Comments on: Reefer Madness

By: Anita

Anita — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:38:38 +0000

I have been on chemo 3 times a week for 6 months with another 6 months to go, if I wasn’t able to get medical marijuana I sure would not be able to eat enough food to keep up my strength thru this hell of chemo.

By: lynn byrd AKA The Byrdfeeder

lynn byrd AKA The Byrdfeeder — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 02:49:13 +0000

Very provocative posts here, George. I have two things to add.

First, we must remember biochemical individuality when discussing the medicinal qualities of any drug, legal or illegal. Everyone has their own unique biochemistry, meaning you might react to a substance differently (positively or negatively) than I might. Of course this is not the point of your essay, but it needs to be stated.

Second, I can’t help but pass along a little marijuana humor, so here goes: What’s the difference between a drunk driver and a stoned driver?

(this is so bad)

The drunk driver runs the stop sign, and the stoned driver waits for it to turn green.

Thanks for being you, dear.

By: K.L. Aynedter

K.L. Aynedter — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:41:34 +0000

I am very sorry to read most of these very negative postings, we all have differing reactions to most of the many substances that are available. I for one smoked pot for close to 30 years. It got to the point that all I needed was one puff, the stuff got way to potent for me and one day I stopped and have not smoked since. I don’t believe in the ‘addiction’ premise at all. Some will say “but you were addicted for almost 30 years”, No, I never ‘Had to have it’, I never had withdraws or any of the other BS some say.
This is unfortunately a very contentious issue and will continue to be. The illegal aspects of marijuana have and will continue to grow until the majority of people vote to legalize it,tax it and allow the creation of the many jobs and other enterprises that would follow. Many other industrialized countries have legalized it or decriminalized it and the sooner we rethink this issue the better.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:37:42 +0000

As a MD, I think you are right on. I did not use the stuff in college, mostly because I wondered what people would spray on such a valuable and illegal crop to keep bugs off, and did I want to smoke the residue. While there are certainly some uses, the wholesale rush to embrace MM is crazy.

By: George

George — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 04:04:27 +0000

Here are my sources. Normally, one doesn’t include sources in an op/ed article, as this was in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Try them on for size. Then see if you have the ability to write anything other than an ad hominem attack that addresses not a single point, much less any of the horticultural issues I raise.

Reference sources:

Where legal
With California leading, fourteen states have now legalized medical marijuana
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881

Legalization under consideration in 11 other states. [Now 12]
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002481

Pot: Legal Standing
Marijuana — classified as a schedule I drug, one with a high potential for abuse and “no currently accepted medical use” by federal law.
http://www.justice.gov/dea/concern/marijuana.html

California Laws
California’s medical marijuana laws are a hodge-podge, changing from county to county.
http://www.safeaccessnow.net/countyguidelines.html

Number of LA Dispensaries
1000 marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles alone — a greater number than all the city’s Starbucks, 7-11s and MacDonald’s combined.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121433422&ps=rs

Dispensary Hucksters
Far from being clinical, some shops feature carnivalesque hucksters out front to lure new clients. Pretty much anyone claiming a headache can get a prescription.
http://www.yovenice.com/forum/politics-community/la-city-council-to-regulate-medical-marijuana-dispensaries/

Pot Dangers
These patients are using a garden-grown substance that offers dangers more significant than the relief it affords.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071217110328.html

Inconclusive Findings
Right now the scientific findings are far from conclusive.
http://blogs.forbes.com/sciencebiz/2010/02/medical-marijuana-an-over-hyped-drug/

AMA
The AMA has sensibly urged the federal government to loosen restrictions that impede serious research.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5614233-503544.html

Pot Strength
Today’s pot is far stronger than the weed that gave boomers a halcyon buzz in their youth.
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/mpmp_report_104.pdf

Pot Reactions
Seeking relief for pain from a few puffs of medical marijuana can result in a doubling of your heart rate, anxiety, panic, hallucinations and psychotic episodes.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/marijuana/marijuana3.html

Hospital admissions
Significant increases in marijuana-induced emergency room visits in the last 15 years.
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/stateMethamphetamineTX/methamphetamines.html

Pot messes with your head
And pot messes with your head: significantly impairing short-term memory, verbal skill, judgment and perception.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/marijuana/marijuana3.html

