If pot was legal then people would not search for things such as fake bath salts to snort and get high. I mean some would cause their are people with serious problems but if you can buy something at a gas station and you want to get high then they buy what they can that is legal. And obviously more dangerous. if pot was legal then they prob wouldn't have tried railing some weird substance

Please. get a grip. If pot would do, they would just buy that. Legalizing pot would have no affect on the harder drug market. Pot is not hard enough for them, or they would never have tried anything but pot. This is a poor logic fro legalization.

But, Ippster, the article mentioned that at least one user was "in the system" for pot and was provided his Cloud 9 because it "wouldn't show up on a drug screen."

People who are in trouble with the law for harmlessly smoking pot are often sent to mandated drug counseling which includes urinalysis for drug use. Now, most pot smokers would just suck it up, tough it out and smoke when the ordeal was all over with, but some people will look for loopholes like this one. Its unfortunate its so dangerous.

But anyway, I think the argument here is that this product is legal, whether intended for ingestion or not, but a drug known to be harmless (from the standpoint of overdose risk) is mandated as a schedule 1 narcotic, which is pathetically dishonest.

I have absolutely no sympathy for these druggies. Maybe they should try something a little stronger and remove themselves from the gene pool.

Vernon, jump off the bridge fool

...poison centers around the country have gotten 160 calls — 91 of them in Louisiana....
...state poison centers have had a total of 69 calls about the drugs as of midday Wednesday: 19 in Kentucky, 13 in Florida, 12 in Mississippi, 10 in Missouri, six each in Tennessee and Texas, and four in Utah.

No doubt copycats will pop up in the rest of the Red States soon...no surprise at all. Explains so much.

Vernon Hickman, to be removed from gene pool, got it.

Johnm - there's too much money to be made by keeping marijuana a criminal offense to possess.

The cartels can pay millions to politicos here and south of the border. Legalization or mere decriminilization would STOP all that illegal activity literally overnight. The payola would also stop overnight.

That's my theory.

I'm with Vernon. Legalize all the drugs, synthetic or not, tax them (moderately so as not to drive them out of the legal market), and let the stupid ones eliminate themselves from the gene pool. For a while the kill off would be horrific, but then it would stabilize. If you think legalizing only marijuana would do, you've been smoking too much of something.

As far as drug cartels go, they have gotten too big and powerful to just go away. No matter what is legalized, they will just find other markets to exploit. The organized crime groups in America did not go away when alcohol was legalized, they just branched out and kept on going.

Good luck with your conspiracy theories, Hope. You overlook all the money that can be made by legalizing, too. To paraphrase, there's too much money to be made by legalizing marijuana to keep it a criminal offense (for proof look at California's recent attempt).

Gotta agree with vernon and charles smith, I went to New Orleans for med school. Shame to see how many resources are WASTED on these druggies who can't pay.

Now if these druggies could pay for their healthcare, that would be another story. But they can't pay for their healthcare, and we're still required to treat them b/c some idiot liberals believe healthcare should be a right.

Probably should try and get to the bottom of the reason why so many are needing to get high. Those who do drugs simply for the high is not necessarily the majority. People do it to escape. So, find out what they are escaping from. It starts from birth everyone...raise children with love, send them to schools that give a crap about the kids education...you get the idea. Ta-da...we have valuable members of society!

Wait, that takes far too much time, money and effort. Never mind...they're just bad bad people.

okay doc, what about all the asians, mexicans, ect. who know how to work the system and get a free ride at our expense, i know for a fact this happens, as i worked for doctors for over 15 years, when are the republicans going to change the system, i assume you are republican with a comment like that, hope you don't have any kids, god forbid they have a drug probem, oh wait a minute, you could pay for it and then have a full page obituary in the paper when they die from an overdose, trying to make the kid look like a saint like one of the doctors i worked for did, of course there was no mention of how he died, alcoholic stupor, be careful what you wish for, how can a doctor be so heartless, sick @#$!@#

OR we could stop using all drugs including alcohol. I know this is unthinkable to the vast majority of people, but why do we need to use any drugs (excluding medicinal drugs) at all? That's the root of the problem.

HOLY SH*T , concerned tourist.....finally some common sense. Thank you. Get to the root of the problem and then maybe there can be intelligent discussion. but to say blanket statements like 'druggies', and 'illegal drugs' is nonesense...... lest you forget legality is relevant. pot wasn't always illegal, and alcohol wasn't always legal......people get high for all kinds of reasons. The joker above from med school, did you take you oath? to do no harm? It sounds like you angry at the system before you even start work...... yeowwwww. How can you give your best care if you are biased???? i hope i never become your patient for surely i would possess something you find reprehensible.... We all need to realize we ARE in this together, like it or not. compassion and empathy ought to be cards played. it could be your loved ones in this position 20-30 years from now.

Johnm, please tell me you're joking. marijuana is safer than tobacco how? you can smoke a whole carton of cigarettes and not suffer impaired thinking. you can drive a car safely after smoking a carton of cigarettes. don't tell me people who smoke weed don't drive while high and don't have accidents. been there, done that.

and aspiriin??? HOW is pot safer than aspirin???? and even if it were, wake up. that doesn't even make sense, these people aren't smoking, snorting, or injecting this crap to get rid of a headache. legalising marijuana has absolutely nothing to do with this issue. pay attention.

Hate to burst anyone's bubble here...but as long as the mighty dollar rules man and his corporations marijuana will never be legalized! Since a lot of prisons are being run by corporations now and the majority of prisoners are incarcerated for marijuana possession it would be fiscally irresponsible to legalize marijuana...at least for the corporations.

This, in my opinion is simply bulls#^t! Marijuana is a medicinal herb provided to us by mother earth and should be treated as such. Even the previous Surgeon General of the United States under former President Bill Clinton has gone on CNN to defend legalizing marijuana. America is a great and wonderful place to live, but some of our laws and sterotypes are simply archaic. Just because someone enjoys the relaxing mellow benefits that marijuana offers, especially where pain and nausea are concerned does not make someone a druggie or drug abuser! Marijuana is far more safer for human consumption than alcohol will ever be. When have you ever heard of a fatality occurring in a car accident that was caused because the driver was under the influence of marijuana? Now compare that to alcohol. It is my opinion that all deaths related to the use of alcohol have been sanctioned by our government that refuses to legalize the consumption of a harmless plant, but allows the death of millions by a harmful legalized brewing process. FYI...to use marijuana all you have to do is plant it and grow it just like tomatoes, not so with alcohol.

