Aa
Commercial Making People Everywhere Rethink Their Position
The Beer/Marijuana Commercial That Is Making People Everywhere Rethink Their Position
http://www.upworthy.com/the-beer-marijuana-commercial-that-is-making-people-everywhere-rethink-their-position?g=2&c=upw9
( okay, maybe not you specialmom :)
http://www.upworthy.com/the-beer-marijuana-commercial-that-is-making-people-everywhere-rethink-their-position?g=2&c=upw9
( okay, maybe not you specialmom :)
Lets set our priorities in order.
If we are going to go after drugs, lets go after what is causing the most damage, and it sure isn't pot~lol.
If we are going to go after drugs, lets go after what is causing the most damage, and it sure isn't pot~lol.
i agree with both of you and let's not forget the biggest"dealers"-----the makers and suppliers and distributers of dangerous addictive prescription "medicine".
their medicine causes harm and can kill people and if you try and quit you will go thru hell. not so with pot......om shanti........
don
their medicine causes harm and can kill people and if you try and quit you will go thru hell. not so with pot......om shanti........
don
ha ha orphanedhawk. You know me too well.
I WILL NEVER GIVE UP MY PLIGHT. LOL
I think we need to do something about prescription drug abuse more than we do pot though. (there . . . I conceded something! I'm progressing.)
I WILL NEVER GIVE UP MY PLIGHT. LOL
I think we need to do something about prescription drug abuse more than we do pot though. (there . . . I conceded something! I'm progressing.)
I tend to go back and forth between complete legalization and just decriminilization. One thing I do know for absolute certain - locking up addicts (I am for decriminilization of all street drugs - controversial I know) does nothing to resolve the problem and in my opinion is a complete waste of resources. I would never decriminalize dealing though - lock those people up and throw away the key.
Again, my primary concern is to keep drugs out of the hands of young people and to make access to treatment easier without fear of major repurcussions from a legal perspective. Not to increase usage for recreational purposes. When someone discovers they have a problem with alcohol, there are so many options available because alcohol is legal. I guess I want street drugs treated the same way. I have worked with far to many families and individuals scared to come forward looking for help for fear of losing their children or going to jail.
I still firmly believe the best way to keep drugs out of the hands of children is to put dealers out of business, and to properly educate them. Right now prescription drugs are amongst the highest abused, and that includes by our teens. Mom and dads medicine cabinet is the dealer of choice right now.
Again, my primary concern is to keep drugs out of the hands of young people and to make access to treatment easier without fear of major repurcussions from a legal perspective. Not to increase usage for recreational purposes. When someone discovers they have a problem with alcohol, there are so many options available because alcohol is legal. I guess I want street drugs treated the same way. I have worked with far to many families and individuals scared to come forward looking for help for fear of losing their children or going to jail.
I still firmly believe the best way to keep drugs out of the hands of children is to put dealers out of business, and to properly educate them. Right now prescription drugs are amongst the highest abused, and that includes by our teens. Mom and dads medicine cabinet is the dealer of choice right now.
the same folks who need to understand that they are not making an informed decision about pot-----they believe what they want to believe and all the factual info is wrong------those folks seem ok with the legal "drugs" killing people (children too) and excuse their use because hey it's legal! Sugar (obesity--diabetes--hyper---etc.)....alcohol! ('nuff said).....tobacco---oh no not addictive---people are just weak you know. We can add video addiction including texting (in cars of course) and gaming and "gossip" with bullying ...i could go on but enough for now------ongoing current event of legalize vs lock 'em up.
Yes to Legal.
don
Yes to Legal.
don
One person involved with the legalization movement was quoted as saying that all marijuana use was medicinal.
In this crazy world if something you smoke, helps you relax and reduces stress, that sounds medicinal to me.
And why do people have such a problem with using something simply to make you feel good ?
As far as Vance's view, well, I think it's been the opposite. Having mj illegal means when kid's do try it and find it's not that bad, they think the other things, like coke or crack, may not be so bad either.
