5 Things Corporate Media and the Govt. Don't Want You to Know About Marijuana

[RainDog]

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/148013/5_things_the_corporate_media_and_government_don%27t_want_you_to_know_about_marijuana/

Last September I penned an essay for Alternet entitled Five Things the Corporate Media Don’t Want You to Know About Cannabis. In it I proposed, “News outlets continue to, at best, underreport the publication of scientific studies that undermine the federal government's longstanding pot propaganda and, at worst, ignore them all together.” Nearly one year later little has changed.

1. Cannabis is associated with reduced cancer for people in certain risk groups.

2. Most American admit that cannabis is safer than alcohol.

3. Enforcement of marijuana laws is racially biased

...and more.

Honestly, I am sick of the bullshit. We need to make hemp legal for manufacturing and that will not happen until the govt. gets the stick out of its butt about cannabis in general.

The American media is part of the problem with their refusal to report facts and their insistence on giving equal time to bullshit.

It doesn't help that the media and govt. have to face up to 70 years of lying their asses off, of course. It's sort of hard to own up to your "mistakes" when you have continued to insist on propagating lies in spite of overwhelming evidence.

[midnight]

1. Time for change...... of this drug law.....

[RainDog]

2. California can make it happen

I hope they do.

[another saigon]

3. I agree

this is great to pass around....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3TylI4cmNI

[RainDog]

4. Myths and Facts About Marijuana

http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/

I've never seen that movie. what's the story?

[Starry Messenger]

5. k & r

I'm surprised more people aren't into this. It's a big deal.

[UTUSN]

6. How much truth do you want to hear. How much can you take?

The indigenous people who DON'T ABUSE it told me it's an ANESTHETIC, for "when women are giving birth or when men have broken bones."


However, over HERE, it's recreational.


I ain't hanging around for any Replies.

[eShirl]

7. "I ain't hanging around for any Replies."

then I won't bother

[RainDog]

9. LOL

sort of sad to see, isn't it?

how much truth can I take? obviously more than this person can accept.

[RainDog]

8. 14 states and DC have made medicinal marijuana legal

so, although some people in the U.S. view cannabis as a something like a glass of red wine with friends (which is, in moderation, also "medicinal,") others use it to ameliorate the degenerative effects of MS and cerebral palsy.

As I've noted before, Canada has already begun manufacturing sativex, which is liquid cannabis, used a a spray to treat problems associated with MS.

too bad you aren't sticking around for any replies.

cannabis has various cannabinoids and, depending upon the percentage of one cannabinoid v. another, provides different medicinal benefits. C1 is THC - thc is great for pain - for people with arthritis, for example. C2 - cannabidiol - is not psychoactive and is the part of the plant that relieves nausea. C2 has also shown anti-psychotic effects.

What's interesting is the ratio of cannabinoids in a particular strain may provide different medical benefits. In the case of CB1 and CB2 - if you breed for higher levels of one of those, you reduce the level of the other.

If you would take some time to look up information about cannabis use - there is very little reason to consider it a drug that is abused by the MILLIONS of Americans who currently use it. Your reply, iow, seems to feed into many of the stereotypes that the 70 year long propaganda campaign against cannabis has created in far too many Americans.

If you're interested in reading some of the more than 17 THOUSAND studies on the actual properties of cannabis and its use as a medicine, you can google cannabis science and find abstracts and, in some cases full articles.

Again, it's too bad you don't stick around because you might learn something to help you overcome your prejudices and stereotypes. But don't let information get in the way of irrationality!

[EOTE]

14. An anesthetic? Yeah, good luck with that.

Because when I hyperextended my leg and endured the most awful pain I've ever had to endure, I was screaming at the medic to give me bud. No wait, I said "GIVE ME SOME FUCKING MORPHINE NOW!!!" But I'm sure bud would have done just as well. There are times for anesthetics and in almost all of them, THC won't do. I don't care how many indigenous people (indigenous to America, I assume?) you've spoken to, some bud ain't going to do crap for a woman in childbirth or someone with a broken bone. Shame you won't be sticking around for replies, you might learn quite a bit.

[RainDog]

16. oh now, don't try to pull him out of his ignorance

he's so comfortable with those stereotypes...

[EOTE]

20. If only it WAS an anaesthetic.

I'd probably be doing my own dental work. Sure, bud can provide a fair amount of pain relief, mostly from minor aches and such. I've heard it can even be effective for treating more severe pain, but more as an anti-inflammatory. But I'd never consider it to numb anything approaching extreme pain like a bone break. Hell, I'd use alcohol before bud in those cases.

[RainDog]

21. it does have anesthetic and analgesic properties

and thousands of year ago was used, along with opium, for pain relief - and this property has been recognized again in medical literature. The anti-inflammatory properties are related to CB2 cannabinoids - which, again, are not psychoactive - you don't feel "high" b/c of CB2. Analgesic properties are related to CB1 - which does make someone feel high.