Man made marijuana illegal not God!!!

Just say No to the War on Weed....!

LEAP - Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

Here's a link to LEAP's home page. I encourage everyone to at least give it a look.

http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

Their first principle:

1.LEAP does not promote the use of drugs and is deeply concerned about the extent of drug abuse worldwide. LEAP is also deeply concerned with the destructive impact of violent drug gangs and cartels everywhere in the world. Neither problem is remedied by the current policy of drug prohibition. Indeed, drug abuse and gang violence flourish in a drug prohibition environment, just as they did during alcohol prohibition.

1 joint = 7 cigs and weed burns much hotter than tobacco. Keep lying to yourself that weed is somehow a "safe" drug - no drugs are safe.

A drug is a drug, is a drug. If youth needs risk, a change and some excitement too, no job prospects? Let them try their other skills for once and get their adrenaline going that way, with a dopamine splash when they succeed! Take up public speaking. Most will quiver and shake in their shoes at first, unable to speak before a crowd, that is why hiding in a dark room or a dark car seems so preferable. How about another skill that would help them more so than a trip with a drug? Take a real risk and invest in a kid, get involved and make sure your at risk kids have a viable community center in your area with plenty of other risky but valuable behaviors and skills to choose from!!!! Poetry as a public art! Plenty nasty and fun things for young men and women to choose from with inquisitive minds. Unfortunately some dead headed adults still love their dark rooms and cars on this page, DUH!!!

eXm.

You don't have to smoke it.

1 joint = 7 cigs and weed burns much hotter than tobacco. Keep lying to yourself that weed is somehow a "safe" drug - no drugs are safe.

I so agree with you on this. Just legalize MJ and maybe these people will not go looking for lea gal way to get high. MJ is so much safer than alcohol, and allot safer than this other stuff they are coming up with. The worst that could happen is that we have a bunch of hungry kids running around.

This is just a current example of Darwin's theory. If you are stupid enough to put something in your nose that someone cooked up in their garage out of god knows what, then you deserve a trip to the ER. However, those of us who did not participate do not deserve to get the bill for your stupidity, but I'm sure we will.

well, apparently some people are heartless, uneducated and misinformed about what drug abuse and alcholism is, a disease, these idiots, as the one commenter said, have family and friends who care about them, there are many people on this earth who are not as lucky as others to not have been genetically predisposed to the disease, mr. perfect needs to attend aa or al anon, must be nice to be so perfect, i would be careful being judgemental, might come back and bite you in the ass someday

Donita...you are soooo wrong!!! Addiction is NOT a disease, it is a self inflicted abuse of a substance, if you don't place it into your body you can't be addicted to it.

Screw you and anyone else who wants to give people like this an excuse for piss poor behaviour and bad judgement!!!

I am one of a few in a minimum of 3 generations that is sober always has been always will be my Mother who has alchohol related dementia, my father who is still getting DUI's on his 3 wheel bike, my brother who acts like he is superman and is sooo way out there man on crack, both my Grand mothers died of drink induced conditions, pancreantitis and perotinitis...I don't see other mammals "NEEDING" to get high. Dogs, cats, sheep, cows and goats all do the same thing they eat, @!$%# and make babies...There not on the look out for there next high nor are they looking for things to get high from...no excuses...these people don't have breast cancer, they don't have athletes foot, or brain tumors...these are diseases!!!! Drug abuse is NOT a DISEASE that is a wonderful excuse to give them for the intentional ABUSE they inflict upon our environment, I am with Vernon and the DR!! Why should the DR. be so happy about wasting his time on someone who intentionally put themselves in that position and will do it again in 30 minutes after being released? He should worry about THAT idiot when he has a baby in the next room on fire with a raging fever and 2 tax paying working class parents worried to extreme...now who would you rather foot the bill on with your tax payer money? My money goes on the BABY screw the Druggie. The druggie takes up enough of my tax money in police wages, crime camgaignes, free health care for there Hepatitis, HIV, STD's and over doses!!! Get them put them on a deserted island with no land insight and let them figure it out on there own.

Want food? Got to be sober to farm! Want shelter? Got to be sober to build! Need water? Need to be sober to find it! Got the idea????

I have delt with "YOUR" disease all my life personally but not internally!!! Every stinking day I still have to deal with it! I get so freaking PO'd at people like you . Don't you dare tell people like me we DON"T KNOW...who the hell are you??? The therapist? Counselor? Sounds like you have been brain washed to me, by the junkies!!!

You people make me sick and giving these people excuses...DISEASE my A$$

I'm sorry Dumpsterdiver that you got the raw end of the deal,

BUT your wrong Addiction IS a disease in its self You said

my Mother who has alcohol related dementia, father who is still getting DUI's on his 3 wheel bike, my brother who acts like he is superman and is sooo way out there man on crack, both my Grand mothers died of drink induced conditions, pancreantitis and perotinitis...

