cannabisnews.com: Pot's Dangers Should Alarm Parents Pot's Dangers Should Alarm Parents Posted by CN Staff on December 23, 2002 at 20:06:53 PT Oklahoman Editorial Source: Oklahoman You may have noticed the "open letter to parents" in a large ad in The Oklahoman last week about the perils of using marijuana. Or perhaps you saw the news story about federal health officials warning people not to trivialize the drug's dangers. But if you missed it, here's the message: Marijuana is addictive. It is dangerous. And children and teenagers should not be experimenting with it. So the parents who have long thought marijuana use is no big deal, that it's safer for rebellious teens to use than other substances like cigarettes, should look again at the facts and change the message they're sending to their kids. Marijuana abuse accounts for 60 percent of teens in drug treatment, according to information from the National Youth Anti- Drug Media Campaign on its Web site, www.theantidrug.com. More kids are addicted to pot than all the other illegal drugs combined. "For too long our nation's teens have been getting the wrong message about marijuana," John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, told the Associated Press. People who smoke pot are getting three to five times more carbon monoxide and tar than they are with their cigarettes, the AP reported. It affects the brain's chemistry like cocaine and heroin does. Marijuana use can lead to problems with learning, memory retention and other academic skills; it also affects performance, concentration, coordination and alertness even 24 hours after smoking the drug. Depression and anxiety and chronic breathing problems also are common among users. Many drug users start with marijuana before experimenting with other drugs. The Office of National Drug Control Policy has launched a new campaign against marijuana use. Supporting it include groups that represent family physicians, pediatricians, associations of doctors, child welfare workers, state alcohol and drug abuse directors, school nurses and others. It's good to see this country's health leaders focusing on the dangers of experimenting even with popular drugs considered more "safe," a misnomer. Look for the upcoming campaign. The message from parents to their children about using drugs should not be "don't ask, don't tell," but "don't do it at all" instead. Parents still have the most influence over whether their children take drugs. They must keep the lines of communication open. Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)Published: December 23, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.Contact: yourviews oklahoman.comWebsite: http://www.oklahoman.com/CannabisNews - Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by The GCW on December 24, 2002 at 17:07:32 PT Yes, 87 LTE's... (a deal at any price)Keep in mind that I sent the same LTE, to all. But if You look on their contact list... there are all kinds of editors, reporters, Science Reporter, Copy Editor, News Research Editor etc. that even left photographers, Rodeo Writers, artists etc. that I did not send to.I have done this before. When, (I forget who), has been killed in California, and others,,, and I want to send an LTE, I send it but then through their e-mail list, I send it to everyone there... sort of. When that women with no arms and legs in Kingman Ariz. was arrested for selling a smidgeon of cannabis plant material, I even sent the realestate offices letters. I have sent them to whole lists at police departments.Nothing illegal, and further, nothing rude. These newspaper folks at times, are self assignment types, that have memories. There is an effect, that will ooze out somewhere. http://www.newsok.com/?ok_paperstaffMaybe I will send one to the Rodeo Writer.As We celebrate Christ's birthday.What does Christ want for His birthday?He wants some of Your time.The daily sacrifice. For Me that is a plant friendly time.The Green Collar Worker [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by greek_philosophizer on December 24, 2002 at 15:07:58 PT: Hi GCW 87 LTEs !!!That is telling them! [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Dankhank on December 24, 2002 at 12:57:42 PT: Watts' son Pubdate: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 Source: Oklahoman, The (OK) Copyright: 2002 The Oklahoma Publishing Co. Contact: yourviews oklahoman.com Website: http://www.oklahoman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318 Author: Associated PressCONGRESSMAN'S SON PLEADS INNOCENT IN DRUG CASE NORMAN (AP) - The son of U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts has pleaded innocent to a felony charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Police found the marijuana on Jerrell Christopher Watts, 23, when they were called to a possible domestic disturbance between him and his girlfriend in September, said Cleveland County District Attorney Tim Kuykendall. Jerrell Watts was taken into custody after the woman said he hit her twice in the face. She declined to pursue the case and the district attorney did not file a domestic abuse charge. Jerrell Watts was in court Tuesday and released on his own recognizance after pleading innocent to the drug charge. A preliminary hearing conference was scheduled for Dec. 17. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Nasarius on December 24, 2002 at 11:40:41 PT Point by Point... "Marijuana is addictive."If you want to say this, than *anything* can be addictive. Food, music, sex, whatever. By real, scientific standards, marijuana is less addictive than caffeine."It is dangerous."Unsupported claim."And children and teenagers should not be experimenting with it."I would agree that those still in school should not become regular cannabis users."Marijuana abuse accounts for 60 percent of teens in drug treatment, according to information from the National Youth Anti- Drug Media Campaign on its Web site"I'm not going to bother pointing out the fallacies in this once again."More kids are addicted to pot than all the other illegal drugs combined."This is a blatant lie and, once again, a gross misinterpretation of data."People who smoke pot are getting three to five times more carbon monoxide and tar than they are with their cigarettes."You don't see a lot of people smoking a dozen joints per day. Lung damage is more or less the same when you take this into account."It affects the brain's chemistry like cocaine and heroin does."The literal statement is true, but implies all sorts of ridiculous things. THC is extremely benign: it is impossible to overdose on and causes no physical damage of any kind."Marijuana use can lead to problems with learning, memory retention and other academic skills; it also affects performance, concentration, coordination and alertness even 24 hours after smoking the drug."Sure. It's called being high. Alcohol has similar effects, but the hangover is much worse."Depression and anxiety and chronic breathing problems also are common among users."Source?"Many drug users start with marijuana before experimenting with other drugs."Again, literally true, but correlation does not equal causation."The Office of National Drug Control Policy has launched a new campaign against marijuana use."Why? Stop wasting my tax dollars!"It's good to see this country's health leaders focusing on the dangers of experimenting even with popular drugs considered more "safe," a misnomer."Wait, I must have missed where the author proved that cannabis is not "safe". [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Truth on December 24, 2002 at 09:08:11 PT truth I'm a firm believer that a man is only as good as his word. John Walters is the lowest of the low. His prohibitionist policies support terrorism and as such he should be locked up, the man is a menace to society. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by The GCW on December 24, 2002 at 07:30:00 PT 87 LTE's I wanted to inform the Oklahoman, so much, that I also sent the e-mail to almost every editor and reporter at the rag.There are a lot of them. Surely, that means even if the editor does not print it, that at least 80 employees understand My thoughts. And they are likely to also send this to the editor.Now when reporters, report, they may be able to understand more clearly.Just helping to save the world. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by greek_philosophizer on December 24, 2002 at 05:22:06 PT: I hope everybody sent a letter to the editor Since it was a newspaper and FOM was nice enough to include the email address for the letters to the editor I hope everybody shared their wonderful thoughts with the editor. Newspapers tend to have many individuals with many different viewpoints so it is fair to assume that not everybody at the paper agrees with that article. Especially the closet cannabis ingesters. You can help the internal arguments with the letter to the editor as well as maybe get printed. Plus it feels good. Here was mine.Whenever you see a letter to the editor email address and a drug war article you should say something.To The editor: I am appalled at the fear mongering represented in your article : RE: Pot's Dangers Should Alarm Parents. The Canadian Senate just recommended outright legalization of Marijuana due to its relatively benign nature. The fear tactics employed by your paper are incomprehensible and ignorant. How many alcohol and tobacco users ( two drugs that are implicated in half a million deaths every year ) work at your newspaper? Marijuana, according to the US Government, kills nobody. For alcohol and tobacco users to condemn marijuana is the height of hypocrisy. Kindest Regards All, Poisoned_2184_days [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by The GCW on December 24, 2002 at 02:59:38 PT John "PEE" Walters IS Reefer Madness in the flesh.The Oklahoman is a sad rag, looking for hot deals on urine. "PEE" breath, is hurting My country. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by CorvallisEric on December 24, 2002 at 02:34:33 PT They forgot Source #6, John Walters "This isn't your father's marijuana." They really needed to put that next to the carbon monoxide and tar. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by BGreen on December 23, 2002 at 22:02:37 PT They Appear To Be Quoting From 5 Sources 1. "large ad in The Oklahoman"2. "news story about federal health officials"3. "according to information from the National Youth Anti- Drug Media Campaign on its Web site, www.theantidrug.com."4. "John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, told the Associated Press."5. "the AP reported."Every single source is John Walters, but the average reader wouldn't have a clue based on this deceptive tactic. I wonder whether or not this "editorial staff" even knows the truth. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by aocp on December 23, 2002 at 21:49:23 PT What is this? Sounds like this person is pimping cigarettes:So the parents who have long thought marijuana use is no big deal, that it's safer for rebellious teens to use than other substances like cigarettes, should look again at the facts and change the message they're sending to their kids.People who smoke pot are getting three to five times more carbon monoxide and tar than they are with their cigarettes, the AP reported.Then there's this: It affects the brain's chemistry like cocaine and heroin does.And here i thought cannabis was a mild psychedelic, cocaine a stimulant, and heroin an opiate. Thanks for setting me straight, oklahoma. This must be how people end up calling all illicits "narcotics." [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 23, 2002 at 21:06:57 PT AlvinCool I do my very best to avoid commenting about religious issues but it is important to me sometimes to say how I feel. I was raised in Church. I've spent more time active in a church then I haven't in my life. Being involved in a good church has many benefits and can make a person feel really good inside but then there is this other side of church that takes all the good feelings away. These Scriptures tell a church how to act but when it comes to these scriptures they aren't taught much. Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged.Matthew 7:1”Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measurement ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote (speck) that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and them shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words shalt thou be condemned.” Matthew 12:36,37“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach...Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” Matthew 23:2-3,13, NIVWhy these are important to me is because we don't have to approve of anothers behavior but we really don't need to tell them that they are wrong. It goes one step further and this one step is the dangerous one.Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar and to God the things that are Gods.When the church got involved in making laws based on personal moral beliefs they stepped over the line and fall into the above scriptures. Judging others isn't just something we are told not to do but it also will rob us as individuals from achieving our full potential if we become critical. When Christians take on issues like Cannabis without really understanding the plant or the culture that goes with it they are wrong and should stop and reflect on allowing God to be God and stop putting Him in a box. Opening your mind isn't wrong. That leads to understanding and peace of mind.PS: I hope this isn't too heavy and I hope it doesn't upset anyone who doesn't have a church background. I mean no harm to anyone's beliefs by saying this. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by MikeEEEEE on December 23, 2002 at 21:05:59 PT What the kids will say Mom or Dad, who is this joker? It seems this reporter is trained in reefer madness. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by AlvinCool on December 23, 2002 at 20:23:57 PT Opinions or comments? I'm trying to figure out what I can say that will get the church's attention. Just a rough draft. Oh and I'm a Christian.I find the Christian perspective of this “War on Drugs” interesting. I’m quite interested how the ministers of Christian religions are going to account to God for what they have allowed to happen in the name of the “War on Drugs”. The church should first be concerned about what God thinks of cannabis use. Since cannabis and hashish were used at the time of Christ, why does the Bible directly condemn the use of hard spirits but says nothing concerning marijuana?How can the church maintain that God was wrong in Genesis when he declared that all plants that grow from seed are for mankind to use, with the cannabis family being one of the only plants to provide a helping of the good fat that people need and are grown from seed, definitely God’s creation. I believe it may be the only plant that has cannaboids that directly match the cannaboids that we, as humans designed by God himself, normally use. Take into consideration that they consider Fish as “Brain Food” because of the good fat contact in Fish. Stands to reason that if you wanted a plant to start a new brain activity you would probably make sure to include a supply of good fat. How many other plants have good fat like cannabis, anyone know?Is the Church not aware that cannabinoids, that exist naturally in cannabis, will save a human brain by keeping the neutrons from dying if applied directly after the accident? Don’t they realize that only God could make a plant that can do that?The cannabinoids help almost all nerve disorders. All with the same plant. Name me someone besides God that could make such a plant. So, Christians, what do you plan to tell God when he wants to know what you were thinking when you condemned a plant he specifically put here for a specific purpose, instead of educating people on proper usage of such a noble plant and why you shouldn't abuse it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by charmed quark on December 23, 2002 at 20:11:39 PT This will REALLY send the wrong message This sort of reefer madness will just get the kids to ignore all the drug messages. It really gets me that they can just make something up, like "marijuana is addictive" and then make that the heart of their message. Kids will figure out they are lying. Hey, if they're lying about marijuana, maybe heroin isn't as bad as they say it is! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment