Marijuana Myths And Our Failed "drugwar"

[greasemonkey-seeking-nirvana]

MARIJUANA MYTHS
by Paul Hager
Chair, ICLU Drug Task Force

1. Marijuana causes brain damage-
The most celebrated study that claims to show brain damage is the rhesus monkey study of Dr. Robert Heath, done in the late 1970s. This study was reviewed by a distinguished panel of scientists sponsored by the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences. Their results were published under the title, Marijuana and Health in 1982. Heath's work was sharply criticized for its insufficient sample size (only four monkeys), its failure to control experimental bias, and the misidentification of normal monkey brain structure as "damaged". Actual studies of human populations of marijuana users have shown no evidence of brain damage. For example, two studies from 1977, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed no evidence of brain damage in heavy users of marijuana. That same year, the American Medical Association (AMA) officially came out in favor of decriminalizing marijuana. That's not the sort of thing you'd expect if the AMA thought marijuana damaged the brain.

REMAINDER DELETED - POST A LINK PLEASE (THE MOD)


http://www.drugtext.org/sub/marmyt1.html

 

[greasemonkey-seeking-nirvana]

What is so hard about following a PROVEN method of Drug Policy, the results are already in.

THE NETHERLANDS
In order to appreciate the Dutch approach to drug policy, certain characteristics of Dutch society must be kept in mind. The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated, urbanized countries in the world. It has a population of 15.5 million, occupying an area of no more than 41,526 km2. The Dutch firmly believe in the freedom of the individual, with the government playing no more than a background role in religious or moral issues. A cherished feature of Dutch society is the free and open discussion of such issues. A high value is attached to the well-being of society as a whole, as witness the extensive social security system and the fact that everyone has access to health care and education.

PORTION DELETED BY MODERATOR --- POST A LINK PLEASE

To see the rates of drug use comparitively---- www.csdp.org/ads/dutch2.htm

Licit and Ilicit Drug Use in Amsterdam, 1987 to 2001: Development of Drug Use in Amsterdam, as Measured in Five Population Surveys Between 1987 and 2001
www.cedrouva.org/lib/abraham.licit.pdf

The Limited Relevance of Drug Policy: Cannibis in Amsterdam and in San Francisco
www.mapinc.org/lib/limited.pdf

 

[greasemonkey-seeking-nirvana]

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE INSANITY OF OUR CURRENT "DRUGWAR", IT IS TIME TO BE RETHOUGHT AND AN SUCCESSFUL APPROACH PUT INTO EFFECT, SENDING A QAUDRIPLEGIC TO JAIL TO DIE IS TO INSANE TO COMPREHEND


Jonathan Magbie's Last Hours
Posted by CN Staff on November 05, 2004 at 2214 PT
By Colbert I. King
Source: Washington Post
"Another inmate named Jason Foster and I were cleaning the floor around 11 or 11:30 at night when we noticed Jonathan was in his cell, and he was sweating. He could barely talk," said Darryl Carter in a phone call from the Youngstown, Ohio, jail where he is now assigned. Carter was describing what he saw in a D.C. jail annex called the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF) on Sept. 23 -- Jonathan Magbie's last night on Earth. Magbie is the 27-year-old quadriplegic who was sentenced to 10 days in the D.C. jail on Sept. 20 for simple possession of marijuana. Magbie used a ventilator at night to sleep but was without it for five consecutive days. Magbie died on Sept. 24 while in the city's custody.

.....

That was three months before Judge Retchin sent Magbie to jail. Oh, my goodness.

Source: Washington Post (DC)
Author: Colbert I. King
Published: Saturday, November 6, 2004; Page A23
Copyright: 2004 Washington Post
Contact: letterstoed@washpost.com
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com



http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread19777.shtml

 

[greasemonkey-seeking-nirvana]

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/090904ethan.cfm


Drug Czar Attacks the Alliance's Nadelmann in National Review; Nadelmann Replies
Thurs, Sept. 09, 2004


In July the Alliance made waves when executive director Ethan Nadelmann's cover story on marijuana legalization ran in National Review, America's leading conservative magazine (see the fully footnoted version here).

Nadelmann's article was well-received in conservative circles -- throwing drug czar John Walters into a tizzy.

This led National Review to do something truly remarkable: the magazine gave Walters a forum to air the Bush administration's views on marijuana while also allowing Nadelmann the opportunity to rebut Walters's erroneous claims. Since the drug czar shuns debates, this might be as close as we get -- for some time -- to a face-to-face discussion with the man who steers the U.S. government's harmful and out-of-control marijuana policies

 

[Seatacus]

Man....you get the cut and paste award.

 

[greasemonkey-seeking-nirvana]

Thanks 😉

I just want to put the information out and thats the easiest way to do it.

A lot of hysteria and disinformation out there about Marijuana, most likely reinforced and supported by the Pharmacological and Liquor Industries.