Pot Social Problems
Pot-using teenagers have poorer grades and poorer attendance. Of those arrested, 41% of adult men test positive for pot, 27% of adult women. Six to 11% of fatal accident victims test positive for THC. http://www.drugabuse.gov/pdf/rrmarijuana.pdf
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/AMA09policy.pdf

Marinol
Marinol, an approved prescription medicine that offers calibrated doses of pot’s key THC isomer.
http://blogs.forbes.com/sciencebiz/2010/02/medical-marijuana-an-over-hyped-drug/

By: Mose

Mose — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 04:03:54 +0000

I’m choosing to unsubscribe due to your statement that you “must” address this issues. I’m not sure I want to be doing business with someone who can’t control himself. Your e-mail seems to have been sent more for the purpose of attracting attention to yourself than to inform your customers. Many of the readers’ comments above cite sources, which you failed to do in your little rant (I object to your pompous description of this stunt as “literary”). Most disturbing, however, is your self admitted ignorance regarding much of the research available on this issue. Responding that a comment is “wrong” without citing evidence is lazy, not a trait I typically look for in a retailer. Stick to “writing” about the grasses you sell, and the next time you need attention, upload a YouTube video. Goodbye George.

By: George

George — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:04:30 +0000

I sincerely hope that medical marijuana continues to be of great value to you. I was addressing the public policy issues related to the current proposed legislation.

The fact is that most medical marijuana dispensaries are close to schools, colleges and inner city neighborhoods. God knows where the stuff is coming from, since it is clear that it is being used mostly to get high.

Best of luck to you and please post again.

By: John Novak

John Novak — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:03:58 +0000

Umm…hello? Marinol is based on just the THC in cannabis. That is why is is not effective to most users.

Cannabis has many more cannabinoids that have their own medicinal value, and they also change the ways in which THC effects the brain! Different combinations have different therapeutic uses.

As for cannabis causing people to be lazy, that just means you are not aware of how many people in society use it.

I have temporal lobe epilepsy and did not respond to any seizure related medications. I was having up to 60 seizures per day.

My family doctor and two neurosurgeons introduced me to medical marijuana in 2003.

My seizure activity has been reduced by nearly 90%.

90% less seizures has given me a new lease on life , as you might imagine. I am now a business owner, PR director for a non-profit and father of two wonderful sons. I have a wonderful marriage of 13 years.

And yes…more powerful pot means I use less to get the desired effects.

So again, I say go back to growing trees and perennials.

Legalized cannabis means more jobs and less criminal violence.

Here’s two questions for you…

Why can I buy opium poppy seeds and grow the flowers legally in the USA?

Why can’t I buy cannabis seeds and grow the flowers legally in the USA?

“Six to 11% of fatal accident victims test positive for THC.”

That stat does not tell us what other dugs were in their systems, so it is useless.

And I bet 100% of all fatal accident victims tested positive for sugar.

By: George

George — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:06:26 +0000

Thank you for your thoughtful post. I hope you can find an effective painkiller for your illness.

God bless you and please post again.

By: Kawika K

Kawika K — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:05:56 +0000

A very informative article. As a recreational user back in the mid-70s to the mid-80s, I know first hand how pot has an anti-motivational effect on many users. Perhaps it’s not so much of a gateway drug but it exposes you to people with less than perfect morals that have no problem with theft and other anti-social behaviors needed to come up with money for their party habits. I know a lot of people that didn’t develop to their highest potential due to lack of motivation from using it, legal intanglements from either using it, selling it or coming up with the money to buy it. Now I’m disabled from rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis and could benefit from it but it’s so expensive and the legal penalties prevent me from accessing in my state.

One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is how the law came into effect that made pot illegal back in the 1930s (Marijuana Tax Stamp Act). It was basically an attempt to control the Mexican population that was at that time mostly involved in migrant farm labor. The laws allowed people to be deported or imprisoned for possession. Certain legislators in border states were concerned about the possibility of the migrant workers becoming permanent residents that this was one tool to prevent it without appearing out and out racist. I learned this from a program on the History or Discovery Channel several months ago that explored this country’s experiences with marijuana use. Other than the Mexicans, about the only other people that used it prior to the 1940s were black jazz musicians which numbered much less than the Mexicans.