Quote :

"“Medical marijuana is one step away from the FDA development process, where it should be. Science, not politics, needs to determine whether medical marijuana should be made legal, and the DEA has so far tried to block the scientific process,” said University of Massachusetts-Amherst Professor Lyle Craker, who six years ago petitioned DEA for a license to grow research-grade marijuana for use in privately-funded, FDA-approved studies that aim to develop the plant into a legal, prescription medicine. “I hope that the Deputy Administrator acts quickly to allow this critical research to move forward.”"

http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/29857prs20070523.html

5/24/2007 8:42:22 PM

So what would be the difference in this and in Marinol? This new medicine wouldn't suck?

5/24/2007 8:44:49 PM

i'm for the legalization of marijuana

anyone who's ever smoked weed KNOWS that, as a drug, it's basically on par with alcohol

but this medical angle is lame

if it works... good

it's just that people really don't care if it's good as a medicine, they just want to be able to smoke weed

I don't like the disingenuous nature of it all

5/24/2007 8:46:14 PM

i dont think everyone for legalization simply "wants to be able to smoke weed legally"

i'll tell you smoking a joint before an 18 hour day of deep sea fishing works better than dramamine or bonine as far as motion sickness

5/24/2007 8:54:40 PM

says, "TreeTwista"

5/24/2007 9:03:55 PM

yeah because since weed is currently illegal, nobody smokes it because that would be against the law

5/24/2007 9:09:09 PM

Quote :

"it's just that people really don't care if it's good as a medicine, they just want to be able to smoke weed"

I have no desire to smoke weed and I am 100% for the legalization of pot.

5/24/2007 9:15:07 PM

^

5/24/2007 9:16:39 PM

Quote :

"m for the legalization of marijuana anyone who's ever smoked weed KNOWS that, as a drug, it's basically on par with alcohol but this medical angle is lame "

anyone that knows about history will tell you that marijuana's legal status is PURELY political. During the great depression the South Western states needed a reason to kick all the extra mexicans laying around back to Mexico. So with their petition, the help of a grumpy media giant aka William Randolph Hearst, and several Federal Agencies that dealt with substance control (that were facing unemployment at the end of prohibition) got the Marijuana Stamp Tax Act passed in 1937. Any negative connotations about marijuana all stem from a propaganda campaign that started in this period. The hippies did not help much either in the 60's. Back in the 30's they actually had documentaries based on "real incidents" were marijuana induced teens killed there parents or raped chicks.

There is no good reason that marijuana while shit like alcohol, caffeine, and psycho-active prescription pills are rampant.

[Edited on May 24, 2007 at 9:26 PM. Reason : l]

5/24/2007 9:24:54 PM

caffeine wakes you up in the morning

weed makes you want to go back to sleep

5/24/2007 9:29:49 PM

wake n bake to class is fun tho

5/24/2007 9:50:53 PM

^^ It's different for different people. A friend of mine use to do it first thing in the morning.

5/24/2007 10:38:51 PM

Hell, I used to do it first thing in the morning.

Better than anything you could get as a perscription.

5/25/2007 12:26:17 AM

note to self...hang out with vix at some point

5/25/2007 12:59:42 AM

Quote :

"note to self...hang out with vix at some point "

Done and done.



[Edited on May 25, 2007 at 1:24 AM. Reason : yes I am drunk]

5/25/2007 1:19:06 AM

since chit chat is all about fucking right now...u ever have sex after getting high?



[Edited on May 25, 2007 at 1:31 AM. Reason : i havent but i hear its good]

5/25/2007 1:26:10 AM

I'm all for this, and I've never smoked a joint in my life.

However, I admit that I've always been a little curious about marijuana. I wouldn't mind trying it at least once, but preferably I'd try it when it's finally legal.

5/25/2007 1:34:20 AM

Quote :

"I'm all for this, and I've never smoked a joint in my life."

5/25/2007 1:58:14 AM

Quote :

"I have no desire to smoke weed and I am 100% for the legalization of pot."

5/25/2007 3:22:40 AM

i'll be interested to see how this works out...the gov has a history of blocking scientific studies since the major one they funded in the mid 20th century, produced results that they didn't like.

5/25/2007 9:38:18 AM

Quote :

"but preferably I'd try it when it's finally legal."

yeah b.c as soon as you take a puff in your own private residence the DEA is going to knock your door down and arrest you for possessing a joint. Were you one of those people that waited till they were 21 to sip your first beer.

5/25/2007 11:32:28 AM

^I was, actually.

I break lots of little laws all the time (eg speeding), but I've got too much shit going on for it all to be ruined by a run-in with the poe-lice just because there's this huge stigma on weed and under-aged drinking.

