[rubicon]

Originally Posted by B767drvr

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Long before I began this project, I had steadily reviewed the scientific literature on medical marijuana from the United States and thought it was fairly unimpressive. Reading these papers five years ago, it was hard to make a case for medicinal marijuana. I even wrote about this in a TIME magazine article, back in 2009, titled "Why I would Vote No on Pot."

Well, I am here to apologize.

I apologize because I didn't look hard enough, until now. I didn't look far enough. I didn't review papers from smaller labs in other countries doing some remarkable research, and I was too dismissive of the loud chorus of legitimate patients whose symptoms improved on cannabis.

Instead, I lumped them with the high-visibility malingerers, just looking to get high. I mistakenly believed the Drug Enforcement Agency listed marijuana as a schedule 1 substance because of sound scientific proof. Surely, they must have quality reasoning as to why marijuana is in the category of the most dangerous drugs that have "no accepted medicinal use and a high potential for abuse."

They didn't have the science to support that claim, and I now know that when it comes to marijuana neither of those things are true. It doesn't have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications. In fact, sometimes marijuana is the only thing that works.

Take the case of Charlotte Figi, who I met in Colorado. She started having seizures soon after birth. By age 3, she was having 300 a week, despite being on seven different medications. Medical marijuana has calmed her brain, limiting her seizures to 2 or 3 per month.

I have seen more patients like Charlotte first hand, spent time with them and come to the realization that it is irresponsible not to provide the best care we can as a medical community, care that could involve marijuana.

We have been terribly and systematically misled for nearly 70 years in the United States, and I apologize for my own role in that.
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Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Why I changed my mind on weed - CNN.com

B767 drvr: We have no differences here. In Charlotte's case they are treating her with an oil extract from the plant that has medicinal value without the "high of" the drug. I have read about her. As to medicinal all I am saying is that the government needs to meter its use to avoid abuses, if that is possible given the opoids abuse.

What I am concerned about is that profiteers submit amendments for legal medicinal use but actually its an opening for recreational use such as amendment 2 in Florida.

I served on a board for a company who dealt with abuse and there were some young people who did nothing but smoke dope all day and all night long. i pose he question if smoking marijuana is not that enticing or addictive then why has Colorado been inundated with young people from other states? True medicinal purpose YES Legal recreational use NO because with the latter we are opening a pandora's box

[Sandtrap328]

Just Google to find out if legal medical marijuana has increased abuse of marijuana in teens. You will find out that education and regulation has proved effective in those 22 states in keeping mj abuse in teens down.

Just like same-sex marriage is an inevitable thing in all states; so is legalization of medical marijuana.

This is not 1955, Beaver Cleaver does not live in Springfield and Ward Cleaver does not wear a jacket and tie to dinner.

This is 2014, Beaver has a home in The Villages and wears a golf cap to dinner at Golden Corral. He will vote YES on Amendment 2 in November after seeing the pain endured by Ward in his last years.

[B767drvr]

Originally Posted by rubicon

True medicinal purpose YES Legal recreational use NO because with the latter we are opening a pandora's box

I've just never felt the need to lord over people. Why not let people make their own decisions in life about what's in their best interest, or even what's perhaps not in their best interest?

Perhaps not you… but why do some feel so superior that they know what's best for the rest of us? These same people (with this lord mindset) outlaw sodas of a quantity larger than "they" determine responsible. It's a continual infringement on an individual's right to live his or her life as he/she sees fit (as long as those individual choices do not impact or endanger others.)

There's very little healthy about a hamburger. Should they also be outlawed? What's healthy about alcohol or cigarettes? Should they also be outlawed by those who "know more"?

I haven't smoked pot (for the record) since college… many decades ago. I am for individual rights and free choice and see a continual erosion by "lords" who believe they know what's best for everyone.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by B767drvr

I've just never felt the need to lord over people. Why not let people make their own decisions in life about what's in their best interest, or even what's perhaps not in their best interest?

Perhaps not you… but why do some feel so superior that they know what's best for the rest of us? These same people (with this lord mindset) outlaw sodas of a quantity larger than "they" determine responsible. It's a continual infringement on an individual's right to live his or her life as he/she sees fit (as long as those individual choices do not impact or endanger others.)

There's very little healthy about a hamburger. Should they also be outlawed? What's healthy about alcohol or cigarettes? Should they also be outlawed by those who "know more"?

I haven't smoked pot (for the record) since college… many decades ago. I am for individual rights and free choice and see a continual erosion by "lords" who believe they know what's best for everyone.

I don't feel that Rubicon lords over anybody. He has always been sincere and honest in his posts about his own beliefs.

I certainly don't know what the outcome will be, but I really doubt there are THAT many seizure prone babies who will benefit from legal marijuana. If a child is having that many seizures, the brain damage is done, and mercifully the extract from the marijuana plant will stop the seizures so their parents do not have to see them in that state. I think that those kinds of examples are overused sometimes for other purposes. But I can't prove that.