Legalize it~ yes !
In this crazy world if something you smoke, helps you relax and reduces stress, that sounds medicinal to me.
And why do people have such a problem with using something simply to make you feel good ?
As far as Vance's view, well, I think it's been the opposite. Having mj illegal means when kid's do try it and find it's not that bad, they think the other things, like coke or crack, may not be so bad either.
Legalize it~ yes !
Psychedelic Drugs No Risk to Mental Health, Possibly Beneficial
Megan Brooks
Aug 21, 2013
Using classic psychedelic drugs does not raise the risk for mental health problems; on the contrary, it may offer some protection, new research suggests.
Among 130,152 representative US adults, including 21,967 reported psychedelic drug users, researchers found no significant link between lifetime use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, mescaline, or peyote and an increased rate of mental health problems.
Rather, in several cases, psychedelic drug use was associated with a lower rate of mental health problems, Teri S. Krebs, PhD, and Pål-Ørjan Johansen, PhD, of the Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, report.
The findings were published online August 19 in PLoS One.
Lower Rates of Distress
"We were not particularly surprised. Overall, there is a lack of evidence that psychedelics cause lasting mental health problems," Dr. Krebs told Medscape Medical News.
More than 30 million Americans have used LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline at some time in their lives. Some case reports of mental illness in people who had used psychedelics fueled some concern of a link. But there are "many potential biases of relying on individual anecdotes," Dr. Krebs said. "In particular, mental illness is rather common, and symptoms often appear in the early 20s, which is the same time that people often first use psychedelics."
In the current population study, after adjusting for other risk factors, there was no link between psychedelic drug use and a range of mental health outcomes, including serious psychologic distress, mental health treatment, symptoms of 8 psychiatric disorders (panic disorder, major depressive episode, mania, social phobia, general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and nonaffective psychosis), and 7 specific symptoms of nonaffective psychosis.
In fact, lifetime use of psilocybin or mescaline and past-year use of LSD were associated with lower rates of serious psychologic distress. Lifetime use of LSD was also significantly associated with a lower rate of outpatient mental health treatment and psychiatric medicine prescription.
"We cannot exclude the possibility that use of psychedelics might have a negative effect on mental health for some individuals or groups, perhaps counterbalanced at a population level by a positive effect on mental health in others," the authors note. Nevertheless, "recent clinical trials have also failed to find any evidence of any lasting harmful effects of psychedelics."
Less Harmful
"This is an important analysis," Matthew W. Johnson, PhD, of the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore, Maryland, who was not involved in the study, told Medscape Medical News.
"Although there is evidence suggesting beneficial effects of psychedelics in well-controlled clinical research, that does not address the occurrence of psychiatric adverse effects in the population. It is very interesting to know that these drugs are not associated with adverse mental health outcomes at the population level," Dr. Johnson said.
"However, as the authors note, it is certainly possible that individual recreational users experience harms. This analysis would just suggest that this may be limited in scope, and possibly offset by some individuals also receiving benefit at the population level," he added.
This study "chimes very much with what we know already about psychedelics — that they are essentially much less harmful than other illicit substances," Mark Bolstridge, BSc, MRCPsych, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College London, United Kingdom, told Medscape Medical News.
"Having personally worked in mental health and trained in psychiatry, I am yet to see any individual suffering from significant mental health problems as a result of using psychedelics. Alcohol, amphetamines, and cannabis, yes, but never psychedelics," said Dr. Bolstridge, who was not involved in the study.
Dr. Krebs noted that "psychedelics interact with a specific type of serotonin receptor in the brain and may stimulate the formation of new connections and patterns. They generally seem to open an individual to an awareness of new perspectives and opportunities for action. People often report deeply personally and spiritually meaningful experiences with psychedelics," she said.
Researchers at Imperial College London have found that healthy adults recall memories much more vividly while under the influence of psilocybin, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data reveal a neurobiological basis for this effect, as reported by Medscape Medical News.
Their research also shows that psilocybin has potential in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and possibly cluster headaches.
