I would legalize it with basically the same restrictions as alcohol. (I am not saying they have the same effect) It tends to affect everyone a little differently, so limitations should be placed on driving or operating heavy machinery while using. MJ definitely can negatively change your physical health, although probably not as much as tobacco or alcohol, so I would agree to a minimum age of 18 or 21. I don't smoke MJ. Just can't stand the smell, makes my stomach contract and roll, but i don't really care if other people do. Oh! also yes MJ can be a powerful pain reliever, so I can see the medical issue, but I'd still rather put more emphasis on cancer or Parkinson's research then on legalizing medicinal MJ. Anyway that's my random two cents
Yeah so you have no problem that they control who can do research and primarily only allow those who are against it. If someone truly cared about the medical 'facts' one would be outraged by this.
In the book I mentioned previously it quotes one of the main obstacles to legalization is the big pharmaceutical companies who stand to lose a fortune. Its curious that American drug companies and pharmacist groups supply almost half the funding for the 4,000 “Families Against Marijuana†type organizations in US The other half is supplied by Action (a federal VISTA agency) and by tobacco companies like Philip Morris, and by alcohol and beer makers like Anheuser Busch, Coors, etc., or as a “public service†by the ad agencies that represent them.
Plus the 'synthetic' is 'legal' for prescription, has 'medical value' but we are supposed to believe that the natural form does not have 'medical value' Plus those who claim the 'mental health issue' http://www.salem-news.com/articles/november072007/med_psyc_11707.php There are links to studies done, I have read several. I could post those, I however would love to see someone wanting 'studies' to be disapproving of those blocking studies from being done. I don't see that to be the case, ghee I wonder why?...
I used to smoke all the time but for the last 12 years, I only smoke once or twice a year. The only reason I stopped smoking regularly is because it's an expensive habit. I'd like to say I quit for health reasons but I smoke cigarettes so the whole health thing gets tossed out the window. I think marijuana should be legalized and regulated like alcohol. I've seen the positive affect of it as medicinal use with family members. That was before Canada govt started offering it for medicinal use and from what I hear, the marijuana they offer isn't quite as effective.
I don't have any investment in the argument of legalizing MJ so what I think about the DEA doesn't really matter. Raithe stated: I then get links to argue the benefits of MJ. I didn't dispute any evidence of the benefits in a controlled environment or treatment program. I wanted to know what were the evidence to the claim that MJ is not dangerous to a person's health. What you're arguing and what I'm asking are two different things.
They don't, the topic however was legalization of marijuana. I live in the US, you do as well according to your 'location' which makes me outraged that studies are not allowed to happen. I would think someone wanting to see a study would be outraged as well. But I see you have no plan in that, it's pretty obvious as to why Now if you don't wish to discuss the actual thread, or the facts that studies are stone walled, what exactly are you blabbering on about? ---- BTW most anything including water can be 'hazardous to your health' but since you wish to debate something totally different 'for what reason I do not know' and not discuss not being able to even study the object at hand, I honestly do not know what you're even doing in this thread.
Apparently you know my thoughts much better than I do so please do enlighten me. I asked a question that is relevant to this thread and it wasn't directed to you. Fortunately for me, you decided to jump on my question. So be it. With the burden of proof on your shoulders, instead of saying "I don't know", "there are none" or "there are only a limited amount of studies" I get links about DEA's involvement in the prevention of medical MJ studies here in the U.S with rants included. At least xmcp123 gave me something. You're still arguing a redundant fact that doesn't answer my question. While I'm not stating whether I'm for or against legalizing MJ I'm curious to hear what other people think on the matter. Now if you don't mind please...
You asked for studies, I responded with factual evidence of the DEA blocking studies that you are requesting. An ongoing discussion of the topic at hand, the topic of you wanting studies. How that is not relevant is beyond me. So in other words you have absolutely nothing to add to this thread and for the most part are simply a troll. Good to know BTW the 'burden of proof' is not on my shoulders as I never stated marijuana is completely harmless, I have stated the exact opposite. Anything and everything can be dangerous, you want studies, studies are blocked. one would think those would go hand in hand.
