Big Think

Steven Alexander on January 17, 2008, 4:06 PM

I completely agree. America has this smear campaign targeted towards marijuana and it makes no sense. In California even if you have a medical recommendation from a certified physician you are still discriminated against to some extent by neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances. To top it all It’s not like our government would have to do much…we already are the #1 producer of hemp in the entire world.

When will the united states open their eyes? Your more interested in what mpg your car gets and how you can “Go Green”, when we could practically end many peoples suffering from pain, depression, glaucoma, high blood pressure, insomnia, nausea, anorexia, and in some cases bi-polarity.
To top it all It’s not like our government would have to do much…we already are the #1 producer of hemp in the entire world.

John Jackman on January 18, 2008, 4:27 AM

It seems to me that many if not most Americans don’t think marijuana is a big deal, so I’m surprised sacehb found that neighbors look down on people who use it for a valid medical condition. Was that from actual experience?

If people want to smoke marijuana — medicinally or recreationally — they should, legal or not. As long as you’re discreet about it, the law can’t do $#!^. (@_~)

Derek Pritchard on January 18, 2008, 4:46 AM

Marijuana is illegal because its a hinderance on society. Find a way to allott it accordingly and it will be ok. Or get enough support and perform prohibition all over agian :P

m w on January 18, 2008, 12:04 PM

“Is it ethical to retain the current status of marijuana so that some amongst us can make a profit? " NO! so please go out and do something about it. i dont see how alcohal is accepted over marijuana seeing how deadly alcohal is we give it free reign and let it ruin or soceity alcohal is a hinderence on life NOT marijuana go tell medical marijuana patients that smoking marijuana is a “hinderence” to them
and others. marijuana eases stress and pain and new studies reveal better things about it all the time where as we already kno how damaging alcohal is and let it flow around like water. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, TALKING DOES NOTHING WITHOUT TAKING ACTION.

Caleb Desmarais on January 18, 2008, 1:57 PM

I absolutely agree with Amaterasu about this, it is merely a plant how can it be deemed illegal? the governments excuse for this is that it is a “Gateway Drug” which is just absolutely ridiculous, the only reason that study is remotely valid is because the environment SOME habitual marijuana smokers chose often conicide with hardcore drug users, but marijauna itself does not make the user want to go to more extreme levels. the real reason the government (and when i say government, i am refering to the united states of america) has outlawed marijuana is because it is the US’s number one cash crop. if marijuana today was legalized our government would be stripped of power by the south american drug cartels. so the true reason marijuana is illegal is because our government has too much power and with power comes fear of losing power

michelle lusinger on January 18, 2008, 2:42 PM

Just decriminalize IT! The alcohol has more of a crime!You can only get so high on it also!Stop filling up the jails with this nonsence!Is the U.S just making $$$ off it for the court system ect…?

Derek Pritchard on January 18, 2008, 4:23 PM

Well it is a gateway drug. Whether you like it or not. Its just not in yours or my view an reasonable solution to take it away from others or I per se. Education just needs to be in order.. I personally can vouche for marijuana and what its done for my enlightenment.

Laura Dragonetti on January 18, 2008, 5:57 PM

To be honest, after this I stopped reading.
“Given that marijuana has killed not a single soul in the whole history of humankind” I’m pretty sure that if someone is high after smoking pot and they go driving that if they hit a pedestrian and kill them that marijuana has just killed someone. And I’m also quite sure that that has happened. I understand that marijuana can be necessary for medical reasons and can understand its use in such situations. I respect your opinion and will finish reading your idea, but I felt that I should address that initial statement.

Laura Dragonetti on January 18, 2008, 6:01 PM

I find your arguement to be intriguing and to have several valid points, but I stand by my original statement.

Alex Spalding on January 18, 2008, 7:10 PM

I think it would be smarter to decriminalize marijuana as opposed to just legalizing it, but I’m against doing either. If marijuana were legalized there would be a deterioration in the quality once corporations started making money from it (i.e. American corporate pale lagers, McDonald’s cheeseburgers, etc.), the cost of it would inflate, drug-dealers would lose jobs, we would lose yet another opportunity for developing social connections if all we had to do was walk into a shop to get any or order it online, etc.

Henrik Bergren on January 18, 2008, 10:24 PM

To beautifulsadness

If a person smokes cannabis and gets in a car and kills someone, then cannabis did not kill anyone , that person did. Marijuana can not convince anyone to get in a car while not safe to do so. People are always responsible for their actions wether on drugs or not.

