cannabisnews.com: Legalize Marijuana? No Way! Legalize Marijuana? No Way! Posted by CN Staff on August 08, 2002 at 14:36:34 PT Deseret News Editorial Source: Deseret News The cloak is quickly falling from the supporters of medical marijuana who have succeeded in passing referenda in several states. What many of these supporters really want is to legalize the drug for everyone, which is the weighty subject Nevada voters will tackle in November. Utahns, for obvious demographic reasons, can be expected to stay away from this craze, if it indeed becomes one. But if this state again finds itself an island of sanity, as it is now when it comes to legalized gambling, we think people here should remind themselves of a few facts. Marijuana is a drug that at best causes short-term memory loss and inhibits the ability to learn. As web sites such as theantidrug.com outline, it interferes with the user's ability to think clearly, as well as with his or her physical coordination and perception of the world. Its main ingredient is commonly known by the acronym THC. This chemical changes the way the brain's learning and memory systems process sensory information, and it prevents the brain's normal integration of this information with emotions and motivations. Research has shown that regular marijuana smokers suffer these effects long after they discontinue use of the drug. These people have performed noticeably poorer than their counterparts in tests as part of controlled experiments. They also tend to be more accepting of anti-social behavior and more aggressive and rebellious than non-users. In addition to all this, experts believe regular marijuana users may suffer similar respiratory problems as cigarette smokers, with frequent coughing and symptoms similar to bronchitis. Not everyone who smokes marijuana will graduate to bigger and harder drugs, but many experts say virtually all people who use hard drugs began with marijuana. And, by the way, the latest trend among drug users is to dig the tobacco out of a cigar and fill the space with marijuana mixed with crack cocaine, or some other powerful drug. The line between weed and other drugs has always been blurry, at best. Nevada's referendum would legalize possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana, and it would set up a bureaucracy to oversee how it is grown, distributed and sold. All legal sales would be taxed. Through laws, governments send a powerful message about what is acceptable behavior in a civilized society. Perhaps, as many have said, the penalties for simple marijuana possession have been too stiff through the years. But we can't imagine one good reason why anyone would now want to turn the smoking of marijuana into a sanctioned, acceptable activity.Source: Deseret News (UT) Published: Thursday, August 8, 2002Copyright: 2002 Deseret News Publishing Corp. Contact: letters desnews.com Website: http://www.desnews.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NRLEhttp://www.nrle.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Police Union Leader Rebukes Support of Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13675.shtmlMarijuana Ballot Issue: Police Back Legalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13657.shtmlPolice Support Pot Initiative http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13652.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by SpaceCat on August 09, 2002 at 14:44:23 PT Forgot the best part... In the movie when Saruman, a hoary old authority figure gone bad, tells Gandalf that his fondness for that Hobbit weed has ruined his mind! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by SpaceCat on August 09, 2002 at 14:41:52 PT LOTR:FOTR I heartily third the endorsement of Lord of the Rings/"Pipeweed" combo. There's a bit in the book that suggests "Pipeweed" is probably tobacco; I've always wondered if that was PC bowdlerization or part of the original text. Regardless, I've always enjoyed partaking in my version of "Pipeweed" when enmeshed in the adventures of Frodo, et. al. and the way it's handled in the movie is pretty clearly a "nudge,wink" to those who think likewise. Look at the gang that made the movie and you'll see why! [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by goneposthole on August 09, 2002 at 06:44:21 PT Acronym? THC An acronym is a abbreviation of several words with the initial letters that form a pronouncable word.Such as: Regional Environmental Assessment Program or R.E.A.P.As far as I know, THC is not an acronym.Sorry to be such a nitpicker. I don't think sending the editors of the Deseret News back to school will help. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Dan B on August 09, 2002 at 02:18:43 PT Yep This movie would certainly be one to watch when one is following Gandalf and Bilbo's lead.I assure you, it is.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by MDG on August 08, 2002 at 22:06:51 PT Lord of the Rings... Dan B, didn't Gandalf also tell one of the Hobbits to run and fetch some of that "fine weed" and rub it into Froddo's wound? That certainly smacks of some particular medicinal qualities, not unlike cannabis. At least, I think, he asked for the same plant. This movie would certainly be one to watch when one is following Gandalf and Bilbo's lead. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by herbdoc215 on August 08, 2002 at 21:16:50 PT Those "Magic Glasses" of those women abusers. Sure must be damn rosey? I have always been amazed after learning some tenets of Mormon religion that more people don't call these people out for the cult they are. Their treatment of women as chattel, homosexuals are banned from church and ran out of town ( one of our patients in Humboldt was thrown from church seminary because he was accused of being gay, now as he's dying of AIDS it has ruined whats left of his life! ), children are married at ages that even my hillbilly ass question HARD. And all of these abuses are from some dude saying he FOUND magic glasses and only he could see the rules that said " men can screw over women all they want and call it a religion ", I wonder if God also told them if they moved far enough into BFE that by the time civilization found them that PC bullshit would have driven all good sense from them? I may be from the hills but even I know better than this drivel. Just my opinion? Peace, Steven Tuck [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by CorvallisEric on August 08, 2002 at 18:37:20 PT Dankhank Maybe I'm just a hopelessly partisan Westerner, but I need to slightly defend Utah. 1 - They passed forfeiture reform with a larger margin than "liberal" Oregon. 