered, manifested as large airway changes of unknown significance.”
So...maybe you should post the rest of the story. BTW, this is from your link to Merck.
It’s not harmless.
I can’t help but believe that smoking pot isn’t akin to smoking cigarettes, but with a much better mellow.
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