cannabisnews.com: Straight Stuff Straight Stuff Posted by CN Staff on October 22, 2002 at 22:21:13 PT By Jerry Gjesvold Source: Register-Guard In more than 20 years as a treatment professional, I have made hundreds of presentations about drug use in the workplace. Earlier this year, I was with a group of about 40 skilled laborers, ranging from early 20s to early 40s.As I talked with them, I noticed something interesting. When I spoke about cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other "hard" drugs, I had no problem keeping their attention. But when I started talking about marijuana, some workers smirked. One or two snickered. Clearly, they were not taking the information as seriously.This was not an isolated incident. While they won't do it in a training session, it's not unusual for me to hear people ask, "What's the big deal? It's just marijuana. Who cares if I smoke a little with my friends? It's not hurting anybody." This attitude is becoming more widely accepted, especially among younger people: More than one in five Oregon high school students recently reported using marijuana in the previous 30 days.As with discussions around drug legalization, there is a grain of truth in some of their arguments. There are people who try marijuana, even use it every now and then, who don't seem much the worse for it. And there is a national movement to legalize marijuana for medical use - and Oregon voters already have approved such use. The rationale is based primarily on reports by ill patients, supported by their physicians, that that the drug has relieved their suffering.But just because some can smoke it occasionally without apparent ill effect and some sick people feel better using it doesn't change the facts: Marijuana comes with risks.The active compound in marijuana, THC, is fat soluble. That means it attaches to the fatty tissues - and the most important of these are the brain and nervous system.THC also is eliminated slowly, so it builds up in these tissues. Over time, the chemical is known to impair brain and nervous system function.Young people, because their bodies are still developing and thus more sensitive to all drugs, are more susceptible to problems associated with excessive marijuana use. I've seen it over the years: the lack of motivation and enthusiasm, depression and memory problems.It's important to remember, too, that marijuana has addictive potential.While 15 to 20 percent of people will experience problems with drinking, it appears that 20 to 25 percent of people who abuse marijuana will ultimately have trouble controlling it. Of these, a fraction will end up becoming chemically dependent, with the financial, work, legal, health and relationship problems it causes.Today, I often hear the argument that "alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous than marijuana, yet they're legal. Why should marijuana be different?" On the surface, this makes sense, but it just doesn't follow that because two dangerous substances are legal, a third one should be, too.Shouldn't we be doing the opposite - making it more difficult to buy substances that contribute to social problems?This debate is not going to be resolved soon. Marijuana has been around for a long time, and as with all mood-altering chemicals, it can be seductive. Societal attitudes seem to have shifted, but we need to remember that marijuana is a drug. Using it involves real risks. Saying "it's just marijuana" doesn't change that fact.The opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer. As Serenity Lane's statewide coordinator of employer services, Jerry Gjesvold helps companies across Oregon create and manage their drug-free workplace policies and programs. More information is available on the Serenity Lane Web site at: http://www.serenitylane.orgNote: It's not 'just marijuana'; it carries some real risks.Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)Author: Jerry GjesvoldPublished: October 19, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Register-GuardContact: rgletters guardnet.comWebsite: http://www.registerguard.com/CannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #25 posted by FoM on October 24, 2002 at 11:48:20 PT Hope I'm sorry to read about your grandmother. I'm glad she is doing better and you're back. Jo-D is a very busy lady but she always gets the work done. She's done it time and again. It was nice to see her hawking though. She was a very good newshawk. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Hope on October 24, 2002 at 11:42:16 PT Thank you for your concern, FoM My grandmother fell and broke her leg. I have been taking care of her and haven't had access to a computer for more than a minute or two on rare occasions during the last three or four weeks. She's better and home now so I will be back at the keyboard a little more often.Jo-D has been making sure the NYT got covered. She has so much to do as it is, I hated to burden her with it but she took on the load like the champion she is. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on October 24, 2002 at 11:37:27 PT Hi Hope! I've been wondering where you were and hoped you were ok. I saw Jo-D was hawking the NYT for you and I was worried. Glad you're back! [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Hope on October 24, 2002 at 11:35:58 PT Also a sent letter Mr. Gjesvold says in his article, "Shouldn't we be doing the opposite - making it more difficult to buy substances that contribute to social problems?" Prohibition of a substance does make it more "difficult to obtain", but it creates a whole new spectrum of "social problems". The "difficulties" include, unfortunately, gang wars, children and innocents caught in the crossfire, total lack of product control, increased government, and supporting illegal cartels as well as anyone who makes money off prohibition, like himself.Give it up, die-hard prohibitionists. We, the people are beginning to "see the light" around the obstructions you throw up to progress. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Hope on October 24, 2002 at 11:33:25 PT Sent Letter Author, Jerry Gjesvold purposely distorts, twists and perverts reason when he says, "Today, I often hear the argument that "alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous than marijuana, yet they're legal. Why should marijuana be different?" On the surface, this makes sense, but it just doesn't follow that because two dangerous substances are legal, a third one should be, too. Shouldn't we be doing the opposite - making it more difficult to buy substances that contribute to social problems?"The point is not that we need another drug on the market. The problem is that we are jailing, persecuting, and dehumanizing those who choose to use marijuana, yet, obviously, we don't make criminals of those who use the substances, alcohol and tobacco, with a bit of control and discretion. Throwing people in prison and giving them criminal records for using a substance, some of us want to call "illegal", is a "social problem" in itself. It's clear that persecuting and imprisoning those who wish to use it is very immoral, but it is not clear that using the substance is immoral....or "unclean". Maybe it "makes sense"..."on the surface", because that is where the truth is.The behavior of society seems to run in cycles. I for one am ready for a cycle of sanity and reason. We have had more than enough of insane fear mongering and hysteria. Prohibition is a social disaster. Always has been. Always will be. It's time to take a step forward. Hanging on to prohibition is not a step forward.For humanity's sake...be honest and don't play "sleight of hand" with the truth! [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by krutch on October 23, 2002 at 14:35:18 PT: Impair Brain and Nervous System Function? Here's that '80's drug war propaganda again. There is no legitimate study that shows this. It is a fairy tale.I miss the author;'s point with:"Today, I often hear the argument that "alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous than marijuana, yet they're legal...but it just doesn't follow that third should be too."But it does follow. MJ is less dangerous and intoxicating than booze, so it does not make any sense that booze is legal if MJ is not. Our society has made a decision to trust adults to use alcohol sensibly. Why can that same trust not be extended to a less harmful, less intoxicating, and less addictive drug?Then he says:Shouldn't we be doing the opposite - making it more difficult to buy substances that contribute to social problems?Alcohol causes countless social problems, but those who distrubute it do not kill each other in the streets. Making MJ more difficult to buy and sell causes more problems then it prevents. We did the prohibition experiment with alcohol, it failed. It is failing with MJ too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by malleus on October 23, 2002 at 11:13:37 PT Something I don't get Why is it every time some twit like this gets up and opens his biscuit trap, the press doesn't ask the obvious question concerning 'conflict of interest'? The guy makes his bread and butter from forcing cannabis smokers into 'treatment'. It's so obvious, how can they miss it? But they always do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by druid on October 23, 2002 at 08:50:10 PT: Ibogaine and Melatonin Dana Beal dana cures-not-wars.org maintains a mailing list that has a duality in purpose. The first part of the e-mail is always about Ibogaine and the progress in using it in various countries around the world and the second part deals with various news on cannabis and updates on the next Million Marijuana March with a list of all the cities already signed up. Just email him at the address provided and he will add you to the mailing list.The Cures Not Wars website has some interesting information on melatonin and its effects on the cannabis user. Of all the known ways to stimulate melatonin production, none is more dramatic than smoking marijuana. Marijuana stimulates production of a prostaglandin called PGE2, which may relate to its ability to stimulate melatonin production. Italian researchers discovered that when eight men smoked a cigarette containing the active ingredient in marijuana, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), they had dramatically higher melatonin levels twenty minutes later. After two hours, their melatonin levels were 4,000 percent higher than at baseline!(11)The fact that smoking marijuana is accompanied by a dramatic increase in melatonin production may explain some of the drug's positive effects. A 1995 article in The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the hallucinogen is being used to counteract the toxicity of chemotherapy, treat migraines, reduce intraocular pressure, minimize pain, treat menstrual cramps, and moderate wasting syndrome in AIDS patients.(12) Melatonin has been shown to ameliorate each and every one of these conditions.Smoking marijuana as a vehicle to increase melatonin production, however, may not be a good idea. The increase is so marked that it is not likely to be beneficial, especially if one smokes marijuana during the daytime, when melatonin levels are normally so low that they are just above the level of detection. Causing such a dramatic surge in melatonin levels in the daytime could phase-shift your circadian rhythms or interfere with your health in other as yet unknown ways.References11. Lissoni, P., Resentini, M., and Fraschini, F. "Effects of Tetrahydrocannabinol on Melatonin Secretion in Man." Hormone and Metabolic Research 1986; 77-78. At baseline, the mean value of their melatonin levels was 21.3 pg/ml. Two hours later, it was 904 pg/ml.12. Grinspoon, L., and Bakaler, J.B. "Marihuana as Medicine." Joural of the American Medical Association 1995; 273(23): 1875-76. So..... Some people believe that by taking melatonin in the evening before bed will restore your circadian rhythms and put production of melatonin and therefore seratonin at the correct levels. These same people also believe that by taking melatonin the cannabis user will significantly diminish the "burn-out" period. It seems to work for me. I dream a lot more when I use melatonin and I sleep a lot better. When I smoke during the day I seem to have more energy and I really don't burn out very hard. Maybe it's the placebo effect but I don't really care. :) Cures Not Wars [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by p4me on October 23, 2002 at 08:13:36 PT pot-tv for Wednesday, October 23 The most interesting thing on pot-tv was Marc Emery's spill on using the African tree bark, ibogaine, to treat heroin addicts at his expense. One treatment cost about $600, which may be Canadian dollars, but in one treatment a person wanting to escape from heroin addiction might well be cured. There was a person that was in the New York sit-in back in the 70's that took up the ibogaine cause and was in the DrugSense chat room about a year ago maybe. Last night on the BBC news there was a segment how Finland with the highest standard of living in the world had the worst heroin problem in the world. Marc Emery said ibogaine was legal in Canada and he had ten seeds, but they needed a hot climate similar to its African homeland to grow.I am all but positive that ibogaine is illegal in the United States and maybe the CIA wants more heroin addicts instead of less. You can read more about ibogaine at The Ibogaine Dossier: http://www.ibogaine.org/ The Vaults of Erowid has a section on ibogaine: http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ibogaine/ibogaine.shtml1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by DANA on October 23, 2002 at 06:39:33 PT I hate to admit it.... ..but when I first saw "T&A",,,I didnt think; Tobacco & Alcohol.........I guess I'm kindof a sicko.(?)... [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by goneposthole on October 23, 2002 at 06:36:26 PT Risk involves getting up each and every morning.Type into a search 'hospital deaths from misadministrations of medications' and find out where the risks really are. You will be astounded. Jerry's straight stuff is propaganda. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by p4me on October 23, 2002 at 06:32:16 PT For the hundredth time, T&A First legal,smegal. It is not relevant. What Governor Johnson and others say is treat drugs as a health problem. Now in the realm of health problems associated with drugs there are two demon drugs, namely T&A, that do as much damage to society as all other drugs combined. What I say is that the two monsters of drug abuse don't even get a ribbon or a wrist band on the politicians or entertainers. The president and Congress won't even say, "Whatever you do, don't smoke" while at the same time spending a billion dollars a week primarily to demonize and harass the cannabis community.Don't Abuse Drugs. There are health consequences to abusing drugs and once you get addicted to something like cigarettes, it is one hard thing to quit. The primary way of quitting smoking is death. Whatever you do, don't put a cigarette in your mouth because it is terribly addictive.Now, take the marijuana subject within the health problems associated with drug use. It is so far down the list that it should just be ignored. If it were legal stronger buds would make it to market and product differentiation would tailor to the effects a person that people deem desirable. It would mean less smoking which is the biggest health problem associated with cannabis. It would also mean I could buy cannabis soup and would give up most smoking and it would mean you could spend a hundred dollars on a vaporizer without fear of a policeman taking it from you without trial or decree from a judge, although you would get a trial for having the vaporizer.So set your perspective on the issue straight. The two demon drugs are not seriously addressed by the government or the conglomerate media, while legal marijuana would probably rate behind aspirin in undesirable health affects.1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by DANA on October 23, 2002 at 06:32:03 PT ...by the way.... ..my original intent was to compliment JRB Dobbs LTE...It is excellent!...along with knox42897s thing,,and all the others.........