Half Baked: Thousands Of Detox Centers For Alcohol, Heroin, Meth., Crack, etc....ZERO for Cannabis.

[Fred Sanders]

Last edited Sun Feb 2, 2014, 02:35 PM - Edit history (1)

Every other criminalized drug is a POISON. But not cannabis. More damage was caused last night by alcohol than in the entire history of marijuana consumption, so the broader point is that people are burying their heads in the sand about the realities, nationally entrenched puritanism, especially in the mass media, and anti-intellectualism can be the only explanations.

The intellectual dissonance in America as between the actual, verifiable damage caused by all other drugs combined, alcohol alone, and any actual or potential danger of casual marijuana consumption in America is yet another example of the antiquated puritanism of the country that infects and distorts every debate. Only America seems to consider marijuana to legally be exactly as dangerous as crack cocaine and meth. Only a country in deep denial of facts and science could be so nationally stupid. Only a country with a near majority of people believing in creationism over evolution could be so dense.

Look around. Who do you know who has been destroyed by alcohol, and how many by marijuana? Take you time, take a count, look in today's crime section of your local newspaper, talk to the police, anyone, just wake the f. up.

UPDATE:

And for the contrary view, the right wing Puritanical batshit crazy and deluded viewpoint:

5 Reasons Marijuana Should Remain Illegal

1) It's extremely addictive for some people
2) This experiment hasn't worked out so well for Amsterdam
3) Marijuana is terrible for your mental health
4) Marijuana is terrible for your physical health
5) The drug decimates many people's lives

Not a mention of alcohol, but in passing.

http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2014/01/21/5-reasons-marijuana-should-remain-illegal-n1782086/page/2
________________

In Canada marijuana is NOT in the same Schedule, on par with bennies.

Canada Controlled Substances Act Schedule II

Cannabis, its preparations, derivatives and similar synthetic preparations.[citation needed]
including:
Cannabidiol (2–[3–methyl–6–(1–methylethenyl)–2–cyclohexen–1–yl]–5–pentyl–1,3–benzenediol)
Cannabinol (3–n–amyl–6,6,9–trimethyl–6–dibenzopyran–1–ol)
Nabilone ((±)–trans–3–(1,1–dimethylheptyl)–6,6a, 7,8,10,10a–hexahydro–1–hydroxy–6,6–dimethyl–9H–dibenzo[b,d]pyran–9–one)
Pyrahexyl (3–n–hexyl–6,6,9–trimethyl–7,8,9, 10–tetrahydro–6–dibenzopyran–1–ol)
Tetrahydrocannabinol (tetrahydro–6,6,9–trimethyl–3–pentyl–6H–dibenzo[b,d]pyran–1–ol)
3-(1,2-dimethylheptyl)-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-1-ol (DMHP)

For simple possession of cannabis and derivatives it is treated as a summary conviction offence, the penalty is:

Maximum $1000 fine for first offence and/or maximum 6 months imprisonment.
Maximum $2000 fine for subsequent offence and/or maximum 1 year imprisonment.

[brewens]

1. I was a stoner when younger. I smoked every day for years and though that

wasn't the best idea I ever had, you could not have gotten way with regular use of alcohol or any real "drug" like I did. I did okay in school and never got fired from a job over it. I was steadily employed from age 16 to 35 before I even went through my first layoff. By steadily employed, I mean every day, never leaving one job until I was starting at onother. Not only that, very rarely ever missing a day of work, at one stretch going ten years on the same job without calling in sick.

I really refuse to call weed a drug. I joke around at alcohol being a "heavy drug". Sometimes saying "no thanks, I don't do heavy drugs" when offered a drink! I'll do that to yank a redneck drinkin' mans chain occasionally. I'd say alcohol is actually the only drug I've seen anyone overdose on really. I can't even count the number of times.

[Fred Sanders]

3. Because alcohol is a poison, a chemical that destroys brain cells, is why it should be

MORE regulated than the non-poisons like marijuana.

I tell my kids the reason you pass out, even overdose and DIE, why you have a hangover, is because you have poisoned yourself.

Their drinking habits have changed, almost instantly.