Laura Dragonetti on January 19, 2008, 4:25 PM

To uberhenrik,
I totally understand what you’re saying. Yes marijuana doesn’t literally kill anyone in the situation that I stated. However, you said it yourself. “…get in a car while not safe to do so.” I’m just saying that marijuana can cause deaths. Although some people, perhaps yourself, are responsible enough to make decisions while high, too many people aren’t and people die. Please no one bother to respond to my comment, because I’m never going to come back to this page. Seriously if you disagree with me, that’s great. I just don’t feel like arguing. I guess I was the wrong person to join this conversation. :)

Amyellen Leib on January 20, 2008, 7:36 PM

To those who are uninformed… Tests of people medicated with marijuana compared to “sober” people as it relates to driving show that although statistically there is no difference in performance, those medicated with marijuana scored slightly better than their “sober” counterparts.

It’s sad how uninformed many are, but with corporate interests being set on keeping it illegal, we see suggestive BS Public “Service” Announcements that suggest driving is more dangerous (it isn’t) and other “lies by implication” with no supporting data.

Amyellen Leib on January 20, 2008, 7:42 PM

I wrote a letter after 60 Minutes aired for the second time their piece on California and marijuana (I wrote the first time, too). This is what I said:

Dear 60 Minutes,

I wrote the first time you aired the marijuana piece and I was aghast that you ran it again in its original form. The %u201Cjust want to get high%u201D crap was even more heavily stressed at the outset.

The %u201Cjust want to get high%u201D syndrome, it turns out, is an expression of individuals who want to relieve stress. And as I see it, since there are stress-relief pharmaceuticals, stress is a valid reason to use this drug.

And while we%u2019re at it, perhaps you can explain what%u2019s inherently wrong with altering one%u2019s consciousness. Sure, there are drugs that make one non-functional, and such a choice should only be made when no others depend on one%u2019s ability to respond appropriately.

But the act of altering one%u2019s consciousness, in and of itself, is a personal choice, a God-given right in line with our values of freedom.

And with marijuana, experienced users are fully capable of functioning. They can handle emergencies appropriately (unless they would have no clue %u201Csober%u201D). They are less stressed out in general, get along better with others, are more willing to let petty things go rather than create a scene, than even %u201Csober%u201D people.

And as I pointed out the first time around, with all these people using this drug in California, there is NO increase in traffic accidents (and a large percentage of users do drive while medicated), there is NO issue of increased child abuse, there is NO issue with increased absenteeism at work, there is NO increase in cancer and other diseases, there is NO increase in violence, there is NO increase in %u201Charder%u201D drug use%u2026

So why are you playing the %u201Cjust want to get high%u201D card as if there is a problem with that? I am, quite frankly enraged, and my estimation of the honesty under which your show is driven has slipped to a very deep low.

Ask the effing right question. Ask what issues Californians are having with essentially legal marijuana. If you ask that question you will see that the answer is: None.

Well%u2026 Except for the Feds.

So if I was honest and producing such a show, I would be suggesting that the worst part about marijuana %u2013 by leaps, bounds and astronomical jumps %u2013 is its illegality.

Grow a set, will ya?

Amyellen Leib on January 20, 2008, 7:55 PM

For a good vid check out:

http://current.com/items/88800892_citizen_jane_examines_marijuana

Edward Pye on January 21, 2008, 12:41 PM

bravo Amaterasu – its too bad pot smokers don’t have the motivation to do something about it.

Randall Menser on January 21, 2008, 5:15 PM

I don’t think its a gateway drug. I think experimental people who try marijuana also were bound to try other things. I also think that by shunning marijuana and maiking it illegal, you include it in the same world as other drugs (i.e. your weed dealer suggests you try this drug as well), and that further propels the gateway myth.

I do think marijuana has a negative affect on some people. I know a few mid tenty something year olds living with their parents still. SO perhaps by making it legal, we would further decrease our countries efficiency. But then again, it comes down to the individual, and this is supposed to be a free country, so what right do the have to make it illegal if it only affects the user?

Tony Purdom on January 22, 2008, 4:24 AM

It is entirely unethical and hypocritical. With alchohal, tobacco and coffee legal, and marijuana being no more dangerous it has become a tiresome oppressive pattern of blaming the victim. The large majority of poeple use drugs because of the way that they are abused and intimidated by our society. There are many people who need drugs. It is not fair to call someone who smokes marijuana an addict and call someone on prozac or ridilen mom or brother. We are all family and if we want to take a realistic approach to helping people overcome drugs we need to end the oppressive conditions that lead to drug use. Drug criminalization is just another example of the victim blaming aspect of our oppressive society.