I work in medicine and I can tell you alcoholism is a disease it is recognize in all medical fields as such... so thats were cirrhosis of the liver, alcohol induced dementia, ect come from

Some people are more prone (genetically predisposed) to addiction than others and if you have that addictive personality its best to stay away... unfortunately people experiment... some don't have the power to say no & others have the power but refuse.... You Can't Lump Them All In One And then there are those who've experimented but said no....

however, I do feel if God grew it it can't be all that bad.... but if man made it Satan helped

as for as your brother out there on crack I would suggest a good rehab if I thought it would help but unless he wants the help its just a waste of money

If these substances were not here unfortunately there would be something else to replace them

However I do feel your pain as my mother was a crystal & cocaine user(clean 10yrs now :) ) and my step-father was an alcoholic & drug user(dead now) who thought when he came home from offshore it was party time... just as soon as the alcohol & drugs hit his system the beatings would begin .....But I overcame the adversities and made something of my life and I believe if you haven't yet you still can

Now don't get me wrong I still have to help take care of my mother who literally lost her mind 3yrs ago & bi-polar, my sister (alcoholic, bi-polar), a Daughter who is ADHD & we have multiple other problems but I don't let life run me......I run MY life

Don't be angry at the world.... help the children learn right from wrong ......maybe we can stop drug abuse with knowledge before it starts, you never know

You may call me heartless, and I may be to an extent. But I've seen plenty of drug abuse both as a law enforcement officer and a paramedic. I don't subscribe to the whole disease theory. To me, it's an individual with too much spare time and no direction in life who is at risk. I think we try to make excuses too much and relieve the individual of the responsiblity of his actions. You did it. It's your fault. No one forced you to stick that in your nose. It's that simple. Heartless? I don't think so. Just tired of seeing it repeated over and over while my taxes spiral to pay for other people's stupidity.

Momdragonus:

it is not possible for you to be in the medical field, I have accomplished many things and continue to do so because I have the right state of mind to do so, a clear, straight thinking mind in spite of the albitros hanging around my neck...other wise who would take care of her? The homeless shelter? That is where she was dumped when they called me 3 days after she had been there out of the hospital...she lost EVERYTHING in the name of addiction.

I still stand by my personal experience...NOT a disease but rather a CHOICE. If in fact you work with these people your don't LIVE with these people...you go home to some sort of normal home with some sort of normal situations, I haven't had that in forever...even as an adult and married my husband even wonders why we have to take on her as an added respondibility

dumpsterdiver

#1 I do work in the medical field althoughits none of your business what I do there

#2 how do you know I don't live with these people this is my family my mother, my sister and MY daughter

do you think I don't know the pain and suffering that comes with these addictions Do you think I put up with these people from 8-5 then come home to some perfect life....WRONG

I suggest you think again -having to tend to every need like a 2 yr old & she's 60yrs old, or having to go get my sister at the bar who thinks she's all better so she quits taking her bi-polar meds when she feels like it, or my child with ADHD who has broken her back due to drugs, going in an out of courts and the hospitals with these people... I have admitted mom and sister to the mental hospital when needed and they came back home when they got lil better NOT cured

I wish I could just see these people from 8-5 but no body would be there to take care of them AND my position in the medical field actually gives me a break from MY Family I don't have to deal with a whole lot of persons & I do have to leave my job several times a day to come home and deal with My Family, Thanks to the kind people I work with that KNOW my situation I can do this and still keep my job

Do you think I should be mad at the world like you because...... I was beating & raped over and over by my step-dad while my mother was in a drug induced state, should I be mad at the world for my grand ma ,mother & sister with bi-polar or my daughter with ADHD. NO I don't think so It will help Nothing

I got married at 16 to get away from the crap, quit school and moved but guess what they are my family and when I was needed I came back no questions asked because it was the right thing to do, my marriage of 10 yrs ended my 3 children didn't take the breakup well at all... life moves on I now have a very wonderful husband that supports my decisions and helps whenever he can after 12yrs he's still here putting up with all the BS in our life

I OWN LIFE..... LIFE DOESN'T OWN ME

DARLING I HAVE NO LIFE and Its Anything But Normal but I make the best of it with an open mind.... You CAN EITHER Make The BEST OF THE WORST Situations OR You CAN ROLL OVER And TAKE IT

Ben I'm going to call you a pig instead. You get your high from abusing the worst drug of all - power.

Addiction is a disease and many of the posters on here unsympathetic to the plight of those who are alcohol and drug addicts should take a good look in the mirror. How many of you are morbidly obese? That is an addiction to food. How many of you spend all your money on the church, doing whatever it says. That is an addiction to religion. How many of you gamble, work too much, love to control everything in your lives and the lives of others or would sell your own mother to make a buck? Those are addictions as well. Just because some addictions are more socially acceptable doesn't make them any less destructive or those more obvious (like alcohol or drugs) more worthy of scorn for those too blind to see their own addictions.

I've been called worse, especially here. And like the others, in my opinion your calling me names is just all you know how to do because you don't have an intelligent argument. I disagree with you however on the whole power thing though. There was a little power that went with being a cop, but I'm retired, so I'm not sure I understand your meaning. I'm just a citizen now, therefore I have no more power than anyone else. Thank you, however, for helping make my point.

To everyone: Addiction is considered a disease and is differentiated from other dieseases as being both a physical disease and a psychological disease. The reason is that addiction is often driven by genetics (physical) and can engender some awful physical side effects (Delirium Tremens from alcohol, for example). After years of use, the addict's body is physically changed to need the drug. It's no longer a choice, it becomes a compulsion. If they don't get their drug they can quite literally die from it.

Here's a quote from Medical-Online:

If the problems you suffer stem from severe alcoholism or addiction, you must accept that these problems are not primarily mental or free will issues. Addictions are not about will power. The problems facing addicts, alcoholics, and their families are miserable, disgusting, and infuriating. They are often hopelessly discouraging. But to imagine that an addict "could change if he wanted to" is a serious misunderstanding of the long term dynamic of addictive disorder. The fact is precisely that an addict cannot change in the long run even if he wants to! That is the definition of addiction: "the loss of control over the use of a substance." It is important to understand that this loss of control is manifested not in terms of days or weeks, but in longer term behaviors: terms of months and years.

The reason addicts have lost control is because they have suffered permanent physical neurological changes based in their brains and nervous systems. The disorder manifests in long term obsessive-compulsive behaviors outside the realm of the addicts own control. It is true enough that the use of chemicals begins with chosen behavior. But if alcoholism or addiction develops, the problem has moved outside the realm of free choice. It has developed into a long term mental and physical neurological disorder. All the emotional 'feelings' involved in drug or alcohol seeking are based in neurology. Addiction is based in physical dependency created by altered neurotransmitter balances, and driven by millions upon millions of new living, functioning active neurological pathways which have been established to sustain the condition in the addicts brain. The new neurological pathways are permanently established, and they will not just disappear. The primary neurological disorder is only complicated by physical dependence on the substances. The physical dependence on the substances is secondary! Physical drug withdrawal does not change the underlying neurological addictive disorder. After drug withdrawal, long term overpowering cravings are predictable. These cravings are, in reality, spontaneous nerve impulses. Even in the longer term, overwhelming cravings are outside the addicts control.

