More than just taxing marijuana, the big drug companies would stand to lose millions

[backtoblue]

if pot were to become legal. The sad thing is that unlike pharmaceuticals, pot doesn't cause

stroke
heart disease
thoughts of suicide
rash
headache
anal seepage
thrombosis
sepsis
peptic ulcers
edema
kidney disease
liver dysfunction
etc
etc

While marijuana does have it's own mild set of side effects, I think that being addicted to oxycontin, hydrocodone, and other pain pills is far worse to the overall health of the person being treated.

[Warpy]

1. Apples to oranges

All drugs, including pot, are targeted poisons with known side effects.

The only drug sales I can see being affected at all by legalized pot are the mood drugs, from Valium through Prozac. Even then, they won't be affected that much since people who tend to need those drugs generally won't do well with pot, getting paranoid instead of buzzed.

People who are in enough pain to need oxycontin are not going to be able to substitute grass, although they might be able to reduce the oxycontin dosage in some cases.

Pot is not a cureall. The pharmaceutical industry will still be needed by those of us who are sick enough to need it now and they know it.

The booze industry, though, might have something to worry about.

[backtoblue]

2. I agree on one thing..

that anti-depressants and sedative sales would be down, but that is a HUGE market right now. When it comes to the strong pain pills, I am a little jaded because I have lost two friends who would use oxycontin and other pills intraveneously. The dependency and misuse of these drugs is becoming an epidemic with young people who abuse them and though I have not smoked pot in many years, not once did I ever see a friend melt it in a spoon and inject it.

With that said, my OP was kind of a pun at the advertising of legal drugs, but I don't think that people who NEED the medicine are bad for taking it. :dilemma:

[flyboyscot68]

9. pots not a cure-all?

So where did you get that info from? I would like to see "ANY" evidence you have for that statement.I personally have seen it "CURE" people. Where's your evidence for making such a general assumption about marijuana. I have seen many different medical conditions "CURED", including cancer, diabetes,brain tumors, Muscular dystrophy, boils, skin cancer, arthritis, and several others. What info do you have to say that it's not a cure-all. Have you seen anyone treated with it? Do you know anyone taking it? I love how people can make blanket statements, without any evidence. Please don't make blanket statements, unless you have personal knowledge of the medical effects, and benefits. I have personal knowledge; Do you?

[flyboyscot68]

10. blanket statements

Also where did you get your info on "it's not going to allow people to stop taking oxycontin"? Again I have personal experience with this. Where did you get the info for that statement? Again I believe you are not being honest about your statements about the medical benefits, and effects,. If you do have medical evidence I apologize,but, I don't believe you have any. You make claims about something you have no knowledge of. Do you know anyone taking medical marijuana? I do. Do you know anyone that tried it and still had to take their medication? I do. Do you know anyone that has taken it and not be cured of cancer? I do. Please don't make general statements, unless you know what your talking about. I don't claim to be a expert on the subject, but, I don't make general assumptions about things, I don't know enough about. Sorry for having to "get after you" for this, but I have personal knowledge on this,,,,,,,DO YOU?,,,,

[Wapsie B]

3. I think another part of the problem is the fear of the unknown.

The criminal enterprises that deal with pot right now stand to lose a fortune with legalization. I think there's an unspoken fear of what do these organizations move into next in order to have the same revenue stream?

[backtoblue]

4. Sigh...

When thinking of the overall impact of legalizing or at least decriminalizing pot many, many people will lose revenue. The drug companies, the pot smugglers(and enterprises), the small-time pot sellers, and the local, state, and federal governments would lose fine revenue. With decriminalization, the only losers that I can see would be the local government's loss of fine money.

[Wapsie B]

7. Just what is sigh supposed to mean?

[backtoblue]

8. "Sigh" as in

I conceded to your thoughts. B-)

[corruptmewithpower]

5. Cops Say Legalize Drugs

LEAP - Law Enforcement Against Prohibition - Cops Say Legalize Drugs


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

[backtoblue]

6. That's interesting

That is not a typical response from an officer in my area, but maybe it will catch!

[bamacrat]

11. Well thats a bad reason.

It would also affect the Prison Industrial Complex so there would be a fuss about that. Until someone explains it to the dumb masses that this is not an evil drug like it has been portrayed. It will not kill, it does not cause physical dependency, is a great remedy for many ailments that people take man made chemicals to help, weed is a natural alternative, that may not be for everyone, those people can continue to use big Pharmas poison shit.

[bamacrat]

12. I know this is a scary idea but it may be the only way this works.

Allow tobacco and pharmaceutical companies to produce and sell weed. They could be the Anhieser-Busch and Coors of weed and let other people run their own micro-groweries. THen they wouldnt lose money, which is not the point but Im trying to imagine what it would take for legalization to happen. Treat it like it is.. safer than alcohol.

[backtoblue]

13. I'd be for it, but only if

individuals were permitted to grow and their own plants. Marijuana should be treated the same as any other herb.

[bamacrat]

14. Agreed.

If we are truely a free society we would be able to do with our bodies as we see fit. My fear is though that there are too many politicians in washington that are owned by BigPharma to get legalization. We need to take their lab produced chemically derived pills to cure ailments that a completely natural 5000 year old herb will do with minimal side effects

[Laura902]

15. very true

I dont smoke pot but I know which one I would choose if i had
a serious illness. Addiction to painkillers isn't something
I'm planning on ever having.