Debunking Myths
"We know categorically that psychedelics taken in a controlled clinical environment with appropriate support almost certainly never lead to any recurring or enduring mental health problems," Dr. Bolstridge said.
"All in all, I think the [new] paper is an important addition to the scientific literature, and it can only help in dispelling the myths surrounding these much maligned substances and in reinforcing the case for continued investigations into how these fascinating compounds work in the brain," Dr. Bolstridge said.
"In particular, [it can help in] attempting to determine whether they can prove effective in helping those patients incapacitated by ongoing mental health problems and who are little helped by conventional psychiatric treatments," he added.
Dr. Krebs said clinical trials looking at the potential benefits of psilocybin in alcoholism and smoking cessation are also under way. Last year, she and Dr. Johansen published a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of LSD in alcoholism, which provided evidence for a beneficial effect of LSD for treating alcohol dependency.
The study was supported by the Research Council of Norway. The authors, Dr. Johnson, and Dr. Bolstridge report no relevant financial relationships.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/809724
Megan Brooks
Aug 21, 2013
Using classic psychedelic drugs does not raise the risk for mental health problems; on the contrary, it may offer some protection, new research suggests.
Among 130,152 representative US adults, including 21,967 reported psychedelic drug users, researchers found no significant link between lifetime use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, mescaline, or peyote and an increased rate of mental health problems.
Rather, in several cases, psychedelic drug use was associated with a lower rate of mental health problems, Teri S. Krebs, PhD, and Pål-Ørjan Johansen, PhD, of the Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, report.
The findings were published online August 19 in PLoS One.
Lower Rates of Distress
"We were not particularly surprised. Overall, there is a lack of evidence that psychedelics cause lasting mental health problems," Dr. Krebs told Medscape Medical News.
More than 30 million Americans have used LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline at some time in their lives. Some case reports of mental illness in people who had used psychedelics fueled some concern of a link. But there are "many potential biases of relying on individual anecdotes," Dr. Krebs said. "In particular, mental illness is rather common, and symptoms often appear in the early 20s, which is the same time that people often first use psychedelics."
In the current population study, after adjusting for other risk factors, there was no link between psychedelic drug use and a range of mental health outcomes, including serious psychologic distress, mental health treatment, symptoms of 8 psychiatric disorders (panic disorder, major depressive episode, mania, social phobia, general anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and nonaffective psychosis), and 7 specific symptoms of nonaffective psychosis.
In fact, lifetime use of psilocybin or mescaline and past-year use of LSD were associated with lower rates of serious psychologic distress. Lifetime use of LSD was also significantly associated with a lower rate of outpatient mental health treatment and psychiatric medicine prescription.
"We cannot exclude the possibility that use of psychedelics might have a negative effect on mental health for some individuals or groups, perhaps counterbalanced at a population level by a positive effect on mental health in others," the authors note. Nevertheless, "recent clinical trials have also failed to find any evidence of any lasting harmful effects of psychedelics."
Less Harmful
"This is an important analysis," Matthew W. Johnson, PhD, of the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore, Maryland, who was not involved in the study, told Medscape Medical News.
"Although there is evidence suggesting beneficial effects of psychedelics in well-controlled clinical research, that does not address the occurrence of psychiatric adverse effects in the population. It is very interesting to know that these drugs are not associated with adverse mental health outcomes at the population level," Dr. Johnson said.
"However, as the authors note, it is certainly possible that individual recreational users experience harms. This analysis would just suggest that this may be limited in scope, and possibly offset by some individuals also receiving benefit at the population level," he added.
This study "chimes very much with what we know already about psychedelics — that they are essentially much less harmful than other illicit substances," Mark Bolstridge, BSc, MRCPsych, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial College London, United Kingdom, told Medscape Medical News.
"Having personally worked in mental health and trained in psychiatry, I am yet to see any individual suffering from significant mental health problems as a result of using psychedelics. Alcohol, amphetamines, and cannabis, yes, but never psychedelics," said Dr. Bolstridge, who was not involved in the study.