These days everyone wants to blame someone or somebody else. No one wants to take responsiblity for their own mistakes. I'm not disagreeing with everything in the medical journal, but just because somebody wrote it in a book doesn't mean it's the truth. The sad truth is if these people had never stuck the stuff in their nose to begin with, they could not have become addicted to it. Bad consequences come with poor choices.

I got the impression from the article that this stuff is NOT really bath salt. it is really this 'drug' substance, labeled as other things to make it easier for the makers and dealers to move around and possess without suspicion

Oh gosh, how HORRIBLE it is that some eeeevIL ambulance chaser might sue a business that knowingly distributes harmful chemicals and encourages their under-the-table sale and use as drugs for human consumption, while FALSELY ADVERTISING their use for other purposes, when that use then becomes deadly and kills people. Yes, that is a horrible outcome, we should stop those bad, bad attorneys, and let "the makers" continue to peddle poison to our stupid.

Hey, pssst! Wanna get high?

Don't you just love how much the war against drugs has backfired, and led to a situation far worse than if they had just ignored the topic all together since 1971?

The short sightedness began by ignoring the fact that teenagers are naturally rebellious to authority. If the authorities say it's bad and illegal, that just makes teens desire to try it that much more.

To Richard Nixon and Nancy Reagan; thanks for not only making America's self destruct button, but also for pushing it .

carles please tell me that was sarcasm,

evIL ambulance chaser might sue a business that knowingly distributes harmful chemicals and encourages their under-the-table sale and use as drugs for human consumption, while FALSELY ADVERTISING their use for other purposes, when that use then becomes deadly and kills people.

You do realize this is NOT Bed Bath And Beyond, Wal-mart or ANY business's actual products..... these are drug dealers selling it as bath salts, ect and such cause it wont come up on a piss test for illegal drugs & no body's going to arrest them for selling bath salts on the street

You seriously had to ask if he was being sarcastic? Wow

OH SHUT UP KERS-2837975

DO THEY REALLY NEED TO PUT ON LABELS HALF THE CRAP THEY DO

WARNING FRESH BREWED COFFEE....... HOT MAY BURN

WARNING KNIFE SHARP MAY CUT

WARNING DOG MIGHT BITE.........does it have teeth DUHHHHH

common sense is no longer used and it was sarcasm vs sarcasm

if I call you dumba$$ is that common sense or sarcasm

I dont know about marijuana but, Knowone has ever died in a volvo someone almost did but they flew out to the accident and got them out before the died....

No one has ever died from marijuana in thousands of years of known use. The primary psychotropic ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, is not inherently toxic. But, like all things, including water, it's possible to have too much, but the amount is staggering, something like 40,000 times the amount needed to get stoned- You would die from smoke asphyxiation or (if you eat it) from your ruptured stomach before the THC could have a toxic effect. In other words, it's essentially impossible. If you were to extract and refine THC, in the same manner that people create heroin from opium, you might be able to create something more toxic, but people haven't been dumb enough to do that.

Now, there is anecdotal evidence of deaths caused by stupid things people do while using marijuana, like setting their house on fire accidentally, eating poisonous foods, what-have-you. But from the drug, by itself? Never.

that depends, if you mean death by over dose, I do not think it is possible to OD on marijuana. I know I smoked boatloads back in the 70's and been around drug use most of my life, never knew anyone to OD on weed. I've seen OD's on other crap, coke, heroin, PCP, alcohol. By best friend died in my arms from a heroin OD when I was 18, I have made 3 trips to the ER from OD's on heroin. These designer drugs are the most dangerous, some bathtub chemist cooking up some @!$%# to get aroud the drug laws, no telling what that crap is.

Marijuana is the safest of all of them, alcohol included. I don't use drugs at all these days, though

I'm glad you made it, Scotty. Keep it up.

Marijuana is fairly safe on its own, but it tends to suppress nausea - one reason people on chemotherapy favor its use. But since nausea and, eventually, vomiting are the body's reaction to alcohol poisoning, the very common combination of marijuana and excessive amounts of alcohol can be deadly.

Nope, not a single death in history can be contributed to just the use of marijuana.

However, not so with any other drug including aspirin. My great grandmother died due to her kidneys shutting down because she ate aspirin like they were candy.

Sorry, should have used the word attributed, not contributed.

Just because you cannot OD on something does not mean it cannot kill you. It does cause cancers and while under the influence you could be in an accident. People need to stop saying it is harmless because it isn't.

CdB-1216168

Please enlighten me with the data or studies you are refering to concerning marijuana causing cancer. This would be very interesting information to have. Especially since I have a dear friend who was diagnosed with lung cancer and decided since he was going to die he was going to die on his terms and began to smoke maijuana profusely. Six months later the good old docs couldn't find any tumors or evidence of cancer.

CdB & Realist:

There have been a number of studies on cancer and marijuana and no causal link has ever been established, but surprisingly, there have been a handful of studies that suggest that marijuana may actually combat cancer-- though in a way not entirely expected. Essentially, the chemical in Marijuana, THC, is too weak to overtly damage healthy cells, but unhealthy tumor cells apparently breakdown. Here's an excerpt from About.com:

Question: Study: Smoking Marijuana Does Not Raise Lung Cancer Risk
I heard that smoking marijuana will not cause lung cancer. Is this true? Does smoking marijuana increase my risk for lung cancer?

Answer: According to a recent study by the University of California Los Angeles, there is no increased lung cancer risk in smoking marijuana.

The study presented at the annual American Thoracic Society meeting this week in San Diego, studied the lives of those under 60, since that age group is most to have been exposed to the heaviest amounts of marijuana use.

The "baby boomer" group was comprised of 611 lung cancer patients, 601 head and neck cancer patients and 1040 people who did not have cancer. The study found no increased risk of lung and head and neck cancer. However, it did find a significant increased risk factor in those who smoked two or more packs of cigarettes a day.

