Congress passed a federal spending measure over the weekend that includes a provision that will end the federal government's medical marijuana ban. The measure precludes the Department of Justice and the DEA from preventing states from passing laws that authorize medical marijuana use, distribution, possession or cultivation. The L.A. Times reports that the prospective law would prohibit federal drug agents from raiding retail outlets in the 32 states and District of Columbia where the drug is legal for medicinal use. President Obama is expected to sign the spending bill this week, making it a law.

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Let's discuss it.

The war on marijuana is slowly dying out. They've already decriminalized weed here in Philly. I used to do this shit often, but a fucking ex-friend of mine thought it would be funny lace my shit with PCP, I don't do it much anymore.
I'd say it's kinda pointless to keep a drug like this illegal for so long, when alcohol is much worse. As long as they don't fucking tamper with it too much.

>>3 They can just tax it and make millions off of it, people are using it anyway. I love when people say legalizing it will encourage it to be used, as if making it illegal has stopped all use or something.

>>4
AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY
Seriously, could make them some good money.
That and the regulation they could impose and the production....
It would end up being safer for people if they made it legal...

>>1 A similar change is taking place in Australia with Victoria being the first state to take the step of legalizing it.

>>5 I don't know about that. Swim hasn't experienced any laced weed, or has dealed any out. The plug has always been good to swim.

NY releases planned medical marijuana rules
The ball is rolling.

So is this saying that it is federally legal or state legal?

I'm in CO, weed has been legal for so long that we refer(get it)to the time when weed was illegal as the good old days.
Legalizing weed is a double edged sword because I used to get dat fiya for 20 bucks an eighth. Same shit costs 65 at the rec shop.

Also, medical cards is a scam for FEMA. Prove me wrong.

Aaaaawwwwww yeah!!!!!

that's good.

Interesting tactic...By making it legal people are less likely to buy from illegal sources.Not to mention since its considered OK, the reverse psychology action that makes people think 'they said no so lets do it!' doesn't kick in.Honestly telling a person don't press a button will normally tempt them to press it.

No doubt that there are still risks potentially in terms of mental health for some individuals. I don't think smoking it is advised in most cases because of that. However, I do think that legalising it for medical purposes is a great thing that could honestly help a metric shitton of people, as well as possibly making it less of an "edgy cool drug" that people want to have for the sake of rebelling due to the fact it's legal and easier to obtain.
If people couls isolate the active compunds in it that act as painkillers, etc. then it's even better.

Why do you care?

>>17 Who are you asking?
I care because I smoke the herb and advocate for it strongly.

Personally, I'm against the consumption of ANY sort of drug.
But as I've said: PERSONALLY and CONSUMPTION

And that relies on each individual. Because I'm against them I won't take them but what others do, honestly, is none of my business. So I respect weed consumers, they are free to choose what to do.

I also agree that banning it won't stop the people from smoking it, so I think is pointless to be restrictive about it.

However:

With alcohol and tobacco we have tons of informative campaigns about the short and long term effects of its compounds. The same should be done with marijuana, apart from legalizing it (with some sense).

That way everyone is fully informed and therefore responsible of their decisions.

>>19 I agree completely l but can I ask why you're agains it? Genuinely curious.

>>20 Thank you :)

Don't worry, I'll try to answer as concretely as possible.
Basically, I just don't want to alter my brain's functionality in any way. Even less for leisure. After studying Chemistry and Biology, I can't seem to find any rational reason as to why take them for pleasure. I'm omitting medical reasons here.

Even the "socially accepted" ones as alcohol and tobacco don't have an objective back up. In the end, when someone lists their reasons for taking drugs it is due to a subjective basis at the core.

So that's why I wont take them. As I previously stated, I won't judge anyone for taking them. (And I hope that's reciprocal)
( n . n )

>>21 Maybe when you get older you'll find a reason. Or, maybe not, depends on the person. Personally, I can't stand losing control of myself. It's my greatest fear. Tried weed once and I can't really enjoy it, I just get paranoid and really frightened.

