What is Digg?139 Comments
- whatthefu, on 11/05/2007, -2/+35Why does Drew Carey piss you off?
- tmoney578, on 11/05/2007, -3/+35*interpreted as Drew Carey actually ON medical marijuana*
- Jazzillion, on 11/05/2007, -2/+30A well done video with honest footage and accurate information. The cannabis plant has so many potential uses it doesn't do it justice just to convey its medical purposes, as powerful as they may be.
"Thanks for watching the Price is Right. Don't forget to spay and neuter pets...And lobby your politicians for cannabis law reformation. Don't let them blind YOU with vicious propaganda. Buh-Bye Now." - bratpack8, on 11/10/2007, -10/+36These are pretty well produced, but I'm surprised that the Reason Foundation wouldn't even mention what should be the primary argument -- property rights. It shouldn't matter, at least on the Federal level, what people use marijuana for because it is THEIR BODY, which is THEIR PROPERTY. When people start to understand that without property rights, freedom is impossible, then maybe we'll start to be free again.
- swatward, on 11/03/2007, -3/+20Obligatory; legalize it.
- gregfadein, on 11/10/2007, -8/+23I think you're getting some Libertarian ideas a little bit confused.
Most Libertarians are for legalizing marijuana not because a human body is that human's property, but rather, because marijuana prohibition is a gross, gross infringement on human freedom.
When Libertarians talk about protecting property rights, they mean that that's all the government should do—protect us from thieves and murderers, as opposed to telling us how to live our lives. - inactive, on 11/04/2007, -2/+17You know all those awful things that Drew Carey does. Like that video of him clubbing baby seals while pissing on the flag.
- TheBasass, on 11/09/2007, -6/+21I'm assuming your stoned out of your mind because you just turned your homework into digg.
- medicineman24, on 11/03/2007, -6/+20Matt Thielen
Mrs. Tiedeman
Reading For College/ Period 8
01 October 07
Marijuana: Legalization
Contrary to what is taught in most high school Health classes, marijuana is not five times as damaging as conventional cigarettes. A cigarette is actually 14.5 times more damaging than a joint (CBC). Surprisingly, the same study was used to support both these claims. Unprofessional reporters often represent only certain portions of data, which is true in these cases. The use of marijuana, a depressant produced from Cannabis sativa plants, among high school students is very common; 42% of high school seniors had reported using marijuana in 2006 (FBI). Marijuana’s widespread use also resonates through the Uniform Crime Report of 2006. According to the report, 829,625 people had been arrested that year for either the possession (89%), or the sale/manufacture (11%), of marijuana (FBI). Apart from being an inconvenience to those arrested, marijuana’s legality also costs the U.S. tax payers billions of dollars a year (Miron). These facts lead a person to question the legal status of marijuana. Why is marijuana illegal? Assuming marijuana is relatively safe and produces few long term effects, one would think possessing and smoking marijuana should be legal, a choice up to the individual. The legalization of marijuana, apart from freedom of choice, would also save the state and federal governments billions of dollars, ensure the safety of the marijuana, eliminate some violence related to the black market, and allow patients to easily get their prescribed medication.
Marijuana was originally made illegal as Mexican immigrants introduced it for recreational use in the early 1900’s: “The drug became associated with the immigrants, and the fear and prejudice about the Spanish-speaking newcomers became associated with marijuana” (PBS). Today, the illegal status of Marijuana is no longer attributed to these prejudices, but primarily safety. As stated above, a joint is often considered to be much more dangerous than a cigarette. A recent study, seemingly supporting this theory, shows another side to this argument. On one hand, marijuana tightens small airways in the lungs. In this respect one joint is equal to about 2.5-5 cigarettes. However, the same study also shows that emphysema, a chronic disease causing shortness of breath, was 14.5 times as prevalent in cigarette smokers as marijuana smokers (CBC). So, in short, there are two sides to the coin.
Popular beliefs are thus: marijuana causes cancer, and damages the brain, causing such diseases as schizophrenia. These beliefs are either blatantly incorrect or lack direct evidence. A study led by Donald Tashkin, a pulmonologist at the University of California at Los Angeles, sought to link lung cancer and marijuana use. Tashkin, after studying marijuana for thirty years, was completely astounded at the results. Tashkin said, “What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect.” Even though the “very heavy smokers” had smoked over 22,000 joints each, they showed no increase in lung, head, or neck cancer. In effect, marijuana could not be linked to causing cancer; it possibly slowed it down (Kaufman). In another study, researchers linked marijuana to a 41 percent increased chance of developing psychotic hallucinations later in life (Kahn). Although, when one considers the very low chance in the first place, about one percent (neglecting genetics), this increase is very minimal, increasing your chance to only about 1.41 percent (Schizophrenia). One researcher involved in the study, Stanley Zammit, a psychiatrist at the University of Bristol and Cardiff University, said “If you compare other substances like alcohol or tobacco it may not be as harmful” (Kahn).