Normally I'd get mad at someone mocking a very serious disorder that I deal with every single day, but I'll just take consolation in the fact that you'll never win this arguement because it WON'T be legalized in the US, period. Whether its due to the taxing of it, children's access, our traditions, link to depersonalization, gangs, violence (*cough* Jamaica *cough*) etc., Its just not going to happen, so relax. No need to get so defensive, its not like I was even addressing you LOL. I was probably a bigger stoner than you anyway, so don't act like I don't know what I'm talking about. I've seen people living in cars spending $1,000 on that shit every month...Leaving all their friends behind to chill with drug dealers...But I know that most people in society won't go in that general direction, as long as you don't have any say in it
I am not mocking it, however just because 'even if' marijuana caused your condition, which even you will admit it was not the cause I'm sure, a small percent of people should not determine the fate for everyone else. Peanuts KILL PEOPLE which is far more serious than your condition. With your logic peanuts should be banned. That is not mocking, that is simple logic. LOL are you serious? Being illegal makes it far easier for kids to buy than liquor. It's a tradition to keep it banned? Are you serious? Ahh so everything linked to any possible medical problem should be banned. Yet http://www.salem-news.com/articles/n...psyc_11707.php How are gangs involved? Selling it? Well one would with any logic 'you do have some don't you?' know that gangs only profit from it being illegal. Again are you serious? Pot smokers are far less 'violent' than someone who is straight and not buzzed on anything. Far less 'violent' than drinkers. Whatever that means. Uh huh... You have no idea, bigger than I was. That's simply laughable. Ok now I know you're simply full of shit. Living in their cars, spending $1,000.00 a month. You are talking of crack smokers, heroin addicts, not pot. LOL, you do know what pot is don't you? Most 'drug dealers' are pot smokers themselves and friends of people in the first place. ---- BTW I have looked into this in the past, I guess caffeine should be banned! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depersonalization
We're both in the same both if you wish to call me that. The difference of the matter is that you're chasing me. You want to argue. If I were to state that aliens existed the obvious question would be where's my proof. I could argue that Area 51 has the evidence but because the government isn't releasing any documents I can't make my case. To the critics my reason wouldn't cut it. With the statement that MJ is not dangerous to the body I didn't accept your argument. Get over it. Yet, I accepted xmcp123's links. Why? If MJ is ever to be legal here in the U.S. then I would like to know much more than comparisons of alcohol and smoking. Legalizing MJ should be on its own merit if anything. So far I haven't heard a good argument to legalize MJ for social purposes.
I'm chasing you? Actually I believe I've wondered why you're even in here as you obviously have nothing to add. Wow what a twisted sense of logic you have. The government not releasing documents, compared to you wanting studies of which the government wont allow studies to happen. Not even close to the same, plus to top it off no outrage from you wanting these studies, that are not allowed to happen. I never argued it wasn't dangerous now did I? I am over it, you obviously are not as you have nothing to add to this thread. Yet again there are studies I could have listed, not to the point you asked however, plus my only intent was to bring up the fact that the government blocks such studies. But you know, instead of being outraged that we can't get an actual scientific basis, the studies you asked for, you instead go on yammering pointless post after pointless post. Ahh but you don't mind the government blocking such studies. Comparisons? That it's less addictive? You smoke 'if you smoke' much less than cigarettes, it can also be used differently to get away from the smoking side effects. It does not cause rage and anger such as drinking. It has many health benefits, but yeah there is not good arguments to have marijuana legal compared to that of tobacco or liquor.
Actually, it was the cause of my symptoms. And if you go to a depersonalization community, you will see thousands of people agreeing that it caused their symptoms. Many of whom cannot carry on normal lives because of it. And I was not making a case for it being banned, I just think it should be added to the discussion. Many people will say that there are no negative effects of pot... I've even seen it posted on this thread a couple of times. That simply is not the case. I'm surprised you personally responded to each of those reasons. I was just listing some of the popular reasons it may be banned. If you think that gangs and violence don't revolve around the drug industry, including pot, then you're crazy. I don't know where you live but crack and heroin (at least scramble and tar) are some of the cheapest drugs on the market. Coke and meth are a lot more pricey. As for weed, it falls somewhere in the middle. Its pretty expensive when you smoke it as often as my friends father did. He lived in his car and smoked morning day and night. Usually he would roll a few blunts in one sitting. He would also smoke up his daughter, who at the time was 15 (living with her mother) every day, giving her a blunt or two to take home. Sometimes I would go with them and smoke. He was a nice guy, but he always had at least half an ounce at all times on him, giving him no money to support his children or do something more meaningful with his life. Actually, I had a few friends who got into pot a few years back. Before that they were in college and pretty normal people - a very tight-knit group. They started stealing from each other, they would fight with one kid who they thought was smoking too much, started getting pissed off at each other for stupid things, most of this was in some obvious way related to pot. They also just weren't as much fun to hang out with. You're at a party having a good time and they're texting on their cell phone trying to find more weed. Then when they're done they're driving to wherever they have to go. Before you know it you can SEE that their lives revolve around it. Of course drug dealers are usually pot smokers themselves. But that doesn't mean they're always good people to hang out with. I had a few friends that dealt pot a few years back - and there was so much stealing from each other, so much DRAMA over everything you can think of related to pot. My friend got his house broken into by his best friend who stole his safe w/ oz's of weed and thousands of dollars. No this isn't one of the more "hard core" drug stories, but things like this lower people's quality of life. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be in a circle like that, and got out while I could. Oh and by the way, the wikipedia entry is talking about each and every episode of depersonalization. You don't have it 24/7, it usually comes a few times a week, for a few hours at a time. Each of those episodes may be triggered by something - for me its caffeine, fluorescent lights, exhaustion, being on an incline, etc. But the general disorder was caused by pot, for me, and those things wouldn't affect me at all if I didn't have depersonalization already. Do you get it? Caffeine doesn't create depersonalization disorder, it heightens it if you already are having an episode. Pot can create depersonalization disorder.