>>21 No judgment here, just wanted to know :^))

>>22 >I just get paranoid and really frightened
I'm more like this sober. :/

>>23 Ha, I am too. I seem to get much worse high though.
Guess I'm just not cut out for thugging. :-(

Is it still being called a "war"...? Seriously?

bump to get rid of trash

bumpp

Yay! all psycho-therapists and psychiatrists will be so happy about this development.
/irony off

Marijuana has been proven to induce an earlier and stronger onset of mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and shizophrenia.

>>29 I also heard that going to University drastically increases suicide rates! What a terrible thing to do to yourself. We should get everyone to stop immediately.

That was proven by many, many studies. It's obvious that's not the full picture from the inside, but not to someone who knows nothing about University or what it's like. Same applies here, unfortunately. May have been proven by a study, but that's not a complete picture.

chigarettes? smoke?and the other ? its mainstream in indonesia XD

>>30 I'm not only talking about studies here. I'm against the legalisation due to personal reasons. I happen to be a medical student, and I've met patients with mental disorders. So far, everyone of them except the children have smoked weed which triggered at least one of their severe mental disorders. My professor who works as a psychiatrist has assured me that my experiences aren't exceptions but rather the rule.

Of course, I know that consuming marijuana isn't the only risk factor. However a legalisation would definitely increase the number of such cases because most people aren't aware of this risk. That's why I'm against the legalisation.

Awesome!
First the medical uses for it are great. For one it's both a great pain reliever and a relaxant. If legalized for medical use it would help a great deal of people. If you know anything of medicine you should understand that many modern medicines carry quite a few risks in comparison to their traditional counterparts. So this as a replacement could be great for many people. And as a recreational legalization it gives people the ability to still use it medicinally when needed. As well as economical benefits. Plus if anything else it's no worse than what we have currently.
>>32 I doubt it was the entire cause of any disorder. It's a possibility that those were progressions that happened later on in which case it may not be connected. Usually at later points in life people share many common factors such as that, in which case you would need controls to prove it's connection and even then it's tricky since it is people after all. I'm just saying it may not always be what you think. When dealing with you can people never truly be certain.

>>24 u can thug w/me BB

>>29 Link or it's not true.

>>32 People with mental disorders use drugs to cope? Whoa, whoever is paying for your schooling sure is getting their money's worth.

>>32
>So far, everyone of them except the children have smoked weed which triggered at least one of their severe mental disorders

How can you know this? I could collect a bunch of data and say my mental disorder is based on my eating habits, and while the data correlates they are completely unrelated for other obvious reasons.

>>33 I'm not saying that consumption of cannabis causes a mental disorder entirely on its own. However, several studies have shown that cannabis increases the vulnerability towards lasting mental illnesses (e.g. psychosis or shizophrenia); meaning that it may cause hereditary and environmental risk factors to develop into such a chronic disease whereas non-consumption would not cause the disease to surface or only in a less severe form. You are welcome to read the articles I linked below.
------------------------

>>34 Here you are.

"Cannabis use may increase the risk of psychotic disorders and result in a poor prognosis for those with an established vulnerability to psychosis. [...] Results confirm previous suggestions that cannabis use increases the risk of both the incidence of psychosis in psychosis-free persons and a poor prognosis for those with an established vulnerability to psychotic disorder."
van Os J1, Bak M, Hanssen M, Bijl RV, de Graaf R, Verdoux H.: Cannabis use and psychosis: a longitudinal population-based study. Am J Epidemiol. 2002 Aug 15;156(4):319-27.

