Government study shows MJs true potential as medicine

[Sloady]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/03/g ... marijuana/

A government-sponsored study published recently in The Open Neurology Journal concludes that marijuana provides much-needed relief to some chronic pain sufferers and that more clinical trials are desperately needed, utterly destroying the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) classification of the drug as having no medical uses.

While numerous prior studies have shown marijuana’s usefulness for a host of medical conditions, none have ever gone directly at the DEA’s placement of marijuana atop the schedule of controlled substances. This study, sponsored by the State of California and conducted at the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, does precisely that, driving a stake into the heart of America’s continued war on marijuana users by calling the Schedule I placement simply “not accurate” and “not tenable.”

[Frost Mage]

"What's this? Cannabis doesn't kill?"

[Deandra]

So basically, a study is showing what everybody already knew.

Ok.

[Rhyme Asylum]

I still find it funny when people use the 'medicine' argument.

[DikaSmausha]

I thought everyone knew this. It would explain why everyone uses it

[Sloady]

I still find it funny when people use the 'medicine' argument.

Well, I think if it can help people with their pain, I think it's important that it's available to them.

[Frost Mage]

But the fact of the matter that a lot of these people arguing for it to be used for medical reasons, are really just looking for it to be more easily available.

[Sloady]

Just because it can be sold legally doesn't make it any easier to obtain - not that it isn't ridiculously easy to obtain already. I'd be much happier if my money was going to a legitmate business rather than some drug dealer, who might use it to fuel serious crimes anyway.

[Wolf]

What does it matter? I gather you're already paying him/her? If you really cared, you'd find out.

[Sloady]

Actually, I do know, and I know the guy I deal with won't buy from anyone who deals in stuff like that. But my point is that not everyone does - and legalizing marijuana would cut out that element of it. Take the money away from criminals and let people form legitmate businesses and actually help the economy with it.

[DorostheConqueror]

Oh great. Just what we need. More arguments about how pot is and should be "medicinal". Instead of just coming right out and saying it should be "recreational", which is all people really want.

Why, let's just get this entry level drug product off the streets and into the hands of major pharmaceuticals! Because it's not like tightly controlling the production, prescriptions, and sales of a drug whose ban has been relatively lightly enforced, it's not like that's gonna backfire and make it HARDER for recreational users to enjoy a puff now and then, right? ... right?

Well, at least potsmokers could hang out with Oxy poppers once weed gets bumped up to a medicine. What a goal! Keep reachin' for that rainbow, guys.

[Wolf]

Doros, you seem very distressed at this possibility. Why?

Sloady, there is a very thin line between American business and what can be considered "criminal". Not literally, of course, but my point is that corporations that your money would be going to in this circumstance are not as white-hat as you seem to think they are. See Doros' post about big pharma for more details.

[Caligula]

Medical marijuana should be readily available in every state.
And it should be fully legalized and taxed and sold just like alcohol.

No beating around the bush, it should be fully legalized.

[Dark Lord Cam]

Morphine isn't just handed out like a candy. Cannabis is like a painkiller, from what I know. It can be addictive, perhaps not physically, but mentally, like alcohol.

If Marijuana is to be legalized, I want it to be controlled.

[Caligula]

Morphine isn't just handed out like a candy. Cannabis is like a painkiller, from what I know. It can be addictive, perhaps not physically, but mentally, like alcohol.

If Marijuana is to be legalized, I want it to be controlled.

Controlled as in what way? Like tobacco and alcohol?

[Rhyme Asylum]

Morphine isn't just handed out like a candy. Cannabis is like a painkiller, from what I know. It can be addictive, perhaps not physically, but mentally, like alcohol.

If Marijuana is to be legalized, I want it to be controlled.

You can get physically addicted to alcohol. Hence why you can go through alcohol withdrawal.

>.>

The only 'addiction' weed can cause is a psychological dependence... which you can get from anything at all.

[Wolf]

I'm actually surprised to learn that meth is less addictive than heroin and cocaine. From first-hand accounts, I would've (and did) thought the opposite.

[Dark Lord Cam]

Hmm. I had read Alcohol was less addictive than cigs because it wasn't chemically addictive. I guess I was wrong. But yeah, I want it controlled like any medicine would be controlled. You don't hand it out will nilly to any bloke on the street who says he's sick. You give it to people who actually need it.

If you're going to use the Medicine Argument to justify legalization, then be prepared to have it treated as a medicine.

[Caligula]

Hmm. I had read Alcohol was less addictive than cigs because it wasn't chemically addictive. I guess I was wrong. But yeah, I want it controlled like any medicine would be controlled. You don't hand it out will nilly to any bloke on the street who says he's sick. You give it to people who actually need it.

If you're going to use the Medicine Argument to justify legalization, then be prepared to have it treated as a medicine.

But what about having alcohol and cigarettes? Those are very very harmful, even more so than Marijuana. In this case, alcohol and cigarettes should be banned.
I'm a cigarette smoker, and I have tried quitting. It was horrible.
I smoked Marijuana almost every day for about 4 years, quit like it was nothing.

[Dark Lord Cam]

Oh I don't disagree with you. It's just that Prohibition failed 50 or so years ago.

[Rhyme Asylum]

I'm actually surprised to learn that meth is less addictive than heroin and cocaine. From first-hand accounts, I would've (and did) thought the opposite.

Methamphetamines aren't on the chart - I imagine their likelihood to cause dependence is higher than regular amphetamines, and possibly heroin and cocaine.

[Wolf]

I'm actually surprised to learn that meth is less addictive than heroin and cocaine. From first-hand accounts, I would've (and did) thought the opposite.

Methamphetamines aren't on the chart - I imagine their likelihood to cause dependence is higher than regular amphetamines, and possibly heroin and cocaine.

That makes more sense. I didn't see meth specifically on it, so I assumed it was classed under Amphetamines.

[DorostheConqueror]

Doros, you seem very distressed at this possibility. Why?

Because I feel bad for potheads. I don't think the state should keep them from partaking in their favorite pastime. Hell, I don't even buy the idea that the state has that authority in the first place. All this "medical marijuana" nonsense does is shift the dialogue from one crap deal to another, potentially worse one. It ignores the fundamental issue, the ONE argument that the potheads really can, and should, win, and for what?

Wasting time on an uphill battle to do absolutely nothing worthwhile. gg, potheads!

Besides, the sooner we legalize pot again, the harder it'll be for the nanny staters to ban worthwhile vices, like hamburgers and Japanese tentacle pron. "First they came for the heroin addicts, and I did not speak up..."

[Arch-Mage Matt]

Marijuana is the most used illegal drug with up to about 190 million users. Legalizing it would just be a formality.

[philfredobob]

First time i saw this topics title , i thought it was about using Michael Jackson music as medicine ....

anyways , marijuana ... hmm , never smoked it meself ... honestly ? wether they legalize it or not , i dont think it'll make a difference , people weill smoke for recreation no matter what , and no one will care