[Coyotl]

2. I would call it ordinary dissonance. Nothing intellectual about it. This is war!

And the war against Mr. Nixon's political enemies required tools to take away liberal votes, especially voters of color. That is the whole rational of the scheduling and this legal abuse.

It has been a highly successful war too. Millions and millions of people were disenfranchised.
The Presidency went to Bush for 8 years due to the foresight of Mr. Nixon and his henchmen.

[Fred Sanders]

4. There is a war on intellect, as it has always been.

[Hippo_Tron]

5. I think smoking too much pot is akin to watching too much television

It may be preventing you from doing other things, but there's no chemical addiction that's making you dependent on it.

[kestrel91316]

13. Exactly. It demotivates me a little, I think, but so do TV,

the internet, and reading a really good book.

[Orrex]

6. Amanda Knox sent all of the marijuanas to Italy.

Besides, everyone knows that reefer is so addictive that there's no point in even having treatment centers.

[Fred Sanders]

7. Notice how the legalization of marijuahna in Colorado was NOT accompanied by ANY concern

about the medical impact, of increased "addiction" to the point of having to open up the nations first one only for cannabis.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Italian law against cannabis is much stricter than in CO, WA, or any other Western State

Italy starts getting persnickety over anything more than 1.5 grams. When I have 1.5 grams of cannabis, I consider myself to be out of cannabis. They'll take your driver's license for 2 grams if it strikes their fancy to do so.

[thelordofhell]

9. Half Baked covered this all too well..........

[Fred Sanders]

10. Thanks for the laugh, I change my OP title to this one.

[bahrbearian]

11. Cannibis is a cure for Alcoholism

I've been selling lots of Brownies to Drunks trying to quit.

[mike_c]

12. I've been a daily cannabis user for 4o+ years....

Let me address those five "points" from my own experience:

1) I suffer no cravings or withdrawal symptoms when cannabis is not available or when I choose not to use it. Late last week, for example, I traveled to LA for a three day meeting, with airplane flights at either end. Needless to say, I did not bring any cannabis. No problem. Another example-- some days I just don't feel like smoking, so I don't. There is no compulsion whatsoever.

However, I use cannabis because I enjoy it's benefits, one of which is that it makes me feel good, both physically and emotionally. There is a tenuous connection to addiction there, but it is the same connection to addiction that leads people to become dependent on utterly innocuous things, like regular meal times. Sure, when something gives us pleasure and enjoyment, the limbic system says "Yum." The important thing to remember about cannabis is that it causes no harm and doesn't hijack limbic responses like, say, methamphetamine.

If there is any evidence that cannabis is "extremely addictive" for anyone, I'm not aware of it. Nor does my many decades of experience suggest that such a thing can even be true.


2) So do it differently. Don't try various "ways" to end prohibition. Just end it.


3) Not sure what they mean by "mental health." Cannabis has certainly not affected my intelligence, creativity, curiosity, and so on. I've had a fine and productive career in academic science. If anything, cannabis is a marvelous stress reducer-- that's one of the primary reasons I use it. I sleep better, am less anxious, and calmer ALL THE TIME because I smoke cannabis once or twice a day.


4) I'm 59 years old, and while it's true that I have had a few health issues over the years, there is no evidence that any of them are related to cannabis use. I have a tendency toward gout, but that is evidently hereditary. I had a heart arrhythmia, currently controlled, but atrial fibrillation is one of the most common age related heart conditions of all, regardless of cannabis use. My general condition and health is pretty good, however. I exercise as much as my schedule allows. I'm active. In general, I think other lifestyle issues-- such as the sedentary nature of my job-- do much more harm to my health than cannabis.


5) Forty plus years of experience has brought me into contact with MANY fellow pot smokers. I can only speak for myself, but clearly cannabis has not "decimated" my life at all. Quite the opposite, it has improved it considerably. The ONLY "decimation" I've seen has been due to prohibition and the WOD. Enforcing ridiculous laws decimates lives, not cannabis.

[Fred Sanders]

14. Each of your points is not only valid, they are supported by multiple scientific studies, but once

again the right wing zealots prefer their myths and media talking heads to science, facts and in your face reality.

Because of that zealotry is why Obama has to remain cautious in his comments, change comes from the bottom, not the top.