5/25/2007 1:00:28 PM

Quote :

"because there's this huge stigma on weed and under-aged drinking."

you're joking, right?

5/25/2007 1:04:19 PM

Okay, maybe not for under-aged drinking. But last time I checked, most employers, schools, etc, don't look kindly upon people who have been convicted of drug-related crimes, even if it's something as small as smoking a joint. You're probably right and it's very unlikely that I'd ever get my door busted down as I light up, but for various reasons I don't feel like it's worth the risk right now. Once it's legally acceptible and nobody gives a fuck anymore, then I've got absolutely nothing to fear.

5/25/2007 1:21:34 PM

nvm

[Edited on May 25, 2007 at 1:42 PM. Reason : i think umbrella man is way too paranoid...like so paranoid its scary]

5/25/2007 1:34:51 PM

Maybe DARE did too good a job of indoctrinating me.

5/25/2007 1:44:27 PM

^At least you're realistic about the unfounded stigma surrounding it eventhough you don't smoke.....I can respect that.

5/25/2007 1:49:15 PM

Quote :

"Okay, maybe not for under-aged drinking. But last time I checked, most employers, schools, etc, don't look kindly upon people who have been convicted of drug-related crimes,"

maybe it is b.c my industry is more "liberal" but at a job I had at one telecommunications company I remember employees and even the manager joking around indirectly about using drugs during a business meeting.

I do not think most people care (except for evangelical Christians, military people and cops), but the government says it is bad. Therefore the correct PR thing for companies is to be patriotic and freedom loving by following the governments stance

[Edited on May 25, 2007 at 3:08 PM. Reason : l]

5/25/2007 3:07:44 PM

also its one thing to be an alcoholic who smokes weed at work

its another to have a possession ticket when you're in college

5/25/2007 3:17:17 PM

Ive said this before in other threads.

If you want marijuana legalized, come up with an instant, on the spot test that can determine if a person is high or not.

To establish a "legal limit" for smoking weed, some type of test needs to exist to protect the general public from someone who has smoked themselves retarded.

And before you flame, I have smoked my share of weed.

5/25/2007 3:34:40 PM

^are you saying just a legal limit for driving? cause theres no current law that says a person over 21 cant drink themselves retarded in the privacy of their own property

Quote :

"to protect the general public from someone who has smoked themselves retarded. "

lol what are you protecting them from exactly? being bombarded with shitty drum circle music or something?

5/25/2007 3:36:39 PM

^ yea someone who has smoked themselves retarded isn't doing anything but laying in a daze

and someone who hasn't smoked themselves retarded isn't doing anything but sitting in a daze

ignorant fucks

5/25/2007 5:28:24 PM

Any thoughts on employer drug testing? I don't see how the benefits could outweigh the costs of implementing such a program. Are cannabis and opiate users that much more of a hindrance to a company's bottomline than the average consumer of alcohol? Is it worth a company's resources to determine whether its employees are using drugs outside of the workplace?

5/25/2007 6:23:44 PM

Driving is just one example.

Anything where the general pop could be harmed by over-use.

Its all about control.

I never said I was against legalization, I would love to sit on my deck after a hard day and smoke a bowl. I prefer weed to alcohol.

5/25/2007 6:24:15 PM

Quote :

"Lyle Craker"

5/25/2007 6:49:52 PM

Something I find interesting is the evolution of my personal beliefs about smoking weed, and the evolution of other people opinions as well.

When I was in HS, I was one of those people who was totally against smoking. Never wanted to do it, never intended to do it. Had plenty of opportunities, just never had the desire.

In the first couple of years in college, I moved from my HS view, to one closer to I'd be willing to try it once, just so I have a foundation of my opinion. The reason I think I settled here was because I had a couple of friends who smoked, and being around them while they were high let me see that they were not bad-shit crazy, or out of control. They were just chill and relaxed. They laughed about some funny shit and craved cheese products.

Plus being in college, you're subjected to that dogma of "question things around you." The whole drive to be inquisitive, make unbiased decisions, etc. So, in trying to find documentation about the harmful nature of smoking weed, I realized that while yes, smoking anything is bad for you, weed seemed as reasonably safe in the large world of drugs.

Long story short, finally got my feet wet, and began a chapter in my life where smoking weed was a part of things.

Points I would like to contribute to the discussion:
- Anything can be harmful if used in excess. Tobacco, Alcohol, Ganja, Buttsex, and so on. That doesn't mean we should ban everything that can hurt us. Think Demolition Man for a crude example. No salt, no spicy food, no swearing, no chocolate, no meat, and so on. Yes, I understand I'm taking this to an extreme. Its not literal, its for effect.