Dr. Krebs noted that "psychedelics interact with a specific type of serotonin receptor in the brain and may stimulate the formation of new connections and patterns. They generally seem to open an individual to an awareness of new perspectives and opportunities for action. People often report deeply personally and spiritually meaningful experiences with psychedelics," she said.
Researchers at Imperial College London have found that healthy adults recall memories much more vividly while under the influence of psilocybin, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data reveal a neurobiological basis for this effect, as reported by Medscape Medical News.
Their research also shows that psilocybin has potential in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and possibly cluster headaches.
Debunking Myths
"We know categorically that psychedelics taken in a controlled clinical environment with appropriate support almost certainly never lead to any recurring or enduring mental health problems," Dr. Bolstridge said.
"All in all, I think the [new] paper is an important addition to the scientific literature, and it can only help in dispelling the myths surrounding these much maligned substances and in reinforcing the case for continued investigations into how these fascinating compounds work in the brain," Dr. Bolstridge said.
"In particular, [it can help in] attempting to determine whether they can prove effective in helping those patients incapacitated by ongoing mental health problems and who are little helped by conventional psychiatric treatments," he added.
Dr. Krebs said clinical trials looking at the potential benefits of psilocybin in alcoholism and smoking cessation are also under way. Last year, she and Dr. Johansen published a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of LSD in alcoholism, which provided evidence for a beneficial effect of LSD for treating alcohol dependency.
The study was supported by the Research Council of Norway. The authors, Dr. Johnson, and Dr. Bolstridge report no relevant financial relationships.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/809724
For medical purposes they take out the part that provides the high. So Im all for that if it works, and without the part that causes the high? Most people wouldnt use it legal or not without the thc in it. But yes, Im evolving as well.
Medical I have no problem with, for use for fun I have a problem with. You can do the same thing you are doing with booze...tax it, regulate it, legislate it but I think with it being illegal for so long it will send the wrong message to many and of course you know minors will get a hold of it like they do with alcohol.
I know if I was a 16 year old kid and weed became legal then I am going to think, well that was a "drug" how bad can coke be?
And we already have a problem with drinking and driving, do we want to add in high and driving?
I know if I was a 16 year old kid and weed became legal then I am going to think, well that was a "drug" how bad can coke be?
And we already have a problem with drinking and driving, do we want to add in high and driving?
Well, I agree that putting drug dealers out of business would go a long way toward protecting children; I just still have a hard time with legalizing it for recreational use. That's just me, though.
And your right, there are many many things that are abused. Not sure there is anyway to prevent that - so sad as lives are so often ruined.
I think most people are pro legalization for medicinal purposes. The really controversy comes in legalizing it for recreational use. I am not really for legalizing more substances with the potential for abuse and really only have one motivator for being pro legalization of drug use (never to be confused with dealing). I feel that decriminalization of street drugs will lead to increased regulation, therefor doing a better job of keeping it out of minor's hands. It will also help put dealers, many of whom directly target youth, have to work awfully hard to stay in business. Removing the street value so to speak, and selling it out of liquor store like establishments. Of course, it youth want it, they will find a way to get it. I still think the ultimate power in preventing kids from using drugs is education - I'm not convinced keeping it illegal really makes a difference. That's just my opinion though, I can't back it up with research or anything.
I saw a story about a little girl (I thought it was in CA) who actually gained back quality of life from being given mj. I don't have a problem with that; as I said, it might give more quality of life than some drugs that come with their own side effects that are often worse than the disease.
My concern would be similar to yours, in that minors would be restricted from buying it and that adults providing it to minors would be considered as contributing the delinquency of a minor, as they are if providing, either alcohol or cigarettes to minors.
I'm not convinced that it wouldn't have the "take over your life" qualities; I think anything that's abused can do that, whether it be mj, alcohol, cigarettes, food, video games, etc...
