cannabisnews.com: How a Little Dope Can Hurt










  How a Little Dope Can Hurt

Posted by CN Staff on August 10, 2004 at 23:17:10 PT
By Dr. Kevin Costello 
Source: Press Democrat 

Marijuana ... what harm can a little dope do? The short answer is: Plenty.First, is marijuana addictive? You bet it is. About one in eight people exposed to marijuana will become dependent on it. This makes it a little more addictive than alcohol. How do I define addiction? There's a fancy medical definition or a more simple one: If you use marijuana every day you are probably addicted to it, especially if you have been doing this for a few months or more.
So, let's say you smoke marijuana every day. Isn't that your business? Maybe yes, but most likely, no. When you are addicted to a substance your relationships in life are with that substance -- not with other people.In addiction medicine we have found that it is often best to ask the family members of the dependent individual how they feel. Frequently, there is a deep resentment and embitterment about the lack of support or the lack of emotional contact and empathy.A patient of mine was once asked by his wife to stop smoking marijuana for a few weeks, because her father was dying and she needed his support.He managed to stop for a while, only to return to the addiction after his father-in-law died. It is remarkable how strong the dependency on marijuana can be.Let's say you don't care about anyone else or that all your friends smoke or your significant other is tired of you and just as happy to have you stoned all the time. What's wrong with that?There was an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association a few years ago, that looked at patients who used marijuana at least daily. The authors found that even 19 hours after stopping marijuana, these chronic users were not able to think as well (or memorize, or calculate, or analyze or perform other mental functions). In other words, if you smoke marijuana daily, you are always affected or ``stoned'' to a certain degree. You will not be able to realize your full intellectual capacity.This is especially important to high school and college students whose futures are determined by how well they do during that critically important eight-year window of academic opportunity.Marijuana can also affect people in mid-career. A former patient of mine who was a Honda mechanic told me that he would read the shop manuals that came out every year seven or eight times. Despite the repetitive reviews, he was still not able to master the material. After stopping marijuana -- which he had been using since high school -- he found he only needed to read the manuals once.One further caveat: some people seem to function very well on marijuana. They hold responsible positions and continue to perform relatively well. These folks are probably very bright and are able to accommodate the decrease in mental capacity. They may not, however, be the people you want performing brain surgery or negotiating an important contract.Let's say you really don't care about any of the things that I've mentioned above. All you want is to smoke a little dope. A recent article, also in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that people who were using cocaine and methamphetamine (nasty stuff -- there is a lot of evidence suggesting that these stimulants cause permanent brain injury) frequently followed a pattern of smoking cigarettes at a young age, then drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and finally, progressing to harder drugs. The authors concluded that marijuana was not only a ``gateway drug,'' but seemed to actually precipitate the progression to the stimulants (cocaine and methamphetamine) and even to heroin, in certain individuals.So, you still don't care. Well, I've saved the worst for last. The following is a partial list of the complications associated with the chronic use of marijuana: toxic psychosis (in susceptible individuals), increased heart rate and pain, decreased lung function, impaired fetal growth and development, decreased immune function (important for fighting infections and cancers), weight gain, bronchitis, and more.Finally, a brief word about ``medical marijuana.'' The medical marijuana initiative passed by California voters, basically provides for the legalization of marijuana.This is because the initiative states that in addition to several serious illnesses, marijuana may be prescribed for ``any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.'' There was also no restriction on the age of the patient. Many physicians have no problem with the administration of marijuana to a patient with a terminal illness -- but did the people of California really intend (as one United States Supreme Court justice put it) that marijuana be used for ``anyone with a stomach ache'' or for any reason at all?I, for one, am not willing to sacrifice the one in eight individuals who are now at increased risk for developing an addiction to this drug due to its significantly increased availability.I know that this article will raise deeply felt issues with some people. It is not my intention to offend anyone. I have attempted to provide factual information that can be reviewed, and hopefully, help you formulate an opinion about the use of marijuana. If you think that you have an addiction to marijuana, or you have further questions about it, the folks at Marijuana Anonymous can be an excellent source of information and assistance. You could also consult with a specialist in chemical dependency or one of the many local chemical dependency programs.Dr. Kevin Costello is the chief of the medical division of Chemical Dependency Services for Kaiser in Santa Rosa.Source: Press Democrat, The (CA)Author: Dr. Kevin CostelloPublished: August 9, 2004 - Page B9Copyright: 2004 The Press DemocratContact: letters pressdemo.comWebsite: http://www.pressdemo.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Chronic Cannabis Use in PDFhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/ccu.pdfThe Long & Varied History of Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19255.shtmlCannabis Use Not Linked with Psychosocial Harmhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18868.shtmlIs Pot Truly Addictive? http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11982.shtml

