If Marijuana Is Legal, Will Addiction Rise?

The New York Times ^ | July 20, 2009 | The Editors

[cryptical]

A New York Times article on Sunday discussed the debate over whether more and more potent types of cannabis affect the levels of addiction to the drug. This particular issue has become part of the larger debate over whether marijuana should be legalized or decriminalized.

Antidrug activists say that if the drug is legalized, more people will use it and addiction levels, made worse by the increased potency, will rise too. Legalization advocates note that pot addiction is not nearly as destructive as, say, abuse of alcohol. What would be the effect of legalization or decriminalization on marijuana abuse and addiction?

[-YYZ-]

OK, here’s some more:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press_releases/2008/01_24_08.html
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20080507/withdrawal-symptoms-from-smoking-pot
http://www.marijuanapassion.com/Marijuana-Withdrawal.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124145015.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/08/health/webmd/main4080584.shtml
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20080130/pot-tobacco-withdrawal-equally-rough

And here’s a big long thread, if you’re interested, of anecdotal reports from people who are or have experienced withdrawl symptoms after prolonged, heavy pot usage.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Marijuana-withdrawal-symptoms-Insomnia—anxiety—iritability—headache

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

It’s either right or wrong. The tax excuse is them just saying as long as I get my cut its cool.

“Well it´s legal in the netherlands for example.”

Is it legal to grow your own or just Tthe gov’t?

[TheOldLady]

"...it´s possible to die if you are a real hard core alcohol addict because of withdrawal symptoms."

Yes, that is how one of my brothers died. The other survived DT's and got into AA, but he died later of a brain tumor. They died on the same day, one year apart, September 5, 1989-90.

[Jonny foreigner]

Is it legal to grow your own or just Tthe gov’t?

---

well i´m not shure for the netherlands (because i don´t live there) but i´m pretty shure because growing pot isn´t even illegal in Austria (consuming it will cost you about 30 euros if caught). we have shops where you can legal buy the plants and every thing else someone could need for smoking and growing pot. but it´s illegal to sell and it´s illegal to consume it (as said 30 euros if they catch you using it). so i guess since pot is legal in the NE (btw. if you can proof you have consumed it it in the NE it´s perfekt legal in EU countries no matter where they catch you) so i don´t think it´s not allowed to grow it for your personal consume in the netherlands. btw. magic mushrooms (similar to LSD) is perfekt legal in the NE and Austria. btw. drinking is allowed at the age of 16.

[RC2]

I really don’t have prejudices about it. I just don’t like drugs. I have never tried it and most likely never will. Only because I know me and my habits. Once I get into a habit, it’s with me till I die. I hesitate even taking drugs my doctor recommends, which isn’t much because he knows me very well. I will drink once in awhile but not that often and I know what it can do to you if over done.

[TSgt]

sorry but i have to dissagree. since when is it up to your employer what you are doing in your free time?for example shure nobody would want to have a drunk employee but anyway if he is sober during his work? whats the problem? if he/she gets the work done it´s none of the buisness what he/She may does in his freetime. but well thats just me

Of course you would disagree, just look at the mess that is your reply.

Doing a little toking while Freeping?

[Jonny foreigner]

this is one of the freedoms you have if living in europe (as EU citizen of course). there are not much laws you are not able to avoid if you want.
beside guns :-( if you would like to own a full auto you have to be a swiss citizen (so swiss get into the EU god damn it :-) wanna drink legal at 16 try austria, germany, italy..... (of course legal at 16 means people can hang around a bar aged 12 or 13 years old). you wanna smoke pot legal? go netherlands. you wanna have the feeling smiling at the cops on the freeway bevor you stamp down the gas pedal? no problem try germany because they have no speed limits on many freeways, you wanna have a legal prostitude? feel free in all of europe....

[TSgt]

I have heard no one advocate this. This is news to me.

I had a conversation just this weekend with someone who advocates this.