"[...] A dose-response relationship was found between cannabis exposure and risk of psychosis, and this association was independent from potential confounding factors such as exposure to other drugs and pre-existence of psychotic symptoms. However, the diagnostic specificity is weak, as cannabis exposure may be a risk factor for the occurrence of a large spectrum of psychiatric disorders, ranging from schizophrenia to mood and anxiety disorders. [...]"
Verdoux H1, Tournier M.: Cannabis use and risk of psychosis: an etiological link?. Epidemiol Psichiatr Soc. 2004 Apr-Jun;13(2):113-9.

"Various lines of evidence suggest an association between cannabis and psychosis. Five years ago, the only significant case-control study addressing this question was the Swedish Conscript Cohort. Within the last few years, other studies have emerged, allowing the evidence for cannabis as a risk factor to be more systematically reviewed and assessed. [...] For psychotic symptoms, a dose-related effect of cannabis use was seen, with vulnerable groups including individuals who used cannabis during adolescence, those who had previously experienced psychotic symptoms, and those at high genetic risk of developing schizophrenia. In conclusion, the available evidence supports the hypothesis that cannabis is an independent risk factor, both for psychosis and the development of psychotic symptoms. Addressing cannabis use, particularly in vulnerable populations, is likely to have beneficial effects on psychiatric morbidity."
Semple DM1, McIntosh AM, Lawrie SM.: Cannabis as a risk factor for psychosis: systematic review. J Psychopharmacol. 2005 Mar;19(2):187-94.

"Evidence from 6 longitudinal studies in 5 countries shows that regular cannabis use predicts an increased risk of a schizophrenia diagnosis or of reporting symptoms of psychosis. These relations persisted after controlling for confounding variables, such as personal characteristics and other drug use. The relation did not seem to be a result of cannabis use to self-medicate symptoms of psychosis. A contributory causal relation is biologically plausible because psychotic disorders involve disturbances in the dopamine neurotransmitter systems with which the cannabinoid system interacts, as demonstrated by animal studies and one human provocation study. [...] It is most plausible that cannabis use precipitates schizophrenia in individuals who are vulnerable because of a personal or family history of schizophrenia."
Degenhardt L1, Hall W.: Is cannabis use a contributory cause of psychosis?. Can J Psychiatry. 2006 Aug;51(9):556-65.

"[...] Therefore, all the studies that assessed a dose-effect relationship showed this link between cannabis use and the emergence of psychosis or psychotic symptoms. The fact that all causal criteria were present in the studies suggests that cannabis use may be an independent risk factor for the development of psychosis. Results seem to be more consistent for vulnerable individuals with the hypothesis that cannabis use may precipitate psychosis, notably among vulnerable subjects. In particular, early onset of cannabis use during adolescence should be an environmental stressor that interacts with a genetic predisposition to induce a psychotic disorder.
[...] The objective of this article was to examine whether cannabis use can be an independent risk factor for chronic psychotic disorders, by using established criteria of causality. Data extracted from the selected studies showed that cannabis use may be an independent risk factor for the development of psychotic disorders. Early screening of the vulnerability to psychotic disorder should permit improved focus on prevention and information about the specific risks related to cannabis use among this population."
Le Bec PY1, Fatséas M, Denis C, Lavie E, Auriacombe M.: Cannabis and psychosis: search of a causal link through a critical and systematic review. Encephale. 2009 Sep;35(4):377-85. doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2008.02.012. Epub 2008 Jul 9.

"Over the past 30 years evidence has been growing that cannabis use increases the risk for psychosis which could develop into schizophrenia in a proportion of cases. Over the past decade many studies have been published which clarify the association between cannabis use and psychosis. The aim of this review is to examine this association. A systematic search yielded 14 cohort studies carried out in 9 cohorts and 9 case-control studies. When the results of these studies are taken together they unambiguously support that cannabis use is an independent risk factor for psychosis and may also give rise to chronic psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. A dose dependent link is present because more frequent use associates with greater risk. The studies also show that cannabis-use in adolescence is associated with greater risk of developing psychosis than commencing the use of cannabis in adulthood. [...]"
Jonsson AJ, Birgisdottir H, Sigurdsson E.: Does the use of cannabis increase the risk for psychosis and the development of schizophrenia?. Laeknabladid. 2014 Sep;100(9):443-51.

>>35 I'm not claiming that my personal experience is objective or sound in terms of the general population; it's just the reason why I am personally against the legalisation of marijuana. If you're interested in scientific evidence for the relation between cannabis and the onset of mental disorders, take a look at my post above >>36

As for the cases of the patients I met, I know that cannabis triggered their disorders because of their patient history. Their symptoms surfaced directly after they had experienced horror trips due to the heavy and frequent consumption of cannabis.

By the way, I apologise for hijacking this thread and turning it into a discussion about the legalisation of marijuana as a drug. I know that this thread was meant to discuss the legalisation of medical cannabis and not its other forms of (mis)use. Please feel free to revert back to the original discussion.

>>37 I stand corrected. I thought all the talk of weed causing schizophrenia was baseless. Seems it is not after all. I knew becoming dependent on it could cause mood swings and other stuff, but I never thought it could create serious conditions.

I should also note using a wide range of very legal substances frequently and heavily have equally terrible consequences. It's about self-serving yourself what you can handle, and for weed I think there is a safe level of consumption. I suppose people in a lot of pain wouldn't really care what's safe, I can understand that.

>>37

"due to the heavy and frequent consumption of cannabis."

Perhaps THAT was why they were having issues. Not the weed but the fact they were consuming way too much.

>>40 Of course, the consumed dose and the frequency are deciding factors. The issue with the legalisation of pot is just that while other legal drugs like tobacco harm your physical health in a lot of ways, but an overdose doesn't affect your mental sanity as lastingly as cannabis does. And somehow, people seem to value their mental sanity more than their physical one.

^

>>41
It's far harder to even come close "overdosing" on weed.

>>43 It's true that the fatale overdose (i.e. LD50) of cannabis has yet to be measured for humans, but overdose is a relative term any way. It remains a fact that the higher the dose, the more the risk increases to suffer acute or long-term effects like bad trips, anxiety, panic attacks, sensory, motor and/or memory impairment (see >>36 dose-response relationship).

>>45
Also while it increases the chances, you have to look at who is smoking it, and their health, and not the fact that people are smoking in general.

There are a ton of healthy people smoking a ton of pot, and are not any more closer to any of the above "issues". It's those who already suffer from this in some way that abuse the drug.

This pretty good news.

Great, this should really reduce some of the gang related crime.

>>48
No. This is just for medical use if I recall, so even then they'd still obtain it illegally. It is not for the buying and selling of weed for every day consumption. Gang violence also won't decrease just because of a very weak drug.

>>46 The main issue is that you as a consumer cannot know beforehand how vulnerable you are to mental disorders. Nobody knows that. Even if you have an unfortunate family history, there's no way to measure your personal potential to fall mentally ill for the patho-physiological processes aren't clear and for the weight of each risk factor remains unknown. One can only say that you've got a higher risk in comparison to someone without any cases in the family. Have you looked at the studies I linked above? Here's an excerpt from the last one I listed:

"[...] Further studies are needed to explain this association since psychotic disorders take years to evolve and it remains difficult to measure both the explanatory and the response variable and their complex relationship. The results emphasize the need to enhance public knowledge on the possible consequences of cannabis use and the fact that it cannot be predicted who will experience transient psychosis and who will develop a chronic psychotic disorder."
Jonsson AJ, Birgisdottir H, Sigurdsson E.: Does the use of cannabis increase the risk for psychosis and the development of schizophrenia?. Laeknabladid. 2014 Sep;100(9):443-51.

>>50

Weed is harmless. Prove me wrong.

That quote is literally people saying "oh we don't have any evidence against it, so we'll have to keep searching until we find something that is"

If anything, it proves it's harmless.

