REEFER MADNESS - 2010 - Dangers of Marijuana - PART THREE

In my last post I focused on the topic of the paranoid feelings users of cannabis report. I summarized by saying it's not an illusion... I think, if one went back to the 20's, with alcohol prohibition, you'd find plenty of paranoid people.

The "dangers" I list; well, some of them may appear odd at first glance; it does depend upon your current point of reference.

About those dandelions growing in your yard? If you haven't been spraying them with weed killer, do you realize the leaves have as much or more nutrients than spinach. It's not a weed. That's a myth.

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"Dangers of marijuana, marihuana, ganja, ganjah..." (common and historic references for cannabis - common - sativa/indica):

Insane Laughter: Nothing sticks with a person more than the nervous, insane laughter of the actor(s) in the original 1930's, "Reefer Madness" film, considered a public safety warning at the time, to become, an hilarious comedy years later. True, when first using cannabis and getting buzzed or high, laughter is usually part of the experience - and for someone who literally had a childhood and teenagehood without laughter, the second time I tried cannabis in the 1970's, I laughed till I really hurt. So too, my two friends. The laughter part of it is nothing like the film mentioned earlier, it's simply a relaxation of a "primal fear" to laugh. After awhile the laughter part of it goes away, and the more mellow, meditative experience begins.

The Munchies: If there's one basic argument for keeping cannabis illegal, it's the fact that I last heard a report on NPR (National Public Radio) that stated 1 in 4 person's in the US are obese. Apparently, the reason people get the munchies is a drop in blood glucose levels. Need to feed the need. So eat. For myself, with a BMI under 20, eating is a very good thing, and for that reason alone, I should have the right to use a medicinal plant of my choosing. I don't.For those in the 1 in 4, do you think ruining people's lives for having cannabis is any more reasonable than arresting you for buying 6 cheeseburgers, 10 bags of fries, and a Super Colossal diet soda? Hey... I do need to eat...

Tobacco: Yes this is a danger... because, if you smoke cannabis you do so either through a pipe or a joint, though many may use a vaporizer these days. Except they have to buy it and everything is data-mined these days. So they probably don't. Point is, to smoke cannabis, you need fire - like matches, or a lighter. But, if you don't smoke cigarettes, why do you have a source of fire? Someone like your boss or nosy neighbor might ask you that question. Solution: Tobacco! However, it contains the poison nicotine, which is very much physically addictive, unlike cannabis. It's only practical use is as an insecticide, by the way. And killing human beings.

Diminished Job Opportunities: This danger is divided into two parts; 1) drug testing at the work-place and 2) a drug conviction on your record.

1) During the 90's I worked at a public school - an elite school with lots of wealthy tax-payers in town. I forget the exact year, but it was when the drug-testing surge took place. The school principal announced one day that all employees would be subject to a random drug test. The teacher's union, of which I wasn't a member, opposed the rule. We had a meeting, and was I surprised to hear nearly every teacher was opposed. The rule never took effect, it was dead. But that was then and this is now.

Now, nearly every large school, company, state or federal job tests for illegal drugs. They ignore alcohol and tobacco. Since most illegal drugs are processed and quickly out of one's system, marijuana is the exception -  that's what "they" call it - marijuana. So since cannabis "ash" can linger in fat cells for up to 30 days, it is the drug routinely tested for. Other drugs, two, three days, stop use. The obvious lean toward singling out cannabis users is obvious, and a danger.

2) Beginning after the terrorist attack on the WTC, personal privacy disappeared. If you've ever been busted for cannabis, aka marijuana, it's on your record forever. As you stand in line for a job you'll notice those ahead of you could have a history of assault, rape, murder, but the good news is the pedophiles are behind you. Comforting thought as you try and be a productive member of society.

Freedom of Expression: I admit, this is an odd danger... but it's true. During the 50's through the 70's, while cannabis use was actually quite illegal, it was not yet quite on the forefront of law-enforcement's priority list; that happened, from my perspective, in the mid 70's to 80's. Nancy Reagan's "Just Say NO" speech galvanized the world... but to what end? To demonize cannabis users? Since it's popularly pushed that marijuana is the stepping stone to harder drugs? How much harder can you get, then from the legal ones already available?

