cannabisnews.com: More About Marijuana Use More About Marijuana Use Posted by FoM on November 22, 2000 at 22:06:47 PT By Scott Abbott Source: Ukiah Daily Journal Dr. Keegan's Nov. 10th letter stating that marijuana use "is a good thing" and is "highly therapeutic" seems to ignore what the rest of the medical field reports. Dr. Keegan further states that marijuana "is a mild intoxicant, has no lethal overdose potential, little risk of addiction, and no long-term health consequences."However, the fact is, marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, which, by FDA definition, means that it is a highly addictive drug with no medical usefulness. That puts it in the same class of drugs as LSD and heroin. This placement was challenged in court but lost in a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling in 1994, keeping it as a Schedule 1 drug. In that ruling, the court stated that medical doctors who supported marijuana had relied on non-scientific evidence. This appears to be the case with Dr. Keegan.The Department of Justice website reports the following - Marijuana is an unstable mixture of more than 425 chemicals that convert to thousands when smoked. Many of these chemicals are toxic, psychoactive chemicals which are largely unstudied and appear in uncontrolled strengths. (These chemicals) are stored in fat cells of users for up to several months. Marijuana users experience the same health problems as tobacco smokers, such as bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial asthma. Some of the effects of marijuana use also include increased heart rate, dryness of the mouth, reddening of the eyes, impaired motor skills and concentration, and frequent hunger. Extended use increases risk to the lungs and reproductive system, as well as suppression of the immune system. Occasionally, hallucinations, fantasies, and paranoia are reported. (Other) harmful consequences ... include ... premature cancer, ... coordination and perception impairment, a number of mental disorders including depression, hostility and increased aggressiveness, general apathy, (and) memory loss. The main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, THC (Tetra Hydrocannabinol), is already legally available in pharmaceutical capsule form by prescription from medical doctors. This drug, Marinol, is less often prescribed because of the potential adverse effects, and there are more effective new medicines currently available. The Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U. S. Public Health Service have rejected smoking crude marijuana as a medicine. Major medical and health organizations, as well as the vast majority of nationally recognized expert medical doctors, scientists and researchers, have concluded that smoking marijuana is not a safe and effective medicine. These organizations include: the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society, National Sclerosis Association, the American Glaucoma Association, American Academy of Opthalmology, National Eye Institute, and the National Cancer Institute.Dr. Keegan compared marijuana to alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana combines the risks of both: the intoxicating effects of alcohol and long term lung damage of tobacco.There is one thing I agree with what Dr. Keegan writes, but probably not in the way he intended it: "Safety demands that young people be provided with truthful information about the risks they face. When we lie to them about marijuana, we completely loose our credibility."Scott AbbottRedwood Valley Source: Ukiah Daily Journal (CA) Author: Scott AbbottPublished: November 22, 2000Copyright: 2000, Ukiah Daily Journal Contact: udj saber.net Address: 590 S. School St. Ukiah, CA 95482 Fax: (707) 468-5780 Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ Related Article:Marijuana Cancer Link Disputedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7632.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #17 posted by observer on January 25, 2001 at 10:34:04 PT re: weed Recently however (for the past year), every time I smoke I have been getting terrible pains in my chest, back, left arm and left side of my face. When I am falling asleep at night, just at that point where I'm halfway between sleep and wakefulness I get a sudden sharp and very frightening pain in my chest that wakes me right up. Anything is possible, and individuals vary tremendously in their reactions to foods and drugs and stimuli in general. You might try using a vaporizer, http://www.google.com/search?q=marijuana+vaporizers another thing some do is to consume cannabis in foods. http://www.google.com/search?q=marijuana+recipies It might be helpful to see if similar symptoms happen eating cannabis but not smoking it. Hope you feel better! [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Andrew on January 25, 2001 at 09:15:36 PT: weed Hi, I'd like to start off by saying that I support the inalienable right of individual to act as they choose so as long as it doesn't directly harm others-- i.e. I support the legalization of weed. That having been said, let me tell you about my experience with the substance. I have been smoking 3 or more joints almost every day for about 6 years or so and for the longest time never had anything but a good time. Recently however (for the past year), every time I smoke I have been getting terrible pains in my chest, back, left arm and left side of my face. When I am falling asleep at night, just at that point where I'm halfway between sleep and wakefulness I get a sudden sharp and very frightening pain in my chest that wakes me right up. This usually happens 5 or 6 times keeping me up to 5 or 6 in the morning afraid to go to sleep. Basically, smoking weed has started to really suck for me because I know what will happen every time. These symptoms go away when I stop smoking. It's not because I can't handle the high-- like I said I smoked massive amounts of nice herb every day for years. I still love getting red-- but just not what comes along with it. I don't know exactly what is wrong with me-- doctors have given me diagnosis varying from chest wall muscle pain to heart palpitations, doctors tell me I don't have a heart condition of any sort (believe me I've taken chest x-rays, chest cardiograms, sonar etc.)-- but I do know it is caused by the weed. I haven't heard of anything like this happening to anyone else and would appreciate any stories similar to this others might have. Anyways, I say, enjoy the high while it lasts but beware. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by freedom fighter on November 25, 2000 at 17:00:30 PT Russel who? I wondered how Russel Who? would legalize the cannabis. Shout at the top of New York Empire?Dan, what do you think? Do you think he/she or it is just a plant to divide and conquer? LOLOLOL... After all, the term "Legalize the cannabis!" is just a way to scare many common folks? Would the term, "Decriminalization of cannabis" sounds much sweeter? :)Dan, I should know how valuable this site is, when I was raided, I was sitting reading the CannabisNews when that happend. I am bit amazed they did not took the computer.!Cops asked my boy if I was the author of these articles. My boy says Dad cannot write! Cops said."They(this site) are bad!". I do know and see how much of an influence this site has become.Thanks for the soap box! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Dan B on November 25, 2000 at 15:49:07 PT: Reposting to Russelwhat Below is a modified version of my post from a few messages ago to this "russelwhat" person. I would add only that our words here are read by thousands, and our efforts are not unwarranted. Nothing is to be gained by discouraging those who sincerely work to change policy, and many, I might add, post here to receive feedback before sending variations of what they have written to local newspapers and elected officials. Those efforts are to be applauded; not everyone has heard the truth about our current drug policies.Russelwhat:Grow up. Those of us who support marijuana legalization aren't in it to look "naughty" or "cool." We are in it because we realize that our rights are being stolen in the name of zero-tolerance, and we are unwilling to sit idly by while the world becomes one big police state. Your inane, mostly incoherent jibberish reveals a basic contradiction: you use the Internet to promote what amounts to pissing on a wall in your rather weak attempt to claim superiority over those who use the Internet to better society. I'd say those of us spreading a positive message via the Internet (regardless of whether we are from America or not) have a greater claim to superiority than do mere ruffians like yourself.One more thing: your anti-American bias is outright bigotry and should not be tolerated in this forum. Your incessant need to assert that many of us are writing from America is every bit as bigoted as asserting that we must belong to some ethnic group (African, Jewish, etc.) simply because of our beliefs. Instead of ridiculing those whose opinions you supposedly support, direct your energies against those who arrest, incarcerate, and sometimes kill in the name of a failed war on some drugs.Dan B [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by russelwhat on November 25, 2000 at 03:53:24 PT: SAD SAD .... Personally,i think that u lot are all very sad people who really need to get out more!what's the point in writing all this shit, which i point out, that we ALREADY KNOW!!!U spend all day typing your computers (mainly in America!) and just write mindlise comments which no one cares about!!!LEGALIZE CANNABIS that's my message!!Lets all be FREE and live life in the 60s and 70s again!Russel out.