cannabisnews.com: No To Marijuana





No To Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on October 31, 2004 at 06:40:29 PT
By Anna Jean Smith
Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle 
Initiative 148 should not be considered by any Montana citizen. I feel that its effects on society will only be negative. Scott Burns, a deputy director for state and local affairs, disagrees with I-148 also. He feels that this will make marijuana more available to the citizens of Montana including children. Some people even feel that the legalization of marijuana is a "major step toward the drug's total acceptance."
The drug itself contains more than 400 different chemical components. The primary one is tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC. THC impairs the immune system by decreasing the ability to fight disease and cancer. Marijuana also destroys white blood cells and prolongs illnesses.In a recent book by Sara Macintosh, titled "Marijuana: Health Effects," it is stated that marijuana causes the heart rate to rise, in some people by 50 percent. Five out of five political party candidates for governor were opposed to the legalization of marijuana. Some felt that the drug would be a gateway into other drugs. There are existing drugs that can assist cancer patients just as well as marijuana can. Marinol, for instance, is a legal drug that contains some of the same substances that marijuana does without the harmful chemicals.I have personally seen the negative effects of marijuana, both short-term and long-term. I watched my best friend throw her life away because of marijuana, as have many friends and families of users.Judiciary Chairman Jim Shockley gives a valid point against legalizing the drug. He speaks out in the Missoula newspaper, "There's no way to regulate dosage and it would be really difficult to regulate the lawful growing of it." It would be nearly impossible to enforce laws to different people. Who would be in charge of separating the people who need the drug versus those who do not qualify for it?After knowing these facts, how could you vote yes on I-148 when the effects are so clear? Legalizing it will only open up the floodgates for more drug-related problems in Montana.Newshawk: Sukoi Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle (MT)Author: Anna Jean SmithPublished: Sunday, October 31, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Bozeman Daily ChronicleContact: citydesk gomontana.comWebsite: http://bozemandailychronicle.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Montana Careshttp://montanacares.org/I-148 Offers Compassionate Exemption http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19735.shtmlMarijuana Should Be in The Toolboxhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19664.shtmlTheir Lips are Movinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19643.shtml 
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Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on November 01, 2004 at 05:54:22 PT
Hope
I hope this isn’t going to take three hundred fifty years. Amen to that!
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on November 01, 2004 at 04:41:40 PT
Observer
"This is BS. THC can help white blood cells."Is there a "Baffle them with BS" section in any of the propaganda techniques?There has to be. I think they are purposely trying to confuse people. Confusion lends to more time for them. They are using confusion, trying to baffle (confuse) us with BS, as part of their arsenal.
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on November 01, 2004 at 04:33:47 PT
Sam and Kap
Sam, you said, "Back when the slaves were freed, women were given the right to vote and granted divorce laws, and segregation was ended, there were no referendums on any of those issues. None would have passed."Kap, you were speaking the other day of Gandhi’s statement about reformers, "First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win. ..."We are like those others down through history that have stopped in the stream of things...and realized that something that society was generally accepting was wrong. We are like those people who were the first to speak up against slavery, child labor, women’s suffrage, animal cruelty, racism and a million other things we take for granted. Something was registering in the “wrong” category in the consciences of the people who fought these societal institutions like slavery and lack of equal rights. Something has registered as “wrong” for many of us in this present day, about the war on drugs, and especially the war on cannabis.Nobody wanted to hear anything they had to say about what they saw as a problem. Just like us. We kept talking and doing what we could. At first “they” did do a marvelous job of ignoring us and seeing that we stayed ignored. Then they did laugh at us and called us "stupid stoners". Then they started thinking they had better "fight" us. They fight us by accusing us of endangering children. They’ve called us "a cancer". They say about us, "Yeah. They're bad and they really are a menace. We've got to fight them now. We should not have ignored them and laughed at them in the first place." I hope this isn’t going to take three hundred fifty years.
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Comment #2 posted by observer on October 31, 2004 at 23:07:16 PT
Full of It
Where do these Bozos get their medical information? From police?Marijuana also destroys white blood cells and prolongs illnesses.This is BS. THC can help white blood cells.
Once a person is infected, these viruses can remain dormant for long periods within white blood cells before they burst out and begin replicating. ... The USF team, led by virologist Peter Medveczky, MD, found that this sudden reactivation was prevented if infected cells were grown in the presence of THC...
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread19529.shtml etc.Sundry other indications and warnings this article is chock full of it:[2]
I feel that its effects on society will only be negative.
(Sentence 2) re: "society" - The survival of society is assured, -- says the propaganda of prohibition -- as long as drug users are punished (jailed). (Survival of Society (propaganda theme 3) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme3.htm#3 ) 
 
 
[4]
He feels that this will make marijuana more available to the citizens of Montana including children.
(Sentence 4) re: "children" - "The inflaming of this fear about the fate of our own children [makes] it difficult if not impossible for most Americans to take a careful and reasoned look at our drug policies."[W.White,1979] (Children Corrupted (propaganda theme 5) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme5.htm#5 ) 
 
 
[5]
Some people even feel that the legalization of marijuana is a "major step toward the drug's total acceptance."
(Sentence 5) re: "legalization", "legalization of marijuana" - Onward prohibitionist drug warriors, fighting the epidemic and scourge in the battles of the war against drugs! (Drugs declared evil by politicians, that is.) (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm#7 ) 
 
 
[11]
Five out of five political party candidates for governor were opposed to the legalization of marijuana.
(Sentence 11) re: "legalization" - Any mention of lessening the harshness of drug laws is portrayed as a sinful "legalization". Only total prohibition (or more jailings) will be righteous. (Total Prohibition or Access (propaganda theme 7) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme7.htm#7 ) 
 
 
[12]
Some felt that the drug would be a gateway into other drugs.
(Sentence 12) re: "gateway" - Prohibition propagandists try to smear targeted drugs by announcing they are "gateways" to other truly wicked behavior. (Use is Abuse, Gateway (propaganda theme 4) http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pg/propaganda/theme4.htm#4 ) 
 
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Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on October 31, 2004 at 08:18:05 PT
Changes in the US
As I was reading this, I got this strange feeling - this is a fanciful piece of writing - it really doesn't belong in a non-fiction publication. You know what is unusual? It's seeing something like medical MJ being debated as a matter of pro vs. con, something to "choose sides" on.  Back when the slaves were freed, women were given the right to vote and granted divorce laws, and segregation was ended, there were no referendums on any of those issues. None would have passed. You can see the attack ads now - "my best friend threw her whole life away by marrying a Negro!"Some segment of the controlling rich elites decided to use their power to force reform through either the courts or the legislatures.Now, it's like a united front of conservative elites have taken complete control. The only way basic civil rights can be granted or ensured is by forcing the government to change through a raw majority of voters. (Voters representing only a fraction of the actual people).The fundamental goal of US government has been turned on its head. The government was supposed to preserve rights, not to methodically chip away at them year by year. And all the while, increasing the numbers, strength, and firepower of law enforcement. Pretty scary when you think about it.
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