CNN: Is Now The Time To Decriminalize Marijuana?

[Turborama]

Run time: 10:05 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkzhtjRuOAc   Posted on YouTube: February 02, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 02, 2009 By DU Member: Turborama Views on DU: 2513

 
The Michael Phelps story (I have to agree with the lady @ 35 seconds in) continues until 5 minutes 40 seconds and then they start discussing the legalization of marijuana...



(edit to fix typo)

[Richard D]

1. No.

The time to legalize was a long time ago.

[Lint Head]

2. It's ironic that the media would condemn Michael Phelps when

Bob Dylan is the one that turned the Beatles on to Mary Jane and he is now a commercial icon. He and Will.I.Am was just in a Pepsi commercial during the Super Bowl. If Michael Phelps had reacted like this, 'It's a mistake I made but in reality marijuana should be legalized.' he would actually enhance his image. It is not a rule that Olympic athletes cannot have political views.
:dem:

[AlexDeLarge]

3. YES!!!

Thank You Michael! Maybe now people will realize that it's ridiculous to criminalize something that has become acceptable defacto behaviour.

[grannie4peace]

4. LEAGALIZE POT!

[Fly by night]

35. Better yet, legalize it.

[mucifer]

5. It's a story in the newspapers that Prez Obama's 20 something half brother George

was arrested for smoking pot. But,in his 20s Barry Obama was smoking pot. He says so in his autobiography. Also, in high school he was drinking and smoking pot. Time to legalize. More people smoking pot means more intelligent presidents of the USA. (Ok I was just kidding. I know that's not true.)

[woodwrite]

6. This is the ultimate no-brainer

The costs of interdiction and incarceration run well over $100 billion. I cannot even imagine the additional billions going to the criminal producers and suppliers. Eliminate the former amount, and the latter amount becomes tax revenue, eh? Marijuana remains illegal because the dumbass rightwing fundies can get off sanctimoniously bitching about it, and the thieving legal profession wants the business.

[ixion]

7. gee, ya think? Yes. It should never have been made illegal in the first place

and millions of people have suffered because of this stupid, so-called 'war' on drugs.

Just stop it. Let people make their own choices about what to put in their bodies.

[surfinshell]

13. conservatives are suppose to be the party of

"keep gov. out of my personal life!". I never could understand why that doesn't include your personal smoking choice.

[panader0]

8. I caught my 16 year old son in my stash two days ago

I told him to wait two years.

[Iggo]

9. Thirty years ago was the time.

Now's as good a time as any, I suppose.

I was watching some TV with my 13 yr old niece yesterday when they showed that picture. She says, "Isn't he supposed to be the best?" I said, "Yep." She said, "Mmm-hmmm."

Took her two seconds to figure out smoking pot didn't hurt the best athlete in the world.

[trusty elf]

10. I wish people would stop apologizing for smoking marijuana.

I find it very stimulating and inspiring.

[surfinshell]

11. I think this threatens the war on pot more than anything

just another example of how harmless pot really is, alcohol is WAY more destructive. The only way it will EVER be decriminallized is if some corporate giant can figure out a way to make money off of it.
Ironically our whole American economy can be saved by just this one plant. Insane :smoke:

[Turborama]

12. I wonder if Obama has read this yet...

http://www.onlinepot.org/grow/jackherer.htm">The Authorized On-Line Version Of Jack Herer’s Book, “The Emperor Wears No Clothes”

[wildbilln864]

21. thanks for that link. nt

:hi:

[crikkett]

27. "The only way it will EVER be decriminallized is if some corporate giant ..."

"The only way it will EVER be decriminallized is if some corporate giant can figure out a way to make money off of it."

Well, let me weigh in by saying that the only EASY way to decriminalize it is IF said corporate giant can figure out a way to make money off of it WHILE REMOVING THE POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS.

Do not underestimate the amount of "Mirth Control" that is going on behind the prohibition of weed.
Contentment is bad for the GDP. Misery is good for the GDP.

[RedCloud]

14. No! Too easy to grow your own.

The Tobacco industry cannot monopolize!

[Politicalboi]

16. Yes you can grow your own but

You have to know what your doing, and it takes a few months if all goes right. I don't think too many would grow their own. Especially if they put into law that you can't grow it if you have children under the age of 18 in your home. And I think they should. The governmnet could make a fortune on taxes. They could charge as little as $10.00 a pack for bunk weed and $40.00 for the good.

[Joey Liberal]

15. Legalize Pot!

It's good for you!

[Renew Deal]

18. Since when is inhaling smoke "good for you?"

:shrug:

[infidel dog]

19. Well, the actual inhalation may not be "good", as such, but

I always feel better shortly after exhaling!!

[Fly by night]

25. Vaporizers eliminate smoke entirely, and can be used in hospitals where med pot is legal.

If you don't know what a vaporizer is, Google it.

[Renew Deal]

29. Can you put a vaporizer in your lungs?

Google it :eyes:

[Fly by night]

30. No, but you can put the vapor from it in your lungs with little/no health risk.

If you don't know how to use Google, find a library and track down recent research by Dr. Donald Abrams on this issue. (If, that is, you know how to use a library.)