(hey knox42897,,would I be stepping out of bounds if I was to inquire as to the nature ,and/or origin of "knox42897"..?....Is it a zip code?....no obligigation to reveal the mystery,,just thought I'd ask.).....d [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by DANA on October 23, 2002 at 06:19:53 PT ...Oh,,,He's right!... .."..Shouldn't we be doing the opposite - making it more difficult to buy substances that contribute to social problems?".....Now I see,,,He's right!...we should make it easier to buy drugs that DONT contribute to social problems!..Yes ..Does anyone know where I can get some of that new Paxil CR ?...sonuvabitch.....the next thing ya know,,,,you will be watching Judge Mathis,or Dr Phil,,and you'll see a commercial for CRAXIL..from Glaxo-Jones-Pfizer....some skinny super-model saying;"..Just one hit of CRAXIL in the morning puts me in control of my day!"...."Ask your doctor if CRAXIL is right for you!".(side effects may include nervousness,vomiting,diarhea, sleeplessness,jonesing,paranoia,happiness,sadness,...people who have a history of habits should be careful when using CRAXIL.)...at the doctors office,,Glaxo-Jones-Pfizer will be handing out nifty CRAXIL pipes,with keen CRAXIL torches.......new ads will say stuff like;.."With CRAXIL,,I can finally be ME!"....OK...sorry,,,but then,,,the next thing will be the medicare providers who will deliver the CRAXIL to your door!,,,and we will see commercials that have some old guy talkin' about how he doesnt even have to leave the house to get his CRAXIL!..Liberty Mutual delivers it ,...and ;"no annoying paperwork for those who have medicare!"...I admit...this is sort of sick fun......at least there was no profanity involvedddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by The GCW on October 23, 2002 at 05:22:19 PT last weeks rant... IT'S NOT 'JUST MARIJUANA'; IT CARRIES SOME REAL RISKS http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1951/a08.html?1158Pubdate: Sat, 19 Oct 2002 Source: Register-Guard, The (OR) Author: Jerry Gjesvold Note: Jerry Gjesvold is the statewide coordinator of employer services for Serenity Lane, a drug and alcohol treatment center. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on October 23, 2002 at 05:20:07 PT LTE Sirs, In response to the oft-repeated question about why marijuana is illegal while tobacco and alcohol are legally regulated, Mr. Gjesvold says, "Shouldn't we be doing the opposite - making it more difficult to buy substances that contribute to social problems?" Apparently he doesn't remember that we have already tried that. Adults were prohibited from drinking alcohol in this country, and after a brief period of adjustment, adults continued to drink in ever-increasing quantities during prohibition. Since the legal regulations were removed, children were allowed in some speakeasies. The alcohol was manufactured in less-safe ways than it is now, and was quite often an unsafe product to consume. And the newspapers were filled with stories of the latest gangland murders. That's the same thing we're doing with marijuana and other illegal drugs today - creating a cash cow for criminals who get away with it, and fighting a war against the desires of America. The only people who wish to continue drug prohibition are the people who make their living off of it. The drug dealer does not want to see a cheaper and safer alternative at the corner pharmacy. Neither does he want his "gateway", marijuana, being sold over the counter, because then he will have less chances to offer his customers hard drugs. Marijuana in America is not going to go away. What we need to change is the way we treat people who use it. We could not arrest our way out of our "alcohol problem". Why is marijuana treated so differently?-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Sorry to stereotype "drug dealers" as "he".... [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by DdC on October 23, 2002 at 02:06:49 PT Isn't this last weeks article? Mix and Match B.S. As I talked with them, I noticed something interesting. When I spoke about cocaine Schedule#2 dentrafice, soft drink heroin,Legal medicine in England, Euphoric over alternative Schedule#2 morphine the depressent avoiding happy dying people syndrome.methamphetamineSchedule#2 in many OTC meds, diet pills, cramming for test, driving coast to coast and back, doctors and nurses long shifts... and other "hard" drugs That require corporate chemicals and lab equipment to convert the natural Coca leaves into Coke, I had no problem keeping the potheads with brain damage doing good work all these years attention. Bla bla bla THC also is eliminated slowly, meaning it resides in the fat cells and therefore can't be toxic so it builds up in these tissues. Where as the "hard drugs" don't and selling pisstest or treatment becomes harder. No psychoactivity is