2 - The Salt Lake Tribune and SLC mayor (ex-mayor?) Rocky Anderson are/were both reasonable. Alabama and parts of Florida (my home state) have got to be worse. And, of course, Tulia, Texas. But for dogged petty lunacy of the sort you raised, look at Oklahoma: Mullein madness [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by illustro on August 08, 2002 at 17:35:28 PT I'm sorry but it's a flaming ... "Marijuana is a drug that [...] inhibits the ability to learn."So doesn't religion but I don't see them wanting to ban that."As web sites such as theantidrug.com outline, it interferes with the user's ability to think clearly,"OMFG, they're quoting from theantidrug.com? How about talking to David Duke about evolution?"Research has shown that regular marijuana smokers suffer these effects long after they discontinue use of the drug."Wrong."They also tend to be more accepting of anti-social behavior and more aggressive and rebellious than non-users."Utah defines antisocial behavior as anyone who's not an active mormon. This quote is pure "Reefer Madness". Fear the pot user because he coming for you next ..."Not everyone who smokes marijuana will graduate to bigger and harder drugs". Not "everyone"? How about saying "current studies show that marijuana prohibition is the number one cause of few pot smokers trying 'hard drugs'. Marijuana itself can not been proven a 'gateway drug'.""The line between weed and other drugs has always been blurry, at best."Only to the uneducated.The Deseret (the name Brigham Young gave the area) News is wholly owned by the mormon church. Don't even believe the date on the front page.Those that live in Utah: get out as soon as you can. I know it's a beautiful place and great skiing, but still, it's not safe for those that think differently from the LDS church.So, how does the mormon church stand on individual rights? From their president (Oct. '02, LDS General Conference): "Now, brothers and sisters, we must do our duty, whatever that duty might be. Peace may be denied for a season. Some of our liberties may be curtailed. We may be inconvenienced. We may even be called on to suffer in one way or another. [...] Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the commandments of God."Translation: "Give up your liberties when asked"To all those that want to keep marijuana illegal: Please stop lying and spouting lies as fact. Speak the truth and let the people decide.Thanks for reading this rant.illustro [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by The GCW on August 08, 2002 at 16:50:38 PT media coverage - update Dear Friend,MPP's Rob Kampia will be debating an unknown prohibitionist for 10 minutes sometime between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. Eastern time today on Wolf Blitzer's show on CNN.Andy Anderson, the head of the Nevada police organization that endorsed the marijuana initiative two days ago, will appear on "The Abrams Report" on MSNBC from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern.Finally, a representative from MPP's campaign office in Nevada will be debating an unknown prohibitionist on CNN's "Crossfire" at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time today. It could very well be that Andy Anderson will be representing our side.Some or all of these shows will be repeated later tonight. Enjoy ...Sincerely,Bruce Mirken Director of Communications Marijuana Policy Project Washington, D.C.P.S. Please see http://www.NRLE.org for more information about the Nevada campaign and/or to make a donation. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Dankhank on August 08, 2002 at 16:47:15 PT: Utahns What a stupid name for a stupid people ...Years ago my son was travelling through there, don't do it if you can, give them none of your money ...Son and friend were passing a rolled cigarette of nicotine, don't smoke it it kills millions ...They were stopped and cited for smoking what LOOKS like an illegal product ... yes, that is the law in Utah.I called and asked a Utahn pig about that and he said the judge could sort it out in court ...The way I heard the story is that Utah is the most heavily medicated state in the Union ...If you lived there you'd probably be on Prozac/Zoloft ... whatever, or if lucky ... some kind bud ...As for this editorial ... Utahns Have no imagination, hence this drivel that wants to be believable ... Hemp N Stuff ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on August 08, 2002 at 15:16:18 PT Utah is an island of Zoloft not sanity This Drug Free self righteousness is coming from the state where mothers consume more psychiatric medication than mothers anywhere else in the entire world. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dan B on August 08, 2002 at 15:04:09 PT: Ridiculous Quote of the Day And, by the way, the latest trend among drug users is to dig the tobacco out of a cigar and fill the space with marijuana mixed with crack cocaine, or some other powerful drug. The line between weed and other drugs has always been blurry, at best.Going to smoke some herb? Don't forget your crack pipe! Where do they get this bilge? What percentage of cannabis smokers actually lace their blunts with crack cocaine? I have never heard of such a thing, and I know plenty of people who smoke cannabis. The saddest thing about this quotation is that the authors genuinely believe it, and so will the bulk of their readers. On a completely different note, if you have not yet seen The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, I recommend it. Especially entertaining is the celebratory smoke Gandalf and Bilbo enjoy before Bilbo Baggins' eleventy-first birthday celebration, during which Bilbo refers to the substance he is smoking as "the finest weed in the South Farthing." And the story and special effects are great.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Industrial Strength on August 08, 2002 at 15:00:22 PT This is just funny All blunts are mixed with crack. By the way. Even the people of Utah should be able to see through this. This person is definitely a believer, probably a public health nurse or something similar. It's so 1950's ish. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by druid on August 08, 2002 at 14:56:11 PT: does anyone care if Utah never legalizes MJ? I DO!!! I live in Idaho and everybody should know that Idaho and Utah copy each other because of the infestation of Mormons. If Utah doesn't ever pass a MJ law then you can sure as hell bet that Idaho never will either.My parents live in Utah and their favorite paper is the one that printed this rubbish. Oh well I hope to change their minds some day... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on August 08, 2002 at 14:47:29 PT The cloak? "The cloak is quickly falling from the supporters of medical marijuana who have succeeded in passing referenda in several states. What many of these supporters really want is to legalize the drug for everyone"Actually, the cloak falls anytime someone logs onto the MPP or NORML website and clicks the mission statement.The REAL cloak is falling off the government thugs that throw patients in jail for cannabis just so they can keep their ridiculous drug war jihad alive.....Hahaha, does anyone care if Utah never legalizes MJ? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment