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Obama: Pot Users In Washington And Colorado Not A 'Top Priority'
President Barack Obama said prosecuting pot users in states that have legalized the drug won't be a top priority for his administration.
"We've got bigger fish to fry," Obama told ABC News' Barbara Walters. "It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it's legal."
Last month, voters in Colorado and Washington legalized recreational pot use for adults, though marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
The Obama administration suggested last week that it was considering plans to undermine the voter initiatives. In his interview with Walters, Obama did not say whether his administration would go after producers and suppliers of marijuana in those states. The administration has cracked down extensively on the medical marijuana industry in California, despite its legality under state law there.
A slim majority of Americans want the Department of Justice to leave pot smokers alone in the states where the drug has been legalized, according to a HuffPost/YouGov poll.
Obama himself smoked pot as a youngster in Hawaii, where he and his high school pals called themselves the Choom Gang.
"There are a bunch of things I did that I regret when I was a kid," he told Walters. "My attitude is, substance abuse generally is not good for our kids, not good for our society."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/obama-pot-washington-colorado_n_2299512.html
"We've got bigger fish to fry," Obama told ABC News' Barbara Walters. "It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it's legal."
Last month, voters in Colorado and Washington legalized recreational pot use for adults, though marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
The Obama administration suggested last week that it was considering plans to undermine the voter initiatives. In his interview with Walters, Obama did not say whether his administration would go after producers and suppliers of marijuana in those states. The administration has cracked down extensively on the medical marijuana industry in California, despite its legality under state law there.
A slim majority of Americans want the Department of Justice to leave pot smokers alone in the states where the drug has been legalized, according to a HuffPost/YouGov poll.
Obama himself smoked pot as a youngster in Hawaii, where he and his high school pals called themselves the Choom Gang.
"There are a bunch of things I did that I regret when I was a kid," he told Walters. "My attitude is, substance abuse generally is not good for our kids, not good for our society."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/obama-pot-washington-colorado_n_2299512.html
My only reason to compare heroin to tobacco is about it's addictive properties.
The difference stop there. Heroin is a horrible drug that does indeed take lives.
Teko: You've hit the nail on the head. It really does come down to money.
The difference stop there. Heroin is a horrible drug that does indeed take lives.
Teko: You've hit the nail on the head. It really does come down to money.
I think ultimately they will legalize pot, and that has nothing to do with if it is safe or not. It has to do with the most dollars one makes off of it. If they legalize it, the health care industry will have a field day, we make bunches of money in taxes, many more people breaking the law by driving under the influence, public intoxication and the like. So all we are doing is changing the way money will be made off it.
Just like alcohol. You can have one beer and get a dui, then you get fined, jail time, many programs, community service, and lots of people get jobs from those who bail you out of jail, the lawyers, just to name a few. Amazes me the money that goes into all this and has nothing, literally nothing to do with anything other than to bring in big bucks.
Just like alcohol. You can have one beer and get a dui, then you get fined, jail time, many programs, community service, and lots of people get jobs from those who bail you out of jail, the lawyers, just to name a few. Amazes me the money that goes into all this and has nothing, literally nothing to do with anything other than to bring in big bucks.
Oh wow, this thread has gotten long...forgive me if I post thoughts someone else already has, I haven't read everything. I only have a short break here...lol (the family HAS arrived...eek!)
Here is the thing. To say that mj doesn't do any harm really cannot be the truth. It does. It's an expensive habit for one. And although I'm not certain I would call it an addiction, it can and does create dependancy issues. And we all agree that folks shouldn't use it and drive correct? So I'm not pro mj use, but I'm also not pro alcohol use or any other drug. And I am absolutely 100% not pro minors using it (my child will not be one of those kids who can have a beer at home while under age).
I know plenty of people who will tell you first hand that mj had a negative impact on their life in many respects. I think it's one of those things that some can use once in a while, while others use it abusively. So I do see it much like alcohol. I would never be pro using anything that causes harm. So as much as I think it's hypocritical of our legal system to keep one (or several) substances legal that cause extreme harm, I would not be pro legalization strictly for those reasons alone.
My standpoint is that mj abuse and any other drug abuse for that matter is a health issue, and that no good comes from throwing users in jail. I also have huge problems with dealers and want them out of business. So from that perspective I am pro decriminalization of ALL drugs. But that is simply because I believe the best prevention is through education, and the best way to handle addiction is through treatment. I simply don't believe any good comes from having it handled through our legal system. And, as mentioned, I want dealers put out of business, and will do that any way possible.
And as for cigarettes vs. heroin...well, yes, they are both bad for sure. However, come with me on meetings with heroin users and you may change your mind on the comparison. They both will ultimately kill you, but trust me when I say the lifestyle has zero comparison. However, I would still rather support (and I have on many an occastion) a heroin user going into treatment then going to jail. The longterm outcome is much better, and that benefits society as a whole.
Here is the thing. To say that mj doesn't do any harm really cannot be the truth. It does. It's an expensive habit for one. And although I'm not certain I would call it an addiction, it can and does create dependancy issues. And we all agree that folks shouldn't use it and drive correct? So I'm not pro mj use, but I'm also not pro alcohol use or any other drug. And I am absolutely 100% not pro minors using it (my child will not be one of those kids who can have a beer at home while under age).
I know plenty of people who will tell you first hand that mj had a negative impact on their life in many respects. I think it's one of those things that some can use once in a while, while others use it abusively. So I do see it much like alcohol. I would never be pro using anything that causes harm. So as much as I think it's hypocritical of our legal system to keep one (or several) substances legal that cause extreme harm, I would not be pro legalization strictly for those reasons alone.
My standpoint is that mj abuse and any other drug abuse for that matter is a health issue, and that no good comes from throwing users in jail. I also have huge problems with dealers and want them out of business. So from that perspective I am pro decriminalization of ALL drugs. But that is simply because I believe the best prevention is through education, and the best way to handle addiction is through treatment. I simply don't believe any good comes from having it handled through our legal system. And, as mentioned, I want dealers put out of business, and will do that any way possible.
And as for cigarettes vs. heroin...well, yes, they are both bad for sure. However, come with me on meetings with heroin users and you may change your mind on the comparison. They both will ultimately kill you, but trust me when I say the lifestyle has zero comparison. However, I would still rather support (and I have on many an occastion) a heroin user going into treatment then going to jail. The longterm outcome is much better, and that benefits society as a whole.
I wouldn't know personally but I have read that cigs are the hardest thing to quit, harder than heroin. I only smoked briefly when I was 19 and stopped when I got a sore throat.
Congratulations on quitting! I know it isn't easy.
My husband quit quitting after trying multiple times and ways. Now he only smokes one or two a day, cigarettes not packs.
However he's addicted to the gum now, but he doesn't cough like he did before.
Congratulations on quitting! I know it isn't easy.
My husband quit quitting after trying multiple times and ways. Now he only smokes one or two a day, cigarettes not packs.
However he's addicted to the gum now, but he doesn't cough like he did before.
Never tried heroin, but after 40 yrs of smoking cigarettes, I kicked them in about 3 months and have been smoke free for 5+ yrs. Like most anything addictive, the motivation to quit has to be there. In my case, I had a choice of being able to talk or smoking....... some people probably wish I'd chosen to keep smoking, but after 2 surgeries, my voice is clear as a bell. :-)
Hey, you forgot nicotine or rather smoking cigarettes. We all know how that causes lung cancer and is more addictive than heroin.
Cause of death (Data from 2009 unless otherwise noted)1 Number
All Causes 2,437,163
Diseases of Heart 599,413
Malignant Neoplasms 567,628
Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases 137,353
Cerebrovascular Diseases 128,842
Lack of Health Insurance3 (2005) 44,789
Poisoning 41,592
Drug-Induced2 39,147
Intentional Self-Harm (Suicide) 36,909
Septicemia 35,639
Motor Vehicle Accidents 34,485
Firearm Injuries 31,347
Alcohol-Induced 24,518
Illicit Drugs (2000) 17,0004
Homicide 16,799
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 9,406
Viral hepatitis 7,694
Cannabis (Marijuana) 0
(Opioid Deaths) "From 1999 to 2007, the number of U.S. poisoning deaths involving any opioid analgesic (e.g., oxycodone, methadone, or hydrocodone) more than tripled, from 4,041 to 14,459, or 36% of the 40,059 total poisoning deaths in 2007. In 1999, opioid analgesics were involved in 20% of the 19,741 poisoning deaths. During 1999–2007, the number of poisoning deaths involving specified drugs other than opioid analgesics increased from 9,262 to 12,790, and the number involving nonspecified drugs increased from 3,608 to 8,947."