The study also suggests that marijuana contains more than 50% more of the chemicals related to lung cancer than cigarettes, its a chemical inside marijuana called THC that may prevent cancer from developing.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, may have the ability to kill damaged cells before they become cancerous.

And here's a Washington Post article titled "Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html

Here's another from Science Daily:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060526083353.htm

And another suggesting that marijuana can halt tumor growth and/or keep it from occurring in the first place:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm

BUT: Marijuana is not all fun and games. Like any inhaled product, it can have damaging effects to your respiratory system-- just not cancer. Here's another Science Daily report about the kinds of lung damage that can be sustained from smoking Marijuana:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123104017.htm

To the people who say "Oh! Weed is ALL NATURAL! It comes from Nature, it grows in the dirt!" - Ricin, coca and tobacco also grow in dirt. Wow, who knew? If you want to legalize weed, ease up on the damn smoking bans.

Yep, I agree.

Banning something people are will in to kill and die for will not improve society. Drugs DO have massive detrimental effects on their users, and their families and ideally would be removed. However, the side effects of the "cure" are worse then the problem.

I would support completely repealing the Controlled Substances Act. They should drop the legal drinking age to 18 and make 21 the legal age for everything else.

As for the "whole christian morality thing", don't drag religion into this. You'd be surprised how many Christian agree with you about drug legality.

*BTW, I'm not a druggie. Most of the people who want pot legalized are stoners. I don't even drink. But I do have to live in a world where drug related crime spills over in to every neighbourhood. I don't like drug users; but I'd be to just happy to Live and Let Live.

Sorry, Laced. It will never happen. Since you're on Newsvine, I feel it's safe to assume that you've heard about the unemployment problem. Can you guess how many people would be out of work if drugs were legalized?

The same is true for simplifying the tax code. It puts way too many people out of work.

Legalizing pot will create jobs. Anything else should stay illegal. Keep the war on drugs for coke,heroin,meth, these are mind altering drugs like alcohol.

Hey - As the story goes Jesus himself turned some plain old water into some great vino at a party! Remember the wedding feast story? And everyone including the host said it was some good stuff.

These natural substances, such as wine, beer or weed are basically harmless when sensibly used. As someone above mentioned you can overdose on WATER. For the vast majority of people imbibing in a little home grown or home brewed is harmless.

If you need a history lesson in FAILURE of prohibition and the deadly blackmarkets created by that waste of energy simply read about it on any number of millions of internet sites devoted to history.

You can take the story of prohibition during our recent American history and substitute 'marijuana' for 'booze' and you've got close to the EXACT scenario. Secret drug cops, black markets, shootings, gangs with territories, expensive products, UNSAFE products, and the list could go on.

When are we going to get away from the prohibitive mentality and allow adults to make decisions on their own? Probably never. In fact we're witnessing the dumbing down of America right now as we type. Case in point are the alarming warning labels one finds on various products designed to help people from accidently killing themselves by misusing stuffed animals, plastic bags, yarn, knitting needles and all manner of consumer goods. It's hilarious reading the warning labels on various products. So, in summary, guess we're de-evolving into some very stupid hominids.

I'm in NC, where once tobacco was "king", but weed was always the second largest cash crop. Now...with tobacco use down, I'm all for legalizin' it and keepin' farmers busy, laborers, etc. If legalized, just tax it and Uncle Sam will be happy. I can smell the brownies now.....

what i find so amusing is that conservatives who usually are against legalizing marajuana are also against the healthcare law even when their arguments contradict each other. It goes something like, Americans are smart enough to navigate the very complicated waters of health insurance, rx plans, and the like, but they aren't smart enough not to pick up a joint? They want government out of their lives, but I can't have a joint at a party. give me a break.

This country is in huge denial concerning the actual amount of marijuana use going on.

When we're consuming somewhere between 23,000-25,000 metric tons of marijuana annually, that basically means that more than 1 out of 3 Americans is using it at least semi-regularly.

to laced713 i could not agree more. too bad that the majority of americans don't get it.

Agreed but like someone else said too many people will be put out of work. I also personally think there are hidden racist motives as well, if drugs were legalized the cycle of violence and imprisonment of minorities in inner cities ghettos would be broken. Also paragraphs are your friend, that wall of text hurt my eyes

Cannabis being used today is 20 times more potent then used in the 60s. It is harmful to your brain, affecting short term memory and also behavioral characteristics adversely. As far as people always wanting to get high, yes there are people who have addictive personalities. The answer is to use your head, if you are predisposed stay away from it.

Chris, no verified study has ever confirmed your assertion that it is "harmful to your brain." There have been independent studies (read: unconfirmed) that have anecdotally suggested marijuana harm, but the studies are generally performed on lab animals (rats mostly) which are subjected to THC amounts many times higher than the average user would ever encounter (equivalents of 100 joints/day, for example).

All studies (at least the one's I have read or been made aware of) performed on humans have come up notably short on evidence of harm, aside from the usual side effects you'll get from smoking (respiratory issues, increased risk for bronchitis, etc).

Marijuana has been tested by the government in just about any way, shape, or form of use on anything and everything and as far as being harmful to the brain, no study supports this theory.

And believe me, if the government could prove otherwise, they would have already published this information. Alcohol is known to kill brain cells...it is legal.

Amazing!

After many years of working in a Critical Care/ER, there has NEVER been a marijuana overdose or withdrawal. Although we get many in withdrawal from alcohol, meth, pain meds and yes, even our patients are admitted for treatment have nicotine withdrawal that requires nicotine patch placement to alleviate the symptoms...so legalize marijuana. The THC receptors in the body will be pleased!

I agree for the most part two tears except for the withdrawal statement. It's true most users don't experience withdrawal. There are withdrawal symptoms associated with the small percentage who are heavy long term users though - insomnia, loss of appetite,irritability, mood swings, and cravings. Unfortunately I can speak from experience. It is by far the safest drug though if used responsibly and may be the only illegal drug that may have a positive effect on your body through it's use. Recent studies have shown thc appears to have the ability to slow or arrest the growth of cancer tumors and other studies have shown the lung cancer incidence rate of long term heavy users is the same as non users.