Much of the personal expression part of cannabis use during the 60's and 70's gave way to hushed silence on the subject. During that time cannabis was widely used and talked about by artists of all kinds... until the last few years.

Head-Shops, mostly forced to close down these days, were very popular during the 70's. Good for the economy and a friendly environment. They sold art, exotic clothing, herbs and lots of cannabis related gear like pipes, bongs, and papers. They usually had incense burning, so the atmosphere was usually surreal. But unlike Haiti, where colors are everything - they paint their buses in wild floral colors, in the US, drab black and white is still the norm.

Freedom of expression is a significant victim to the "Just Say No" mentality. Considering the alternatives... and the danger that your cannabis incurs is that you have to censor what you'd like to say or do, like start up a head-shop.

Loss of Personal Freedom, Pursuit of Happiness: Let's face it... use cannabis and your opportunities in life diminish. This is a result of laws and stigma about cannabis, and has a "catch-22", in that, if you appear to be complacent or relaxed under duress, or between jobs, it's easy to blame the marijuana. I'm surprised the "experts" don't realize with current discriminations and laws directed towards cannabis users, it's a no-brainer that they appear to be slackers.

The best part about cannabis is it's not physically addictive. And over time, less is enough... not more. With regards to psychological addiction, it depends upon the individual. Many people use it on only occasionally, easy enough to do. Others use a small amount each day for pain, relaxation, or meditation. It is a natural medicine... one used for thousands of years. I admit, still others seem to go through an ounce a day... but the thing is, unlike alcohol where the more you use the more intoxicated you get, it's the opposite with cannabis - you only get so high. Mostly, those who use an ounce a day simply like smoking it.

There is no hang-over, just a relaxing night no matter how much one consumes.

To Be Continued...  Next: More dangers, like schizophrenia - is it myth or reality?

"REEFER MADNESS" - 2010 - Dangers of Marijuana - PART TWO

I concluded "Part One" with the phenomenon generally known as a paranoia; after using cannabis, seems after smoking it, rather than when eating it in a brownie. The paranoia is usually passive, non-specific, produces anxiety of varying degrees - usually depending upon one's environment at the time. It can be most acute in the early period of use, before an individual understands the link to their environment. I wouldn't say I've ever found this effect to to very common. 

But it inspires concerns with another, well published concern: Schizophrenia. I read that this fear is the number one concern if cannabis becomes legal. I sympathize with you, however, far better that cannabis is legal and non-stigmatized, than illegal, and those with a problem are afraid to come forwards. The other problem with this fear is that it's now quite official-

The person who experiences this side-effect may decide to stop using it for awhile, with a bonus in that there are minor to no withdrawal symptoms. And that may become that user's past... imagine, being able to say "no thanks", after a personal decision. Try making a list of legal substances that you can try and easily say "no" to? Tobacco???

Some people gradually are able to conceptualize the origin of their fears when using cannabis to come to terms with issue. Some call a mental health center, to come to terms with what they now realize is a problem - and I don't mean the cannabis. inhibits both a person with problems seeking help, and providing a hostile environment for people who want to use cannabis.

The problem as I see it is that the environment that a cannabis user lives within, regardless if it's their "castle", is in this country a pretty hostile one, one where I've seen the push to close "head-shops", the so called hippie shops businesses that sold tie-dyed t-shirts, bongs, Indian apparel and other unusual clothing, exotic t-shirts, jewelry, rolling papers, cards  and pipes. They always had incense burning. I loved going into a head-shop. 

In NH I consider whatever the state had to do with prohibiting or closing down such shops operating legally, to be violation of NH Article 84. I believe it's time to Get together openly all of us in America and form forums of discussion and promote actions. We will have our differences. That's human nature. But we're intelligent people - without threat, we should be able to make a big difference in what this country is supposed to be about.

It is ironic that we have so much public support to legalize cannabis, all the obvious medicinal benefits; the great musicians who found inspiration using it; Movies, TV shows, and countless, thousands of books on the subject. Some of the topics are amazingly funny and there are parts where the actors outright mock the prejudice and laws against cannabis users as quite ludicrous. A couple movie suggestions:  "Harold and Kumar", "Cheech and Chong",; Cable TV: "Weeds", Comedians: Sarah Silverman.