Amyellen Leib on January 22, 2008, 9:30 AM

Allinoth,

I smoke it – and I’m doing something. [smile]

randall menser,

Are you blaming poor parenting (which is the cause of kids not moving out) on marijuana? A VERY conservative estimate is that 25 million Americans already use marijuana (and most drive while medicated) daily. If made legal, there will be a very slight rise in its use. So to suggest that we will have additional issues is absurd.

Robinthehood,

You seem to come at this as if there is something wrong with medicating oneself. Since the beginning of history humankind has medicated with a wide array of natural substances (only recently opting for patented, engineered drugs). Since marijuana is not a threat to one’s health, why is using it for stress relief, pain relief, insomnia, and so on a problem?

James Imnotgonnatellyou on January 22, 2008, 11:02 PM

I think what a person does to ones body is ones own business. Just be responsible, and everything must be done in moderation.

Blair Bonnell on January 23, 2008, 1:23 AM

I am pro marijuana legalization. The costs of legalizing it are offset by the benefits. It would take billions of dollars out of the hands of crime lords. It would cut down on money spent on enforcing current laws. And you are right, nobody has ever died from it (with some certain exceptions). I am all for legalizing it, BUT if somebody comes into the hospital with illness of any kind as a result of marijuana – I feel the same way about cigarettes and alcohol and any other drug – such as marijuana induced psychosis and drug induced schizophrenea it should not be covered by any kind of insurance. If somebody gets early onset alzheimers from marijuana use, they better plan for it by saving up and putting money away. It should be an exclusion in all insurance policies, including automobile policies in which the insurer can opt out of paying coverages if somebody gets in an accident while under the influence of marijuana.

Blair Bonnell on January 23, 2008, 1:24 AM

I have to make a correction to my last post though, research seems to show that marijuana MIGHT help alzheimers.

Cory Lesperance on January 23, 2008, 11:59 AM

Marijuana prohibition is ridiculous. Legalize it. Tax it Then spend the money on programs to help people addicted to drugs that actually harm people!!!

Amyellen Leib on January 23, 2008, 5:43 PM

bonnell123,

I’m glad you discovered that research. Yes, marijuana is a most benign and helpful drug. It costs us 40 BILLION a year to hunt, arrest, process, try and lock up our citizens who choose to use it for a very wide array of illnesses and discomforts.

And many corporations would rather keep the status quo so that their profits are guaranteed. Is it ethical to lock up our citizens so that some of us can make a profit? In my view, that is the most vile, evil, heinous choice we can make.

Matt Hanley on January 24, 2008, 12:46 AM

Could you send me a link to the studies that have given the results you speak of? I’d be interested. All I know is that when I have been around my stone friends they don’t always know what is going on. Half the time they just laugh at whatever I say, which isn’t bad. But, I couldn’t want them driving.

The other month in my neighborhood a girl hit and killed a man walking across the street in her car while she was high on pot. No alcohol was found in her system—just pot.

That said, I’m not totally anti-marijuana though. I just don’t buy into it being healthy and totally safe.

Amyellen Leib on January 24, 2008, 2:54 PM

blur880,

First off, marijuana will show up for weeks after use, so any testing is pointless. Second, accidents happen. Even to those medicated with marijuana. But these occur at no greater rate to marijuana users than to “sober” people, so concluding that marijuana was at fault in any accident is spurious.

For a partial list of studies, check out http://current.com/items/88800892_citizen_jane_examines_marijuana which has such a list at the end of the 10 minute piece.

Also, do a search for marijuana studies – be sure to read what you find in detail. I did searches for marijuana study negative results. I found one that showed that some users wheeze for a bit after use. And one that suggested that 0.01% of schizophrenics MIGHT (inconclusive) have an issue with it.

Best of luck.

Tony Purdom on January 24, 2008, 3:53 PM

I am supportive of people who feel the need to use drugs. I do my best to beunderstanding. I smoked pot 10 times or more a day for about 15 years. I think that drug use is an ineffective method of releaving stress, and that the problems that you are running from with drugs are still there after word and they may get bigger. I think that alleviating the oppressive attitude tward drug use will help to ease some of the pain that drug users feel. I think that a lot of the paranoia surrounding illegal drugs comes from the fact that drug users are oppressed. I am not against drug use. I will certainly smoke marajuana again some time in the future. I really want to aliviate peoples pain, and I feel that drug users are in need of more support and understanding. I do understand where you are coming from, and if you have any ideas about how I might be more helpful, I would be all ears.