(Prescription Drug ODs) "In 2008, a total of 36,450 deaths were attributed to drug overdose, a rate of 11.9 per 100,000 population (Table 1), among which a drug was specified in 27,153 (74.5%) deaths. One or more prescription drugs were involved in 20,044 (73.8%) of the 27,153 deaths, and OPR were involved in 14,800 (73.8%) of the 20,044 prescription drug overdose deaths."
(Alcohol Mortality) "Excessive alcohol use* accounted for an estimated average of 80,000 deaths and 2.3 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) in the United States each year during 2001–2005, and an estimated $223.5 billion in economic costs in 2006. Binge drinking accounted for more than half of those deaths, two thirds of the YPLL, and three quarters of the economic costs."
(Alcohol Mortality 2009) "In 2009, a total of 24,518 persons died of alcohol-induced causes in the United States (Tables 10, 12, and 13). This category includes deaths from dependent and nondependent use of alcohol, and also includes accidental poisoning by alcohol. It excludes unintentional injuries, homicides, and other causes indirectly related to alcohol use, as well as deaths due to fetal alcohol syndrome (for a list of alcohol-induced causes, see ‘‘Technical Notes’’).
"In 2009, the age-adjusted death rate for alcohol-induced causes for males was three times the rate for females. Compared with the rate for the white population, the rate for the black population was 19.5% lower.
"There was no change the age-adjusted death rate for alcohol-induced causes for the total population from 2008 to 2009. The age-adjusted death rate decreased 2.6% for non-Hispanic white males. The rate increased 7.9% for non-Hispanic white females."
(Marijuana Mortality) "Indeed, epidemiological data indicate that in the general population marijuana use is not associated with increased mortality."
(Marijuana Safety - DEA Administrative Law Judge's Ruling)
"3. The most obvious concern when dealing with drug safety is the possibility of lethal effects. Can the drug cause death?
"4. Nearly all medicines have toxic, potentially lethal effects. But marijuana is not such a substance. There is no record in the extensive medical literature describing a proven, documented cannabis-induced fatality.
"5. This is a remarkable statement. First, the record on marijuana encompasses 5,000 years of human experience. Second, marijuana is now used daily by enormous numbers of people throughout the world. Estimates suggest that from twenty million to fifty million Americans routinely, albeit illegally, smoke marijuana without the benefit of direct medical supervision. Yet, despite this long history of use and the extraordinarily high numbers of social smokers, there are simply no credible medical reports to suggest that consuming marijuana has caused a single death.
"6. By contrast aspirin, a commonly used, over-the-counter medicine, causes hundreds of deaths each year.
"7. Drugs used in medicine are routinely given what is called an LD-50. The LD-50 rating indicates at what dosage fifty percent of test animals receiving a drug will die as a result of drug induced toxicity. A number of researchers have attempted to determine marijuana's LD-50 rating in test animals, without success. Simply stated, researchers have been unable to give animals enough marijuana to induce death.
"8. At present it is estimated that marijuana's LD-50 is around 1:20,000 or 1:40,000. In layman terms this means that in order to induce death a marijuana smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as is contained in one marijuana cigarette. NIDA-supplied marijuana cigarettes weigh approximately .9 grams. A smoker would theoretically have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about fifteen minutes to induce a lethal response.
