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.

[DBtoo]

Why don't you go have another glass of scotch or two and maybe you'll settle down a bit. Or maybe you've already had too much and that is why you are being so aggressive. You need to inform yourself of the facts before making these bold, unfounded statements.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

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

Do you have an English translation for this?

[vin-one]

I have opened my eyes, long ago.

Obviously you haven't, nobody I have ever seen agrees that minors should be allowed to smoke or drink.....

But you keep posting that is what the dopers want. Maybe in your twisted view.

If anything MJ would be harder to get for minors once it is legalized.
At least that way, the gov't can have some sort of control, where as now they have none.

[DBtoo]

The crime in the Netherlands is not a result of the coffee shops, it's a result of the influx of third world immigrants. That is well known. The Dutch are very peaceful people. The Arab immigrants are not. The very conservative politicians have always tried to re-criminalize pot without any success. You are comparing apples with oranges.

[vin-one]

If you potheads need a fix so bad, why not try Prozac?

Because we don't want to get addicted to drugs, we would like to be able to sit back relax in our own homes without the fear of persecution, the same way you do with you six pack of Budweiser.

Which by the way have you heard that MJ is less harmful than booze and is certainly less addictive

[Dakmar]

Further proof that alcohol damages the brain more than pot.

You got it. Not mention how much more annoying drunks are, myself occasionally included.

[newcats]

You got it. Not mention how much more annoying drunks are, myself occasionally included

It is heartening to see that you admit that you are a "drunk" (your own word)...Remember the first step towards recovery is admitting that you have a problem. :)

[4Freedom]

If you believe that crime would have been reduced if The Netherlands could have kept out 3rd world immigrants while legalizing recreational drugs, it's you that are mistaken.

If you give people free recreational drugs and take away the profit from selling recreational drugs, these addicts will still continue to steal to support the lifestyle they want to have.

Do you believe that drug-using gang-bangers are going to lose their desire for your cars, car stereos, cash, gold chains, other jewelry, tv's, vcr's and everything else, because you legalized recreational narcotics?

They still have to steal to party, to eat, to afford tatoos and body piercings. That stuff doesn't come cheap, you know?

[Dakmar]

I worded that badly. I'm occasionally drunk, but always annoying, at least to statists.

[4Freedom]

"It works better than any other pain meds on the market."

Guess who must have never been in any serious pain before?

[tacticalogic]

This is one of the several contrived lies contained in the article. Do you guys ever read actual studies on the topic? Sometimes, I think that there are people who really believe that if a written piece can make it into print it must, ipso facto, have accurate information.

I think I found where she's getting her information. It's the only place I've seen the information she quotes on the study of the pilots. Go here.

Be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. Then go wash your hands.

[vin-one]

Do you believe that drug-using gang-bangers are going to lose their desire for your cars, car stereos, cash, gold chains, other jewelry, tv's, vcr's and everything else, because you legalized recreational narcotics?

As far as the criminal element you mention.
The big difference with legalized drugs is that now the cops would be able to focus on real crime versus,
the crime of injesting something the gov't thinks is bad for you.

I think you should change your name to Limited freedom, or My version of freedom, Or Freedom as long as big brother says its ok....

[vin-one]

Booze doesn't leave any permanent or long-term damage to mental functioning. And although I enjoy a good shot of whiskey or a glass of vino with meals, I would hardly say I "need" it to get by. Heck, I'm probably more addicted to caffeine than anything.

You and I are obviously on the same wave length here, an occasional hit of the leafy green substance,
I don't need it, crave it, or have to have it,
I have brothers who were/are alcoholics, and others who are pot heads,
the ones who smoke weed, have quit, with no problems, the alcoholic quit after losing family, friends, job, house,
and the long term affect is that it contributed to his cancer that killed him.
MJ affect on the brain are limited, not long term or permanent.
I have seen for myself what long term abuse of both will do to a person, and the recovery and abstinence from both, in comparison is MJ is much easier to get away from than the alcohol by a long shot.

now for the casual user, weekend warrior, the effects of boozing it up versus toking it up one night the booze impact is still there the next morning, the MJ impact is that they are a little more hungry than hungover.

[4Freedom]

Try and lay off the personal attacks and name-calling and concentrate on the post I was replying to.

The Netherlands legalized recreational drugs and CRIME INCREASED, DRAMATICALLY! The same thing would happen here.

The dopers don't have to steal to buy their dope and they can use it out in the open. All you've done is free up their time to concentrate on committing all their other crime.

The only thing that The Netherlands accomplished is their criminals can keep more of the profit from their crimes. They don't have to spend it on dope.

Great plan.

[headsonpikes]

"...docile substance..." bttt.

[Virginia-American]

Booze doesn't leave any permanent or long-term damage to mental functioning

Read a description of Korsakoff's syndrome in "The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat" by Oliver Sacks

[vin-one]

I had to do more than wash my hands, I need a shower now, that was the funniest thing I have read in a long time.....

[Wolfie]

The Netherlands did not legalize recreational drugs. Heck, they haven't even legalized marijuana. Sales of small quantities in licensed establishments are officially tolerated. Production and large-scale trafficking in marijuana remains illegal. All other drugs are just as illegal in the Netherlands as they are in the U.S.