- Some things are TOO harmful to be used. Heroin, Crack, Coke, Meth, World of Warcraft, and so on. These are things that have highly addictive properties, and with use erode at a person and their environment. It's generally in the best interest of the population to stay far far away from these.

-Weed can have legitimate medical uses. I know this. I have done the testing in my own lab. Weed will erase a migraine, pacify the most violent stomach, return hunger out of nowhere, nullify sore muscles and stiff joints, and more. As with many, many others, I can understand why people who have cancer or other serious medical problems would want to smoke weed.

5/26/2007 8:56:03 AM

Quote :

" - Anything can be harmful if used in excess. Tobacco, Alcohol, Ganja, Buttsex, and so on. That doesn't mean we should ban everything that can hurt us. Think Demolition Man for a crude example. No salt, no spicy food, no swearing, no chocolate, no meat, and so on. Yes, I understand I'm taking this to an extreme. Its not literal, its for effect. - Some things are TOO harmful to be used. Heroin, Crack, Coke, Meth, World of Warcraft, and so on. These are things that have highly addictive properties, and with use erode at a person and their environment. It's generally in the best interest of the population to stay far far away from these. "

How do you define the threshold between not harmful enough, and too harmful?

5/27/2007 3:08:49 AM

^^That's pretty much exactly how it went for me. I agree 100%

5/28/2007 9:21:27 PM

same for me, EXCEPT the entire last part where i had some miracle and weed was my buddy. i gave it a couple chances, but it did nothing to make me want to sing its praises. i do, however, have plenty of friends who've seem to become mentally addicted to it and make retarded decisions as a result. this is obviously true of alcohol as well, but i say we keep our vices to a minimum. i also dont think we need another mind altering chemical which is arguably harder to test for and harder to define reasonable amounts for use (for instance one beer at lunch is hardly going to mess anyone up, unlike smoking a joint).

5/28/2007 10:09:42 PM

Quote :

"Driving is just one example. Anything where the general pop could be harmed by over-use."

but my point is, you made it sound like in order for weed to be legalized, you'd have to have a sobriety/toxicity test similar to a breathalyzer...my question is aside from somebody driving, why would you even have to have this test?

Also I think Sayer kind of hit the nail on the head...if somebody would like to give their all-knowing opinion on the drug without ever once trying it, go right ahead, but realize you will be perceived as the retard homo you are

for the record, i am NOT for legalizing weed...i figure if you can get away with smoking it while its illegal, you have enough energy/motivation to be ok in society

[Edited on May 29, 2007 at 1:19 AM. Reason : .]

5/29/2007 1:18:19 AM

I fully support the legalization of marijuana. As stated earlier, most who have used it will agree that the stigma put upon it is unfounded. I smoke (preferably out of a vaporizer - saves my lungs!) about twice a week, typically on the weekends. Used in moderation, marjiuana is can be enjoyable, relaxing, and opens up your mind a bit. I have never been "addicted" or compelled to use it every day. I will admit that chronic daily use may lead to demotivation, and one shouldn't drive if they have smoked a large amount. But other than that, marijuana is basically harmless. I live in Seattle where it is pretty well-accepted, and there is rarely any penalty if the police catch you with a small amount. I'll be entering a masters program at NCSU next month, and intend to continue to use it occasionally for recreational purposes. Its use may not be as common there, hopefully more will come around to see its benefits.

The medical benefits have been well-documented. If it were legalized, the FDA could regulate the price and potency of the drug. It would greatly reduce or completely eliminate any crime or theft related with it. And get this - the current "Drug War" pumps in more funding into fighting marijuana than methamphetamine. Meth is a vey scary and fucked-up epidemic that affects millions of users and their families/children, and is attributed to violent crime, sickness, and deaths (from heart failure, kidney failure, lab explosions, and neurotoxicity). In areas where it is a huge problem (such as Oregon) more than 80% of their jail's inmates are meth addicts. Countless children are exposed to the downward spiral or meth, and many are orphaned because of it. Most are doomed for the same shitty life. It was previously a west coast and Mid-West problem, but now it's growing all over the US, most rapidly in the rural areas of the southeast.

Where should the billions of taxpayers dollars be going towards? A natural plant that some college students use while enjoying listening to music or watching South Park? Or this:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meth/body/

5/29/2007 2:42:00 AM

Quote :

"(for instance one beer at lunch is hardly going to mess anyone up, unlike smoking a joint). "

so you are saying you would rather have an employee working for you to drink a beer at lunch then to smoke a joint at lunch?

5/29/2007 4:27:10 AM

are you holdin?

did william holden come to the party?

you got holden caulfield in there man?