My biggest disappointment was Michael Phelps, Winner of 8 Olympic Gold Metals - who failed to stand up against his accusers; Kellogg Co., and the "anti-drug" establishment. This photograph of him after he'd won the gold medals could have been a turning point in understanding, that smoking pot is not by nature a crime. He might just as well be having a beer; since in my opinion there's not much difference in pursuit of happiness, in the act. It does not harm people, nor apparently, if he actually inhaled, let alone if he ever used cannabis. But this photo, available here tells it all:

SOURCE:

This photo, more than anything, speaks about the prejudice born and now grown up about cannabis. We have blind drunk actors, unfaithful Presidents, perfectly sober terrorists, sinfully corrupt Wall Street Exec's... so WHY IS MICHAEL PHELPS THE BAD GUY??? What did he do? Why is it Michael Phelps felt the need to apologize? It's a picture of him with a bong, that's it!

Getting back to number one, what is now called marijuana, is really the target of the  "drug reform policy"  - the federal government and many state governments depend on it as the weather station. It's one of a few recreational drugs that leaves behind a signature tell-tale by-product that can be found in many people up to 30 days after it's use. This makes cannabis the ideal "tracking cookie" for the millions who prefer it to the potentially more harmful legal alternatives - alcohol and tobacco.

The "by-product is not THC - meaning the by-product itself is not psychotropic (producing a high). It's simply stored in fat cells much as ash left in an old campfire can be used to determine there once was a camp-fire. What makes this dangerous is the common misconception that cannabis use is associated with hard drug use, like crack, opiates, etc. ... which in my opinion is what scared Michael Phelps into apologizing and disappearing from the public light.

The federal government refuses to acknowledge the reality about cannabis, that it's essentially harmless when used responsibly. They refuse to reschedule it, from currently being a Schedule One Drug, which is simply bogus, and which laughs in the face of California residents, and millions of other supporters of legalization. The Obama administration did at least decide to let California do what it wants to do with minimal federal intrusion. So far he seems to be true to his word. And I appreciate that. But it's not enough. Not nearly enough.

I discovered after posting a reference to this phenomena on another blog, that not everyone is aware of the paranoia cannabis users may experience. I would like to point out it's generally temporary, and really does depend a lot of the person's environment. Cannabis users simply becoming more aware of their surroundings, and the people they're with. The fear general inspires a flight response, unlike alcohol which would more likely inspire a fight response.

These two phenomenon extent to the problem of driving an automobile. The person using alcohol tends to feel invulnerable and compelled to get in a car and show off, speed, push the petal. The cannabis user might be lulled into a sense that a car is an extension of freedom. Fine if they're the passenger, but not fine if you think driving 35 in a 55 is okay, or waiting an hour (an exaggeration of course - but even waiting 30 seconds is not okay) to make your turn. Some individuals believe they drive better under the influence of cannabis - and they'd be wrong. They are the people who should be subject to arrest, not those using it in the privacy of their home or with others. Know your plans for the next few hours after consuming any recreational drug. I strongly suggest you consider having a designated driver - a friend that doesn't indulge.

There's no reason for a user of cannabis, a natural plant with many beneficial uses, to be paranoid, and subject to the mayhem and indirect deaths that occur as a result of inappropriate government prohibition. Cannabis heightens awareness... and I must emphasize the paranoia one may feel is generally simply that - heightened awareness, of how a person feels. Fears of getting busted is a real fear. It's not an illusion.

To Be Continued...

"REEFER MADNESS" - 2010 - "DANGERS of MARIJUANA" - PART ONE

In my "introduction" I concluded with two links, 1) The Wall Street Journal - "Strapped Police Run on Fumes, and Federal Pot-Fighting Cash" and 2) Fox News - "Strapped U.S. Police Turn to Marijuana Busts for Cash".

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My goal here, is to present my view of the real dangers of what's called marijuana. In the early 1900's, Congress strongly pursued "Drug Reform and Enforcement". Opium was very easy to buy and very addictive... as was cocaine and a variety of other "personal medicines". The federal government passed two very strict regulations against "dangerous drugs" in the early 20th century:

I) 1906, Pure Food and Drug Act; which did more to "control drugs" than ensure pure food.