"9. In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of drug-related toxicity."
http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/30
All Causes 2,437,163
Diseases of Heart 599,413
Malignant Neoplasms 567,628
Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases 137,353
Cerebrovascular Diseases 128,842
Lack of Health Insurance3 (2005) 44,789
Poisoning 41,592
Drug-Induced2 39,147
Intentional Self-Harm (Suicide) 36,909
Septicemia 35,639
Motor Vehicle Accidents 34,485
Firearm Injuries 31,347
Alcohol-Induced 24,518
Illicit Drugs (2000) 17,0004
Homicide 16,799
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 9,406
Viral hepatitis 7,694
Cannabis (Marijuana) 0
(Opioid Deaths) "From 1999 to 2007, the number of U.S. poisoning deaths involving any opioid analgesic (e.g., oxycodone, methadone, or hydrocodone) more than tripled, from 4,041 to 14,459, or 36% of the 40,059 total poisoning deaths in 2007. In 1999, opioid analgesics were involved in 20% of the 19,741 poisoning deaths. During 1999–2007, the number of poisoning deaths involving specified drugs other than opioid analgesics increased from 9,262 to 12,790, and the number involving nonspecified drugs increased from 3,608 to 8,947."
(Prescription Drug ODs) "In 2008, a total of 36,450 deaths were attributed to drug overdose, a rate of 11.9 per 100,000 population (Table 1), among which a drug was specified in 27,153 (74.5%) deaths. One or more prescription drugs were involved in 20,044 (73.8%) of the 27,153 deaths, and OPR were involved in 14,800 (73.8%) of the 20,044 prescription drug overdose deaths."
(Alcohol Mortality) "Excessive alcohol use* accounted for an estimated average of 80,000 deaths and 2.3 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) in the United States each year during 2001–2005, and an estimated $223.5 billion in economic costs in 2006. Binge drinking accounted for more than half of those deaths, two thirds of the YPLL, and three quarters of the economic costs."
(Alcohol Mortality 2009) "In 2009, a total of 24,518 persons died of alcohol-induced causes in the United States (Tables 10, 12, and 13). This category includes deaths from dependent and nondependent use of alcohol, and also includes accidental poisoning by alcohol. It excludes unintentional injuries, homicides, and other causes indirectly related to alcohol use, as well as deaths due to fetal alcohol syndrome (for a list of alcohol-induced causes, see ‘‘Technical Notes’’).
"In 2009, the age-adjusted death rate for alcohol-induced causes for males was three times the rate for females. Compared with the rate for the white population, the rate for the black population was 19.5% lower.
"There was no change the age-adjusted death rate for alcohol-induced causes for the total population from 2008 to 2009. The age-adjusted death rate decreased 2.6% for non-Hispanic white males. The rate increased 7.9% for non-Hispanic white females."
(Marijuana Mortality) "Indeed, epidemiological data indicate that in the general population marijuana use is not associated with increased mortality."
(Marijuana Safety - DEA Administrative Law Judge's Ruling)
"3. The most obvious concern when dealing with drug safety is the possibility of lethal effects. Can the drug cause death?
"4. Nearly all medicines have toxic, potentially lethal effects. But marijuana is not such a substance. There is no record in the extensive medical literature describing a proven, documented cannabis-induced fatality.
"5. This is a remarkable statement. First, the record on marijuana encompasses 5,000 years of human experience. Second, marijuana is now used daily by enormous numbers of people throughout the world. Estimates suggest that from twenty million to fifty million Americans routinely, albeit illegally, smoke marijuana without the benefit of direct medical supervision. Yet, despite this long history of use and the extraordinarily high numbers of social smokers, there are simply no credible medical reports to suggest that consuming marijuana has caused a single death.
"6. By contrast aspirin, a commonly used, over-the-counter medicine, causes hundreds of deaths each year.
"7. Drugs used in medicine are routinely given what is called an LD-50. The LD-50 rating indicates at what dosage fifty percent of test animals receiving a drug will die as a result of drug induced toxicity. A number of researchers have attempted to determine marijuana's LD-50 rating in test animals, without success. Simply stated, researchers have been unable to give animals enough marijuana to induce death.
"8. At present it is estimated that marijuana's LD-50 is around 1:20,000 or 1:40,000. In layman terms this means that in order to induce death a marijuana smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as is contained in one marijuana cigarette. NIDA-supplied marijuana cigarettes weigh approximately .9 grams. A smoker would theoretically have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about fifteen minutes to induce a lethal response.
