LSD and PA members?

Certif1ed wrote: what goes up MUST come down.

What goes up, must come down
What goes round, must come round
What's been lost, must be found



The Eagle Will Rise Again

    

Let me put in my two joints...er, cents worth...

According to The Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), the most highly respected organization of its kind, while it is true that marijuana can be (not is, but can be) a "gateway" to other drugs, the #1 gateway "drug" is...tobacco.  Pot is a close second, with alcohol a close third.

 

Re Syd Barrett, Mystic Fred's claim is ridiculous.  Barrett's psycho-emotional problems long pre-date his use of drugs: he was apparently misdiagnosed as a child, and had been suffering from a clinical condition for decades.

 

In this regard, the claim that marijuana or drugs can "cause" schizophrenia shows a complete lack of understanding of the disease.  Schizophrenia cannot be "caused" by anything - it is a bio-chemical condition of the brain.  And although it is possible - maybe - that marijuana or other drugs can "catalyze" a non-evident schizophrenia, there is far too little evidence to support this yet.

 

As well, it has not been noted yet that more people are addicted to - and/or abusing - prescription drugs than all illegal drugs combined.  And prescription drugs can have just as a serious an adverse effect on the brain and body as any illegal drug - indeed, they can often be worse, especially when taken in combinations.

 

I also want to provide some statistics re something that has been mentioned.

 

Tobacco-related diseases (lung cancer, throat cancer, emphysema, etc.) kill well over 500,000 people per year - in the U.S. alone.  And alcohol-related illness (cirrhosis, etc.) kills well over 100,000 people per year - in the U.S. alone.  And this does not include the 25,000-35,000 that are killed in drunk driving-related accidents.

 

In this regard, the smoking of marijuana has never been found to be the cause of death in a single person in the history of humankind, unless the marijuana was "tainted" with something else (PCP, etc.).  Nor have hallucinogens (LSD, mescaline, psylocybin) been found to be the cause of death of any person, unless these drugs were "cut" with something else (speed, meth, etc.).  And even if such cases could be found, more people die from snake bites and lightning.  Nor has anyone committed a crime – much less a violent crime – while under the influence of marijuana, again unless the marijuana was tainted, or the person was using other drugs as well.  Indeed, marijuana tends to make people somewhat more “docile” – while alcohol often brings out the “beast” in an otherwise passive person.  Finally, neither tobacco nor alcohol has been found to have any medical value at all (other than using alcohol in a pinch as a mild anesthetic).

 

Marijuana, on the other hand, has a number of proven medical uses.  It is used by glaucoma patients to ease pressure on the eyes.  It is used by cancer patients to ease the nausea associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.  It is used by AIDS patients to ease nausea and increase appetite.  And because THC lowers blood pressure overall (there is a short spike in blood pressure at first, but after this, bp lowers significantly), it is now being used by cardiac patients.  Indeed, in this final regard, marijuana could end up saving thousands, perhaps millions of lives.

 

Marijuana and cancer?  Nope.  Although any foreign substance in the lungs is not a good thing, there has been no statistical correlation found between marijuana and lung disease.  In fact, consider the following.  The country of Jamaica - which has the highest per capita consumption of marijuana in the world - has one of the lowest lung cancer rates in the world.  Yet China - which has among the lowest per capita consumption rates of marijuana of any country - has one of the highest lung cancer rates in the world.  (It is no coincidence that the Chinese are rabid cigarette smokers.)  This single fact speaks volumes more than all the conjecture and paranoia of the anti-pot crowd.

 

Heroin, cocaine, crystal meth, MDMA.  These (and others) are the true dangers, the drugs that kill, that have no medical value, that should strike fear in the heart of every God-fearing (even atheist…LOL) person, and that should be kept out of the hands of every child (and adult).

 

This does not mean that other drugs – marijuana, hallucinogens, etc. – are necessarily “good.”  But it is important that we deal in facts and not fear.  “Just say no” was not simply an abject failure; based on demographic statistics throughout the U.S. over an extended period, it actually drove more teenagers to say “yes” – since kids often use a form of “reverse psychology” when confronted with authority.

