What is Digg?1141 Comments
- Snoosy, on 11/17/2008, -11/+599Laughter, Introspection, Creative Impulse, and Euphoria.
Those sure are some scary side effects. - inactive, on 11/17/2008, -9/+512Aspirin is not just a painkiller- it's also an anti-inflammatory and an anti-coagulant. As good as pot is for medicine (ive been smoking it daily for glaucoma for a number of years), it does not share all of the properties of aspirin and is therefore not the right medication for everything that aspirin is, and vice versa.
A fight is being picked here where there really isn't one. - ceredron, on 11/17/2008, -30/+515I ***** love bud man
- VanhookJosh, on 11/17/2008, -29/+486Aspirin kills thousands a year. Marijuana kills ... uh... wait... sh!t....
- MisterOh, on 11/17/2008, -2/+330looks like the server could use a bowl...
http://www.onmarijuana.com/2007/03/24/marijuana-is ...
Marijuana is safer than aspirin
When Bayer introduced aspirin in 1899, cannabis was America’s number one painkiller. Until marijuana prohibition began in 1937, the US Pharmacopoeia listed cannabis as the primary medicine for over 100 diseases. Cannabis was such an effective analgesic that the American Medical Association (AMA) argued against prohibition on behalf of medical progress. Since the herb is extremely potent and essentially non-toxic, the AMA considered it a potential wonder drug.
Instead, the invention of aspirin gave birth to the modern pharmaceutical industry and Americans switched away from cannabis in the name of “progress.” But was it really progress? There can be no doubt that aspirin has a long history as the drug of choice for the self-treatment of migraines, arthritis, and other chronic pain. It is cheap and effective. But is it as safe as cannabis?
History:
Marijuana has been used for over 5,000 years.
No one has ever overdosed on marijuana.
Aspirin has been used for 108 years.
Approximately 500 people die every year by taking aspirin
The Law:
Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, meaning the US government believes it is extremely dangerous, highly addictive, and of no medical value.
Aspirin is available for pennies and can be purchased by children at any drug, grocery, or convenience store. Often they are just handed out free by people with no medical education.
Marijuana side effects and dangers:
The dangers of marijuana include possible respiratory problems caused by the deposition of burnt plant material on the lungs. This danger can be eliminated with alternate forms of consumption such as eating or vaporizing the medicine.
For two to four hours, marijuana causes short-term memory loss, a slight reduction in reaction time, and a reduction in cognitive ability. (It makes you stupid for a little while.)These conditions DO NOT persist after the herb wears off.
Hunger
Paranoia
Depression
Laughter
Introspection
Creative Impulse
Euphoria
Tiredness
Forgetfulness
Aspirin side effects and dangers:
When taken with alcohol, aspirin can cause stomach bleeding.
Reye Syndrome in children: fat begins to develop around the liver and other organs of the child, eventually putting severe pressure on the brain. Death is common within a few days.
People with hemophilia can die.
People with hyperthyroidism suffer elevated T4 levels.
Stomach problems include dyspepsia, heartburn, upset stomach, stomach ulcers with gross bleeding, and internal bleeding leading to anemia.
Dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, vertigo, vision disturbances, and headaches.
Heavy sweating
Irreversible liver damage
Inflamation and gradual destruction of the kidneys
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Lethargy
Hyperthermia
Dyspepsia: a gnawing or burning stomach pain accompanied by bloating, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and burping.
Tachypnea: Abnormally fast breathing
Respiratory Alkalosis: a condition where the amount of carbon dioxide found in the blood drops to a level below normal range brought on by abnormally fast breathing.
Cerebral Edema: Water accumulates on the brain. Symptoms include headaches, decreased level of consciousness, loss of eyesight, hallucinations, psychotic behavior, memory loss and coma. If left untreated, it can lead to death.
Hallucinations, confusion, and seizure.
Prolonged bleeding after operations or post-trauma for up to 10 days after last aspirin.
Aspirin can interact with some other drugs, such as diabetes medication. Aspirin changes the way the body handles these drugs and can lead to a drug overdose and death.
If you think that cannabis is actually safer than aspirin, you are not alone. In October 2000, Dr. Leslie Iversen of the Oxford University Department of Pharmacology said the same thing.
In her book, ‘The Science of Marijuana,’ Dr. Iversen presents the scientific evidence that cannabis is, by-and-large, a safe drug. Dr. Iversen found cannabis had “an impressive record” when compared to tobacco, alcohol, or even aspirin.
“Tetrahydrocannabinol is a very safe drug,” she said. “Even such apparently innocuous medicines as aspirin and related steroidal anti-inflammatory compunds are not safe.”
So if safety is your concern, cannabis is clearly a much better choice than aspirin. If you eat it or vaporize it, it just might be the safest painkiller the world has ever known.
Dependence: How difficult it is for the user to quit, the relapse rate, the percentage of people who eventually become dependent, the rating users give their own need for the substance and the degree to which the substance will be used in the face of evidence that it causes harm.