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Comment #31 posted by John Tyler on August 12, 2004 at 19:45:48 PT
addicted to Golf
I know some people that love golf. The are members of a country club and pay thousands in fees. They play every week at $50 a session. They watch it on TV. They have expensive golf clubs, and bags, carts and clothes. They attend golfing social events. They miss family and other social engagements because of golf. Are they addicted? Why not at all. They are just enjoying some leisure activity.
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Comment #30 posted by unkat27 on August 12, 2004 at 15:35:11 PT
Pharmaceutical BS
This guy obviously has plenty of stock in 'legal' pharmaceuticals. It becomes evident that he has a selfish prejudice when he refers to cannabis as 'dope' midway through the article. Anyone who calls cannabis 'dope' is working for the enemy for ignorant, prejudiced, and selfish reasons. He probably knows if it were legalized, he'd lose a lot of patients and fill quite a bit fewer prescriptions. He also fails to realize that the man he mentioned, who stopped smoking cannabis for a week, for the sake of his wife's father's funeral, was NOT addicted. If he was, he would not have been able to stop for a day. Obviously, the guy is NOT addicted, and just smokes it because he enjoys it. If this guy had any real brains, he would realize this point, but instead, he goes on to insist that the man was addicted, just because he decided to continue smoking it after a week of mourning. So what? Just because his wife's father died, he is supposed to stop doing something he enjoys? This kind of example to rationalize a case for cannabis being a dangerously addictive drug is very weak and lacking a strong base. Furthermore, what he says about there being proof that cannabis is the 'gateway drug' is BS. The CDC has absolute proof that most Americans who used cannabis when they were young DID NOT go on to using harder drugs. This article contains untruths and lies.
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Comment #29 posted by cannabliss on August 12, 2004 at 13:22:16 PT:
Read No Further Than The First Line
The insinuation and equivocation which plagues this article is illustrated perfectly by the first line alone."A little" cannabis can do "plenty" of harm. Isn't this an article about addiction? And isn't addiction, by definition, "a lot" - either in frequency, amount, or both?So, which is it - a little or a lot?Very little truth, quite a lot of BS.I could go through and point out all the examples, but I'm feeling a bit lazy and unmotivated....
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Comment #28 posted by afterburner on August 12, 2004 at 07:49:20 PT
Speaking of Insulting Journalism
US WI: Column: Beware The `Special' Chocolate 
by Mike Moore, (09 Aug 2004) Racine Journal Times Wisconsin
http://www.mapinc.org/ccnews/v04/n1141/a01.html' The recipes must come from those who just dabble in the drug. The only heavy-duty stoners I ever knew had trouble finding the ingredients to tie their shoes. '
 
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Comment #27 posted by Devohawk on August 11, 2004 at 17:48:13 PT
I sure hope so
"but did the people of California really intend (as one United States Supreme Court justice put it) that marijuana be used for ``anyone with a stomach ache'' or for any reason at all?"
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Comment #26 posted by mayan on August 11, 2004 at 16:55:01 PT
That Explains it!
Dr. Kevin Costello is the chief of the medical division of Chemical Dependency Services for Kaiser in Santa Rosa.His livelihood depends upon the prohibition of cannabis.Enough said.
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Comment #25 posted by ryno35 on August 11, 2004 at 16:13:12 PT
Sacrifices
"I, for one, am not willing to sacrifice the one in eight individuals who are now at increased risk for developing an addiction to this drug due to its significantly increased availability."Prohibition supporters like to believe laws can somehow save us from ourselves and without them users would be "sacrificed" to drugs. But what "sacrifices" do we make for this protection? 
First we sacrifice security with all the wasted law enforcment we utilize for this "protection".
Second we sacrifice innocent lives that get caught up in the brutal enforcement of this war not only in this country but also in south america and others.
Thirdly we sacrifice our civil liberties because there is no way to enforce crimes against self without violating some of those.
This list goes on and on...It's sad so many can't see the price we pay for this protection from ourselves.Prohibition stops few from doing what they wish. It's harm far out ways the few individuals it may save from destruciton by drugs. It's time we start "sacrificing" a few drug users so the rest of us can live in peace and security.
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Comment #24 posted by cloud7 on August 11, 2004 at 15:46:17 PT
...
"what I notice most consistently in pot smokers is that they're largely lazy and unmotivated"This would be a symptom of abuse rather than use (not to mention a gross generalization). Also, it could be that people with these tendencies gravitate towards the marijuana high rather than other forms of intoxication.
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on August 11, 2004 at 14:49:36 PT