Superb post, Maani (as always) particularly your highlighting the two most highly addictive and statistically dangerous drugs, both of which are legal and (to an extent) socially acceptable - our old friends alcohol & tobacco.

You also railed against heroin, cocaine, crystal meth and MDMA; two of these I have never tried, and never intend to, the other two I have tried in the past, enjoyed them & left them behind. One of these (cocaine) is becoming more and more common in British (and I suspect American) society, not among the stereotypical 'drug-users', but among the middle classes, where you're almost as likely to be offered a line as a glass of wine at a party (slight exaggeration, but...) - my point is, the very 'normality' of certain drugs in some situations leads to a blase attitude toward their illegality.

As Easy Livin' quite rightly pointed out, certain drugs are illegal, and it doesn't matter a jot how safe you consider them to be, or how little or how much you use them... sooner or later, it is likely you could find yourself facing a court of law, and possibly a prison sentence.

Health issues aside, remember - you may be having a good time, and doing no harm to anyone, but you're breaking the law, and should accept the risks inherent.    

Wise words.

Actually, the origin of cannabis prohibition comes from the american paper industry (forest exploitation) at the beginning of the century; They were afraid of fiber hemp (non psychoactive hemp) concurrence (much more ecological as it avoid to destroy forests) and so creates a confusion between fiber and “Indian” hemps species and invented propaganda about the second in order to ban the first.

USA even modified Japanese constitution in 1945 to forbidden hemp which was traditionally used since the night of times, like everywhere.

First American wallets, clothes, ropes: all was made of fiber hemp, which is the most resistant rope and has many qualities, even nutritional (hemp oil is the richest food in proteins).

Hemp remains an ecological bomb: it produces more material than cotton, but doesn’t require any chemical treatment like cotton does. It may for example depollute soils ruined by “regular” agriculture, as hemp uses a lot of nitrate during its growing stage.


-->Sean, "Salvia divinorum" differs from "Salvia officionalis", it's a psychoactive mexican specie used by shamans as a mushroom subsitute when they're in mushroom shortage. It's legal.

"Always was risky even when this was made by official scientist for research and recreation " Stanislas Grof experiences show few badtrips, probably due to the fact that the "psychonaut" trusts the doctors and that they have some thorazine under the hand in case of problem.



    
    
    
    
    

Edited by oliverstoned - August 24 2006 at 16:00

" bio pot << this is important)"

Indeed!!


"but I have seen him cross the street to salute my buddy and exchange a few pleasant words."

...and a few little bags maybe also?

That's a scandal that they forbid nature's gift.

Certif1ed wrote: oliverstoned wrote: That's a scandal that they forbid nature's gift.      Interestingly, one of nature's other gifts is tobacco.

    

Indeed, and it's also forbidden to grow its own!
    








Edited by oliverstoned - August 24 2006 at 10:27

Oliver:

Tristan Mulders wrote: Of course alcohol is a drug too, but I think there's a major difference between taking hallucinating drugs/toxics or a drink.

There's no difference AT ALL.A drug is a drug.

Alcohol is the worst drug on this planet,alcoholism is rampant in my family and my family has been torn apart because of it.

That is why I have never touched the stuff in my entire life,I hate it,and was always determined to break the cycle(I do believe alcoholism is a disease,and it is genetic).I do worry about my kids though,but my daughter is almost 16 and has no interest in it,which is a relief.
    

Eetu Pellonpää wrote: In my opinion tobacco is worst sh*t on the western wolrdes markets today. Users get a serious addiction which can be compared to addiction of hard drugs, and they wont even start to see goblins or get a hardon as a reward of using.  It's the great conspiracy of industry leaders, people spend uncomprhendable amounts of money to it, they stay able to work as they are not stoned, and the users die to cancer just as they are about to reach the pension. Quit today, and watch Michel Mann's "Insider".