Withdrawal: Presence and severity of characteristic withdrawal symptoms.
Tolerance: How much of the substance is needed to satisfy increasing cravings for it, and the level of stable need that is eventually reached.
Reinforcement: A measure of the substance’s ability, in human and animal tests, to get users to take it again and again, and in preference to other substances.
Intoxication: Though not usually counted as a measure of addiction in itself, the level of intoxication is associated with addiction and increases the personal and social damage a substance may do.
This chart originally appeared on DrugWarFacts.org.
I tracked it down at SaferChoice.org. - airwalkery2k, on 11/17/2008, -4/+255It kills that little girl that rides her bike past the drive-thru window every day.
- PoizonFrog, on 11/17/2008, -3/+232Legalize it
Tax it
Produce it in the U.S. (new jobs) - clintmaher, on 04/21/2009, -7/+186If it wasn't for William Randolph Hearst hemp would still be used and the land would not be polluted from all the chemicals that cotton requires.
- Tanktunker, on 11/17/2008, -31/+203Didn't they think cocaine was good for you back then?
- enclaved, on 11/17/2008, -9/+155YOU DONT HAVE TO SMOKE IT
I WIN THIS THREAD - kevL0CK, on 11/17/2008, -4/+133"My buddy Jonah broke his elbow one time. We just got high. It still clicks, but it's cool."
- L1ghtning, on 11/17/2008, -0/+127...then you could go through the drive-through again.
- Stavrosian, on 11/17/2008, -0/+127Pro-tip: if you think you are in the early stages of a heart attack, chew an aspirin. It might save your life. Chewing on a joint will just make you care less about dying.
Either one is good, in my book, but aspirin wins this round. - socialexpert, on 11/17/2008, -3/+125The aspirin/ulcer connection is scary.
- omnithought, on 11/17/2008, -6/+123There are two sides on the marijuana debate: those who have done their research, and those who oppose medicinal use.
- CommonSense2k8, on 11/17/2008, -4/+113Wont someone please think of Big Pharma, Alcohol Companies, the CIA, Oil and all the other guys who would be hurt by legalizing this plant!
- Jimmysais, on 11/17/2008, -2/+104"Sure, you can prove anything with facts." Homer Simpson
- Snoosy, on 11/17/2008, -9/+111Pretty much anything you do in the world puts cancer agents in your body.
- GeoGrapher, on 11/17/2008, -6/+103You forgot the other common side effects, like running over little girls in fast food drive throughs.
Man, if I had a dollar for every time that's happened to me... - inactive, on 11/17/2008, -5/+98They also thought smoking cigarettes was too. Go figure.
- republicker, on 11/17/2008, -1/+86Freedom includes weeds that grow in the ground.
- ceredron, on 11/17/2008, -6/+83well, if by "cancer agents" you mean smoke, then yes, by all means, lots of cancer agents. But I don't think you realize, in the grand scheme of things, just how negligible the carcinogens from marijuana are... like, it's akin to breathing in the smoke from an ordinary wood fire, in the mildness factor.
- eSentrik, on 11/17/2008, -6/+81When the ignorant are enlightened pot will be legal.
- doctorgrim, on 11/17/2008, -5/+79America has prohibition of happiness.
- AndrewMoyer, on 11/17/2008, -2/+74Yeah, but science is not exactly finding contradicting evidence that either cigarettes or cocaine are medically useful.
The same cannot truthfully be said about marijuana.
Don't forget: pot can be consumed by means other than smoking, virtually eliminating any health concerns of its use. - Stavrosian, on 11/17/2008, -0/+66My grandfather is a doctor. He still maintains that doctors should be able to prescribe cocaine for pretty much everything - it always causes an amusing argument at family gatherings.
- Benjigga, on 11/17/2008, -3/+65The American Medical Association rallied against the illegalization of a LOT of today's illegal drugs, for the fact that it would prohibit their ability to conduct proper studies on them to determine the actual long and short term beneficial effects of them.
- baldbomber, on 11/17/2008, -7/+68Something tells me that not everyone digging up this story is interested in marijuana for it's medical uses.
That being said, legalize it! - republicker, on 11/17/2008, -3/+59Know your aspirin fiend. You will not be able to see his eyes because of tea shades, but his knuckles will be white from inner tension and his pants will be crusted with semen from constantly jacking off when he can't find a rape victim.
- catestarrr, on 11/17/2008, -1/+55I smoke daily and I pay a lot of taxes and have never been on welfare. Grow up you stupid kid and keep your thoughts to yourself.
- blushine, on 11/17/2008, -8/+60Sigh. Freaking digg effect.
- Kyzzyxx, on 11/17/2008, -4/+55I have a very stable high-paying job as a Network Administrator and I will pit my intelligence against anyone else any day and I smoke regularly. Your point is just blanket attack throwing a group of people into a category. Pathetic loser!
- omnithought, on 11/17/2008, -3/+53Then make brownies.
- elo91, on 11/17/2008, -11/+60there have been numerous studies on this. marijuana smoke does NOT increase your chances of getting lung cancer/disease.