This is why marinol is inferior to sativex for cancer patients - marinol is a synthetic THC and contains none of the many, many other cannabinoids, including CB2.

Cannabis has the capacity to interrupt the cycle of migraine pain and nausea - those two feed one another in a continuous loop and cannabis stops that feedback loop. This involves the actions of both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoids. however, unlike something like opium, cannabis makes it possible to function in all sorts of ways while it also blocks pain. -- obviously not for things like operating heavy machinery, etc... but it's possible to do all sorts of work while under the influence of cannabis that involves physical dexterity, as many musicians can attest.

Carl Sagan lauded cannabis for allowing him to work on problems by allowing for free association - there is a benefit for some in intellectual work.

Cannabis is not physically addictive, either, unlike opiates.

So, while I think there's valid reason to suggest that opiates would be more likely to shut down big pain - cannabis serves that function as well for problems like neuralgia, arthritis, migraines - without harmful side effects.

Don't ask don't tell me any truth, above, just wants to assume that the only reason anyone is interested in cannabis in the U.S. is because of its recreational uses - and this is total bullshit.

however, because it is safer than alcohol - absolutely and on ALL MEASURES safer than alcohol - it should be legal for people for the same reason that alcohol is legal - adults have the right to make choices for themselves - to enjoy a moment of intoxication if it does not interfere with their day-to-day functioning - and cannabis absolutely fits within this paradigm.

[slay]

18. Alcohol is recreational - what's your point?

and what's your definition of "truth" and why aren't you going to reply to anyone? Oh I think I get it - you're really, really high right now! :rofl:

[Fumesucker]

10. The US Senate recently *unanimously* passed a bill doubling the penalties for pot brownies..

Can anyone reading my words think of another fucking thing that every single Senator would vote for in the political atmosphere today?

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that the bill doubling the penalties for pot brownies was introduced by a Democrat, Dianne Feinstein.

There is absolutely nothing whatsoever more bipartisan than the drug war, the two national level politicians who oppose it are both ridiculed as being crazy by people in their own damn parties, Kookinich and Paultard.

The federal government will never legalize cannabis, it simply isn't going to happen, the Republicans love to punch hippies because that's what they do and the Dems love to punch hippies because they are deluded enough to think it will make Republicans hate them fractionally less.

[RainDog]

12. but the issue is, honestly, that "hippies" is a stereotype

Talk all you want about both parties wanting to beat up on hippies, the truth is that marijuana laws are used against African-Americans and Hispanics.

I saw this bipartisan bill - it's the equivalent of members of Congress running out to the steps of the capitol to cite the pledge of allegiance, like idiotic lemmings, after that guy, during the Bush admin., brought a lawsuit to stop the pledge b/c of the "under god" added in the 1950s as part of the McCarthy-era bullshit. I have no respect for those who engage in this sort of bullshit for the idiotic masses of Americans. Congress is supposed to temper the stupidity, not create it.

It's not hippies who get arrested out of all proportion b/c of marijuana laws - which is something discussed in the link. The law is used as a cudgel against people of color - something the NAACP talked about when it came out in support of Prop 19.

So, in effect, Democrats who want to use marijuana laws to pretend to be all about law and order (which, honestly, is a joke for any member of Congress considering the corruption there) are enabling racists. Democrats who support the current prohibition give racists cover for their sickness.

However, hiding behind the ruse of law and order also allows members of Congress to continue to enact laws that benefit the oil industry by keeping hemp illegal, and lets them pimp for the pharmaceutical industry - neither of whom want to have to competition for their products.

[Fumesucker]

19. "Hippie" is a shorthand for anyone who isn't a conservative WASP..

Those of us who are non-conservatives but WASPs can "pass" if we wish, those who lack that ability are in a world of hurt.

It's just that "hippie punching" rolls so easily off the tongue or fingers if the communication is by text rather than voice.

The point I'm making really is that drug laws are used to go after those who are seen as non-conformists, however much or little melanin they might have in their skin.

[RainDog]

24. true. the prohibition of cannabis violates every single tenet this nation was founded upon n/t

[HopeHoops]

11. But the BIGGEST secret - the one they're REALLY trying to hide: it gets you stoned.

:hippie: :smoke:

[RainDog]

13. actually, that's the only thing they'll admit

which makes it possible to continue prohibition by ignoring the truth that the current scheduling of cannabis by the DEA is a lie.

It's a lie that causes harm and pain to people who are ill.

[Swede]

15. THE BIGGEST THING? You can grow it yourself.

So basically,it's free.

[asdjrocky]

17. This is great stuff RainDog.

Thanks for the link!

[RainDog]

22. thank you, friend

...because the truth is that social conservatives in this nation continue to lead us to ruin by their utter FAILURE to acknowledge the lies that they accept in order to continue to hold the repulsive positions that they do.

[wildbilln864]

23. k&r! nt