My concern would be similar to yours, in that minors would be restricted from buying it and that adults providing it to minors would be considered as contributing the delinquency of a minor, as they are if providing, either alcohol or cigarettes to minors.
I'm not convinced that it wouldn't have the "take over your life" qualities; I think anything that's abused can do that, whether it be mj, alcohol, cigarettes, food, video games, etc...
The research showing medicinal uses is really quite astounding. Pain control for sure, but it also has shown to ease symptoms associated with Parkinson's, seizure disorders and the like. There was a little girl having upward of 300 seizures a week. Any one of them could have meant the end for her, and she had no quality of life. I believe she was 3 or so. I can't remember the name of the disorder she had, but this poor child - it was awful. Doctors had tried everything, including some medications that in themselves could be life threatening. They finally tried marijuana. A strain is produced that is low in thc, and higher in something else (I can't remember the name) so the child was not getting high, but it did all but stop the seizures. She now has 1 every week or 2. She is now walking, talking and catching up to her twin sister developmentally.
So many stories like that.
Here in Canada you require a prescription, and you can also get a license to grow a single plant for personal medicinal use. Otherwise, it is still technically illegal, but the police don't arrest for people smoking it - they focus their resources on those distributing it illegally - in other words the scum of the earth drug dealers. Personally, that is where I prefer to see the resources used.
My only concern with mj is the same as alcohol - keeping it out of the hands of minors (except for medicinal purposes). Otherwise, I can honestly say that I think alcohol is a far more serious drug - that's just based on what I see regularly. MJ users don't get violent, and although you can become dependent on it I suppose, it doesn't seem to have those "take over your life" addictive qualities.
So many stories like that.
Here in Canada you require a prescription, and you can also get a license to grow a single plant for personal medicinal use. Otherwise, it is still technically illegal, but the police don't arrest for people smoking it - they focus their resources on those distributing it illegally - in other words the scum of the earth drug dealers. Personally, that is where I prefer to see the resources used.
My only concern with mj is the same as alcohol - keeping it out of the hands of minors (except for medicinal purposes). Otherwise, I can honestly say that I think alcohol is a far more serious drug - that's just based on what I see regularly. MJ users don't get violent, and although you can become dependent on it I suppose, it doesn't seem to have those "take over your life" addictive qualities.
I'm pretty much with SM when it comes to marijuana, but I'm "evolving"... With several States having legalized it, I'm coming to the conclusion that maybe it really should be legal, regulated and taxed... I think just about anything can be abused.
I am in favor of medical marijuana (also regulated/taxed to insure purity), when it's the only thing that will ease pain or make someone feel better. When I think back to my Auntie that I cared for, for several years (most of you know about that), I have to wonder if marijuana would have been better for her than the "cancer pill" that was prescribed and came with a whole rap sheet of horrible side effects, yet really did nothing to get rid of the cancer. Maybe the cancer would have taken her sooner, but she'd have lived a more enjoyable, less painful couple of years? I certainly don't know the answer to that, but if I had it to over again, I might give it some thought, though marijuana is not legal in FL and I'd risk going to jail for buying it.
I am in favor of medical marijuana (also regulated/taxed to insure purity), when it's the only thing that will ease pain or make someone feel better. When I think back to my Auntie that I cared for, for several years (most of you know about that), I have to wonder if marijuana would have been better for her than the "cancer pill" that was prescribed and came with a whole rap sheet of horrible side effects, yet really did nothing to get rid of the cancer. Maybe the cancer would have taken her sooner, but she'd have lived a more enjoyable, less painful couple of years? I certainly don't know the answer to that, but if I had it to over again, I might give it some thought, though marijuana is not legal in FL and I'd risk going to jail for buying it.
OH, did you see the recent documentary by Sanjay Gupta? He did a pretty thorough job with this information. I still stand by my belief that marijuana should be legalized, with controls such as not legal for minors, can't drive under the influence, etc. There is just no valid reason to keep it as a Class whatever drug (meaning it has no medicinal use, etc.) I am pretty sure not much would change my mind as long as people buying buy legally, and have to be 18 plus (or whatever the age of majority is where you live, here it's 18)
and then there's the FDA lying about the facts. . .
