Marijuana: Another Senseless Overdose

[Willem]

Originally posted by Gatekeeper
Willem:

Y'know what? I'd rather be a passenger on a plane whose pilot is clear-minded and solidly rooted in reality.

Gatekeeper

So would I, what's your point?

[MosesPresley]

Wow! All of this antipathy over a harmless drug.

I have a friend in his forties, he worked his way up from nothing to making over $500K a year and he smokes pot on a regular basis. It hasn't harmed him one bit. I have another friend who smokes it on a regular basis, he is a total loser, but his brain power wasn't that great to begin with. Most people can handle it and some can't. That's life. A few rotten apples do not spoil the whole barrel.

[Ben Kenobi]

And of course you can provide conclusive proof that marijuana is physically addictive?

Willem,

I found two studies:

Fonseca FR, Carrera MRA, Navarro M, Koob GF, Weiss F. Activation of corticotropin-releasing factor in the limbic system during cannabinoid withdrawal. Science 1997;276:2050-2053 [Withdrawal induced by cannabinoid antagonist SR 141716A was associated with elevation of extracellular corticotropin-releasing factor]

Tanda G, Pontieri FE, Di Chiara G. Cannabinoid and heroin activation of mesolimbic dopamine transmission by a common opioid receptor mechanism. Science 1997;276:2048-2050. [THC and heroin exert similar effects on mesolimbic dopamine transmission through a common opioid receptor mechanism located in the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum]

As well as a summary:

"
The addictive properties of THC and of marihuana and their capacity for producing tolerance were reemphasized. The basic molecular mechanisms accounting for these addictive properties are similar to those induced by opiates, cocaine, nicotine and alcohol. The evidence of persistent, abnormal biochemical alterations (produced by THC in the brain and recorded with PET scans) were presented by scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory. These were related to the persistent alterations by marihuana of the brain molecular mechanism which control DNA expression and correlated with changes in memory, attention, awareness, and goal oriented behavior. THC interacts with “receptors” in brain cells, which are part of a regulatory “anandamide cannabinoid” system that regulates the function of brain cells and theirneuro-transmission (signal transduction).

Through this mechanism, THC interacts with the receptors to brain neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, dopamine, GABA, acetylcholine), altering the release of these substances. By the same mechanism, THC modifies the effects of many drugs commonly used like psycho-stimulants andpsycho-depressants, opiates, alcohol and stimulants: some are enhanced andsome are decreased. THC acts as a major “deregulator” of all brainregulations of basic bodily functions.

However, unlike “anandamide” and its physiological ligands, THC sticks to the
receptor molecule for hours, even days, and disturbs its signaling function
in a persistent fashion.
"
The website:

http://www.estreet.com/orgs/dsi/Marijuana/MarijuanaProblemsSummariz.html

[monolith94]

"Fascinating! Hell, let's just legalize everything and put our faith that any high, stoned or drunk person will be caught before they cause a damn disaster."
S.S. Valdez

[Willem]

Originally posted by obiwan18


Willem,

I found two studies:

That doesn't tell me very much. How about you provide some documentation that list the specific withdrawal symptons of people who stop smoking pot after a prolonged period of time? I can tell you from personal experience that if there are any, they're so neglible as to be unnoticable. Especially compared to substances like nicotine or alcohol.

[Ben Kenobi]

Nope, it's your turn to provide defending sources.

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by ThePlagueRat
And a most effective cure for gluecoma, astma, stress, eatingdisturbance, among other things...

And for the health risk: If it is ingested rather than inhaled, it's of course better.

You're claiming that marijuana is a cure for asthma? As an asthmatic who endured living next door to potheads I can personally testify that's one of the most crapastic statements ever posted on this forum!!

Marijuana is an extremely weak remedy for glaucoma, its efficacy ranks up there with the use of ST. John's Wort for depression.

I've never seen any study regarding its usetility in the treatment of anorexia and bulemia. Since I've known anorexic girls who also smoked marijuana I very much doubt its utility in threating these problems.

Many people claim that alcohol is a great cure for stress too. Yeah, right. When you come down from being high the problems are still there. There have been several studies demonstrating conclusively that marijuana makes co-existing mental health disorders worse, so why should we believe that it allieviates stress?

[Willem]

Originally posted by obiwan18
Nope, it's your turn to provide defending sources.

I told you, I can speak from personal experience. I'm a heavy pot smoker, yet I feel absolutely no ill effects if I quit smoking for awhile. I certainly wish I could say the same about tobacco products.

[Zylka]

Originally posted by MosesPresley
Wow! All of this antipathy over a harmless drug.

I have a friend in his forties, he worked his way up from nothing to making over $500K a year and he smokes pot on a regular basis. It hasn't harmed him one bit. I have another friend who smokes it on a regular basis, he is a total loser, but his brain power wasn't that great to begin with. Most people can handle it and some can't. That's life. A few rotten apples do not spoil the whole barrel.

Wow, that's not at all a trite summation. Very subjective to "success", of course, but 90% of those who smoke consistently go nowhere in life (source: common sense)

[Ben Kenobi]

Willem:

One of my best friends smoked pot and has had severe withdrawal symptoms after he got fined for possession, and decided that he didn't like his life on drugs. Thankfully, we've remained friends, and he just recently got back in touch with me after a couple months of seclusion.

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by Willem


I challenge you to provide me with a single concrete example where smoking marijuana has killed anyone.

The Department of Transportation credits marijuana as the cause of about 6% of highway fatalities in the USA.

Tests on lab animals do indeed support the statement that marijuana smoke is about ten times more carcinogenic than cigarette smoke. Smoking 4 jays/day would be the equivalent of smoking 2 packs/day. A 40 pack year smoking history is definitely considered a cancer risk. I'm certain that there are at least a few people around who smoke that much marijuana, 4 jays/day over the period of 2 or more decades needed to induce a tumor.

[Willem]

Originally posted by obiwan18
Willem:

One of my best friends smoked pot and has had severe withdrawal symptoms after he got fined for possession, and decided that he didn't like his life on drugs. Thankfully, we've remained friends, and he just recently got back in touch with me after a couple months of seclusion.

And you're positive his symptons weren't caused by the stress of being arrested? Anxiety has physical manifestations as well. I've been around the block a few times, and I've known a lot of pot smokers. Not once have I heard of anyone suffering withdrawal symptons.

[MosesPresley]

Originally posted by Zylka


Wow, that's not at all a trite summation. Very subjective to "success", of course, but 90% of those who smoke consistently go nowhere in life (source: common sense)

90%, where did you pull that figure out of? Your butt, of course.

[Zylka]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove


The Department of Transportation credits marijuana as the cause of about 6% of highway fatalities in the USA.

Tests on lab animals do indeed support the statement that marijuana smoke is about ten times more carcinogenic than cigarette smoke. Smoking 4 jays/day would be the equivalent of smoking 2 packs/day. A 40 pack year smoking history is definitely considered a cancer risk. I'm certain that there are at least a few people around who smoke that much marijuana, 4 jays/day over the period of 2 or more decades needed to induce a tumor.

That is obviously NOT concrete enough, MISTER!!!

VOTE NDP

[Zylka]

Originally posted by MosesPresley


90%, where did you pull that figure out of? Your butt, of course.

I guess the common sense thing didn't help? IT CAMSESZ OUT OF MY "BUTT" ROLFMA24-6

Seriously... everyone knows 9 out of 10 potheads are failures. Reality calls!