possible with stored THC anymore than THC receptors and transmitters in every brain, though I wonder about these imbeciles. Over time, the chemical is known to impair brain and nervous system function, grow warts on chickens and lips on ducks and there are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Philipino's and Entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others. How many murders, suicides, robberies, criminal assaults, holdups, burglaries and deeds of maniacal insanity it causes each year, especially among the young, can only be conjectured...No one knows, when he places a marijuana cigarette to his lips, whether he will become a joyous reveller in a musical heaven, a mad insensate, a calm philosopher, or a murderer...And someday we will have a victim to prove it by golly!Harry Anslinger, Commissioner of Narcotics testifying to Congress on why marijuana should be made illegal, 1937. Marijuana Tax Act,signed August 2 1937; effective Oct.1, 1937 Fascism-Anslinger-Bush-Hearst-Nixon-Hitler-Wally Déjå vü!!! http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionprohibitionistwodjunkies.showMessage?topicID=55.topicFascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power. Mussolini [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by canaman on October 23, 2002 at 01:34:05 PT Preacher/Prohibitionist "Today, I often hear the argument that "alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous than marijuana, yet they're legal. Why should marijuana be different?" On the surface, this makes sense, but it just doesn't follow that because two dangerous substances are legal, a third one should be, too.""Shouldn't we be doing the opposite - making it more difficult to buy substances that contribute to social problems?"This guy wants to expand prohibition back to the Dark Ages. Witches and Sorcerers. His answer to drug problems is more of the same, punish the user. Jail or his forced treatment center. I'm sure some alcohol/drug abusers get help from his AA based treatment. Some people need to believe they have no control over their addictions and with AA's power higher than themselves are able to get back on their feet. Doesn't work with most cannabis users since they aren't addicted in the first place. I wonder how many of the people that go thru his "treatment" were given the choice of that or firing. He should listen to the people snickering behind his back because soon they will be laughing in his face. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by karkulus on October 23, 2002 at 01:09:12 PT There's one factor frequently overlooked: The Man says; "Today, I often hear the argument that "alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous than marijuana, yet they're legal. Why should marijuana be different?" On the surface, this makes sense, but it just doesn't follow that because two dangerous substances are legal, a third one should be, too."If someone has limited funds (or time,for that matter),it makes sense that if they go with Weed ,and not something else ,for their "recreation -time" ,harm has been de-facto reduced.Even this guy should get that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by BGreen on October 23, 2002 at 00:25:31 PT Biased nonsense is still nonsense This author will be out of work if the truth comes out.He's speaking to ADULTS but still has to mention the kids:"Young people, because their bodies are still developing and thus more sensitive to all drugs, are more susceptible to problems associated with excessive marijuana use. I've seen it over the years: the lack of motivation and enthusiasm, depression and memory problems."What about the depression that occurs when mommy and daddy go to jail, or the kid that can't remember the last time an adult told them the truth? Besides, how many little slackers exhibit "lack of motivation and enthusiasm, depression and memory problems" who DON'T use cannabis?The answer to this authors' motivation and enthusiasm is printed on the www.serinitylane.org website:"Treatment covered by most health insurance plans. Oregon Health Plan accepted." [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by knox42897 on October 22, 2002 at 23:17:59 PT: This debate is not going to be resolved soon Today, I often hear the argument that "alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous than marijuana, yet they're legal. Why should marijuana be different?"Of these, a fraction will end up becoming chemically dependent, with the financial, work, legal, health and relationship problems it causes.Yes, which is exacty why it should be legalized. So the police can not sieze or confiscate my money, stop making me a convicted felon who can't get state licenses to work, I've had it with payin lawyers $10,000.00 for nothing, honor my damn medical marijuana recomendation, stop sending me to drug rehabs against my will and stop jailing me cause it screws up things with the miss's. And as far as being chemically dependent, in the privacy of my home or under the care of a doctor, legal marijuana for responsible adults.This debate will be resolved Nov. 5th in Nevada Look for responsible law enforcement coming near you soon! BTW, please donate any money to NRLE, it is very important. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment