US Warns of Marijuana Risks

MSNBC ^ | 17 September 2002

[WyldKard]

Marijuana is wrong because it's illegal? And it's illegal because it's wrong? What sort of weird logic is this?

[Hemingway's Ghost]

If you want to rail against, cocaine, or crack, or heroin, you'll do well, but treating pot the same way is a joke, and you know it...

A good point worth repeating.

How many Anti-W.o.D. Freepers advocate decriminalizing anything other than marijuana?

[RonF]

In reality, more teens enter rehabilitation centers to treat marijuana addiction than alcohol or all other illegal drugs combined, Walters said.

Yeah, because they got busted for smoking a joint and the judge said, "Go to rehab or go to jail". What a joke.

[Roscoe]

[Cultural Jihad]

This world-class renunciate needs to keep his eye on the time,
to know when to go beg his hash money from tourists

[Mr. Mojo]

....warning them that more teens are addicted to pot than to alcohol or to all other illegal drugs combined.

Wrong on both counts.

1) more teens drink alcohol than smoke pot, by a wide margin.
2) marijuana isn't physically addicting.

[CatoRenasci]

My first exposure to the 'perils of pot' came in 1962, in 8th grade in Northern California, when some old biddy from the State antidrug whatever it was called then, assembled then entire school for an anti-marijuana lecture and film. The film, shown in all seriousness, was none other than Reefer Madness! I assume you've seen it in a college theater as a hoot after a toot. It was great theater both to the unwary and, later, to the knowing.

Over the past 40 years I've heard and read widely about pot and other drugs, the level of misunderstanding and misinformation is unbelievable. I'm not sure what I really think, other than smoking anything can't be good for you and that excess with any psychoactive substance - from caffeine right on up through the hallucinogens - is not good for you either. The laws are stupid, but I'm not sure legalization's the answer: it hasn't much reduced alcolholism. Quality's better though.

That said, I could tell you some pretty sad stories I've known or seen over the years. People who've totally blown their minds on one drug or another, some after repeated abuse, others after just a few times. I guess it depends on the person's psychological make-up, and there may be physical psychopharmeceutical aspects as well.

My advice to my own teenagers, after letting them know it's illegal and they shouldn't do it at all, is that all drugs can be dangerous and have to be approached with caution and respect. And not when there's work to be done or you're going to drive. And in moderation -- as soon as it seems like you can do it often, you're in trouble!

[WindMinstrel]

How many Anti-W.o.D. Freepers advocate decriminalizing anything other than marijuana?

That's a tough one. I know the reasoning behind legalization of everything, but it still scares me. Uncle Miltie's arguments are really cogent, though...

[clamper1797]

How many Anti-W.o.D. Freepers advocate decriminalizing anything other than marijuana?

Quite a few I would say, based on Constitutionality issues mostly. However, if given a choice, I would be satisfied with the sole decriminalization of MJ ... for the moment. This idiots heroin to pot comparison demonstrates the level of deceit the he and his ilk will stoop to in order to preserve their power (and job). It will also ultimately be a major source of their impending downfall as more and more people are victimized and/or awakened by their lies and the insane WOsD in general.

[hauerf]

How many Anti-W.o.D. Freepers advocate decriminalizing anything other than marijuana?

At least one. Decriminalize all drugs.

[jpl]

It [marijuana] is not physically addictive

LOL! You're no physician, that's for sure.

[JediGirl]

[AUgrad]

Forget it, Johnnyboy. You're losing. If you want to rail against, cocaine, or crack, or heroin, you'll do well, but treating pot the same way is a joke, and you know it

The ONDCP is in a panic, Canada will soon legalize MJ. Their jobs are at stake.Have you noticed how the volume and shrillness of the lying has increased?

[JediGirl]

It is certainly psychologically addictive as is almost anything. It just isn't physically addictive.

[tacticalogic]

Pot is a pain in the ass if you like it. It's never ending. It creates an urge to smoke and when you don't have it, you probably substitute with cigs. It's not the greatest thing to be doing. Better to steer clear of all of it. But that's just me today. Tomorrow you might get a different story.

So it is with anything you like too much, and some people do commit themselves to the pursuit of the mundane for fear of becoming enamored of some novelty. Somehow, I think there's supposed to be a little more to life than that.

[Rudder]

This is just like the stuff in Reefer Madness and another "Big Lie" strategy in the War on Drugs. I'd say somebody in our government is just completely out of touch when it comes to understanding the lives of us common folk.

[WyldKard]

LOL! You're no physician, that's for sure.

And you, sir, are?

If you have data backing up that marijuana IS physically addicted, then by all means put your money where your mouth is...

[gunshy]

Marijuana is wrong because it's illegal? And it's illegal because it's wrong? What sort of weird logic is this?

I don't know, this is what you wrote.

What I wrote was that the only thing that is wrong about marijuana is that it is illegal. Just as the only thing wrong about driving without a license is that it is illegal. Or the only thing wrong about riding a motorcycle without a helmet is that it is illegal. There are a lot of things that are wrong and the only reason that they are wrong is because they are illegal. Just because something is illegal doesn't make it wrong.

During prohibition, drinking commercial booze was wrong because it was illegal. After prohibition, it wasn't wrong to drink commercial booze because it was legal. Same product, nothing wrong with it, before or after.

[Dead Corpse]

I just GOTTA HAVE MY....

[jpl]

If you have data backing up that marijuana IS physically addicted, then by all means put your money where your mouth is...

I have family members that are doctors. I also have a family member who is a marijuana addict (and admits it).

It is certainly true that it is not nearly as physically addictive as harder drugs such as crack and heroin. But heavy users can indeed become physically addicted, and even experience withdrawal symtpoms. Here's a couple of web sites with more info:

http://www.dva.gov.au/health/menshealth/marijuana.htm#Is%20marijuana%20addictive?

http://www.sccdads.org/newsletters/choices_0302.PDF