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A Marijuana Breakthrough?
The Scotsman ^ | Nov. 5, 2004 | David Kohn

Posted on 11/05/2004 1:38:10 PM PST by Ahriman

A decade ago, when Daniele Piomelli went to scientific conferences, he was often the only researcher studying cannabinoids, the class of chemicals that give marijuana users a high. His work often drew sniggers and jokes; but not any more. At the recent annual Society for Neuroscience conference in San Diego last week, scientists delivered almost 200 papers on the subject.

Why all the attention? Many scientists believe marijuana-like drugs might be able to treat a wide range of diseases, far beyond the nausea and chronic pain typically treated with medical marijuana.

Researchers presented tantalising evidence that cannabinoid drugs can help treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease - Parkinson’s disease and obesity. Other researchers are studying whether the compounds can help victims of stroke and multiple sclerosis.

Although the chemicals work on the same area of the nervous system, the new drugs are much more refined and targeted than marijuana, with few of its side effects.

"Cannabinoids have a lot of pharmaceutical potential," says Piomelli, a neuroscientist at the University of California. "A lot of people are very excited."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: leroylovesoros; wodlist
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To: robertpaulsen; WildTurkey
I'm sure not 1/1000th as many violations of drug laws are even discovered.

Just a wild-a$$ed guess here, but could it be that they're not pursued with as much vigor?

That is a wild-a$$ed guess in the absence of any evidence for it.

As you suggesting that drug crimes are equivalent to murder, and that we should treat them as such?

No.

You want 63% closure on drug crimes? That can be done you know

Not at a price a free country should be willing to pay.

321 posted on 11/23/2004 10:09:02 AM PST by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: robertpaulsen
The mere fact that cocaine use would rise if legalized validates my argument that criminalization is a factor in reduced cocaine use.

We don't know that your "fact" is a fact ... much less that any degree of reduction due to criminalization is worth the cost of creating high profits and channeling them into criminal hands.

322 posted on 11/23/2004 10:12:45 AM PST by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Know your rights

>So it would logically follow that we do need one less substance to dumb down society and that criminalizing alcohol for adults would be a good policy. Problem is, that conclusion is false, and therefore so is your premise.<

It does NOT "logically follow" that "criminalizing alcohol for adults would be a good policy". Therefore, neither my conclusion or premise is false.
The concept that legalizing marijuana is an unnecessary and net negative societal impact, stands on its own.
Insisting that if we don't take that step, then we MUST roll back other societal 'net negatives', is a thought process void of logic.


323 posted on 11/23/2004 6:54:39 PM PST by G Larry (Time to update my "Support John Thune!" tagline. Thanks to all who did!)
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To: Ahriman

I smoked month for a whole pot one night! Just followin' the little animals around. Stuned.


324 posted on 11/23/2004 7:04:06 PM PST by stboz
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To: G Larry
It does NOT "logically follow" that "criminalizing alcohol for adults would be a good policy". [...] Insisting that if we don't take that step [legalizing marijuana], then we MUST roll back other societal 'net negatives', is a thought process void of logic.

It's entirely logical; if the criterion for "X should be criminalized" is "X has societal 'net negatives'" then that's true whether X is marijuana or alcohol (or eating unhealthily or getting too little sleep).

325 posted on 11/24/2004 11:36:38 AM PST by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: WildTurkey
Wow...your use of "logic" is an embarrassment to people who want to keep MJ illegal. That side of the argument would probably be better off if you just defected to the other side.
326 posted on 11/24/2004 11:40:01 AM PST by krb
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To: krb
Wow...your use of "logic" is an embarrassment to people who want to keep MJ illegal. That side of the argument would probably be better off if you just defected to the other side.

Sorry if you are confused with scientific facts. Email me and I will try to explain it to you.

327 posted on 11/24/2004 1:58:58 PM PST by WildTurkey
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To: Know your rights

Wrong!

Marijuana IS criminalized. No change required.
Alcohol is NOT criminalized. No change required.


328 posted on 11/24/2004 5:10:38 PM PST by G Larry (Time to update my "Support John Thune!" tagline. Thanks to all who did!)
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To: G Larry
if the criterion for "X should be criminalized" is "X has societal 'net negatives'" then that's true whether X is marijuana or alcohol (or eating unhealthily or getting too little sleep).

Wrong!

Marijuana IS criminalized. No change required.
Alcohol is NOT criminalized. No change required.

Now you're changing your argument, to "laws should remain as is." I guess that also applies to nearly-unrestricted abortion, and still-too-high tax rates?

329 posted on 11/26/2004 9:42:27 AM PST by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Ahriman

http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/marijuana/marijuana3.html


330 posted on 11/26/2004 9:53:07 AM PST by lectricpup (Ooh Eee Ooh Ahh-Ahh, ching chang walla walla bing bang....)
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To: lectricpup
What's your point? Do no other medicines have bad side effects?
331 posted on 11/26/2004 10:02:20 AM PST by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Know your rights

No, I am straightening out your "should" vs. real world "is".

Societies "net negatives" will only be resolved in heaven.
That is no reason to choose to add to them.


332 posted on 11/26/2004 10:23:10 AM PST by G Larry (Time to update my "Support John Thune!" tagline. Thanks to all who did!)
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To: Know your rights
my point was my point. I was not replying to your post.
333 posted on 11/26/2004 1:24:06 PM PST by lectricpup (Ooh Eee Ooh Ahh-Ahh, ching chang walla walla bing bang....)
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To: G Larry
Societies "net negatives" will only be resolved in heaven.
That is no reason to choose to add to them.

If it's no reason to choose to add to them, then it's equally no reason to choose not to subtract from them. You've still provided no logical argument for keeping marijuana illegal but alcohol legal.

334 posted on 11/27/2004 11:02:51 AM PST by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: lectricpup
my point was my point.

And you have yet to give any indication of what that alleged point was. Did you have one, ior do you just enjoy posting irrelevant hyperlinks?

335 posted on 11/27/2004 11:04:21 AM PST by Know your rights (The modern enlightened liberal doesn't care what you believe as long as you don't really believe it.)
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To: Know your rights

Logic is not detectable to the smoke filled mind.


336 posted on 11/27/2004 5:12:26 PM PST by G Larry (Time to update my "Support John Thune!" tagline. Thanks to all who did!)
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To: Know your rights
Irrelevant?, what are you smokin'?

I don't think that knowing the effects on the human body of Marijuana use is beside the point of this thread.

Not endorsing or condemning.

337 posted on 11/29/2004 10:07:31 AM PST by lectricpup (Ooh Eee Ooh Ahh-Ahh, ching chang walla walla bing bang....)
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