"9. In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of drug-related toxicity."
http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/30
"Were (sic) for it you are against it, bottom line, I don't see either side conceding, so what is the point of continuing on about it."
The idea is discuss it with both side presenting their arguments; it's not about changing anyone's minds or making someone cry "uncle".......
The idea is discuss it with both side presenting their arguments; it's not about changing anyone's minds or making someone cry "uncle".......
OH -you are very right (as you know) about using MJ to get through TX and even before when I could barely walk from the extreme joint and muscle pain that was secondary to HCV. My Doctors were absolutely fine with it and my new top notch Hepa agrees...he only recommended to me I think about stopping since I am well and no longer in pain and he made it clear that he wasn't "telling" me not to, just suggested there is no longer a need.
I am using this opportunity to clarify an earlier post.
This was a very entertaining thread, btw.
Love you guys-all yous
I am using this opportunity to clarify an earlier post.
This was a very entertaining thread, btw.
Love you guys-all yous
To repeat what I said in response to this one flawed study, I recall when it came out. It was refuted because all of the participants were heavy drinkers.
Drinking alcohol when you have hep C is like pouring gasoline on a fire.
That said, as our livers filter everything including what we breathe, it is a good idea if you have an impaired live,r to avoid smoking whether it is pot or cigarettes or cloves, whatever one smokes.
The study did not include people who use vaporizers, tinctures or edibles.
My top-notch hepatologist was fine with my using pot while doing treatment. He was fine with most things as long as it helped me through the treatment and wasn't proven to either interfere with the meds or be harmful to my liver.
Drinking alcohol when you have hep C is like pouring gasoline on a fire.
That said, as our livers filter everything including what we breathe, it is a good idea if you have an impaired live,r to avoid smoking whether it is pot or cigarettes or cloves, whatever one smokes.
The study did not include people who use vaporizers, tinctures or edibles.
My top-notch hepatologist was fine with my using pot while doing treatment. He was fine with most things as long as it helped me through the treatment and wasn't proven to either interfere with the meds or be harmful to my liver.
Settle down,I think you took that different than I meant it
Were for it you are against it, bottom line, I don't see either side conceding, so what is the point of continuing on about it.
I don't think that you are sheltered, I think you may be around more MJ users than you know because they are in the closet about it, it is still illegal in 48 states, however that was just a guess and I may be wrong
Were for it you are against it, bottom line, I don't see either side conceding, so what is the point of continuing on about it.
I don't think that you are sheltered, I think you may be around more MJ users than you know because they are in the closet about it, it is still illegal in 48 states, however that was just a guess and I may be wrong
There is some anecdotal evidence that sarcasm can be dangerous to a specific population - namely very sensitive nurses.
But, I don't think we need to outlaw sarcasm...at least not yet anyway.
Mike
But, I don't think we need to outlaw sarcasm...at least not yet anyway.
Mike
You might as well give up on them Mike, you could prove it would save the world and they would still be against it, as you said before, they must not know any MJ users at least not any that would admit it to them. .
Excuse me???
Jesus. We're having a discussion...we feel one way, others feel differently. You know, like most threads here?
I don't appreciate these assumptions that we're somehow sheltered and don't know anyone who has smoked pot...so therefore we basically are clueless. Everyone keeps coming back to that...over and over.
Whatever, seriously...I concede. I've been nothing but civil during this conversation. I really cannot stand that kind of comment, that insinuates it's not worth having a conversation with people because they disagree. So dismissive. Really.
As far as "proving" anything, both sides could present info to "prove" our points.
Excuse me???
Jesus. We're having a discussion...we feel one way, others feel differently. You know, like most threads here?
I don't appreciate these assumptions that we're somehow sheltered and don't know anyone who has smoked pot...so therefore we basically are clueless. Everyone keeps coming back to that...over and over.
Whatever, seriously...I concede. I've been nothing but civil during this conversation. I really cannot stand that kind of comment, that insinuates it's not worth having a conversation with people because they disagree. So dismissive. Really.
As far as "proving" anything, both sides could present info to "prove" our points.
I know and it probably demonstrates that I have indeed been affected by MJ use. I'm a idiot who keeps repeating the same dull things over and over again.