There's another one at post 139.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2296790/posts?page=139#139

[Nevski]

OK, YYZ, fair enough. So some pot smokers have withdrawal symptoms that resemble those experienced by people who quit smoking cigarettes:

“Research by a group of scientists studying the effects of heavy marijuana use suggests that withdrawal from the use of marijuana is similar to what is experienced by people when they quit smoking cigarettes. Abstinence from each of these drugs appears to cause several common symptoms, such as irritability, anger and trouble sleeping - based on self reporting in a recent study of 12 heavy users of both marijuana and cigarettes.”

I suffered no such symptoms — and I’m telling you I smoked HEAVILY for several years. Nor did anyone I know, as I said. But that’s admittedly anecdotal.

But let’s not lose the main focus here, which is the *relative* harmlessness of marijuana use. It’s not cocaine; it’s not heroin; it’s not downers. It’s not even alcohol. If alcohol is to be legal, then, a fortiori, marijuana should be legal.

[Jonny foreigner]

Of course you would disagree, just look at the mess that is your reply.

Doing a little toking while Freeping?

---

yep i indead had some wine while freeping today but anyway.
(beside the fact that it really reduces my english speaking capabilities) what´s the problem? you think only because you are employed from someone he has the right to controll your private life?

[Colvin]

Probably we need to see actual data on who the Obama voters are, but I don't find any data on pot smokers verses non pot smokers pertaining to the presidential election.
I tend toward legalization, but I just can't get around the fact that we already have a huge supply of people with reduced brain capacity from this stuff.
I have a kid and her spouse who were users back during the election, (one down, one to go) and they supported Obambi.
She dropped using because she didn't like how dumb it made her feel.

[truthfreedom]

You’re a statist it appears. I thought conservatism was being for less government. I guess not.

I tell people that I’m a conservative and I believe in less government. They look at me like I’m crazy. I guess the “conservatives” that they’ve met are the ones like you. You must be one of those “law and order” conservatives, or statists.

By the way, law and order conservatism isn’t all that popular with the young people these days.

Perhaps you’d rather lose elections to Dems than legalize pot.

[HighlyOpinionated]

If alcohol is legalized, will people become addicted?

If forks are legalized, will people become fat?

If pencils are legalized, will people write curse words?

If Hilary Clinton speaks, is she saying what 0bama told her to say?

[Star Traveler]

You said — You’re a statist it appears. I thought conservatism was being for less government. I guess not.

—

Yeah, I guess being against murder, theft, assault, abortion, and all sorts of other things, including illegal drugs — would be disconcerting to those who wish to engage in murder and mayhem and illegal activities... LOL...

[cryptical]

And here’s a big long thread, if you’re interested, of anecdotal reports from people who are or have experienced withdrawl symptoms after prolonged, heavy pot usage.

Remember, the plural of anecdote is not data.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

Thank you my friend, I can really use it :)

[truthfreedom]

So, you’re comparing smoking pot to murder then.

No wonder we lose so many elections.

I thought one of the points of Free Republic was to push for less government.

Well, the Republican party does contain some buffoons who want
to make or keep things they don’t like illegal. The media points shows those buffoons to young people, says “the Republicans say they want less government, but these buffoons are Republicans. Are the Republicans really for less government?” And it becomes difficult for Republicans to get the message out that they’re the party of less government. And we don’t get the votes of certain young people who are for less government, but aren’t up on all the issues.

[Star Traveler]

You said — I thought one of the points of Free Republic was to push for less government.

—

Murdering kids..., no... laws should be made to stop the killing of 50 million kids. Having sex with kids, no..., the laws should be enforced so that minors are not engaging in sex with kids. Homosexuals wanting to marry, no..., laws should be enacted to prevent homosexuals from engaging in their perversions. Taking illegal drugs, no..., laws should be kept on the books and enforced with people buying, selling or using illegal drugs.

Sorry, I’m not for no laws and the resulting mayhem and the disintegration of society...

[dragnet2]

Pot smokers will tell ya, tobacco is 20 times more addictive. Fact is, Tobacco is like Heroin as far as addition goes.

[tacticalogic]

Sorry, I’m not for no laws and the resulting mayhem and the disintegration of society...

How are you on propaganda and talking points based on specious arguments like fallacies of false dilemma?