Research helps dispel marijuana myths

Sober Talk ^ | Thursday, August 1, 2002 | By BECKY CLARK, MSW, CSW

[Behind Liberal Lines]

As we endeavor toward a more lucid and informed discussion of substance abuse, let's deconstruct the mystique of marijuana and recognize it for the dangerous drug that it is.

Marijuana is a substance that's worthy of our concern. It is the most prevalent of all illicit drugs used in the country. The 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that 34 percent of Americans have used marijuana in their lifetime and 5 percent are current users.

[Pistias]

I know. That's why I said "totally agree."

[Zon]

I know that's why in my post to you I made sure to acknowledge your phrase by including it in my written reply.

[Zon]

OUCH! ;^)

[Pistias]

Oh yeah? Well, I know you knew that I knew you knew what you know I meant. So there. ;)

[Dakmar]

Just attempting to break up the static while trying out new idiot bait.

[Zon]

LOL!! m

That was good.

[DJ MacWoW]

Sorry to disillusion you potheads but Larry really exists. Keep smoking the "safe" stuff and you too can search for simple words during a conversation. He was difficult to listen to and a simple sentence took forever. It's one of the saddest things I've ever witnessed. And be very careful about calling people untruthful no matter how "cute" it's phrased.

[rb22982]

How about 20 year old, only tried pot twice ever, disliked it (I prefer my bud light thanks), computer guru, in college and working full time. There is no logical reason to keep pot illegal and alcohol legal, at all. The war on marijuana was started by FDR, a huge socialist, and henry anslinger, who was losing prestige and power after the end of prohibition (the first drug czar of the US) and was also a huge statist.

The average pot smoker today based on my experience at my high school (one of the highest rated public school in NC), and college (GTCC and WCU), is middle to upper class white people who dress nicely, make average to superb grades (my grade's valerdictorian and saludictorian smoked pot religiously--with GPAs of 5.1 and 5.04 respectively). The people I've met in my little experience in the business field who smoke pot range from cashier to store/regional managers to network administrators.

[liberallarry]

The point most pot-smokers - including myself - are trying to make is that the dangers have been grossly exagerated. Not that there are no dangers.

Consider your statement;

The difference is that those 10 potatoes don't adversely affect a person's mental abilities...

Now what makes you think pot always - or even mostly - adversely affects a person's mental abilities (or other abilities)? In the right quantities and under the right circumstances pot

1)improves physical functioning. skiers, runners and swimmers know this. I know it from personal experience.
2)loosens one up in social situations.
3)enhances creativity and appreciation of music and the arts

However, it doesn't always work and this is one experience where more is definitely not better.

Drug use is an aspect of reality. Like any other aspect there are dangers as well as benefits and it takes experience and intelligence to know the difference and make reasonable choices. Why would you think otherwise?

[Whilom]

While the druggies shout liberty, they mean license.

[vin-one]

Sorry to hear you got your hand slapped, 20 lashes with a wet noodle for you Dane.

I wish I could have seen it before it got yanked.

[Whilom]

Sightful enough to realize that your claims are about as likely as rain in Abilene in August. And smart enough not to be taken in.

[Whilom]

Smoking truth and to share it all the have to do is open your eyes.

[DBtoo]

Marijuana is not nearly as harmful as alcohol. I think they have the wrong drug illegal. You can't OD on it, it doesn't produce crazy, aggresive behavior; if anything, it can tear up the lungs with heavy use, but has almost no harmful social consequences. The Powers That Be have their reasons for wanting to keep it illegal, and I betcha that reason has to do with money, and lots of it.

[newcats]

The country is filled with marijuana users leading normal wasting, unproductive lives. Haven't you noticed

Got any examples of them? And before you mention the "bum oin the street corner"....you had better be able to back up that it is from smoking pot that caused it. Seems that sobriety breeds overgeneralization.

[JediGirl]

Yeah? And they'll clean out your supply of Twinkies in a heartbeat if you don't keep an eye on them!

I'm thinking more along the lines of a pint of Ben and Jerry's chocolate chip cookie dough or cookies n cream. :P

[newcats]

My religion centers more around getting loaded on whiskey, marijuana smoke serves about the same purpose as incense does in some of the more well-known Christian Denominations.

Further proof that alcohol damages the brain more than pot.

[DBtoo]

It's also an excellent pain-killer. It works much better than any pain meds on the market. Perhaps it's a threat to the all-powerful pharmaceutical industry.