AlterNet: Calling B.S. on the Idea of 'Marijuana Addiction'

[marmar]

Calling B.S. on the Idea of 'Marijuana Addiction'

By Paul Armentano, AlterNet. Posted March 22, 2008.

It's laughable that the Feds are pushing the concept of pot addiction when science shows that withdrawal symptoms from caffeine are far worse.




The U.S. government believes that America is going to pot -- literally.

Earlier this month, the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse announced plans to spend $4 million to establish the nation's first-ever "Center on Cannabis Addiction," which will be based in La Jolla, Calif. The goal of the center, according to NIDA's press release, is to "develop novel approaches to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of marijuana addiction."

Not familiar with the notion of "marijuana addiction"? You're not alone. In fact, aside from the handful of researchers who have discovered that there are gobs of federal grant money to be had hunting for the government's latest pot boogeyman, there's little consensus that such a syndrome is clinically relevant -- if it even exists at all.

But don't try telling that to the mainstream press -- which recently published headlines worldwide alleging, "Marijuana withdrawal rivals that of nicotine." The alleged "study" behind the headlines involved all of 12 participants, each of whom were longtime users of pot and tobacco, and assessed the self-reported moods of folks after they were randomly chosen to abstain from both substances. Big surprise: they weren't happy.

And don't try telling Big Pharma -- which hopes to cash in on the much-hyped "pot and addiction" craze by touting psychoactive prescription drugs like Lithium to help hardcore smokers kick the marijuana habit.

And certainly don't try telling the drug "treatment" industry, whose spokespeople are quick to warn that marijuana "treatment" admissions have risen dramatically in recent years, but neglect to explain that this increase is due entirely to the advent of drug courts sentencing minor pot offenders to rehab in lieu of jail. According to state and national statistics, up to 70 percent of all individuals in drug treatment for marijuana are placed there by the criminal justice system. Of those in treatment, some 36 percent had not even used marijuana in the 30 days prior to their admission. These are the "addicts"? .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/80408/

[madokie]

1. 40 years

and when I don't smoke any reefer for a day or two I notice not one thing except reality without being high. Drop my hydrocodone for a day and brother let me tell you about crawling skin and a sleepless night.

[Tesla]

2. How about Lithium!!

OMG!!
let them pass them out like candy also!

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

3. Aye. And opiate hangovers have always kicked my ass.

That's why the number of times I've used them can be counted on 1 hand. Sure the 6 hours of blissful apathy are nice, but following the 24 hours of insane headaches, nausea, and general physical shittyness make it so that it's not really worth it.

[annabanana]

4. Oh fer cryin' out loud

This is just another worthless way to drain the Treasury.