Lazy or Mellow About Life?
My question is why is being mellow such a hated thing? I know that we shouldn't be lazy but why can't we be mellow?***While supporters of the legalization of marijuana argue that the harm from occasionally smoking pot is grossly exaggerated, what I notice most consistently in pot smokers is that they're largely lazy and unmotivated.
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Comment #22 posted by dongenero on August 11, 2004 at 14:45:13 PT

Times Leader
Help, I've been robbed of my hopes and dreams...along with all motivation...I am but a reefer madness zombie..
Oh please...in reality I'm a top executive in an international consultancy working in a high pressure, mentally demanding field.
It's interesting how the woman questioning this schill of a doc is only interested in "proving them wrong" not in whether they are right or wrong.
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on August 11, 2004 at 14:34:51 PT

Related Article
Portion of article from The Times Leader.August 11, 2004***Q: What can you tell me about the harm that marijuana can do to a person? I have friends that use pot and they say that there's nothing wrong with it. I would like to prove them wrong and help educate my children so they don't smoke pot.- L.H., Allentown, Pa. A: In comparison with some of the more dangerous drugs out there - drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin -marijuana may seem pretty tame. There's a sizable segment of our society who believes that its danger is no worse than alcohol, and like the once-illegal alcohol, should be legalized. Nonetheless, it remains illegal. The high that comes from marijuana is due to the net effect of some 400-plus mind-altering cannabinoids - the chief one being THC. THC's effect is felt within minutes. THC breaks down into 80-plus byproducts which can exert their own effects. Once in the brain, THC hangs around for days, not hours. Fat tissue can hold onto THC for weeks, such that a heavy smoker may have lots of stored up THC and need less marijuana to get high. It's this build up of THC and its metabolites that raises concern about the long term effects of smoking pot. In terms of physiological changes, marijuana can cause the heart to race; cause short-term memory loss; make it very difficult to stay focused; cause one to feel lazy and very unmotivated; cause paranoia; affect the ability to learn; affect concentration while driving, reading or playing sports; irritate the lungs much more than cigarettes can (pot smokers cough pretty hard when taking a hit); possibly lower one's sperm count and fertility; and increase the risk of cancers of the tongue, mouth, voicebox and throat. While supporters of the legalization of marijuana argue that the harm from occasionally smoking pot is grossly exaggerated, what I notice most consistently in pot smokers is that they're largely lazy and unmotivated. Marijuana robs people of their hopes and dreams. It steals their potential. It steals careers and has the ability to knock a successful person off their pedestal. It may not kill you, but it all too often kills one's "joie de vivre." This is why marijuana remains an illegal drug. Dr. Mitchell Hecht is a physician specializing in internal medicine. Send questions to him at: "Ask Dr. H," P.O. Box 767787, Atlanta, GA 30076. Due to the large volume of mail received, personal replies are not possible. http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/living/health/9355951.htm

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Comment #20 posted by john wayne on August 11, 2004 at 12:09:01 PT

Santa Rosa?
These prejudices were printed in the Santa Rosa newspaper?In case you non-NorCal readers are wondering, "Dr." Costello's strange views are not represented in ANY WHICH WAY among the population of Santa Rosa, which approved med-pot by one of the highest margins in the state.
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Comment #19 posted by Hope on August 11, 2004 at 11:31:08 PT

caveats
His so-called “caveats” seem to insure misrepresentation, instead of clearing it up or avoiding it.
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Comment #18 posted by Hope on August 11, 2004 at 11:17:46 PT

Excellent Observation, Observer
key ---term: "explaining" -- meaning: the lies the Dr tells to people who are forced to pay him money for his anti-pot talks.term: "addictive" -- meaning: your enjoyment of cannabis is a disease. (Doc's enjoyment of a glass of wine, why that's all different!)term: "clients" -- hapless pot smokers caught by police state, forced into "treatment" (or they go to jail for bad attitude = thought crime)term: "treatment" -- sessions you attend where corrupt, idiot "doctor" rehashes party line on harms of pot, and docile, broken group takes turns confessing the evil sin of pot use.term: "court" -- meaning: the facade of fake legal due process, where the pre-determined outcome is that pot user is sinful and must be punished for sin of pot smoking. 
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Comment #17 posted by Hope on August 11, 2004 at 10:43:04 PT

suspect
Indeed, to utter such falsehoods with a ...I assume...straight face indicates that a bit of suspicion is in order. Thank you Observer, for the detective work. I was thinking along the lines of holdings in the liquor or wine industry.
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Comment #16 posted by observer on August 11, 2004 at 08:55:50 PT