Tony Purdom on January 24, 2008, 4:15 PM

Yeah I wish I could edit my statement because it makes me sound anti-drug. I am not against drug use, although I do believe that it does lead many to trouble. With the advent of these engeneered drugs I think that there will be an incredible demand for better understanding and support of people who use drugs. I would not want the United States to earn a reputation of being a country of drug users easily lead in the wrong direction by bad leadership cappable of commiting any crime around the world. I fear that critical thought may lead intelectuals in that direction. We are making a big mistake in the Middle East.

Matt Hanley on January 24, 2008, 4:40 PM

Amaterasu:

Thanks for the link. That was interesting, but do you have any medical or academic journals?

I have googled the health issue, and I try to ignore the extreme results—including the ones that say marijuana is 16 times worse than cigarette smoking. I acknowledge that people normally smoke smaller amounts of marijuana too. But, I still come across a number of journals that outline serious health risks. I have yet to read an academic article that says pot smoking is healthy. And, I haven’t read anything that says smoking pot while driving has no negative effect.

Plus, I know how slow and out-of-it my friends can get when they smoke pot. I’m not saying it is necessarily as bad as if you drink a case of beer, but my friends still seem pretty out of it.

I have also read a few articles that say the long term effect of smoking pot is totally unknown because most people quit when they are younger, so it is hard to study.

Do you have an interesting, academic studies? I’ve heard my friends pitches before. :)

I totally agree with the use of hemp though. I was/am a runner though, so I just am kind of anti-smoking in general. I keep cigarettes and marijuana on the same level.

Tony Purdom on January 24, 2008, 4:53 PM

I am sorry. I misread the question. I was thinking that the question was how ethical is marijuana being illegal. I think that marijuana should be legal! Totally! I think that it is unfair for people to use alcohol or engeneered drugs to be considered right, and the self richous indignation that they walk around with is frustrating. People should be able to be equally proud of the fact that they use marijuana. Marijuana made me far more creative, and inspired critical thinking. Marijuana lead me to belive that I could do anything, and now I am pursuing one of the dreams that I concocted when I was smoking marijuana. I discovered this dream and feared that smoking marijuana would impeade my pursuit of my dreams possibly so I quit. I will smoke again some day though, I love the ideas that it inspires. I just gotta get this organization off the ground and find people to help me to achieve these high goals that I set. I am feeling a lot of pressure to reach these goals, and I felt that the marijuana was contributing to the anxiety that I was feeling. I love marijuana!

Nick S on January 24, 2008, 5:26 PM

The government will not allow marijuana to be legalized, are you people crazy? It’s a deadly drug, that causes massive destruction, destroys lives, breaks up families, causes hundreds of fatal cars accidents every month, takes over and controls peoples lives, OH Wait, my bad, that’s alcohol. Why is marijuana illegal, but the most dangerous and deadly drug out there readily available at any 7-11? I personally feel that all drugs should be legalized, if you don’t have the common sense to use ANYTHING in moderation, than oh well, I’ll read about you in the Obituaries.

Jes Saunders on January 25, 2008, 1:15 AM

I agree. To quote a friend of mine, “Booze kills weed chills.”

I don’t actually see anything ethically wrong with the criminalization of marijuana, however, logically, I find many faults, most of which you have said here. One thing that I would like to bring up, in addition to everything you have just said, is that if marijuana was discovered tomorrow to be a deadly drug, I find even more cause for the legalization of it. I say this because if it is legalized, the FDA would, as with everything else, monitors what goes into it, instead of the stuff you buy off the streets with who knows what’s in it. In addition to government regulations, I believe that the legalizing of marijuana would be good for the government for one main reason – taxation. If you look at tobacco sales, taxation, which varies dramatically by state, can rise to a maximum of around 90% the wholesale price. If marijuana was legalized and taxed, the government would have another large source of income and could decrease taxes on individual for simply having a job.

Amyellen Leib on January 27, 2008, 11:48 AM

blur880,

I don’t think you’ll find anyone saying marijuana is “healthy” per se. It’s just that study after study shows that it is not particularly UNhealthy. And given that, we must ask why we are spending 40 billion a year to lock up our citizens over it.

I wish I had a greater collection of the specific studies, but I rely on media reports which I heard (MSNBC, ABC, CNN, etc.) for some of my data. The biggest point I have about that is that, given there is a faction driven by profits to keep the drug illegal, if there was a good and valid study out there that showed any gross and identifiable issues with the drug, that study (or those studies) would be touted all over the media.

Instead, we see oblique implications merely suggesting that there is a problem. So I have to conclude that no studies show great issues.

On top of that, the US Corporo-Government ceased studying the drug on any large scale because, no matter how hard they tried to prove issues, they kept coming up with benefits. So rather than admit there is no reason to fear the use of marijuana (and threaten profits), they stopped studying it.

I had to laugh (and I did, out loud!) when one media outlet reported that an ingredient in marijuana showed very good likelihood of fighting cancer – and then said, “But we don’t recommend people use the drug.”

A reiteration of specific studies I have found:

Out of the University of Saskatchewan:

Most so-called drugs of abuse — such as alcohol or cocaine — inhibit the growth of new neurons, according to Xia Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Saskatchewan.

“Only marijuana promotes neurogenesis,” Dr. Zhang said. (Reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation)

State of Washington Department of Motor Vehicles study, Crancer, Alfred, et al. %u201CComparison of the Effects of Marihuana & Alcohol on Simulated Driving Performance.%u201D in Science. Vol. 164. 1969. pp. 851-854

Weil, AT, Norman & Nelson J.M. %u201CClinical & Psychological Effects of Marijuana in Man.%u201D in Science. Vol. 162. 1968. p. 1234

Kaiser Permanente study – “Marijuana Use and Mortality” April 1997 American Journal of Public Health and a UCLA study in Volume 155 of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 1997

CANADA: Pot Doesn’t Cause Lung Cancer, Researcher Says: Toronto Star, 12 June 2001; New 126-Page Study

‘NTP Technical Report On The Toxicology And Carcinogenesis Studies Of 1-Trans-Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, CAS No. 1972-08-3, In F344/N Rats And B6C3F Mice, Gavage Studies’: February 1999 from AIDSNEWS

Pediatrics, February 1994, Volume 93, Number 2, pp. 254-260; American
Academy of Pediatrics

And it’s always a good bet to check out mpp.org and stopthedrugwar.org for information on the devastating effects of prohibition and for the latest studies.

Amyellen Leib on January 27, 2008, 12:00 PM

metalhead,

You said: “I don’t actually see anything ethically wrong with the criminalization of marijuana…”

Are you saying that there is nothing ethically wrong with keeping it illegal, harassing and locking up citizens, so that the pharmaceutical companies can maintain their profits? So that hemp oil will not threaten the petro-oil industry? So that hemp fiber will not threaten the paper-forest investments and the cotton growers’ income?

Am I reading that correctly?

Amyellen Leib on January 27, 2008, 12:16 PM

More studies I have found:

http://www.mpp.org/news/in-the-news/new-study-says-marijuana.html

http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/aids-study-shows-marijuana-has-medical-benefits.html

http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/study-debunks-feds-marijuana-claims.html

http://www.mpp.org/news/articles/ca/study-pot-helps-hepatitis-treat.html

http://www.mpp.org/news/articles/dc/study-finds-no-cancer-marijuana.html

http://www.mpp.org/news/articles/ny/study-finds-marijuana-smokers-le.html

And so many more at mpp.org. Just do a search for “studies.”

Amyellen Leib on January 27, 2008, 12:31 PM

Oh, and blur880…

Smoking marijuana is not the only nor the best mode of ingestion. Vaporization is good for those treating nausea and anorexia. Cooking with it gives the user the full range of beneficial phytochemicals – such as the ones that fight cancer – and does not affect the lungs adversely.

And to all that bring up taxation, remember that we all can grow it ourselves, and the Corporo-Government would not be able to tax it. But if we did grow it ourselves, since marijuana/hemp is awesomely good at converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, we would have higher oxygen concentrations in our homes because of this.

And that can only be a good thing.

Logan pipkin on January 29, 2008, 1:48 PM

If there is one thing i know about marijuans is that it should NOT be used by students it gets in the way of grades and friends

Amyellen Leib on January 30, 2008, 5:03 PM

TYEGGER,

That may have been your experience. Perhaps you should not use the drug. I have had the opposite experience. And, in fact, there is no evidence that marijuana deteriorates one’s ability to learn – in fact, it may be the opposite, since marijuana is known to promote neurogenesis (helps our brains create new neurons, making us smarter).

Logan pipkin on February 2, 2008, 7:13 PM

maybe your right but i know one thing in my experienses its harder to do my home work when theres weed around thats my problem.

Amyellen Leib on February 3, 2008, 6:39 PM

TYEGGER,

We each have our own experiences with it. For me, my mind takes off thinking (and my pain and stress all but goes away), giving me a wider range of ideas.

Thanks for your input.

Jamie Tyroler on February 22, 2008, 9:51 PM

The “War on Drugs”, at least as far as marijuana is concerned, has been a waste of resources, including billions of dollars. The United States should, I feel, at least allow for medical marijuana. It has been used for treating chronic pain, relieving symptoms of chemotherapy for cancer patients, glaucoma, MS, and other medical conditions.

Marc Parsneau on February 24, 2008, 6:56 PM

Yo, if you think smoking pot doesn’t deteriorate your lung funtion. . .I would have to say you probably don’t smoke very much pot! Take it from me, it is bad for your lungs. . .and I own a volcano vaporizer, so don’t talk to me about how you can vaporize, too. Inhaling anything but air is not good for you.

However, of course pot should be legal. And doesn’t it seem likely that some sort of secret agenda keeps it illegal? There really is no sane, rational reason to keep it illegal. And it makes billions and billions of dollars and costs more than it would if legal. . . .hmm . . . it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together.

Marc Parsneau on February 24, 2008, 7:05 PM

Okay, I’m sorry Amaterasu, I went back and read the study you posted from the mpp website on Tashkin’s study about cancer in potsmokers. It ‘unexpectedly’ found that smoking pot even regularly and heavily doesn’t cause cancer and has some sort of protective effect against it. That’s awesome, seriously. No cancer for me.

Amyellen Leib on February 26, 2008, 11:28 AM

Nyarlathotep,

Not a problem. [smile] Lung function is more affected by car exhaust than by heavy marijuana smoking. I think we should outlaw car exhaust, eh?

Mark Powers on February 26, 2008, 5:34 PM

Unethical. Hypocritical. Narrow-minded. Oppressive.
Those are a few words that I have used over the years to describe marijuana prohibition. All one has to do is look up the history of marijuana, and you will see how it was criminalized by blatant lies and deliberate demonization carried out by a few determined and well-connected men, who were motivated by their own greed for money and their pathological need to control other people’s behavior.
There is a book titled “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if You Do”, by Peter McWilliams, which spells it out in a chapter (and it’s a very entertaining as well as enlightening read). He explains who was involved and what they did to manipulate both Congress and public opinion. The whole book is about “consensual crime” and the role of government in policing morality. It’s very well written. Read a list of blurbs about it at http://www.mcwilliams.com/books/aint/
and you will have an idea of where Mr. McWilliams is coming from. I recommend it highly.

Amyellen Leib on February 27, 2008, 9:11 AM

theponderer,

I have read McWilliams’ stuff, and also know of his death, drowning in his vomit because he was denied medical marijuana to control his nausea. You are right. We were and still are being duped so that some of us can make a profit. Vile. Evil. Heinous.

Thanks for your informative post.

Sara Hamilton on March 5, 2008, 6:53 PM

Do you think marijuana in medicine is ethical or unethical and why?

Sara Hamilton on March 5, 2008, 6:54 PM

Do you think marijuana in medicine is ethical or unethical and why?

Amyellen Leib on March 6, 2008, 3:38 PM

Mooneyes,

You asked, “Do you think marijuana in medicine is ethical or unethical and why?” Any medicine that has no side effects, no probability of weakening you, no probability of killing you, and has been shown to treat the widest array of ailments on top of that, would be the MOST ethical drug to promote and use. Certainly over any medicine that might have debilitating side effects, or might make you need more medicine or might even kill you.

Marijuana, being the only drug to fill the former and ethical slot, makes it clear that other choices are not ethical unless you’ve tried marijuana first and did not get relief, for things like stress, anorexia, glaucoma, nausea, headache, general aches, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, ADD, hyperactivity, menstrual issues, and on…

Did I answer the question?

shaf riz on September 30, 2009, 12:31 AM

marijuana as a medicine is fine but seeing that it is highly addictive and two doses can make a person addictive; should only be ethical to the limits of medicine in extreme cases not for the everyday use.

although your point here is right but need to consider the effects on the society too.