Also concerning safety, marijuana is rarely physically addictive (Medical Marijuana ProCon.org), leaving only a longing for the drug, like one that may develop from extended use of sleeping pills. Marijuana has also been cited as a “gateway drug.” Although, in the Netherlands, when marijuana use became more common due to its legalization, hard drug use dropped (Reinarman), disproving this gateway theory. Also, marijuana use has shown to be much less impairing than alcohol when one compares the related car accident rates of the two (Frood). In the end, marijuana use lacks many of the long term effects associated with alcohol and tobacco.
Being relatively safe, why not legalize marijuana? It is estimated that the state and federal governments of the United States could save $7.7 billion a year without having to enforce the marijuana prohibition. They’d have about 829,625 less people to arrest a year! If marijuana were taxed like cigarettes or alcohol they could also make an additional $6.2 billion annually (Miron). With an approximate $13.9 billion surplus a year, what could the United States do? Terri-form Mars? Provide universal health care to its citizens? The government certainly shouldn’t waste another penny battling marijuana.
In legalization, marijuana would, itself, become safer. The U.S. government could regulate its production, ensuring the marijuana is pure and lacking other substances. The drug would be required to have labels and warnings. Legalization would also eliminate marijuana’s black market, with its associated violence, and unpaid taxes. Finally, the legalization of marijuana would allow its medicinal properties to be easily taken advantage of, allowing those who suffer from nausea, glaucoma, pain, and multiple sclerosis to be at peace (Staff).
Marijuana, shown to harbor few ill effects, should be legalized. Alcohol and tobacco, which are legal drugs, have shown to be just as dangerous as the illegal drug, marijuana. In society, which is more disruptive: an inebriated employee cursing the world, or a high employee feeling a little dazed? It seems that the legalization of marijuana would have few ill effects on society. In Holland, drug use is not a criminal matter, but rather a public health matter (Drug Policy Alliance). As human beings we should be allowed to lead our own lives, provided we don’t impede on one another’s. This would encompass the activity of reclining after a long day’s work and taking a long drag on that store bought joint.
Works Consulted
Anonymous. Marijuana: Marijuana Myths. 1 October 2007. 1 October 2007 .
CBC. 1 joint equivalent to smoking up to 5 cigarettes: study. 30 July 2007. 1 October 2007 .
Drug Policy Alliance. 1 October 2007 .
FBI. 2006 Crime Under the United States. 1 January 2007. 1 October 2007 .
—. Drug Facts: Office of National Drug Control Policy. 26 March 2007. 1 October 2007 .
Frood, Arran. New Scientist. 20 March 2002. 1 October 2007 .
Kahn, Michael. Reuters. 26 July 2007. 1 October 2007 .
Kaufman, Marc. Washington Post. 26 May 2006. 1 October 2007 .
Kirchheimer, Sid. WebMD. 1 July 2003 . 1 October 2007 .
Medical Marijuana ProCon.org. 1 October 2007 .
Miron, Jeffrey A. The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition. Research. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, 2005.
PBS. Frontline: Busted - America's war on marijuana: marijuana timeline. 1 October 2007 .
Reinarman, Craig. Cedro. 23 September 2007. 1 October 2007 .
Schizophrenia. 1 October 2007 .
Staff, Mayo Clinic. Marijuana as medicine: Consider the pros and cons. 25 August 2006. 1 October 2007 . - BornLegend, on 11/09/2007, -2/+16Allowing medical marijuana should just be the first step.
Marijuana should be legal to everyone for recreational purposes. =P - MrClownn, on 11/03/2007, -1/+14Why would anyone digg this story down? Because you didn't watch it and it has 'Drew Carey' and 'Medical Marijuana' in the title? It was a very well produced piece that stated it's case and backed it up with facts and real people, without being overly preachy. I'm not saying it needs to be number one, but for *****'s sake view the content of a link before you bury it.
- brickandwind0w, on 11/04/2007, -11/+24As much as drew carey pisses me off, this is actually a very well put-together, informative video.
dugg... - medicineman24, on 11/04/2007, -1/+10yea
- dman99, on 11/09/2007, -0/+9And the actual retail price of this bag of weed is.....
- spankaccount, on 11/03/2007, -4/+13@brat Thats not how property rights work.
That said, this is a great video. I love Reason - it's politics and news for adults, without all the childish name calling and PC thought/speech control. - gregfadein, on 11/03/2007, -1/+9Um, no. Welcome to this thing called a "democracy."