II) 1914, Harrison Narcotics Tax Act; to aggressively control opiates and cocaine.

Cannabis, was not among those considered... or, it was not considered a narcotic at the time, nor a dangerous drug.

Why? Because there really wasn't anything dangerous noted about it's use.

BUT NOW... thanks to an ongoing era of "Reefer Madness", started in the early 1930's and the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, THERE ARE NOW DANGERS. Mostly manufactured dangers, to support the fulfillment  of political prophecy, the likes of which make no sense to me. One danger, that it "causes brain-damage and death, quite unlikely, was served up after "researchers" did experiments on monkeys where the story goes, they put the monkeys in masks and forced them to breath cannabis smoke. Only cannabis smoke! Of course they either died or suffered brain-damage. Thus was born, "This Is Your Brain on Drugs".

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In one of the articles the law enforcement spokesperson stated it was "likely Mexicans growing the marijuana" in Northern California. Huh??? Is that statement suppose to justify eradication efforts - that it's "likely Mexicans, and NOT Americans?

What does it matter? It's illegal currently whoever is growing it, but to point at Mexican's in N. CA, is ludicrous. What is it about the anti-Mexican sentiment in this country??? Personally I'm opposed to the way I hear most Americans talking about Mexicans. It reminds me of my Native American studies and the way New America viewed Native Americans, calling them "Indians and savages", in colonial times, to justify eradication and theft of them and their lands.

Of course, though racism, is bad, is not like a cancer; it is more like a mold, or fungus, that is hard to prevent or remove, especially when so much money goes instead towards eradicating cannabis! And blaming the Mexicans.

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States also depend on "cannabis criminals" to provide money to their coffers too. It's become, what pays us more - putting generally harmless, peace-loving people through the judicial process, or taxing it as a medicine? And since when were "medicines" taxed?

Take NH for example... a state that is traditionally conservative, which feels marijuana is a danger to children, and ignores the fact two very dangerous drugs are already legal, that they endorse those, but cannabis - more return on making it's use a criminal offense.

In NH, possession of an ounce or under is a misdemeanor crime... it is considered similar to you suddenly attacking someone and nearly killing them! It's like a assault... or man-slaughter, and it doesn't take much marijuana to be subjected to this crime... just a pipe will do with residue in the pipe-bowl, days old - it can result in a punishment of a year in jail and a $2000 fine. Somehow the image of a person or persons smoking pot, passing a joint, doesn't seem like an assault to me, or it's equivalent..

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But, for those of you out there now smoking a joint (cannabis cigarette), or eating cannabis brownies, you might consider these current attitudes and penalties. Of course you don't have to, but then consider the fact that law enforcement and states need a lot of money right now, and cannabis is, their (pun intended) pot of gold. You are their livelihood.

Paranoid using the ganja? I don't wonder why. You have a right to be paranoid!!!

And that, is Danger # 2 with cannabis use!

"Paranoia".

Cannabis "heightens and enhances" awareness and attention to details. It seems to make one less hostile... more likely to avoid dangerous or risky situations. That's not a bad thing...  I  found I was more focused when studying for an exam, if stoned. Not scientific fact, of course, just my opinion, but the 3.9 gpa I got with my last college degree, in a "Medical Assistance" degree program, compared with the 2.0 gpa I averaged in high school, should amount to some degree of discounting the general myth that cannabis causes stupidity. I'd used cannabis nearly 20 years by then - so plenty of time for brain damage to occur, if it ever would.

To Be Continued

"REEFER MADNESS - 2010" : } The Dangers Of Marijuana : } Introduction

"Reefer Madness 2010":


Enough is enough already! It's like Orson Wells, "War of the Worlds", never went away. A myth that lingers... but a myth that hurts many people in so many ways. Marijuana Prohibition hurts people. And that's the one moral I believe in. "Do Not Hurt Others".

I believe the laws against cannabis are, to be blunt, completely "BOGUS." The laws prohibiting use and it's status as a "stepping stone to harder drugs", are anecdotal, and not based on any sound scientific research. In fact, what genuine research has actually shown, has produced a far different medicinal/recreational case than what many claim, calling it the "demon weed".

