Ethic Delima: Marijuana?

[ivan3]

Medical utility is obvious (and has been for over a decade). The most concentrated work on `marijuana' is being done by
Prof. Raphael Mechoulam in Israel (primarily on development of synthetics that impact our own endocannabinoid receptors).

http://pharmacy.huji.ac.il/eng/staff_win.asp?id=66#1

A link to some specific research and findings: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/econ-tef101207.php

 

[conradpdx]

Quote:
I quit smoking pot 10 years ago without a hitch cold turkey and never relapsed, never suffered from withdrawls. I've quit smoking tobacco at least 50 times since then and probably will again in the near future (my last vice). And I was a heavy (ie near daily) pot smoker for well over 10 years. Pot isn't addictive, it is habit forming (there is a big difference), and from first hand experience I can say motivation to quit can be problem to one who is stoned, but any kind of motivation is hard when one is stoned.

But I think your wrong if you think that legalizing it wont make a difference. Government would have a new tax revenue (which it desperately needs right now), the drugs wont be trafficked and all the violence that goes with it's raising and distribution, the legal system would be freed up both in case numbers and cost, farmers would have a new cash crop, new cloths, oils (hemp is one of the best bio-fuel candidates), and for the users the quality of the product would be better. It's not uncommon to see people smoking pot laced with other drugs that they don't know are there, which wouldn't happen if it were legal and gone commercial (who knows? perhaps your friends pot was laced with Draino or PCP when they suffered panic attacks?).

And I suspect recreational use would drop considerably if it were legal. Part of it's cool factor is "sticking it to the man."


<edit> I believe that the synthetic forms of THC aren't being invented because of any issues with pot in its natural state, but as way for the pharmacies to charge a ton of money for something that nearly anyone can grow with a pot and some dirt. It didn't get the nickname weed for no reason.

 

[Cetawin]

I live in Oregon where Marijuana is legal in this State for medicinal use. Individuals must attend classes, being treating with a physician for a condition such as chronic pain, etc etc and be given a medical marijuana card.

I see both good and bad from this...

the Good:

Marijuana is a plant with healing properties and drugs are made from plants in 98% of the cases. Using the actual plant (untreated and untampered with), is beneficial for chronic pain as well as several eye conditions.


the Bad:

There is not enough monitoring of those given the cards or regulating the actual control of the substance. IMHO

It can and often does, lead to abuse and addiction. It also puts the substance in a commonly available status for use by others NOT allowed to have the substance.

My main gripe with it... while it is legal here in this state, it is still a controlled/illegal substance by our federal law and therefore, in my opinion and view, illegal period. I do not believe that a State has the right to rule an illegal item legal within its borders. It sets a precedent for other illegal items being made legal in certain areas that are NOT necessarily a benefit overall.

So, my opinion...it either needs to be made legal across the Country and taxed, regulated and controlled as any other product is or it needs to remain illegal.

On the issue of Abortion. I personally would never have one and have faced that situation/choice. I chose to take my chances and keep the pregnancy. Did I risk my life doing so? Absolutely and I almost lost my life giving birth to her. However, it would have been worse for me to abort my child and try to live with that, than to die trying to have my child.

However, having said that, I believe it is the personal choice and right of each individual woman to make. No one should have the right to tell a woman what she can or cannot do with her body and a decision that will affect the rest of her life.

Too many young women get pregnant and keep the pregnancy expecting the father of the child to be there, to help support and so forth and end up struggling alone for many years. I think the government needs to keep its nose out of our reproductive systems and personal future choices. afterall, being a parent is a tough job this days and while fathers do their part, it is not the ame job as a mother. Sheesh, we already have everyone and their brothers trying to watch how we treat our children, how we talk to them, blah blah blah and enlightening us to what we HAVE to do as parents but all the while, taking away our ability to properly raise our children. But that is a topic all together different. Therefore, it is her body and her choice. Period.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
exactly and nothing more.

 

[HennysMom]

From someone who watched their father through the ills of cancer, chemo and radiation - I would vote for medicinal marijuana (either pill form of Marinol *although synthetic - its based off of being derived from marijuana* or medicinal strength to smoke) 8 days a week and twice on Sunday. It helped my father SOOO much and if it could bring a dying man some relief - then I'm all for it.

That man had a QUALITY of life taking Marinol and medicinal MJ in the short 55 days from diagnosis of cancer to his death and anything that gave me my "old" dad for a few hours, I'm all for. This was a man who gave 26 years to the USMC plus another 25 years to the fed gov't - who didnt even take Tylenol unless he was screaming in agony from a headache. Tells ya something doesnt it?

 

[skand]

The constitution was written on hemp paper. Cat nip is part of the cannibis plant. There is too many good parts to the plant, but everyone sees it as bad. Give everyone in government a hootie, let them all decide after they are done smoking, whether it really is a bad thing.
You never see two stoners/ hippies arguing over who called who's ole lady what... you see them laughing. You always see two drunks fighting over who called who what.
There are drunk driving deaths almost every minute of the day. How many can you count on your hand as to being listed as 'was stoned and driving'?

 

[blueskylen]

My opinion:

it should be used medically for those that it would help.

it is like tobacco and can cause lung cancer, plus it is addictive and impares judgement. it sometimes changes users personalities, and encourages harder drug use, such as heroin etc.

i do not like the medical communities promoting dangerous chemical medicines and outlawing vitamins and herbs as therapy, which is what they are trying to do. Someday we may not be able to take a multi vitamin!

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
So far I don't believe their is any link from pot smoking to cancer, I may have missed that report though. There is a link to cancer from barbecueing and charred meat. There is links with many of our loved foods. There is a link to heart disease from animal proteins and salt.

There is absolutely no evidence that it is addictive, it is however habit forming as many other activities that stimulates the senses, such as sex, running, knuckle popping, chewing gum, eating HOT spicy foods. As far as changing personalities I only have to list the many, many drugs for depression that in some cases has reverse affects and suicides and ARE addictive. Though I do not do any drugs at all or even drink for that matter. I have never heard of anybody committing suicide from smoking pot.

 

[HennysMom]

Quote:
So far I don't believe their is any link from pot smoking to cancer, I may have missed that report though. There is a link to cancer from barbecueing and charred meat. There is links with many of our loved foods. There is a link to heart disease from animal proteins and salt.

There is absolutely no evidence that it is addictive, it is however habit forming as many other activities that stimulates the senses, such as sex, running, knuckle popping, chewing gum, eating HOT spicy foods. As far as changing personalities I only have to list the many, many drugs for depression that in some cases has reverse affects and suicides and ARE addictive. Though I do not do any drugs at all or even drink for that matter. I have never heard of anybody committing suicide from smoking pot.

Agreed Walking - agreed! Big Pharma is by far worse for us than MJ... 100% worse!

 

[Guitartists]

Interesting thread.....

From what I've gathered over the years, BOTH the pro and the con side of this issue tend to stretch or twist facts to achieve a desired opinion on the matter.

After much personal debate on the subject and having seen many sides of it within my circle of friends and family.... I have to agree that legalization is the only way to go in the future. The pros outweigh the cons.