OK Doc, I took Mefloquin while deployed to Africa. It made me nuts to say the least. I was torn between suicide and murder for about 2 months until I had it out of my system. I have not or will not take that drug again. I took this drug under orders. Does that make me stupid? Since that deployment, I've taken other anti malarials and have had no issues. It was hard, but I forced myself to get through it. Let the druggies take what they want, I'm just tired of hearing the survivors complain!

Good point...and no, it doesn't make you stupid!

exactly, a doctor gave me Depakote, and it really messed me up. I had bi polar for a while, my teeth started falling out, and will have dystonia for the rest of my life. Legal medications are just as bad, if not worse.

needless to say I finally convinced my doctor that the medication was causing these problems, after doing all the research and bringing it to him myself. After I got a new script (for a medication my father had asked for initially and then was blown off), my dystonia and epilepsy is now under control. My bi polar eventually went away too, but I can't take away the embarrassment I suffered in high school from suffering from these issues.

I was once prescribed Inderal and Imipramine(sp)....supposed to slow my autonomic funtions down. Then my resting heartbeat went to 120....Dr says...."keep takin' it...your body will adjust" WTF???? Yeah...adjust to the point my heart could have exploded! I quit takin' it on the advice of a pharmacist and my own good sense

Psst! I have some psychedelic glycophosphate here that you can smoke. Mixed with disopropylfluorophosphate, its rumored to give a head rush better than crack. Mixing it with common rock salt and iodine converts it into a really good crystal meth substitute.

You are an idiot. Legalize weed and all this other bull @!$%# will go away. Some people are so educated they are ignorant.

Todd, Hope you never need CPR, cause I'd let your ass hit the floor.

Legalize weed and you will still have these problems. Former friends and acquaintances over the years, some of them long dead and buried have proved your statement otherwise. Weed didn't have enough kick and alcohol was too socially acceptable.

I will agree with you on one and only one point, the ones for whom weed was the sole recreational drug of choice, all but one are still alive (he wasn't under the influence when he had the car accident) and are still my friends and acquaintances.

Yes Sean, because a decade ago America's youth moved on to things that are even more rebellious to do, such as ecstasy, LSD, mushrooms, and meth.

I am well aware of just how much they are underestimating drug use amongst Generation X and Y.

Unfortunately, all too true. A drug addict former friend of mine managed to reproduce. Both he and his GF were using all through the whole pregnancy. The congenital defects his son was born with have delivered one of those intensely smart sparks that unfortunately knows he will probably die before he lives to be twenty.

And for all those humping, bumping and grinding for ganga freedom stopping the use of the hard stuff, pot was too effeminate for this guy. He had ready access to it for free through his grower buddies, but it just wasn't good enough.

Again, Chris, your assertion has no merit based on scientific fact. No study has ever suggested that marijuana causes permanent harm, especially with regard to short term memory. In fact, there was a Canadian study conducted over many years that followed casual, heavy and non-users of marijuana that concluded that there was absolutely no discernible link between marijuana use and short-term memory loss, with the smokers scoring as well or better than the non-users at every testing cycle (on an individual basis, of course, the study certainly did not state that marijuana use increased short term memory function, so don't misunderstand me).

I think your confusion stems from the fact that marijuana use temporarily affects short-term memory functioning-- basically only as long as you're high. Once the effects wear off, usually after a couple of hours, the short-term memory functioning resumes as-normal.

For the record, by the way, alcohol is known to cause far more damage to the brain, especially memory and emotional centers. But anyway...

If I can find a functioning link to that Canadian study I will post it.

chris, everyday world? explain.

weed makes you paranoid because it's ILLEGAL!

talk about arguing with idiots.

Personal experience from the outside looking into a pot smoker for years.

It makes you stupid!!!

If your doing it you can't see threw the smoke from the inside looking out at what is happening.

It makes you lazy, fat and dimwitted stupid...in many cases like Homer Simpson only more D'Oh fart brained

You can't see what you lost, but those who don't, notice the difference!!!

I don't know too many productive member of society pot heads, and I know a few. They tend to be lazy and can't hold a job. I also don't know too many productive member of society drunks. Anything taken in excess that alters your personality will have bad long term consequences, and most people don't know moderation. People will always look for an escape from their day-to-day life, no matter if rich or poor, old or young. The occasional ANYTHING would be fine, it's those who just take it too far that ruin it for everyone.

dumpsterdiver and ihatestupidpeople..... you ARE the stupid people

I think ya'll need to move around abit and look at the world a lil bit better not all potheads are fat lazy and can't hold a job

I have some friends who lived in CA but moved here to get off the hard stuff they still smoke mj (have been for 25yrs)but both have been working for their companys for over 15years he has been promoted several times and she is a manager and another one has been in her job for 8yrs wears a size 10 all these people have children who where raised with it &1 lady with 3 kids has 2 kids that wont even pick up cigs

so my point is not all potheads are fat lazy and can't hold a job

Don't judge unless you want to be judged

Just because someone smokes pot doesn't make them a pothead just like someone who drinks isn't necessarily an alcoholic. A pothead is someone who smokes pot all day every day - and I have never met an actual pothead who wasn't lazy. I have known some thin ones though :)

When I think about it more though the majority of heavy herb smokers I have known have all held jobs. And while I may be extremely lazy I can afford to be since I have become pretty well off through my creative pursuits. I would like to think marijuana has fueled some of that creativity. But I have definitely abused it which I don't advocate.

Pot doesn't make you stupid, but a lot of stupid people smoke pot. The fact that your limited experience with pot smokers resulted in relationships with stupid people is a greater suggestion of the company you keep than the effects of the drug.

I graduated with distinguished university honors and straight A's from college and I smoked pot pretty much every day and still do. I don't believe that I am a stupid person and, more to the point, I feel that my accomplishments serve to counterbalance your anecdotal statements on marijuana's effects.

And if that is not enough:

Our last 3 sitting presidents all smoked marijuana, 2 of them admitted to using harder drugs as well. No one can seriously make the claim that they were lazy or stupid people (outside of partisan name calling). All 3 attended ivy league universities and graduated.