Medical marijuana is a major issue this election. The public—including Democrats, Republicans, and independents—is largely in favor of medical marijuana. It's a matter of when, not if. - ButterBuddha, on 11/04/2007, -6/+14The Religious Right is inherently unreasonable
- UncleBadTouch, on 11/04/2007, -2/+10This is a great video. Spread it around.
- syroncoda, on 11/03/2007, -1/+8drew carey is totally cool in my books.
- zachshmack, on 11/03/2007, -1/+8Great video, but what most people fail to realize is that the federal government is anything but logical and reasonable. In fact, the more cogent your argument is, the more likely they are to put their fingers in their ears.
- SeethisPass, on 11/04/2007, -1/+7My body is my property. Yours is yours , do you disagree?
The government does. - Hananda, on 11/03/2007, -0/+6Given that everything you said is wrong, I have to assume that this was an attempt at humor. Still, better safe than sorry.
- cerealjynx, on 11/05/2007, -0/+6those painkillers are addictive as hell.
- GlorifiedSlave, on 11/03/2007, -0/+6Good point, however most doctors in California who prescribe it recommend using a vaporisor or consuming it oraly.
- andrewrocks, on 11/03/2007, -2/+8I love having my medical marijuana license and living in California. It's just ridiculous that everyone can't enjoy that same "right". And by the way, The Farmacy (dispensary featured in this video) is outrageously expensive. If you have your rec and live in L.A., there are much better spots.
- fixedcoma, on 11/04/2007, -0/+5it's better than doing coke or alcohol or smoking cigarettes !
- rocket777, on 11/03/2007, -0/+5I spent some time in Amsterdam. They are so much wiser than us here in the US. The kids I spoke to didn't care much about pot, since it was legal. And I don't think they have that much trouble with the hard stuff either. Maybe the answer to really dangerous drugs is to legalize pot. Alcohol is supposed to be the opiate of the people, but it's just to dangerous, and it makes people do really stupid things, like drive cars when drunk.
We are like the old tragedies I studied in High School. It was pride that brought them down. We may have surpassed those old societies in technology, but as to political knowledge and the understanding of human nature, it's like we at still using stone age tools.
All empires die from corruption and the destruction of the economic system. We have a cancer and it has metastasized into wars on everything. Drugs, terror, trans-fat, poverty, the rich, and it goes on and on.
But we have one chance. We have a man running for office that would change this. It's no wonder that he gets the support of the youth. My youth ended the viet nam war, then lost their minds. I think the next generations will sink or swim on these wars, and they, unlike my parents, know that the DEA is lying about pot. All we need is one more war, say with Iran, and this country is going to implode.
Then we will have either freedom, like in 1776, or tyranny, like in 1984 (the novel). - complainforever, on 11/04/2007, -0/+5I smoked pot infrequently for the most part of my life. I gave it up completely 2 years ago because of my position in society. Chances are high to lose everything you worked for because of the stigme accociated with smoking pot.
As far as your worry about the children, do you really think that if an adolescent wants to smoke pot that anything hinders him right now? Getting caught means only inability in obtaining the right job or sholarship in the future. Do you prefer that your kids drink alcohol, which is much more addictive? Not only that, but alcohol also makes you feeling strong and on top of the world. Pot is not having that effect at all.
I don't want to promote drug use, but let's face it, they will be around forever. To give marihuana the same level of criminal use and possession as cocain, heroin and meth is just insane. Most of Americas childen could have health insurance just from the savings of no procecutions and no incarcerations of pot users.
By the way, when it was legalized in Holland and Spain, the use went up initially and then back down to the level it always was. In Germany it was decriminalized and consumption did not go up. There when you get in a police trap and you are suspicious they test your saliva to make sure you are not high while driving. - kinghajj, on 11/05/2007, -1/+6Marinol is not "pot in a pill," but "THC" in a pill; pot has other chemicals that also affect users. And like the poster above said, vaporizers almost completely negates the risk of cancer, and oral ingestion completely removes it.
- fLUx1337, on 11/04/2007, -2/+7Never thought about it like shown in the video....
My doctor can easily prescribe me strong pain killers, which will cause my organs to start failing after time. All legal, and can go on for the rest of your life, depending on the problem, then you start to need more pills for those problems. By the end of it, your high 24/7, you can't work, and your dying.
But cannabis (marijuana) is still illegal, and doctors rarely prescribe it - but it will make you less high than stong pain killers, but will remove most of the pain, and won't cause any major long term effects! (WAY less than cigrettes, which has tar and other crap in which will drestroy your lungs by filling them with that crap!)
Plus you can illegally get cannabis pretty cheap, and your dealer will proberly have stronger things like heroin which you will proberly try sometime or another, which will really ruin your life.