Our "DRUGWAR" is a dismal failure and definitely needs to be rethought.

 

[firstamendment]

Thanks 😉

I just want to put the information out and thats the easiest way to do it.

A lot of hysteria and disinformation out there about Marijuana, most likely reinforced and supported by the Pharmacological and Liquor Industries.

Our "DRUGWAR" is a dismal failure and definitely needs to be rethought.

[post="199203"][/post]​

I will admit I have lived a wild life and only one drug of ALL of them ever made me mean, violent, depressed, or suicidal.......ALCOHOL!!

 

[local 12 proud]

I will admit I have lived a wild life and only one drug of ALL of them ever made me mean, violent, depressed, or suicidal.......ALCOHOL!!

[post="199389"][/post]​

so very true! ive not checked the statistics but im willing to bet ya a great number of vehicle fatalities can be attributed to Alcohol vs Cannabis.

 

[firstamendment]

The drug problem also has it's roots in a lot of racism. Almost every drug outlawed today was because white christian conservatives were under the impression that blacks were using these drugs like cocaine to rape their daughter. I feel drugs should be legalized because those that want them will get them...period. The problem is that with all the money we spend in law enforcement, prisons, and the courts, we could take the stuff off the black market, tax it and pay down the national debt. Hell, we might not have to have personal taxes at all. As Chris Rock said...People just like to get f@@@ed up. It's just hypocritical to legalize one and demonize the others.

Now let me just add this.. I do not use drugs. Today's designer drugs like e and crystal meth really miss with your head and I almost die from using them. I barely drink a glass of wine. I put my family thru hell when that happened.

So why do I support legalization? Education and learning the hard way have always been the staple of growth. Why ruin a life and use tax money because of a stupid decision usually made young in life.

Just stay away from all of them. They WERE fun, but my life is much more valuable.

 

[Dea Certe]

firstamendment,

I agree completely. Alcohol does much more damage over all. Legalize some drugs and tax them to high heaven, like cigarettes. Make school kids have to take drug and alcohol education classes, like driver's education. A portion of the taxes could be used to pay for such classes.

Gee, maybe people could be required to get licenses in order to purchase drugs and alcohol. Good little revenue stream there!

I think you're right about the racism issue and some drugs, like crack cocaine. Seems I recall there were some rumors that the CIA was selling crack in poverty-stricken black neighborhoods. Supposedly, the CIA was using the money to buy guns for some Central American rebels. As I understand it, meth was mostly used by white, biker types in the beginning. Much cheaper than speed and easy to make.

I am so grateful I never got caught up in that stuff. I'm dangerous enough with the few brain cells God gave me anyway.

I just never understood all the uproar about marijuana. Most people I knew who smoked it didn't have the energy to do much more than wander the aisles of the 7-11 looking for Mallow Mars.

Dea

 

[firstamendment]

firstamendment,

I agree completely. Alcohol does much more damage over all. Legalize some drugs and tax them to high heaven, like cigarettes. Make school kids have to take drug and alcohol education classes, like driver's education. A portion of the taxes could be used to pay for such classes.

Gee, maybe people could be required to get licenses in order to purchase drugs and alcohol. Good little revenue stream there!

I think you're right about the racism issue and some drugs, like crack cocaine. Seems I recall there were some rumors that the CIA was selling crack in poverty-stricken black neighborhoods. Supposedly, the CIA was using the money to buy guns for some Central American rebels. As I understand it, meth was mostly used by white, biker types in the beginning. Much cheaper than speed and easy to make.

I am so grateful I never got caught up in that stuff. I'm dangerous enough with the few brain cells God gave me anyway.

I just never understood all the uproar about marijuana. Most people I knew who smoked it didn't have the energy to do much more than wander the aisles of the 7-11 looking for Mallow Mars.

Dea

[post="200649"][/post]​

Well Dea,

I only HAVE two brain cells LEFT, and they are constantly circling one another. :unsure: 😛

 

[greasemonkey-seeking-nirvana]

Here it from the drug warriors themselves;

http://www.leap.cc/

http://www.judgesagainstthedrugwar.org/

 

[BillLumbergh]

Post the links please...

 

[MrAeroMan]

The drug problem also has it's roots in a lot of racism. Almost every drug outlawed today was because white christian conservatives were under the impression that blacks were using these drugs like cocaine to rape their daughter.

[post="199606"][/post]​

Naturally you have proof of this conspiracy correct??

 

[firstamendment]

Naturally you have proof of this conspiracy correct??

[post="227099"][/post]​

Well Aeroman,

I never called it a conspiracy. Those were YOUR words, but the History Channel had a wonderful program on the history of the various drugs and pointed this out through their will informed documentations. Now if you think the History Channel lies or distorts, write them an email. I guess all will depend if you think those involved are a part of the "liberal media bias".

Don't be so quick to judge or dismiss. <_<