So, according to yet another new study, this time of seized marijuana from 48 states, THC levels are almost double what they were in 1983. This translates into "increased potency of marijuana, including the risk of mental impairment, respiratory problems, addiction, the correlation between pot use and teen depression, and its status as a gateway drug," according to the press release from the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy. The press release also states, "Baby boomer parents who still think marijuana is a harmless substance need to look at the facts."
However, for many, this is not new information. The real concerns are first, what took so long for the White House to pick up on this dangerous new trend and secondly, what effective policies are being developed and implemented to combat the damaging effects?
If anyone has any good suggestions, aside from reinstating Reagan's War on "Drugs," feel free to post them as comments and let's hope the White House gets a whiff of this.
For the full report in PDF format, click here.
For the full press release, click here.
However, for many, this is not new information. The real concerns are first, what took so long for the White House to pick up on this dangerous new trend and secondly, what effective policies are being developed and implemented to combat the damaging effects?
If anyone has any good suggestions, aside from reinstating Reagan's War on "Drugs," feel free to post them as comments and let's hope the White House gets a whiff of this.
For the full report in PDF format, click here.
For the full press release, click here.
8 comments:
Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol are both legal, so why not make marijuana legal? I'm not going to use it, but, frankly, if somebody wants to do that in their home, why should we stop them?
There's a lot that would have to go into making such a proposal plausable, but if we can ruin our lungs or livers with the aforementioned substances, let's throw the brain in to boot.
Oh, and clever usage of the frothing Bush photo! It's not like Barack's ever done pot, right?
Frankly, legalizing marijuana won't really make much of a difference. Sure, if it's legalized then the government can regulate it and tax it which will initially put lotsa dealers out of business but then they'll just come back with more potent stuff for lower than what the gov't charges and then you have the same problem all over again.
Don't forget the heart, either RWL, because all these substances can also cause heart failure issues (in addition to the serious consequences too numerous to list here).
Btw, I'm glad you liked my Bush photoshop. It's amazing what Adobe Elements 2.0 can do. And at least Obama admits to his mistakes ("Yes I inhaled; the point was to inhale" and the fact that he did cocaine.). ...Better to have an open, honest leader who learns from mistakes than one who lies about everything but doesn't learn anything so they keep repeating the same f-ups.
"...but then they'll just come back with more potent stuff for lower than what the gov't charges and then you have the same problem all over again."
Um...what? Why is your hypothetical government selling marijuana?
Also, you're killing my buzz.
gov't isn't selling it per se, but it would have to regulate it like they regulate cigarettes and alcohol, meaning that for private dealers to sell their type of weed legally, they'd have to become a company that'd be under regulation, which would make them have to change their weed recipes and raise prices. dealers that still chose to sell illegally would do it anyway and you'd still have the same problem. somehow, i cant see the system working any differently/for the better either way. got suggestions?
I don't want to legalize marijuana on the basis that it would be another opportunity for Uncle Sam to get his sticky fingers involved in private affairs...it's that I don't see why someone who wants to smoke it in their own home without causing harm to anyone else can't do so.
"dealers that still chose to sell illegally would do it anyway and you'd still have the same problem. somehow, i cant see the system working any differently/for the better either way."
I disagree. People would want to deal with legitimate dealers and wouldn't go to the illegal ones unless there was a serious incentive to do so. The illegitimate ones would go out of business. Since you've compared this to cigs and alcohol: There aren't exactly a ton of black-market cigarette and alcohol vendors either...that I know of. I may be hanging out with the wrong (right?) crowd.
In any case, the illegal ones would be in the minority, the market would be regulated, and marijuana-related crime would probably go down. I would consider that an improvement.
I really like when people are expressing their opinion and thought. So I like the way you are writing
The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.
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