cannabisnews.com: Reefer Madness Reefer Madness Posted by FoM on February 01, 2001 at 07:26:14 PT Opinion Source: Detroit Free Press Marijuana is a dangerous substance that can cause paranoia, psychosis and severe anxiety and panic, psychologists warned Wednesday.A review of research into the drug that first appeared in China nearly 5,000 years ago shows it can impair perception, motor skills and reaction times, but that it also has medicinal qualities for a range of illnesses. "Cannabis affects almost every body system. It combines many of the properties of alcohol, tranquilizers, opiates and hallucinogens," said Heather Ashton, of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in Britain.Ashton reviewed studies on the recreational use of marijuana, also known as cannabis, and its potency and impact on the body and brain. Her research, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, shows it is still popular among young people.Sixty percent of British college students said they have tried the drug and 20 percent said they use it regularly. In a recent survey, some users admitted to smoking up to 15 joints or more a day.Contrary to common belief, chronic users can develop a tolerance for and dependence on cannabis that can lead to withdrawal effects similar to those of alcohol and opiates, Ashton said.Using the drug also increases the risk of developing bronchitis and emphysema. Smoking three or four joints a day is the equivalent of about 20 cigarettes.But in a separate report in the journal, Dr. Philip Robson, a psychiatrist at the University of Oxford, focused on the medical benefits of the drug, which was traditionally used to treat malaria, rheumatic pains, insomnia, asthma and gout. It was also used during childbirth.THC, the compound in marijuana that causes the high, can relieve vomiting and nausea in cancer patients. The drug also reduces muscle pain in multiple sclerosis patients and stimulates appetite and cuts weight loss in people who have cancer .Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)Published: February 1, 2001Copyright: 2001 Detroit Free PressContact: letters freepress.comWebsite: http://www.freep.com/Forum: http://www.freep.com/webx/cgi-bin/WebXCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by mungojelly on February 02, 2001 at 03:43:43 PT: Prohibition has nothing to fear! 60 percent of British college students have smoked marijuana -- you'd think the prohibitionists would be shaking in their booties! How can prohibition ever survive if so many people defy the law and experience the forbidden fruit? Surely it is doomed! But no. You see, the last generation all smoked weed too. They smoked weed and then they went on to become MPs and members of Congress and Prime Ministers and Presidents, and then they betrayed the youth, they betrayed common sense, and if they have any compassion at all they betrayed their own consciences. Prohibition has nothing to fear. It can continue even if 100% of the people smoked marijuana (which is not all too far from the facts). It can continue by turning a blind eye to the experiments of privledged children, while milking the cash cow which is the oppression of the poor. It can continue (and it will continue) until we do more than just whisper to each other in conspiratorial tones that shh, marijuana's really not that bad for you -- we must stand up, we must demand justice. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by KiDo on February 01, 2001 at 21:05:57 PT dis hoe is just jealous we have more weed then her Its not hard to drive unless you are phuckin baked. even then you could probably still control car. and this biatch peobably was baked when she said that. KiDo [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Lehder on February 01, 2001 at 19:37:00 PT pinches marranos >it can impair perception...It impairs perceiving the drug war as the friend and protector that the government wants one to perceive it as and makes one perceive it as jailer, anonymous denouncer, profiler, propagandist, thief of property and children.>...motor skills and reaction timesALWAYS keep your motor skills and reflexes at their peaks, especially while dining, reading, before retiring, and when ill; and especially in a highly militarized society where the police (or the secret police) might perceive your bong or cell phone or your kid as a firearm and commence killing.Get the hell out of my life. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: