marijuana harm: most say '<alcohol '; US drug czar says 'more than heroin/meth'

[Darren Dirt]

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12359068/1/washington-goes-to-pot.html

Seems like we are living in a time where, finally, it might actually happen -- an Actual Scientific Study might be done by the Feds to determine the reality.

So instead of relying on fear-based (actually racism-rooted!) propaganda, the "public servants" might finally make an effort to seek out the truth, and hopefully act on what they discover -- finally, after a handful of states are legalizing it...

...Marijuana is listed as a schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substance Act, which puts it in a class with heroin and worse than cocaine. Congress created the act and has the power to change it. The DEA and the FDA can also make changes and are widely thought to be the only government bodies in charge of the list. However, Congress in 2005 added a restriction for pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, demonstrating its power to alter the act.

In sponsoring the Unmuzzle the Drug Czar Act, Rep. Cohen said, "My bill would give the ONDCP the freedom to use science -- not ideology -- in its recommendations and give the American people a reason to trust what they are told."

Sure, plenty of other countries and organizations have already done SOME scientific studies etc. but from what I understand this would be the first time that the US *Federal Government* would be behind some actual objective analysis of those negative claims that they have been pushing on The People for decades, resulting in literally millions of young non-violent people being placed in cages, most of them Black or Hispanic btw).


disclosure: I (Darren) have never used, and probably never will. But amongst all of the controversial subjects out there, THIS is clearly an issue of control and freedom and HONESTY, not health and safety.

When the folks with a monopoly on violence continue to use LIES to limit the liberty of the adult individuals who are supposedly their bosses (i.e. We The People), then I have a big problem with that. So I am all for some long-awaited objective scientific research, may the testable facts be discovered and widely known, and then let the federal legislators take appropriate action and may laws adjust/arise from that. Not from bull@%&#.

Spoiler

Comment by 'i said it out loud' (19 hours ago)

Facts On Marijuana

I. Opposed By People Who'd Lose Money. The primary people who oppose Marijuana Legalization are the Beer, Wine and Hard Liquor industry. The Alcohol industry has contributed heavily to anti-marijuana campaigns, including opposing California's legalization efforts and contributing heavily to anti-marijuana politicians and groups.


II. Marijuana is Among the least harmful commonly Used Drugs.

Relative Harmfulness of Drugs (Lancet Medical Journal)

Alcohol. (Not Scheduled)

Heroin. (Schedule I)

Crack. (Schedule II)

Crystal Meth (Schedule II)

Cocaine (Schedule II)

Tobacco. (Not Scheduled)

Amphetamine/Speed (Schedule II)

Cannabis (Schedule I)


Marijuana is less addicting than Caffeine:

Tobacco: 6

Heroin: 5

Cocaine: 4

Alcohol: 3

Caffeine: 2

Marijuana: 1


No Lethal Dose. Marijuana is one of the few drugs for which there is no lethal dose and no proven long-term harms. On the other hand, Tobacco causes 46 times more deaths than all illegal drug combined. Prescription Drugs cause twice as many deaths as all illegal drugs combined:

Deaths per 100,000

Tobacco: 141.0

Prescription Drugs: 13.043

Alcohol: 2.174

Heroin/Narcotics: 1.812

Cocaine: 1.328

Speed/Meth: 0.725

Cannabis: 0.0


III. Marijuana Arrests Are Used To Oppress Minorities. Whites are more likely to use drugs. Rates of illegal drug use in males 18 to 25:

Whites: 38.2%

African-Americans: 30.6%

Hispanics: 27.5%

But, Minorities are more likely to be arrested. Drug Incarceration rates show African Americans are 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes.

Arrests per 100,000 people:

African Americans - 1,721

Whites - 476

88% of all drug arrests are for Marijuana.


IV. Marijuana Causes Fewer Traffic Accidents. According to studies by the Dutch Institute For Road Safety, the US National Transportation Safety Administration, the United Kingdom Transport Research Lab, Colorado University and Montana State University:

1. Colorado had a 9% drop in traffic fatalities after they legalized medical Marijuana. This correlated with a 5% drop in beers sales.

2. Marijuana users are less likely to drive than people consuming alcohol.

3. Marijuana users are less likely to take risks, drive fast or have impaired driving ability.

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