[Renew Deal]

31. The weed is messing with your mind.

There's nothing more hilarious (and pathetic) than angry potheads.

[Fly by night]

32. We can always tell a "drug-warrior". We've just never been able to tell 'em much.

For the benefit of others who might visit this thread, here is a summary of Dr. Abrams' vaporizer research:

Marijuana Vaporizer Provides Same Level Of THC, Fewer Toxins, Study Shows

A smokeless cannabis-vaporizing device delivers the same level of active therapeutic chemicals and produces the same biological effect as smoking cannabis, but without the harmful toxins, according to University of California San Francisco researchers.

Results of a UCSF study, which focuses on delivery of the active ingredient delta-9-tertrahydrocannibinol, or THC, are reported in the online issue of the journal "Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics."

"We showed in a recent paper in the journal 'Neurology' that smoked cannabis can alleviate the chronic pain caused by HIV-related neuropathy, but a concern was expressed that smoking cannabis was not safe. This study demonstrates an alternative method that gives patients the same effects and allows controlled dosing but without inhalation of the toxic products in smoke," said study lead author Donald I. Abrams, MD, UCSF professor of clinical medicine.

The research team looked at the effectiveness of a device that heats cannabis to a temperature between 180 and 200 degrees C, just short of combustion, which occurs at 230 degrees C. Eighteen individuals were enrolled as inpatients for six days under supervision in the General Clinical Research Center at San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center.

Under the study protocol, the participants received on different days three different strengths of cannabis by two delivery methods--smoking or vaporization--three times a day.

Plasma concentrations of THC were measured along with the exhaled levels of carbon monoxide, or CO. A toxic gas, CO served as a marker for the many other combustion-generated toxins inhaled when smoking. The plasma concentrations of THC were comparable at all strengths of cannabis between smoking and vaporization. Smoking increased CO levels as expected, but there was little or no increase in CO levels after inhaling from the vaporizer, according to Abrams.

"Using CO as an indicator, there was virtually no exposure to harmful combustion products using the vaporizing device. Since it replicates smoking's efficiency at producing the desired THC effect using smaller amounts of the active ingredient as opposed to pill forms, this device has great potential for improving the therapeutic utility of THC," said study co-author Neal L. Benowitz, MD, UCSF professor of medicine, psychiatry and biopharmaceutical sciences. He added that pills tend to provide patients with more THC than they need for optimal therapeutic effect and increase side effects.

Patients rated the "high" they experienced from both smoking and vaporization and there was no difference between the two methods by patient self-report of the effect, according to study findings. In addition, patients were asked which method they preferred.

"By a significant majority, patients preferred vaporization to smoking, choosing the route of delivery with the fewest side effects and greatest efficiency," said Benowitz.

Co-authors include Cheryl A. Jay, MD, UCSF neurology; and Starley B. Shade, MPH; Hector Vizoso, RN; and Mary Ellen Kelly, MPH, UCSF Positive Health Program at San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center.

The study was funded by the University of California's Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research.

[Turborama]

28. There's also eating and/or drinking it, if don't fancy the idea of inhaling smoke...

MMMM, hash brownies washed down with a http://dringleweed.blogspot.com/2007/10/recipe-for-marijuana-chai-tea.html">cannabis chai...

[Joey Liberal]

33. That's for me to decide nt

[Renew Deal]

17. Amazing how the Phelps story makes people want to legalize it.

I bet it will be decriminalized in my lifetime.

[Joey Liberal]

40. I think you would like it

You certainly need it:)............

[NM Independent]

20. How the hell does this have only 2 recs?

:wtf:

LEGALIZE AND TAX.

[wildbilln864]

22. Legalize it! k&r! nt

[Gregorian]

23. It's not a function of time you dingbats!

It's about stopping fascism. The time is always right for that.

God damnit, you made me a fugitive in my own country. I'll never forgive you, even though I don't use cannabis any more.

Stop hurting the people of this country!

[mopinko]

24. it was the depression that ended prohibition. ain't no shooting over beers any

more. and the taxes revenues are huge. here in cook county they are taxing the hell out of liquor.

anybody who didn't learn their lessons from al capone and elliot ness (especially anyone from chicago!) needs some serious schoolin'

[crikkett]

26. ZOMG but Michael Phelps did it n/t

[specialed]

34. I've been a casual canibus user for 31 years and I...

made it through college on a football scholar ship graduating with two degrees with honers in both, have earned an mba, and a phd in econ and i even have managed to have a career and family without doing anything stupid like driving under the influence. Oh and i don't drink...that stuffs nasty.

[Fly by night]

36. Hey there, PhD -- Spell check can be your friend.

It would make it easier for us to believe you're as well educated as you say you are.

[infidel dog]

37. Quite. Spell check is is our friend, and a good one. "Honers" is fucking inexcusable.

Have you really been to an institution of higher learning, Mr. PhD? Lets not give the drug warriors and Freepers any ammunition, if we can help it.

[infidel dog]

38. All apologies for omission of the apostrophe in "let's" Dropped the mouthpiece of my vaporizer

while typing. So sorry.

[infidel dog]

39. All apologies for omission of period following "let's". Stoned agin!!!