I would like to say that I used alcohol too for many years. I don't anymore. Not for religious reasons. I like being in full control of myself. It is much calmer for me to know what I am doing at all times and gives me more peace of mind. I don't dictate what others should do.

My father and grandfather were brewmasters and they told tails about prohibition. I hope I am not one of those ladies. I don't like to be seen by anyone even myself as holier than thou, because I certainly am not.

[Kahuna32162]

Kentucky Fried Chicken....extra crunchy!

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by Lonnyward

those who are of the mind set to try pot are probably also of the mind set to try other drugs as well. This does NOT mean that pot is a gateway drug. Rather, it only shows that people open to trying things, may very well do so. Saying that smoking pot LEADS to other drugs (the gateway garbage) is just that - garbage!

No, not really. It just makes some people feel better to say legalizing pot will not lead to increased addiction or dependence ... especially with a lot of young kids many of whom are unemployed (thanks to the rotten economy) and have nothing better to do anyway

[Sophie11]

new medicine - make the pill and get the prescription pads ready to treat! No it does not have to be smoked!

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by rubicon

redwitch: Perhaps you are correct? However some experts believe that people who are genetically pre-disposed to mental illness but would have never experienced it trigger the brain chemistry, their billions of neurons etc and create an illness they could have avoided.

This is what we think happened to my younger brother in 1972 ... his life has been a train wreck ever since, in and out of hospitals etc. He was the all American kid before that. We've always thought the pot he smoked was laced with something but no way to prove it.

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by B767drvr

Peyton Manning did say he's selling more pizzas than ever with the law change in Colorado!

Seriously, has anyone heard of all the boogie man bad things happening in Colorado or Washington that some are predicting for Florida? Where's all the death and destruction, hospitals full of addicts, carnage on the roadways?

The truth is full legalization of marijuana won't impact anything but alcohol sales. People have wrung their hands about women voting, civil rights, gay marriage… in the end society continues. I'm very confident full marijuana legalization will eventually be the law in all 50 states and there won't be any negative effect on the good citizens of this country. I understand some might not agree, and that's ok too. You'll eventually see the light!

I'm very confident that your confidence is totally misplaced in terms of no negative effects.

[Sophie11]

Originally Posted by B767drvr

Peyton Manning did say he's selling more pizzas than ever with the law change in Colorado!

Seriously, has anyone heard of all the boogie man bad things happening in Colorado or Washington that some are predicting for Florida? Where's all the death and destruction, hospitals full of addicts, carnage on the roadways?

The truth is full legalization of marijuana won't impact anything but alcohol sales. People have wrung their hands about women voting, civil rights, gay marriage… in the end society continues. I'm very confident full marijuana legalization will eventually be the law in all 50 states and there won't be any negative effect on the good citizens of this country. I understand some might not agree, and that's ok too. You'll eventually see the light!

Another frog in a pot waiting for it to boil! Think of it ….if it is to be used for medicine, then it is good and they do not need any of us to vote!!!!

[Barefoot]

Prohibition was repealed in 1933 because it became evident that making alcohol illegal led to deeper and more serious problems than if it were to be sold in a controlled environment.
Just saying.

[PennBF]

Ah come on. Does everyone ignore that there are 28+ AA meetings a week in The Villages. There are loads of Al Non meetings and well over 100's of NA/AA meetings in the state of Florida. Those meetings are not to celebrate the fact that drugs and alcohol are great. They represent a terrible high rate of the sufferings on the family and users who use drugs. And the uninformed who testify that Pot is not a gateway drug obviously never worked in a Crisis Center or Rehab. Maybe they should ask the experts in the field who deal with these problems ever day. Maybe those that want to use Pot + should take a look at the impact it has on the family. Heck, if anyone wants to use and hurt ONLY themselves let them go and end up with some form of illness including mental (anyone heard of a fried brain?) . But for gods sake it is the kids and families that suffer and they have no right to bring that on them. It is a terrible selfish act to destroy family and kids for the sake of a QUICK HIGH!

[kagney123]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSgCeCpMOsM
This made me giggle...Just in case you need a laugh...The pot experience starts at 20:43 but found the full episode funny...Love Joan she left us too soon.....

[Villages PL]

The popular argument in favor of widespread usage of marijuana is that there are other things like smoking and drinking that are worse.

That's like saying hitting your thumb hard with a hammer is okay because getting hit on the head with a brick is worse. This is the kind of solid reasoning you can expect from the marijuana crowd.

[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

The popular argument in favor of widespread usage of marijuana is that there are other things like smoking and drinking that are worse.

That's like saying hitting your thumb hard with a hammer is okay because getting hit on the head with a brick is worse. This is the kind of solid reasoning you can expect from the marijuana crowd.

Way to go VPL good point. People that don't partake are supposed to just overlook and live with all the negatives of its use so a few can indulge.

Video explains it well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeYsTmIzjkw