Posted on 08/24/2002 5:59:05 PM PDT by aculeus
Again, wonderful post.
I appreciate the commentary. I usually avoid the threads simply because I don't always want to get into a peeing match with people with WHom I often agree on other issues.
The people that I agree with the most are my most favored opponents. They have the only lever that could change my opinion, my respect.
EBUCK
The Victorians looked at the use of hemp on Indian (from India) workers, whether they should make any attempt at suppression, because of ill effects. They didn't find any and didn't attempt a prohibition.
"It is folly to legalise a drug that is known to leave users with permanent damage to their ability to reason, argues Susan Greenfield, the distinguished expert on brain processes."
We need to criminalize alcohol, obviously.
Relatively easy, to be sure. When one has exceeded the safe dosage of alcohol, they, in order of potential, lose control of gross motor skills, vomit (if he's lucky), lose consciousness, and die. When one has exceeded the safe dosage of marijuana, they fall asleep.
Now, if you're referring to the dosage that an individual might have ingested, I will agree somewhat. I think what has to be done is what used to be done with DUI's before the mad mothers got hold of things. Basically, if you looked drunk and had a good amount of alcohol in your system, you would generally be hauled in (or given a ride home in the real old days).
There's still the problem of measuring. We know that THC can be measured in the body by means of a urine test. But that isn't practical for the ordinary traffic stop. Gender issues aside, most cops do NOT want roadside urinalysis duties. If I was a cop, I'd want to be shooting bad guys, not holding a silly little jar for some apparently intoxicated motorist who is having trouble aiming. *(sorry, bad visual)* There needs to be a breathalyzer kind of thing for THC if there is to be an effective way to enforce a "level of intoxication" type of rule. This would ideally be used along with observation (and video backup) of behavior, dilated pupils, and that kind of thing. There needs to be measurable indicators to go along with visual indicators and I agree that they aren't easily available.
But, the ones who have lost their ability to reason are the drug warriors. Alcohol and tobacco are far more destructive than marijuana, yet the former are legal and the latter not. Furthermore, logical fallicies such as confusing correlation for causation and cyclic arguments are the bread and butter of the prohibitionists.
There's no way to ascertain or monitor a correct, safe dosage. While it's relatively easy to do with alcohol.
At best, the society has some interest in determining if someone is intoxicated - on mj or booze or whatever. But to ascertain and monitor safe dosages of mj is stupid. They don't do this with alcohol, in fact the product (alcohol) is distributed in all kinds of different size packags -- pints and kegs of beer, or single cocktails and fifths of liquor. People who use alcohol determine for themselves their appropriate dosage. Some people cannot handle their booze and end up binging and feeling sick the next day. Those who don't feel sick the next day are likely to develop serious problems if they continue episodes of binge drinking. The dosage for mj would be found the same way - through individual preference and use. Some people will want to smoke a lot of mj, while others will find one or two puffs all they need or want.
The assertion Greenfield makes regarding the length of time mj stays in your system, and so affects the ability to accurately guage dosage, is highly questionable. The thc itself is broken down by the body and the effects of the drugs wear off. What remains in the body are the metabolites that worked to break down the thc in the body. THC breaks down quickly (within hours of ingestion), but the related metabolites take much longer (weeks) to be removed from the body because they are fat soluble. Alcohol on the other hand is water soluble, so alcohol and it's related metabolites do not last in the body as long.
Ms. Greenfield claims to be an expert in the field of neuroscience but she appears to be lacking in the "science" part of her field. It's hard to believe she is a scientist because she makes assertions under the guise of science that are based upon her beliefs. Sure, a scientist can "believe" in his/her cause and in the hypotheses they are testing. However, this woman proposes a form of studying her claims that mj causes brain damage, but then immediately dismisses such an effort as unfeasable. In other words, she sets up a straw man to knock down. She says (let me paraphrase): we should study the problem this way, but since we can't, we'll never know, but I believe this is the way it is. While she is passionate about her views, her passion does not make up for her flimsy theory regarding the effects of mj on the brain. Research into the affects of mj on brain function would be better served if it were conducted by psychologists. Ms. Greenfield poses an interesting theory, but until she isolates the physiological mechanism behind the mj induced brain transformation, she's just blowin' smoke. This article is meant to dissuade people who consider themselves logical, scientific thinkers from supporting mj legalization. Anyone with a scientific background and familiarization with the issues should read through this article to exactly what it is - propaganda.
As for alcohol - less than a fifth of liquor can kill someone of average size if they consume it all at once. Alcohol is regularly sold in quantities that could kill you if you drank if too fast.
Agree!
Here's an excerpt from the bottom of the page:
"...behavior revealed that under the influence of marihuana, users tend to become more conservative in the decision making.
bold emphasis mine of course, lol
So, pot smoking makes one more conservative?
Legalize it NOW!
Well, all of your good intentions acknowledged, this is mostly a large pile of steaming BULL !!!!
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