Countless musicians use marijuana. You like music? Then you like marijuana's effects. From Wille Nelson to The Beatles to Cypress Hill to Tool, drugs have influenced musicians for generations, with marijuana at the forefront as the drug of choice. In fact, artists in general are partial to the herb, so count actors, film makers, painters, photographers, sculptors, writers, etc to the list.

The board of the AMA in 1936 opposed the prohibition of marijuana:

The bill was passed over the last-minute objections of the American Medical Association. Dr. William Woodward, legislative counsel for the A.M.A. objected to the bill on the grounds that the bill had been prepared in secret without giving proper time to prepare their opposition to the bill.^[9] He doubted their claims about marijuana addiction, violence, and overdosage; he further asserted that because the word Marijuana was largely unknown at the time, the medical profession did not realize they were losing cannabis. "Marijuana is not the correct term... Yet the burden of this bill is placed heavily on the doctors and pharmacists of this country." ^[9]

The solution to the drug problem is to just put a huge tax on pot to pay to rehab those that are on harder drugs. If you're caught with untaxed pot, make the penalty similar to untaxed liquor or moonshine, ten years in ClubFed. How does that sound? Not fair?

YES!!!!

People make mistakes. Wishing death on those people is just assinine. Do you wish death on the fat people for poor diet choices? On people with cancer from second hand smoke cause they chose to be around smokers? On people who are risking accidents when they change the radio channel while driving or something else that takes their eyes off the road for a split second? Sometiimes things sound like a fun thing, a harmless thing, and they are not. Death deserved, I don't think so.

That may be true that people who want to get high are going to get high. However, there are plenty of people who would never consider smoking pot because it is illegal and more difficult to obtain (without knowing trash members of society) who may consider trying it if it is legal. This would definitely bring up the number of losers in the world who may otherwise be motivated members of society.

LipSynch, you are exactly right. You said , I've never seen a mean marijuana user.

But I've seen a lot of mean and violent alcohol users {abusers}.

LipSynch - my idea about that is the cartels are supplying some nice kickbacks to politicos north and south of the border. Legalizing weed would cause them and their violent market to stop literally overnight. Of course so would the money they pay to politicians to keep things status quo

lisa............... OMG

pot may be illegal, but how do you know all dealers are trash members of society

I've seen lawyers, doctors, secretaries, ect oh and cops doing a bit of weed

So tell me are they slinking down the back alleys in the dark to meet these unscrupulous people No I Think Not they meet at restaurants, stores, work, elevators, ect

Do you think all the actors and actresses are trash members of society instead of motivated members of society, because You must not condone this evil by watching thier show/movies cause if you are .... well I guess we could say you were supporting mj/weed/herb use

believe it or not potheads and casual weed smokers are around every corner and its gotten re-popular with the older crowds bet you know several potheads and don't even know it ROFLMAO

believe it or not not all pot heads are fat, lazy, can't hold a job and are a burden on society.... most work, play and are a viable part of society

I sure hope I never go to your bias hospital cause I'd die of the back water ways there....guess y all still use leeches

Pot is way safer than alcohol you idiot. How many accidents occur by pot verses alcohol? How many people have you treated for pot overdoses verses alcohol overdoes?{poisoning.} How much domestic violence is caused by pot verses alcohol?

You are just another pot headed arrogant idiot as well.

This idiot is an ER doctor who has seen far more accidents (caused by alcohol, pot, percocet, all sorts of drugs) than you. If you don't have to deal with the consequences of stupid people then you may not notice it. However, if you are a cop or an ER doctor, believe me, you see plenty and you would not have your opinion. Just the other day I had an idiot come in with chest pain after smoking pot. Imagine that. His chest xray showed pneumomediastinum (look it up as I'm sure you have no clue what it is). This was only there because he smokes pot. Of course he requested percocet for the pain. Morons.

Lisa that argument isn't very logical to me. People who want to smoke are mostly going to find a way to do so.

Prohibition simply does NOT work. It creates FAR MORE problems than even ABUSE of the substance in question.

In case you're wondering, I quit smoking clear back in 12th grade. However, I do believe the entire war on drugs is about the biggest waste of time, energy, and TAX dollars there is. Except maybe for outright war itself.

Some ER doctor you are-- maligning the people you profess to help. Tsk tsk.

Here's how I see it:

Cannabis = excellent pain relieving properties + low dependency risk + no risk for overdose (it's not physically possible).

Opiates = excellent pain relieving properties + high risk for dependency + high overdose potential (in large part due to the dependency issue).

If I were a doctor and were given the two alternatives, I would gladly choose the former and dump the latter, except in cases where the former failed to adequately address the medical needs of the patient (i.e. chronic pain- no pun intended).

Let's all remember, for a moment, that the medical community was adamantly against the prohibition of marijuana. Regarding the Marihuana Stamp Act of 1937:

The bill was passed over the last-minute objections of the American Medical Association. Dr. William Woodward, legislative counsel for the A.M.A. objected to the bill on the grounds that the bill had been prepared in secret without giving proper time to prepare their opposition to the bill.^[9] He doubted their claims about marijuana addiction, violence, and overdosage; he further asserted that because the word Marijuana was largely unknown at the time, the medical profession did not realize they were losing cannabis. "Marijuana is not the correct term... Yet the burden of this bill is placed heavily on the doctors and pharmacists of this country."

Clearly we have all been deprived of a safe, effective medicine in the name of political expediency (coupled with racism, misinformation and a heap of political contributions by wood barons and nylon manufacturers-- just look it up).

Remember, Lisa, that for every idiot you treat for "paranoia" and "chest pain" from marijuana, there are literally millions of regular, casual users as well medical users, who are NOT clogging up your ER with useless claims. And I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that you see more alcohol and "hard" drug related accidents/conditions than you see those directly related to marijuana.

As for your assertion that legalization of marijuana would create a herd of unsafe drivers, I think the U.S. Department of Transportation has something to say about that:

* Current users of marijuana prefer THC doses of about 300 ug/kg to achieve their desired "high".

* It is possible to safely study the effects of marijuana on driving on highways or city streets in the presence of other traffic.