- inactive, on 11/17/2008, -0/+47What an *****
- bipolarruledout, on 11/17/2008, -0/+45I think that's awesome. That's almost worth going to a family gathering for.
- chrissku, on 11/17/2008, -1/+45Legalized marijuana might be the boost that our economy needs right now? Just imagine the tax revenues. I also have a sneaking suspicion that pot would quickly out sell alcohol and tobacco.
- flammablewater, on 11/17/2008, -0/+42Now THAT'S change I can believe in.
In British Columbia, Canada, if pot was legalized, it would rank third in terms of provincial revenue after tourism and lumber. And the government isn't smart enough to legalize and tax it. - BBelleau, on 11/17/2008, -4/+45Actually Halsfield, if you did your research, you would find that marijuana doesn't increase the risk of lung cancer: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,196678,00.html That's a pretty important fact that you're leaving out...
- Tbyrd073, on 11/17/2008, -2/+42Cocaine's a helluva drug.
- Halsfield, on 11/17/2008, -7/+47the people that actually know what they are talking about, i appreciate the comments(inhaling wood smoke isnt harmful?seriously?). To the people that have simply read a highschool health book and pamphlets handed out by pro-legalization sources (aka getting bad info from both sides) i really hope you will in the future do more thinking before you research something, or before telling someone else they dont know what they're talking about.
Most people missed the part where i said it was fine to legalize it because aspirin can kill you with misuse as well. My point is that people think lighting up a joint is safe over a lifetime arent using their heads. Vaporizing is a lot safer as someone mentioned, and so is vaporizing pure tobacco. You cannot overdose on it, which makes it a lot safer than a lot of things that are legal, and it has medical uses, which automatically disqualifies it for schedule 1(in the USA), and is much much less harmful to the body than cigarettes (which is a lot more compelling to compare than marijuana to aspirin).
If you look into even the briefest of research done on the longterm mental effects of marijuana you will find that studies have shown taking drugs at an early age interferes with brain cells and to a lesser extent over a lifetime. Thats eaten, smoked, vaped, anything.
So again, should it be legalized? yes, is it completely safe ? no, nothing is and im tired of ignorant stoners saying it is.
My personal opinion is that even if you are harming yourself, if you are not harming someone else or interfering with someone's rights then the government should not have anything to say about it.
edit: not to mention the added chance of increased mental problems like anxiety - Tenetri, on 11/17/2008, -0/+39Yes, also make sure it goes under your tongue. It will taste awful, but will be absorbed straight into your blood stream.
Good pro-tip btw - EmiliaGarcia, on 11/17/2008, -3/+41I get chronic migraines. When I get one, they usually start as a dull headache and escalate over the next 5-7 hours.
So, say I get one at noon today; I would take 3-4 asprin and wait it out to see if it went away. If not, at about 4 or 5 I'd probably take 1-2 Ketorolac, which is a very heavy non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and causes stomach ulcers and bleeding, but sometimes helps the crippling migraine. If that doesn't work I have to wait at least another six hours before taking a shot of imatrex or a dose of maxalt, both which have adverse affects and almost always cause a rebound headache the next day, prolonging my process of pill inhalation.
Or I could just smoke a joint. - MattFromSeattle, on 11/17/2008, -0/+38The Dave Chappelle take on that is classic.
- Hobbes24, on 11/17/2008, -8/+45"Until marijuana prohibition began in 1937, the US Pharmacopoeia listed cannabis as the primary medicine for over 100 diseases."
to play devils advocate, that doesn't really mean anything...
i mean, back then lobotomies were legitamate medical procedures, cigs were ok, and heroine had only just been made illegal
bottom line, they didn't know much back then... - Garofoli, on 11/17/2008, -1/+37I'm with ya. Nature's painkiller.
- omnithought, on 11/17/2008, -2/+37The only study that ever linked marijuana to killing brain cells had very bad protocol. They put Rhesus monkeys in a small enclosure and filled it with pot smoke until they died. Then they did autopsies and found brain damage, not stopping to think that dying of asphyxiation causes brain damage.
Furthermore, you don't have to smoke it. You can eat it.
You are wrong. Twice. - dbisping, on 11/17/2008, -1/+34for the people in the Andes mountains, coca is a good thing. as it is in natural form coca isn't all that bad.
the problem is prohibition. once you make something illegal there is then new crime associated with it. the artificial value of controlled substances is all related to scarcity and risk.
now that we have an entrenched criminal justice and prison industry based on this prohibition, cocaine is good for us again. just one gov't body, the DEA has a yearly budget over $2.5 billion and the black market economy is in the hundreds of billions of dollars in the US alone. the black market narcotics economy is something that funds part of our, the US, clandestine intelligence infrastructure.
see how good cocaine still is for you? the irony is delicious. - Kyzzyxx, on 11/17/2008, -0/+33If it wasn't illegal they wouldn't be killing people. You can say the same about law enforcement.
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