A letter to my congressional representative on medical marijuana

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Most recently, a large-scale study by investigators at London's Institute of Psychiatry reported that those patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who had previously used cannabis did not demonstrate exacerbated symptoms of the illness compared to age-adjusted controls who had not used cannabis. "This [finding] argues against a distinct schizophrenia-like psychosis caused by cannabis," they concluded.

All that demonstrates is that they cannot link Cannabis to a specific form of the disease.

"Investigators in the study did not address whether cannabis consumers had greater odds of contracting schizophrenia when compared to otherwise matched controls who did not have a history of cannabis use. However, a 2006 review by Britain's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) previously concluded, "For individuals, the current evidence suggests, at worst, that using cannabis increases lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia by one percent." 13"

Selective reading will not prove your point. The next paragraph goes on to suggest that until the linkage can bee disproven the substance should be controlled. From my point of view, it might as well remain illegal in that case.

[Tratorix]

All that demonstrates is that they cannot link Cannabis to a specific form of the disease.

"Investigators in the study did not address whether cannabis consumers had greater odds of contracting schizophrenia when compared to otherwise matched controls who did not have a history of cannabis use. However, a 2006 review by Britain's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) previously concluded, "For individuals, the current evidence suggests, at worst, that using cannabis increases lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia by one percent." 13"

Selective reading will not prove your point. The next paragraph goes on to suggest that until the linkage can bee disproven the substance should be controlled. From my point of view, it might as well remain illegal in that case.

You're right. If we can't conclusively, without a doubt prove something doesn't cause schizophrenia, it should be illegal.

[Papewaio]

Don't you remove the smoke caused carcinogens by making it into butter?

[Ice]

Don't you remove the smoke caused carcinogens by making it into butter?

or simmering it in vegtable oil... or vaporizing it... there are many ways

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

You're right. If we can't conclusively, without a doubt prove something doesn't cause schizophrenia, it should be illegal.

Look, I'm not screaming "reefer madness", but this whole "It's safe Guv, honest!" routine winds me up. Currently it's illegal, the jury is out on how dangerous it is, so it's going to stay illegal for the forseeable.

[Ice]

Look, I'm not screaming "reefer madness", but this whole "It's safe Guv, honest!" routine winds me up. Currently it's illegal, the jury is out on how dangerous it is, so it's going to stay illegal for the forseeable.

I disagree. Slowly, but surely, medical marijuana is being legalized in many states here in the US, while many states also are decriminalizing it along with other countries. It's a slow process, but your much hated herb will eventually be legal in my lifetime. I'll smoke an extra large blunt to spite you when the time comes.

[AlexanderSextus]

I disagree. Slowly, but surely, medical marijuana is being legalized in many states here in the US, while many states also are decriminalizing it along with other countries. It's a slow process, but your much hated herb will eventually be legal in my lifetime. I'll smoke an extra large blunt to spite you when the time comes.

SECONDED

[Tuuvi]

While I am not a user, I used to believe in the legalization of marijuana, mostly because of the huge number of deaths and corruption that have resulted in banning it. However an officer of the DEA once came and gave a presentation in my U.S government class in high school and he made an interesting point. Marijuana growers are now producing plants with concentrations of THC never seen before. According to the DEA officer, those levels were so high that someone who smoked the plant wouldn't even be able to function. If the government does legalize marijuana, it will most likely place some sort of limit on the levels of THC allowed in the plant. Drug cartels will then resort to selling marijuana that is above the legal limit, so basically the black market for marijuana will never disappear. The only way to completely eradicate the black market for marijuana would be to legalize it without restriction. Because of the nature of U.S politics, this will never happen because no bill will be able to get through congress without some sort of concession/compromise made to anti-marijuana groups.

Personally I believe the massive amounts of murders committed by drug dealers is the ONLY reason for legalizing it. While I agree that the negative side effects of marijuana have been blown out of proportion, I've seen what it does to the people who use it and I hate it. Pot probably won't kill you or make you go crazy, but it will suck your life away and leave you with no freedom.

[AlexanderSextus]

Look, I'm not screaming "reefer madness", but this whole "It's safe Guv, honest!" routine winds me up. Currently it's illegal, the jury is out on how dangerous it is, so it's going to stay illegal for the forseeable.

i have stated that it is not harmless, this is hardly any reason to keep it illegal however.

[Caius]

Figures for THC-related traffic fatalities are elusive, especially since alcohol is almost always present in the blood as well, and since the numbers of "marijuana-only" traffic fatalities are so small.

Its like saying "How many people of Flu have died", few people die of Flu, they die of something else.