Stupid really, and thats before you think about alcohol.... - GlorifiedSlave, on 11/03/2007, -1/+6OK, here's how I see it. Marijuana is not legal because it never has been accepted by the middle class, unlike alcohol. It has always been associated with deviate subgroups (like beatnicks, hippies, bohemians, etc). Many powerful people hold marijuana responsible for the anti-consumerist culture of the late sixties. Also, they connect marijuana (and LSD) to the economic recession in the 70's.
- kinghajj, on 11/03/2007, -1/+5Dugg down for the "gateway" theory-like writing at the end, but otherwise good.
- taquitohater, on 11/03/2007, -0/+4I dugg him up because I have enough faith left in humanity to take it as a funny joke. Next week will probably be different, but for now I refuse to believe this wasn't a joke.
- JoEBlack982, on 11/04/2007, -2/+6seriously drew rocks
- XedLos, on 11/03/2007, -1/+5For some reason this reminded me of Sicko
- mad05963, on 11/05/2007, -0/+4Well, It's fairly simple. Marijuana does a number of things better without the typical side effects of synthetic medications. For instance every time you take a pill you damage your liver. For many people, this is not an issue, but it you've had liver failure, pot would be the most unobtrusive pain reliever, anti-anxiety, relaxant. That's just an example, in a wide range of possible medical ailments in which mainstream medicine sometimes does more harm than good. Appetite loss for instance is a serious problem for people who are clinically depressed, recovering from Chemo or taking AIDS medications, marijuana can alleviate that condition without harming the patients course of treatment. In the end medical marijuana comes down to allowing a doctor the flexibility to employ it as treatment or part of a treatment when mainstream medicine could harm the patient more.
- toxicshok, on 11/03/2007, -1/+5and their both fat
- 6L6GC, on 11/04/2007, -1/+5Dugg for including citations, sources, etc.
Even though I haven't checked them. - clothmonkey, on 11/05/2007, -0/+4And they come with serious side effects.
- InsaneOni, on 11/03/2007, -0/+4For the People, by the People.
- andrewrocks, on 11/05/2007, -0/+3Thanks for being the judge of that, King SexyDarin.
Under your logic, people shouldn't be able to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes either, because there are other "safer" ways to relax. Just because prescription drugs are EVERYWHERE (thanks a bunch big Pharmaceutical) doesn't mean that they're the best way to go all the time. What about the people who have violent allergic reactions to their medication and find their only solace in marijuana? I should introduce you to some of the cancer patients at the dispensary I frequent so that you can inform them of their "stoner" status and tell them all about the glories of the prescription medicines that they've tried already and to no avail.
You should not speak about what you do not know. - TECHSev, on 11/03/2007, -1/+4Watch clip @ 1:51
I now understand why that kid's spoon was to big. - BabaRamDass, on 11/05/2007, -0/+3a) Marijuana is used for other things too, not just pain relief.
b) Not all pain responds to opiates. - rocket777, on 11/03/2007, -0/+3God made marijuana, maybe he might finally rid us of the Federal Tyranny.
Did you ever think the Soviets would lose their power? Or the Berlin Wall to tumble?
It is possible. Ron Paul is our 21st century Tom Jefferson. All we need to do to win is get all the non-voters to vote for Ron. They are, after all, the majority in nearly all elections, and especially primaries. I haven't voted since 2000 when I voted for Harry Browne. Before that, I voted only 1 other time, for CA 215.
But this year I will donate over $1000, and maybe the limit of $2300. And me, a don't care at all about those criminals in DC. Must be lots more like me.
One Ron Paul supporter is worth 50 of any the other guys supporters, who won't do anything cause they really don't care. They are not supporters, just followers who don't think anything will change but when pressed will say they are for one of the puppets.
But when the dollar really crashes (Ron knows the Austrian school of Economics, and they were right about the depression, the dot com bust, and they know that printing money forever will destroy the dollar). We've never been this bad off dollar wise, because all the other times we still had some tie in with gold. Now they can destroy it. If it's not Ron Paul in 2008, then over the next 4 years things will get so bad that someone else, that Ron Approves of will get the nod. Maybe not this year, but it will have to happen, since there really is no free lunch. - zachshmack, on 11/03/2007, -1/+4I was thinking that too. I think it's because Carey and Moore have similar voices and they both showed the issue from perspective of individuals.
- kyouteki, on 11/03/2007, -1/+4The story's title was a bit vague, wasn't it? In any case, it is only Drew discussing marijuana.
- inactive, on 11/04/2007, -0/+3and there are people who have smoked it for decades with no ill effects, medicinally and otherwise. Perhaps your friends were braindead to start with?
- 6L6GC, on 11/03/2007, -0/+3Dugg for including citations, biblograpy, & sources.
Even though I haven't and won't check them. -
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