5/29/2007 12:54:21 PM

Personlly i have horrible allergies and the only thing that relieves the swelling is smoking marijuana. I've tried all the over-the-counter, and prescription allergy medicines, and even steroidal nose spray and none of them work compared to marijuana. My doctor even backs me up on this.

5/29/2007 2:15:36 PM

^LOL. Id like to hear how it helps your allergies. What does the doc say it does?

5/29/2007 2:24:24 PM

Well usually my nose will get really stopped up and that's partly because of all the histamine the body is giving off to counter-act the foreign body that isn't really harmful. So allergies are a bodies overreaction to foreign objects, and this also causes swelling of the nasal passages. So smoking marijuiana usually completely gets rid of the swelling and clears up my nose. My doctor agrees with this, and mentioned that marijuana is a great way to decrease swelling. He didn't really go any further into it though.

[Edited on May 29, 2007 at 2:38 PM. Reason : ]

5/29/2007 2:37:12 PM

I just find it odd that a steroid wont give you relief, but this did. Im wondering if its more of a placebo effect...I find it interesting though.

5/29/2007 2:52:03 PM

It's a possibility, but i recognize a major difference after smoking, and i've had allergies long enough, and smoked long enough to recognize conjestion differences. And i just started taking the steroid last week so it's possible it hasn't had time to kick in yet.

[Edited on May 29, 2007 at 3:07 PM. Reason : :]

5/29/2007 3:06:40 PM

i was reading up on the subject, and i found someone who put everything together in a great way. Here is the quote:

"Marijauna is not right for everyone, but it has many medical and recreational properties. For instance, marijauna is known to do the following: Relieve pain of arthritis and rheumatism, reduce interocular pressure and arrest the advance of glaucoma, help relieve migrane headaches, is useful in psychotherapies including those for stress, depression, and anorexia, it reducesspasticity in multiple sclerosis and paralysis, it eases withdrawl from other more harmful drugs such as opiates, alcohol, and tobacco, it relieves menstrual cramps and pains (the U.S. government is currently testing it for that application), helps astma and emphysema patients breathe more freely (these people do not have to smoke it to attain theses affects), allieviates nausea and vomiting especially for chemotherapy patients,helps overcome insomnia, helps overcome dehydration, blocks epileptic siezures, helps (especially HIV and cancer patients) relieve stress, depression, pain, loss of appetite, and drastically reduces nausea. It was originally made illeagal not because it was "bad" for you (in fact over 30,000 doctors were arrested for using it as medicine), but because the hemp industry was the only major competitor with other fuel, food, paper, textile, and pharmacological industries. Hemp could replace all nuclear power plants at a fraction of the cost of fossil fuels, and none of the pollution. The plant can create four times as much pulp/acre for paper than trees, four times a year at a fourth of the price, and a fifth of the pollution. "The hemp seed is the best and cheapest scource of protein." - FDA. The plant will grow in almost all conditions, and unlike tobacco, fixiates the soil with nitrogen, thus helping other crops. The fabric made from the plant is the most durable in the world,and can be made into all qualities of rope and fabric. From the corsest rope, to the finest silk. The sails of the mayflower were made of hemp. All drafts of the declaration of independence were written on hemp paper. "Make good use of the hemp seed, and sow it everywhere." - George Washington, First President of the United States of America. Marijauna also has recreational properties, but with far less devastating effects than alcohol or other legal stimulants or depressants. Marijuana does not cause violence, money and organized crime associated with the drug are responsible for that. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on non-violent drug offenders , many who are valuable members of society. Marijauna can also inspire imagination. Paul McCartney once said to producer George Martin "Seargent Pepper was a drug album. Read one last thing: Would you judge a book by its cover? Would you tell a friend or family member that a book is bad, if you've never read it before? Have you ever read a movie review that called a move bad, then saw the movie and realy liked it? Would you ever persecute someone for liking a book you've never read, or did not personnally enjoy, just because they are, or have read it before?" -Stuart Campbell

Thoughts on that?

5/29/2007 3:14:02 PM

I believe it helps with asthma and emphysema because it causes bronchial dialation. Of course, as mentioned, smoking it would counter act said benefits. However, I dont know how it would clear up your nasal passages. Im not saying there arent benefits to it, I just havent heard the allergy/stuffy nose one before. I think there are plenty of people that will say ANYTHING to get it legalized, so you have to look closely at what is being said.

I know that the current drops for glaucoma lower IOP better than medical marijuana. The thing with the fda is you have to prove that your product/medicine does something better than existing.

[Edited on May 29, 2007 at 3:21 PM. Reason : .]

5/29/2007 3:20:11 PM