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The next few posts will conclude my "Cannabis Series"... I need to go back to the "History of cannabis' post, which is unfinished, but within these final few posts I will explore in, a literary sense, the dangers of marijuana, as seen today in 2010 - approximately 75 years since ganja/cannabis got renamed "marijuana", as an affront to Mexican immigrants, legal or not, in my opinion.

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This fall, Californian voters will cast ballots to determine whether cannabis should be legal for personal use. The surveys say, a majority of Californians support legalization. Most recently, despite threats from the state government, Massachusetts reduced possession of under an ounce of cannabis to the same as a traffic fine, and I read recently, the police usually let the people keep their weed.

Several states have legalized cannabis to some extent. But there is still a lot of misunderstanding as to what cannabis is, how it can be a a legitimate Federal Schedule One drug, and yet have obvious medical value; why exactly is it considered dangerous enough to authorize SWAT raids on families with children present? When the only crime committed is possession and use by adults in the privacy of their home.

I hope to address these questions and issues in the following posts.

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I know some may view this subject as being adult in nature, but may I suggest it's much more than that? When federal and state governments use the claim that cannabis prohibition is just and reasonable, because legalization will send the wrong message to those underage, and promote the use; not only of cannabis, but all other "street drugs", the message is wrong. A article I read a year or so ago actually found tobacco was the "stepping stone drug", but it gained no real attention, except to myself. 

The subject is one of teaching about drugs, legal or not. I almost died from alcohol poisoning at age 16... I had no idea how dangerous it could be. I got hooked on tobacco at age 14. Still am, and have quit countless times, for as long as 3 years, over the past 40 years since then.

Alcohol, as the 18th amendment proved, is non-prohibitive, which means, it can't be outlawed as it's a virtual impossibility. 100 years of Temperance movements beginning in the 1840's, and ultimately, it was total failure... Tobacco, which contains the narcotic drug: nicotine, would be equally non-prohibitive. Add in the societal acceptance of said drugs, and their popularity, you can see why they are rarely the topic of danger that street drugs are. Except for the "canned warnings" on the bottles and packs, we largely ignore them.

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Cannabis continues to this day to inspire so many people... and movies - think "Harold and Kumar" , and so many books. People, from everyday stoners, to Olympic Greats, like Michael Phelps, stars like Willy Nelson, Woody Harrelson, Sarah Silverman and Bob Dylan. Millions of Americans enjoy cannabis... and many have nothing to do with "hard drugs".

Based on my own survey (bottom of this blog), not only do the majority wish it were legal, but they prefer it to alcohol. According to research available at LEAP.cc , 99% of cannabis users have no interest in hard drugs.

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There is a vibrant, rich and hilarious history behind marijuana prohibition, beginning during the 1930's. That's interesting to consider. There is also a great tragedy that's been unfolding since then, and despite the best scientific and logical minds, we can't seem to get past the stereotypes. The harm suffered by American citizens due to "marijuana prohibition" is far, far greater than the alleged harm your average user is accused of causing. Yes, there are dangers with cannabis... as with everything, including drinking too much water. But with cannabis, it all begins with:

William Randolph Hearst, the magazine mogul, who was very active in promoting the anti-marijuana sentiment back in the 1930's. The reason: alleged prejudice towards Blacks and Mexican (illegal) immigrants. Modern DVD's can be found like the following, where you can see the fine art of anti-marijuana propaganda from back in the 30's. The reality is anything but what you'll see. And in my following posts I will attempt to clarify what the dangers of cannabis truly are. I provide a primer, below the following image.

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THE DANGERS OF CANNABIS/MARIJUANA:

#1) The premise and reality that law enforcement in many parts of the country are "addicted to marijuana"... to the drug enforcement money provided by the federal government. Without this money, law enforcement would crumble. That according to the two articles/links that follow. And the average cannabis user, is caught in the "cross-fire", is LE's favorite target, with a huge disparity between Blacks and Whites incarcerated and in trouble with the law because of this feeding frenzy. I'm not making this up... Read about it below:

Law Enforcement Addicted to Marijuana: FOX NEWS, and here: The WALL STREET JOURNAL

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To be continued...