I'm going to get a grip on myself and STOP.
Thanks Hrsepwrguy.
Mike
I'm going to get a grip on myself and STOP.
Thanks Hrsepwrguy.
Mike
Thanks hrsepwrguy, that's sweet.
That is a wholly different issue and addresses a specific population.
The point is, the study indicates it COULD be harmful to those people, and cause more damage, or an increase in the advancement of liver conditions.
SM and I largely feel the way we do because we're simply NOT as convinced that it is as harmless as some of you say it is...along with other reasons. On one hand, you're here, kind of downplaying MJ, and on the other...you post an article about a study indicating one way it could be harmful.
I understand and appreciate that you post lots of info relating to the subject, but from MY standpoint, that's just more evidence to put in the column supporting how we feel. I don't think it makes sense to say...well, that only applies to one population of people...so it doesn't count. It does to us!
The point is, the study indicates it COULD be harmful to those people, and cause more damage, or an increase in the advancement of liver conditions.
SM and I largely feel the way we do because we're simply NOT as convinced that it is as harmless as some of you say it is...along with other reasons. On one hand, you're here, kind of downplaying MJ, and on the other...you post an article about a study indicating one way it could be harmful.
I understand and appreciate that you post lots of info relating to the subject, but from MY standpoint, that's just more evidence to put in the column supporting how we feel. I don't think it makes sense to say...well, that only applies to one population of people...so it doesn't count. It does to us!
You might as well give up on them Mike, you could prove it would save the world and they would still be against it, as you said before, they must not know any MJ users at least not any that would admit it to them.
You gave up yesterday, I give up today.
That is a wholly different issue and addresses a specific population.
You said "I know if I had liver disease, I think this would be alarming to me (if I enjoyed MJ that is)... "
It is more narrow than that. It specifically addresses Hepatitis C and not liver disease generally. I have a deep interest in all things liver related and I post anything I think could be instructive. I have also posted articles that suggest that HCV patients undergoing interferon/ribavirin treatment are more likely to achieve a cure (Sustained Viral Responder) if they smoke marijuana because it makes the treatment more tolerable and therefore increases compliance which therefore increases successful outcomes. I am not convinced of the premise that using marijuana increases liver fibrosis in HCV patients but if I was HCV + I would avoid pot just to be safe.
You said "I know if I had liver disease, I think this would be alarming to me (if I enjoyed MJ that is)... "
It is more narrow than that. It specifically addresses Hepatitis C and not liver disease generally. I have a deep interest in all things liver related and I post anything I think could be instructive. I have also posted articles that suggest that HCV patients undergoing interferon/ribavirin treatment are more likely to achieve a cure (Sustained Viral Responder) if they smoke marijuana because it makes the treatment more tolerable and therefore increases compliance which therefore increases successful outcomes. I am not convinced of the premise that using marijuana increases liver fibrosis in HCV patients but if I was HCV + I would avoid pot just to be safe.
No, you're not alone but as time goes by you're going to find yourself with fewer and fewer comrades in your anti-pot crusade.
It's just a lot of nonsense. I have lived and I have seen what drugs can do and pot is not nearly as dangerous as you keep trying to convince us that it is.
You say: "Sure, there have been a few smart people that smoked pot and stayed smart."
There are a whole lot more than a few SM! My guess is the vast majority of pot smokers have stayed smart. I haven't know anyone who got slow witted because they smoked marijuana - not one - ever!
These are just the two most successful people that came to mind.
If you bother to look you'll find some rather surprising potheads.......like Michael Bloomberg for instance.
It's just a lot of nonsense. I have lived and I have seen what drugs can do and pot is not nearly as dangerous as you keep trying to convince us that it is.
You say: "Sure, there have been a few smart people that smoked pot and stayed smart."
There are a whole lot more than a few SM! My guess is the vast majority of pot smokers have stayed smart. I haven't know anyone who got slow witted because they smoked marijuana - not one - ever!
These are just the two most successful people that came to mind.
If you bother to look you'll find some rather surprising potheads.......like Michael Bloomberg for instance.