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hilary on November 24, 2000 at 14:43:34 PT IT HELPS I suffer from tourettes syndrome and a kidney disease among other problems like bipolar which all can be very painfull haveing your neck spasm hurts and i feel that marijuana as a medication is a better solution than giving someone a dozen or even just one medication that is going to mess with your liver i feel it is safer for the body than the stuff they put in medicine. i know that with someone who has tourettes it cames there nerves down if you dont know what tourettes is go look it up i feel it is related to epilepsy [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by ras james RSIFWH on November 24, 2000 at 14:37:30 PT A TANGLED WEB OF GOVERNMENT LIES what a tangled web we weave when at first we try to deceive.GIVE ALL PRAISE AND THANKS TO JAH RASTAFARI AND CANNABIS SATIVA, THE KING OF KINGS AND THE QUEEN OF QUEENS, I AND I. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Walter Gourlay on November 24, 2000 at 00:09:49 PT: Scott's article More lies and ignorance and ommission. What about the studies that show marijuana is less addictive than alcohol and nicotine. I have been an alcoholic and a pot user. Pot is a god-given substance that is much better than alcohol. Why don't these people try marijuana sometime and see for themselves? Until they do their opinions ain't worth a dung! They need to think on the fact that people who really want to escape from life do get hooked on addictive and harmful substances like alcohol, heroin, amphetamines etc. Marijuana does not give the escape from life that desperate and unhappy people crave. In fact marijuana helps one to relax and to concentrate on things because it relaxes the mind. If you have ever been a substance abuser you know how hard withdrawal is. If you have ever smoked marijuana a lot you know how easy it is to abstain for as long as you want. In fact, many people realize that if you smoke marijuana every day it doesn't work good at all. Where are all these knowledgable individuals with all this insight into the truth of marijuana coming from? They need to get some wisdom or keep their opinions to themselves for they are like a bunch of puritans. They need to be shown that they don't have the right to tell others what to do, even if they don't approve of another person's choices. If they are Christians then I can tell them as another Christian that God gave man free will in the garden; that the Gospel does not authorize men to use the Govt or the Church to tell other people what to do; that God hates those who bear false witness; that God gave man all the seed-bearing herbs to use. etc;. These right wing religious bigots are just as intolerable as the right-wing political clowns. I pray that God shuts these people up and gets them out of our faces. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by military officer guy on November 23, 2000 at 09:37:58 PT you're all right,... i agree wity everything you guy/gals say, you're all experts, i luv reading you bash the antis...but the only way to get them to shut the $#%^ up is to vote them out...i hope you all voted for harry browne this nov, voting for him and all libertarians is the ONLY way to get gov't out of our lives...and of course spreading the truth thru pages like this will always help...we can win this war... [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by curendero on November 23, 2000 at 08:58:29 PT: disgruntled cops.... I can not say for sure, but I believe scott is a retired mendo cop. This is not his first letter to the editor of the UDJ against pot or the legalization efforts in the county. I Live here in Ukiah, and Keegan is our family doctor. He is a very no bullshit Doc, and is highly respected in the community. Doc K, was on the panel of a hugely attended debate prior to the election. He shredded the two opposition panel members. One of the opposition was Ukiah superintendent of schools, who's main concern was that the feds were going to take the passage of G out on the schools in the form of money withholding. Also, that the prop. was going to lead to a mass student exodous of common sense and afternoon toking in the parking lots of the schools. Seems to me the only people who are upset with the passage of G and 36 are the ones who will lose out on the "Gravytrain" that has kept the pockets of many of these cops and prison guards lined for so long. Mendo cops and jail guards have been mainly a group of underpaid babysitters. I feel that most of these cops are scared to death that they will not be allowed to go for the soft targets anymore. (Non-vi drug users) Hell those cranksters and wife beaters shoot back! That could be dangerous! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by ripper on November 23, 2000 at 07:33:22 PT contra-dick-tion If pot has no medical uses, why would they make and prescribe marinol? If this person admits lying is not the way to teach our kids about drugs, why does he continue to lie to them? Even a child could see the contradictions in his letter. I wonder why he can't? I would take the time to point these out but its so obvious in his letter, I guess I really don't have to. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Neutrino on November 23, 2000 at 06:42:48 PT Lies.. Couldn't agree more, "when we lie to them about marijuana we completely lose our credibility". Exactly what does this idiot think has been going on for the last 60 years with the government and this policy? It is way past time for a change. Thank God for the internet as it is forcing change. No more do we have to accept this kind of BS without a chance to answer! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Frank on November 23, 2000 at 06:40:44 PT Government Source of False Data and Lies When Mr.Abbot's wife, child or other family member comes down with cancer and are going through ChemoTherapy I’ll bet his story changes. The Government with all its lies about marijuana seems a very long way away. I would like to see Mr. Abbot sit by the bedside of young adult dying from cancer and in severe nausea from ChemoTherapy and tell that person, “The Politicians in Washington don’t wantyou to smoke marijuana for your nausea. If you smoke it you may become a criminal and go out and rob a liquor store, etc…..” There is a book titled: Mom’s Marijuana written by Dan Shapiro. It tells of a woman’s son (Dan Shapiro) that developed cancer. His mother grew marijuana to save his life. Dan Shapiro is now a doctor at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. According to the Government this book is a pack of lies – not so. The book tells a true story of illness and recovery. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Smokeless in Seattle on November 23, 2000 at 05:21:26 PT Hold the door so I can take out the trash Pure gibberish. Goes against all esablished data.Thank God for folks like Dr. L. Grinspoon at Harvard, we need legitimate advocates.Oh, and don't forget - even after the Surgeon General's report in the '60s, the tobacco companies' official position was that cigarette smoking and cancer were not *definitively* linked. Which is the same position the Fed. Gov't takes in relation to millions of sufferers of MS, cancer, anxiety/dpression and chronic pain. They think legitimizing MJ use will result in a downward moral spiral of american society. Hah - could it spiral down any further, I ask?SiS [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by John on November 23, 2000 at 02:06:25 PT: You Must Be Against Weed I don't beleive any of that it is not true. It is much better than both cigarettes and alcohol don't kid yourself. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on November 23, 2000 at 00:59:57 PT Fake I can only think of two ways to explain these type articles. This could be a completely fabricated writer and article,or,the writer could actually exsist,and gets paid for submitting such idiocy. In either case,this is obviously sponsored by the ondcp media propaganda fund.I cant imagine anybody writing something like this for their own reasons. I still suspect there is some sort of guidebook provided by one of the federally sponsored anti groups,that contain outlines for these trashy articles....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by legalizeit on November 22, 2000 at 23:33:17 PT I wish these Prohib-Nazis would just SHUT UP!! These mentally challenged "people" think they're being original and convincing when they parrot the same old pablum they've regurgitated for who knows how many years, but the public is increasingly realizing it's a bunch of CRAP and is getting sick of hearing it.>the fact is, marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, which, by FDA definition, means that it is a highly addictive drug with no medical usefulness. That puts it in the same class of drugs as LSD and heroin. This shows how DUMB the government is! Neither marijuana nor LSD can be classified as "highly addictive." Also the designation of pot as a "narcotic" makes no sense.>Marijuana is an unstable mixture of more than 425 chemicals that convert to thousands when smoked. Many of these chemicals are toxic, psychoactive chemicals which are largely unstudied and appear in uncontrolled strengths.What drug are we talking about here? Sounds like TOBACCO to me! >Occasionally, hallucinations, fantasies, and paranoia are reported. (Other) harmful consequences ... include ... premature cancer, ... coordination and perception impairment, a number of mental disorders including depression, hostility and increased aggressiveness, general apathy, (and) memory loss. What drug are we talking about here? Sounds like ALCOHOL to me.>The Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U. S. Public Health Service have rejected smoking crude marijuana as a medicine. Major medical and health organizations...have concluded that smoking marijuana is not a safe and effective medicine.Why? Not because pot is not a good medicine. That is proven time and again by patients. It's all those vested interests. DEA agents want to keep their wretched jobs, and all those medical experts need to keep the prescrip drug makers happy.We already know all the arguments, and know which ones are true and which are lies, so your squawking them at us like a parrot accomplishes nothing!So SHUT THE %*# UP! 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