Federal Drug Agency Denies Marijuana Is Less Toxic Than Alcohol
The National Institute on Drug Abuse released an eyebrow-raising statement to PolitiFact on Monday, denying that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol.
"Claiming that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol cannot be substantiated since each possess their own unique set of risks and consequences for a given individual," wrote the institute. NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health, funds government-backed scientific research and has a stated mission "to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction."
The statement was in response to a declaration by the pro-pot policy group Marijuana Policy Project that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol –- a claim that was the centerpiece of a controversial pro-marijuana commercial aired during a NASCAR race last month.
PolitiFact took the claim to task, comparing marijuana-related deaths to alcohol-related deaths and toxicity levels of the two substances.
As noted by PolitiFact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics reported 41,682 alcohol-related deaths in 2010. T
he center had no reports listing marijuana as a cause of death.
PolitiFact also noted a study by Robert Gable, an emeritus professor of psychology at Claremont Graduate University, that measured the toxicity levels of substances ranging from heroin to marijuana. The study showed that "marijuana is about 100 times safer than alcohol or cocaine."
PolitiFact noted that evidence surrounding the long-term effects of marijuana use is murky. Still, the fact-checker ruled the claim that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol "mostly true."
Mason Tvert, director of communications at Marijuana Policy Project, said NIDA's claim is a new low for the agency.
"Our federal government has been exaggerating the harms of marijuana for decades, but at this point it has gone off the deep end," Tvert told The Huffington Post. "NIDA's statement that marijuana can be just as toxic as alcohol would be on par with the FDA announcing sushi is as fattening as fried chicken."
"This is gross negligence on the agency's part and should be addressed immediately by the White House," Tvert continued. "It is one thing for our federal officials to convey their opposition to marijuana policy reform. It is an entirely different and more disturbing situation when they are conveying opposition to scientific evidence."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/marijuana-less-toxic-alcohol_n_3782100.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
Federal Drug Agency Denies Marijuana Is Less Toxic Than Alcohol
The National Institute on Drug Abuse released an eyebrow-raising statement to PolitiFact on Monday, denying that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol.
"Claiming that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol cannot be substantiated since each possess their own unique set of risks and consequences for a given individual," wrote the institute. NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health, funds government-backed scientific research and has a stated mission "to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction."
The statement was in response to a declaration by the pro-pot policy group Marijuana Policy Project that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol –- a claim that was the centerpiece of a controversial pro-marijuana commercial aired during a NASCAR race last month.
PolitiFact took the claim to task, comparing marijuana-related deaths to alcohol-related deaths and toxicity levels of the two substances.
As noted by PolitiFact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics reported 41,682 alcohol-related deaths in 2010. T
he center had no reports listing marijuana as a cause of death.
PolitiFact also noted a study by Robert Gable, an emeritus professor of psychology at Claremont Graduate University, that measured the toxicity levels of substances ranging from heroin to marijuana. The study showed that "marijuana is about 100 times safer than alcohol or cocaine."
PolitiFact noted that evidence surrounding the long-term effects of marijuana use is murky. Still, the fact-checker ruled the claim that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol "mostly true."
Mason Tvert, director of communications at Marijuana Policy Project, said NIDA's claim is a new low for the agency.
"Our federal government has been exaggerating the harms of marijuana for decades, but at this point it has gone off the deep end," Tvert told The Huffington Post. "NIDA's statement that marijuana can be just as toxic as alcohol would be on par with the FDA announcing sushi is as fattening as fried chicken."
"This is gross negligence on the agency's part and should be addressed immediately by the White House," Tvert continued. "It is one thing for our federal officials to convey their opposition to marijuana policy reform. It is an entirely different and more disturbing situation when they are conveying opposition to scientific evidence."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/marijuana-less-toxic-alcohol_n_3782100.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
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