Oops. forgot to post the link to the journal:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/628735/Regular-marijuana-use-increases-risk-of-Hep-C-related-liver-damage
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/628735/Regular-marijuana-use-increases-risk-of-Hep-C-related-liver-damage
I had noticed this posted on a journal earlier....looks like our Mike may have posted it somewhere (that's what the journal OP stated). Now, I noticed OH posted some objections to the article, but I still think it's something worth looking at. If anything, perhaps it shows that it isn't as "harmless" as one may think?
I know if I had liver disease, I think this would be alarming to me (if I enjoyed MJ that is)...
Just figured this was a worthy contribution to the discussion.
Regular marijuana use increases risk of hepatitis C-related liver damage
Posted on August 30, 2012
Bethesda, MD (Jan. 28, 2008) – Patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection should not use marijuana (cannabis) daily, according to a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute. Researchers found that HCV patients who used cannabis daily were at significantly higher risk of moderate to severe liver fibrosis, or tissue scarring. Additionally, patients with moderate to heavy alcohol use combined with regular cannabis use experienced an even greater risk of liver fibrosis. The recommendation to avoid cannabis is especially important in patients who are coinfected with HCV/HIV since the progression of fibrosis is already greater in these patients.
“Hepatitis C is a major public health concern and the number of patients developing complications of chronic disease is on the rise,” according to Norah Terrault, MD, MPH, from the University of California, San Francisco and lead investigator of the study. “It is essential that we identify risk factors that can be modified to prevent and/or lessen the progression of HCV to fibrosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. These complications of chronic HCV infection will significantly contribute to the overall burden of liver disease in the U.S. and will continue to increase in the next decade.”
This is the first study that evaluates the relationship between alcohol and cannabis use in patients with HCV and those coinfected with HCV/HIV. It is of great importance to disease management that physicians understand the factors influencing HCV disease severity, especially those that are potentially modifiable. The use and abuse of both alcohol and marijuana together is not an uncommon behavior. Also, individuals who are moderate and heavy users of alcohol may use cannabis as a substitute to reduce their alcohol intake, especially after receiving a diagnosis like HCV, which affects their liver.
Researchers found a significant association between daily versus non-daily cannabis use and moderate to severe fibrosis when reviewing this factor alone. Other factors contributing to increased fibrosis included age at enrollment, lifetime duration of alcohol use, lifetime duration of moderate to heavy alcohol use and necroinflammatory score (stage of fibrosis). In reviewing combined factors, there was a strong (nearly 7-fold higher risk) and independent relationship between daily cannabis use and moderate to severe fibrosis. Gender, race, body mass index, HCV viral load and genotype, HIV coinfection, source of HCV infection, and biopsy length were not significantly associated with moderate to severe fibrosis.
Of the 328 patients screened for the study, 204 patients were included in the analysis. The baseline characteristics of those included in the study were similar to those excluded with the exception of daily cannabis use (13.7 percent of those studied used cannabis daily versus 6.45 percent of those not included). Patients who used cannabis daily had a significantly lower body mass index than non-daily users (25.2 versus 26.4), were more likely to be using medically prescribed cannabis (57.1 percent versus 8.79 percent), and more likely to have HIV coinfection (39.3 percent versus 18.2 percent).
The prevalence of cannabis use amongst adults in the U.S. is estimated to be almost 4 percent. Regular use has increased in certain population subgroups, including those aged 18 to 29.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is the most common form of hepatitis and infects nearly 4 million people in the U.S., with an estimated 150,000 new cases diagnosed each year. While it can be spread through blood transfusions and contaminated needles, for a substantial number of patients, the cause is unknown. This form of viral hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver. Coinfection of hepatitis C in patients who are HIV positive is common; about one quarter of patients infected with HIV are infected with hepatitis C. The majority of these patients, 50 to 90 percent, were infected through injection drug use. Hepatitis C ranks with alcohol abuse as the most common cause of chronic liver disease and leads to about 1,000 liver transplants yearly in the U.S.
http://engineeringevil.com/2012/08/30/regular-marijuana-use-increases-risk-of-hepatitis-c-related-liver-damage/
I know if I had liver disease, I think this would be alarming to me (if I enjoyed MJ that is)...