* Marijuana smoking impairs fundamental road tracking ability with the degree if impairment increasing as a function of the consumed THC dose.

* Marijuana smoking which delivers THC up to a 300 ug/kg dose slightly impairs the ability to maintain a constant headway while following another car.

* A low THC dose (100 ug/kg) does not impair driving ability in urban traffic to the same extent as a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04g%.

* Drivers under the influence of marijuana tend to over-estimate the adverse effects of the drug on their driving quality and compensate when they can; e.g. by increasing effort to accomplish the task, increasing headway or slowing down, or a combination of these.

* Drivers under the influence of alcohol tend to under-estimate the adverse effects of the drug on their driving quality and do not invest compensatory effort.

* The maximum road tracking impairment after the highest THC dose (300 ug/kg) was within a range of effects produced by many commonly used medicinal drugs and less than that associated with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08g% in previous studies employing the same test.

* It is not possible to conclude anything about a driver's impairment on the basis of his/her plasma concentrations of THC and THC-COOH determined in a single sample.

All emphasis mine. Here's a link to the entire study:

http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/MISC/driving/dot78_1g.htm

Obviously you are overstating your concerns for maximum dramatic effect, but apparently Marijuana, while clearly having an adverse effect, is no more dangerous on the road than a standard dose of cough syrup- and that's straight from the dept. of transportation folks!

WMG-21

Some ER doctor you are-- maligning the people you profess to help. Tsk tsk.

Yep, she had me too, until the moron comment. Most of the doctors I know, are more respectful of themselves than to use this type of criticism and stereotyping out in public. Could it be because you're hiding behind a computer screen and keyboard, or because you're not a doctor at all? Maybe a newly finished nursing student with an attitude?
Nonetheless, your job as a medical "professional", and I say that lightly, is to help people. Period. Not judge. Didn't you take an oath?

But the long term effects of marijuana, at least in my friends, is clear. There are obvious motor skill deficiencies as well as an inability to think clearly, even after they had "quit", or so they say. So my guess would be that a smoker could cause another human danger, if they are operating a motor vehicle while under the "influence", simply because their reflexes would be much slower.
That's just my opinion, mind you. I'm neither a doctor, moron, or idiot.
em

Lisa

you are 1 of those idiot doctors that told me 20 yrs ago the pain in my wrist was from smoking and if the pain was still there when i quit smoking come back to them

I still smoke but my good doctor did Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery on both my wrist over 6 yrs ago and told my how stupid they were about these things back then

p.s. I have smoked for 30 yrs now andhave never had an accident when I was stoned always straight and haha never been my fault, however i know plenty of persons who have wrecked while drunk and drinking

thanks wmg-21 for taking the time to explain it to the "dr" and I use the term loosely

I doubt you are a real doctor. For one a real doctor would be much more articulate and would sound much better educated than yourself. And more car accidents from pot? Give me a break. Smoking pot tends to make a person drive more cautiously. Also it has no effect on reaction time either, that is not a side effect of use. You probably wouldn't even be able to tell an experienced user was high. The cop who pulled me over a few months ago when my brake light was out sure didn't

Lisa, here is what I found on your pneumomediastinum. It doesn't say anything about pot, just crack cocaine... which is an entirely different thing.

Pneumomediastinum is uncommon. The condition can be caused by injury or disease. Most often, it occurs when air leaks from any part of the lung or airways into the mediastinum.

Increased pressure in the lungs or airways may be caused by:

• Excessive coughing
• Repeated bearing down to increase abdominal pressure (such as pushing during childbirth or a bowel movement)
• Sneezing
• Vomiting

It may also happen after:

• Rapid rises in altitude, SCUBA diving
• Tearing of the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth and stomach)
• Tearing of the trachea (windpipe)
• Use of a breathing machine
• Using inhaled recreational drugs such as crack cocaine

You are an arrogant self centered idiot who has no social conscience.

Edwardo101,

YOU are the complete idiot. Let these stupid damn people die. They have no place in this world taking up the oxygen real people need to stay alive. If they want to kill themselves, to hell with them.

Janitor! - a lot of people who 'self medicate' are in distinct emotional pain. Some are born with addictive traits in their genetic makeup. Some just hit a bad patch and try to clock out for awhile.

Your post shows a lack of compassion and understanding for your fellow humans. I feel compassion for you however hard and cynical you are now. There might come a day when you are facing a really bad patch and find out how a little TLC from another can help.

I'm pretty certain that at any given moment we are all doing the best we are able to do. Even you Janitor and even me Hope.

Cheers to you and happy holidays!

You are looking for any excuse to smoke dope you idiot. Don't give me that medicinal bs crap either. A junkie is a junkie is a junkie! They call it dope in the name of what you are-a dope.

WooHoo...want to escape try YOGA

Idiots, let the doppers drop like flies save us all alot of time, energy, money and resources...the new crop in place of pot, peanuts and bananas almost perfect

You are an a$$. I hope your bad karma comes back on you.

Oxymoron...I hate stupid people (headshake)???

One day YOU should have to take care of someone who has made themselves permanently brain fogged forever over an addiction, nothing is more important than the addiction...not a job, not the kids, not the marriage, not the mortgage, not there health (which is permanent) (dementia and uncontrolable high blood pressure) THEN and ONLY then will you know the consequences of drugs.

Fat people are just nasty GROSS!!!

You know some Dr's won't touch them because they just feel nasty?

Are you a fat pot smoker?

dumpsterdiver - your mad at the world for the way you grew up and you have a great hatred for fat people....... grow up!!!

not all pot smokers are fat unless you call 5'7 and 125lb fat & the article was about other drugs being past off as good-as-the-other-s!$t not about alcohol oh and dementia and uncontrolable high blood pressure are not the only problems drugs cause- get a life...... quit haten

Some of you need to smoke a little pot, maybe it would make you less mean and angry. Apparently sobriety means being a heartless close minded and bitter individual from what I've read.

Just where in the story, did it say the gun belonged to the parents? Or that they even knew there was one available?

Am I missing something here about the anti-gun zealots intelligence and their desire for more oversight and restrictions on law abiding citizens, by twisting news stories to fit their agenda?