>>51It is true that weed is harmless. But smoking it at a young age can cause a "need" for it.

>>51 But everyone knows that weed can cause paranoia, right?

>>51 See >>36.

It's impossible to be harmless, in a physical sense. The question is how harmful is it compared to other accepted substances, like alcohol and cigarettes.

^

Sigh, where I am it's not even legal medically. Bestiality is tho, go figure.

Its really a matter of freedom of choice. Freedom what happened to that? Is it just a word now?

>>57 Freedom is very relative kid. It depends on each individual what freedoms they require and what freedoms they are "qualified" to use to their and their peers advantage. It's the same with any other activity to which people are usually prone to get addicted and which has negative side effects in case of overdose (it doesn't even have to be a substance. Take gambling for example).

>>57 There are two sides to every coin, and one person's freedom ends where another's begins. Of course, you've are free to take any drug you like, but on the other hand the government is obligated to protect other citizens that don't want to bear or to suffer from the consequences of your choice, be it in the form of passive consumption, of secondary damages or of your influence on their children's perception.

I honestly don't see a problem with Marijuana. It's just a stress relieving herb, it stimulates economy, and slows down cancer. Yeah, OD-ing on it is bad and all and sort of illegal in some states, but hey, that's just my opinion.

>>61
Try to live with a weed-junkie of a mom for 4 years straight. Every day you get home, the stench of weed hits your nose so thick that diamonds couldn't cut that motherfucker. Your room is filled with the fucking stench and thus the substance too, since your mom smokes weed, so it's common sense for her to forget things, like closing the door leading to your room. When you finally get home from work to study! you're not even given a chance, since after a while, you just can't think straight, get the munchies or fall asleep all together after coming home tired from work.
In the long term it makes you forgetful as hell, prone to being tired and sleepy, therefore impacting your reasoning and vocabulary skills and it also reduces your reaction time and motor senses. I don't think it should be a crime to smoke it once in a while, but I don't like the pro-weed talk either. It's definitely not just a relieving herb and it's definitely doesn't slow down cancer. You get more radioactive pollonium and lead in your system from weed than regular smokes, which will speed it up in the worst case but surely won't slow it down unless you smoke it from a bong. And that's still not all, but I guess it would be pointless to go on with it.

.

>>62
I feel you. My mom smokes cigarettes all the time and stinks the whole house.

I just want to add that there's no need to smoke the Marijuana. You can make an infusion or use it as an ingredient when cooking. This way you avoid harming your lungs and leaving smelly smoke everywhere.

:(

I've heard of some people who make 'tinctures'. Not sure how they work but they're suppose to be a subtle way of taking marijuana for medicinal purposes. I'm not able to post the link yet but will get to it as soon as I can. I think the man's name was Cheri O'Connell, an Aboriginal man who started making tinctured for the sick and disabled until he was imprisoned.

^ above the shitposters you go. Bump.

"senior DEA officials had participated in sex parties arranged by Colombian drug cartels and had also received weapons and cash from cartel members - See more at: http://blog.norml.org/2015/04/22/confirmed-dea-head-michele-leonhart-stepping-down/#sthash.J1HrmYRs.dpuf"

>>68 Could had made a new thread.

>>69 I'd rather bump my own thread, thank you.

>>71 Ah, didnt knew your previous name, was the other one.

http://www.mpp.org/states/texas/alerts/texas-senate-approves-flawed.html

Texas Senate voted 26-5 in support of SB 339, which is intended to allow qualifying patients with intractable seizures to access medical cannabis rich in cannabidiol (CBD) and very low in THC.

Sad thing is,they are actually less likely to abuse the stuff when they ARNT being told 'No'.Its toddler psychology for humanity. Tell someone 'no' and of course they will!

Markell signs Delaware marijuana decriminalization bill
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/firststatepolitics/2015/06/18/senate-debate-marijuana/28927757/