Just figured this was a worthy contribution to the discussion.
Regular marijuana use increases risk of hepatitis C-related liver damage
Posted on August 30, 2012
Bethesda, MD (Jan. 28, 2008) – Patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection should not use marijuana (cannabis) daily, according to a study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute. Researchers found that HCV patients who used cannabis daily were at significantly higher risk of moderate to severe liver fibrosis, or tissue scarring. Additionally, patients with moderate to heavy alcohol use combined with regular cannabis use experienced an even greater risk of liver fibrosis. The recommendation to avoid cannabis is especially important in patients who are coinfected with HCV/HIV since the progression of fibrosis is already greater in these patients.
“Hepatitis C is a major public health concern and the number of patients developing complications of chronic disease is on the rise,” according to Norah Terrault, MD, MPH, from the University of California, San Francisco and lead investigator of the study. “It is essential that we identify risk factors that can be modified to prevent and/or lessen the progression of HCV to fibrosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. These complications of chronic HCV infection will significantly contribute to the overall burden of liver disease in the U.S. and will continue to increase in the next decade.”
This is the first study that evaluates the relationship between alcohol and cannabis use in patients with HCV and those coinfected with HCV/HIV. It is of great importance to disease management that physicians understand the factors influencing HCV disease severity, especially those that are potentially modifiable. The use and abuse of both alcohol and marijuana together is not an uncommon behavior. Also, individuals who are moderate and heavy users of alcohol may use cannabis as a substitute to reduce their alcohol intake, especially after receiving a diagnosis like HCV, which affects their liver.
Researchers found a significant association between daily versus non-daily cannabis use and moderate to severe fibrosis when reviewing this factor alone. Other factors contributing to increased fibrosis included age at enrollment, lifetime duration of alcohol use, lifetime duration of moderate to heavy alcohol use and necroinflammatory score (stage of fibrosis). In reviewing combined factors, there was a strong (nearly 7-fold higher risk) and independent relationship between daily cannabis use and moderate to severe fibrosis. Gender, race, body mass index, HCV viral load and genotype, HIV coinfection, source of HCV infection, and biopsy length were not significantly associated with moderate to severe fibrosis.
Of the 328 patients screened for the study, 204 patients were included in the analysis. The baseline characteristics of those included in the study were similar to those excluded with the exception of daily cannabis use (13.7 percent of those studied used cannabis daily versus 6.45 percent of those not included). Patients who used cannabis daily had a significantly lower body mass index than non-daily users (25.2 versus 26.4), were more likely to be using medically prescribed cannabis (57.1 percent versus 8.79 percent), and more likely to have HIV coinfection (39.3 percent versus 18.2 percent).
The prevalence of cannabis use amongst adults in the U.S. is estimated to be almost 4 percent. Regular use has increased in certain population subgroups, including those aged 18 to 29.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C is the most common form of hepatitis and infects nearly 4 million people in the U.S., with an estimated 150,000 new cases diagnosed each year. While it can be spread through blood transfusions and contaminated needles, for a substantial number of patients, the cause is unknown. This form of viral hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver. Coinfection of hepatitis C in patients who are HIV positive is common; about one quarter of patients infected with HIV are infected with hepatitis C. The majority of these patients, 50 to 90 percent, were infected through injection drug use. Hepatitis C ranks with alcohol abuse as the most common cause of chronic liver disease and leads to about 1,000 liver transplants yearly in the U.S.
http://engineeringevil.com/2012/08/30/regular-marijuana-use-increases-risk-of-hepatitis-c-related-liver-damage/
And by the way OH, my comments were directed at mikesimon who addressed me.
Please keep your scoldings to yourself. Thanks!! :>)
Please keep your scoldings to yourself. Thanks!! :>)
An important aspect to this article is the change in thinking regarding pot and that legalizing it contributes to this which will lead to more kids smoking. That's a problem in my book and I was told yesterday that I was blowing that out of proportion.
No one has to agree with this article or me. But at least I'm NOT alone in the way I feel and what I see as a big problem with legalizing pot.
No one has to agree with this article or me. But at least I'm NOT alone in the way I feel and what I see as a big problem with legalizing pot.
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