Doctor Falsehood
This makes it a little more addictive than alcohol.He's lying. Alcohol is MORE addictive than pot, at least according to NIDA's own studies. See:http://www.tfy.drugsense.org/tfy/addictvn.htm
http://www.marijuananews.com/relative_addictiveness_of_drugs_.htm
etc.Oops! I think I've located the problem here. The good (?)doctor has a vested interest ($$$) in pumping up fear over pot:Dr. Kevin Costello is the chief of the medical division of Chemical Dependency Services for Kaiser in Santa Rosa.In other words, he earns his living by every day "explaining" how harmful and "addicitive" pot "is", to his "clients" (people forced into "treatment" by the "courts").key
---term: "explaining" -- meaning: the lies the Dr tells to people who are forced to pay him money for his anti-pot talks.term: "addictive" -- meaning: your enjoyment of cannabis is a disease. (Doc's enjoyment of a glass of wine, why that's all different!)term: "clients" -- hapless pot smokers caught by police state, forced into "treatment" (or they go to jail for bad attitude = thought crime)term: "treatment" -- sessions you attend where corrupt, idiot "doctor" rehashes party line on harms of pot, and docile, broken group takes turns confessing the evil sin of pot use.term: "court" -- meaning: the facade of fake legal due process, where the pre-determined outcome is that pot user is sinful and must be punished for sin of pot smoking. 

the FRESHEST breaking pot news
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Comment #15 posted by Hope on August 11, 2004 at 08:33:28 PT

REQUIRED
some discretion and restraint. I noticed I left out a very important word in comment #9. That word is REQUIRED...as in, "They do not seem to understand the concept that freedom actually REQUIRES, sometimes, in a large or dense society or gathering, some discretion and restraint."Bears being said at least once right. 
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Comment #14 posted by dongenero on August 11, 2004 at 08:32:00 PT

semantics
Thanks for publishing the simpleton version of addiction. That's certainly helpful.....to your cause Doc.
I quit smoking cigarettes 18 years ago. Now that was a tough addiction...physical and psychological addiction. I had to go through a program to get the necessary commitment and competetive muster to pull that off.
I quit smoking cannabis 23 years ago with no difficulty whatsoever.
I was a daily smoker. I decided to enjoy it again and resumed 3 years ago. Some smoking but mostly using a vaporizer to avoid the tar of smoking for athletic/aerobic conditioning reasons. Now I do this daily again yet, I can leave town on a vacation and while I might like to have some I go through no distress not having it.
Daily use=addiction is a ridiculous statement.
As for cannabis "addiction" being worse than alcohol I would say when was the last time anyones urge to smoke cannabis was a life threatening physical addiction as in alcohol?
It's hard to believe an M.D. is making such absolutely erroneous statements. I guess it's obvious where his bread is buttered!
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on August 11, 2004 at 08:26:59 PT

Sam Adams

The problem with the propaganda is that it just doesn't fit real-life experience."Very true.The whole problem seems to be caused by small groups of people who go "hog-wild" over anything they get their hands on...including people in power and government.

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Comment #12 posted by Hope on August 11, 2004 at 08:21:57 PT

Lol!
Troutmask...comment #9I thought EXACTLY the same thing!
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Comment #11 posted by Hope on August 11, 2004 at 08:18:13 PT

my 2centavos 
Cigarettes have something I begin to get irritated about not having after awhile. Cannabis is something I like but have never had a problem with NOT having...whether I liked it or not. Instantly.If suddenly it becomes appropriate for me not to use cannabis in any shape, fashion, or form...I can...instantly...not do it. I may not like it...but it isn't as "irritating" to the entire self as giving up tobacco in any way, shape form, or fashion.It “bothered” me more to give up Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream. As we say here in Texas…and sadly, as it appears to be happening in Tulia, Texas…some people just don’t have any better sense than to go “hog wild”. Give them and inch and they take a mile. They do not seem to understand the concept that freedom actually sometimes, in a large or dense society or gathering, some discretion and restraint. We allow willingly for others because they do for us but we do not wish to offend…we have a little common sense…discretion. They don’t know what discrete means.“Hog wild” or “No sense”…of discretion, or "addicted".Not sure. Just that when you use the word "addicted"...you can make a profit from it if you have the right certificates.So sad.

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Comment #10 posted by MikeEEEEE on August 11, 2004 at 07:12:17 PT

More BS
Anything can be addictive.Food is addictive, eg: ice cream, chocolate, etc.
Cigarettes are addictive.
Gambling is addictive.
Cars are addictive.
Collecting your favorite things can be addictive.
The list can go on.When we all grow up we'll learn that people have addictions, it's fairly common, and it's the responsibility of the individual to control himself, not some outside entity.According to research done many, many years ago, marijuana is NOT addictive. Dr. Kevin Costello when looking for new customer$ can sell/ramble all he wants.
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Comment #9 posted by TroutMask on August 11, 2004 at 06:59:30 PT

He's absolutely right.
Dr. Kevin Costello is a little dope. And it DOES hurt.
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Comment #8 posted by Sam Adams on August 11, 2004 at 06:19:18 PT

Memory
It's interesting that he mentions the story of the mechanic and his manuals.When I got out of college, one of my buddies was doing some financial work & had to take certification tests every few months for a year. The exams were brutal tests of memorization - hundreds of detailed tax laws & financial regulations.Every night after work he would smoke cannabis before studying the material - specifically because he said it made him remember it much better. He never failed any of the tests. He makes well over $100K per year now.The problem with the propaganda is that it just doesn't fit real-life experience.
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Comment #7 posted by cloud7 on August 11, 2004 at 05:45:01 PT

...
"One further caveat: some people seem to function very well on marijuana. They hold responsible positions and continue to perform relatively well. These folks are probably very bright and are able to accommodate the decrease in mental capacity."It would be hard to think up a more negative, terrifying explanation as to why some people do not have trouble with marijuana than he did. What a crock. "I have attempted to provide factual information that can be reviewed"He failed. "The medical marijuana initiative passed by California voters, basically provides for the legalization of marijuana."Good."I, for one, am not willing to sacrifice the one in eight individuals who are now at increased risk for developing an addiction to this drug due to its significantly increased availability."God forbid you take a salary hit at the expense of 7 out of 8 people's freedom. And increased availability? He's got to be kidding. Declaring war on this plant made it instantly more profitable and available and this war's been going on a long time.
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Comment #6 posted by siege on August 11, 2004 at 05:14:08 PT

           No Pay
Kaiser is the one that would not pay for the Med. INS. in cal. when someone got hurt.. art. live there 55 yrs.
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Comment #5 posted by westnyc on August 11, 2004 at 05:06:06 PT

Just another Drug War Profiteer!
Here is another expert (Doctor) who pays for his Bentley through Marijuana treatment!
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Comment #4 posted by The GCW on August 11, 2004 at 05:03:34 PT

So low what is left is backwards.
 I question the good Dr. Kevin Costello.Does He have ANY good?Is there any other substances that the dr. refers to by a Mexican slang term?This chart indicates cannabis is less addictive than coffee.http://www.drugwarfacts.org/addictiv.pdfhttp://www.drugwarfacts.org/addictiv.htmEver wonder how many deaths real addictions cause? Wonder how cannabis compares?Death rates...http://www.drugwarfacts.org/causes.htmChances are, He will die of eating food, before I die of using cannabis.He can't see His toes; not because of His belly; because of His tongue.
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on August 11, 2004 at 04:48:17 PT

So funny; so sad; so funny soo sad soooo.
Putting on shoes is not addictive, if done daily. Eating food occurs daily, but is not thought of as an addiciton.What a fool; the donkey.A brain with all of its goodness viced out of it.Dangerous because it is alive.Uncivilized animal otherwise.There We have a man with out the benefit of what makes Him better than the animals.4201620

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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on August 11, 2004 at 04:30:55 PT

Residue of a jerk.
Residue of a jerk.Unable to see the Light.His tongue trips Him and He continues.
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Comment #1 posted by lombar on August 11, 2004 at 01:10:39 PT

If this guy is a dr,many here deserve several Phds
The patient did exactly as his wife requested and this is somehow wrong. Not to mention the whole underlying 'reefer madness' theme which assumes that he could not 'support' his wife if he had a bit of cannabis.The illogic in this article is painful. His insistence that cannabis is a gateway drug starts with a legal drug, tobacco first yet cannabis is the cause of the methamphetamine addiction. Worse, its a bait a switch...cannabis is bad for you, see coke addicts start with tobacco progress to alcohol then cannabis then crack... see its all because of cannabis. What kind of fertilizer is this? The one that grows corruption and injustice."I, for one, am not willing to sacrifice the one in eight individuals who are now at increased risk for developing an addiction to this drug due to its significantly increased availability."It is not his choice. Live with it. You cannot 'sacrifice' what you do not 'HAVE'. He is however willing to grind them through the criminal justice system so he has a job.Even if cannabis is as bad as he claims, how is a cage and total ruin supposed to help? Drug war shill, no real compassion for the suffering of beings, just a job that hangs by tenuous thread - cannabis prohibition.
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