AMA Urges the FEDS to Stop Calling Marijuana Dangerous

[kpete]

Source: Digital Journal

AMA Urges the FEDS to Stop Calling Marijuana Dangerous

Finally, there could be a break in the way the government perceives medical marijuana. Right now it's classified as a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use.

But the powerful prestigious doctor's group, the American Medical Association has now changed its weed policy saying it would like to promote clinical research on it, and perhaps develop cannabis-based medicines.

This is a big change for the AMA. The Los Angeles Times reports that the organization, with about 250,000 member doctors has been staunchly opposed to the use of marijuana for medicine since 1997
contending that it should remain a Schedule I controlled substance, which is the most restrictive category. It's the category which also includes heroin and LSD.

AMA board member Dr. Edward Langston points out at least one reason for their change is that there have only been a few studies of the drug, and those were insufficient to base any decisions on. The organization took a big step forward at a recent meeting in Houston, when it was noted that weed was at one time linked by the federal government to homicidal mania. But in 1996, California voters approved the use of medical marijuana, and that began the steady but sure movement of weed into mainstream society.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/282054

[Warpy]

1. Schedule 1 needs to be abolished, completely

because even heroin and LSD have legitimate medical uses.

In fact, the whole war on drugs needs to be abolished. Most of the horrible social problems caused by drug abuse stems from their illegality, not their pharmacology.

[WheelWalker]

2. +1 Roger that.

[Delphinus]

5. Agreed that the war on drugs

needs to be abolished.

Make marijuana legal. Tax it and make a fortune.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. +3

"Most of the horrible social problems caused by drug abuse stems from their illegality, not their pharmacology." Excellent analogy.

[Kolesar]

9. I am afraid of stoned drivers

...as a cyclist and a motorist, myself. Having to deal with subpar stoned employees would be a bit of a problem, too.

[poverlay]

11. I'd prefer a stoned anyone over a drunk anyday. Much safer imo...n/t

[Kolesar]

13. Our culture managed to reduce drunk driving tremendously

We may need a similar activist program to prevent drivers on other drugs.

And, it is not a question of comparing alcohol to marijuana.

[montanto]

22. Of course bringing up stoned drivers without first mentioning

a need for programs focusing on preventing people from driving under the influence of ANY drug is to invite the comparison between stoned and drunk drivers. I hear texting is worse, but whatever. Sure, people shouldn't drive stoned. Sure, people shouldn't show up for work stoned. These things have nothing to do with whether weed should be removed from schedule 1, which is the focus here. Beyond that, people shouldn't drive under the influence of perfectly natural, non-chemical things like rage, or exhaustion. Still, being afraid of stoned drivers, while considerable by itself, has got nothing to do with decriminalizing an innocuous substance.

[loudsue]

33. Exactly.

Thank you for posting that.

[poverlay]

46. Of course if someone would just start up a munchie delivery service it wouldn't even be an issue.n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. +1 nt

[Enthusiast]

35. Not so sure about that.

Both are bad.

[Romulox]

12. I'll take science over faith based objections, thanks. nt

[Kolesar]

15. So how does "science" give people self control? eom

[Romulox]

17. I have no clue what you're talking about.

The relevant question is whether or not marijuana impairs driving ability. Every study I've seen on the subject says that if it does it is far less than does speaking on a cell phone.

Marijuana use and driving has never been shown to produce the sort of impairment that driving drunk does. So again, I'll go with the systematic studies on the subject rather than your "horse sense" on the matter. :hi:

[EOTE]

27. Top Gear in the UK did a test a while back comparing stoned, tired, drunk and sober drivers.

Sleep deprived drivers did the worst by far. Drunk drivers fell in at a close third. And get this, stoned drivers placed first in the test. Turns out, that paranoia can be a good thing when you're driving.

[Kolesar]

48. Some are describe as "energetic" or "cerebral"

And then there is the ubiquitous "couch lock".
All these decisions--and ski season is about to start!

[SergeStorms]

41. OK.........

You say you're a cyclist. Why do cyclists believe that every transportation venue is their domain? I can't begin to tell you the number of times I've been run down by cyclists speeding down the sidewalks. Then, they believe the highways are their domain as well. They're often seen darting from sidewalk to highway and back again, presumably to hasten their trip. But it's up to both motorists and pedestrians to watch out for cyclists wherever they decide to ride? Cyclists bear no responsibility for their actions?

I consider cyclists a danger to pedestrians. Does that mean all cyclists should be banned from the roads and sidewalks? Now, tell me that responsible cyclists SHOULD know the rules of the road and abide by them. But how many actually do? If you say, "the majority", I'll argue with you about that until the cows come home. I'd say, from personal experience, that the majority don't.


The same argument can be made for cyclists as for people who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They SHOULD know the rules and abide by them, but some don't. Responsible medical marijuana users are not a problem. And that's what we're talking about here, responsible medical marijuana users, not recreational users or drunks.

And don't even get me started on stoned and drunk cyclists! ;)

I don't think marijuana smokers are half the problem you think they are. And you won't think cyclists are half the problem I think they are. Maybe we're BOTH a little over zealous in our judgments on one another? :)

[Le Taz Hot]

18. As a pedestrian, I'm afraid

of drivers on oxycontin, ritalin, codeine, anti-histamines, . . . You get the picture.

[Warpy]

20. Stoners only drive in an emergency

and, speaking from extensive experience in the 60s, know they're impaired and stick to side streets and go under the speed limit.

Stoners would rather stay home, snack, and listen to music.

It's completely different from alcohol, which gives drunks a false bravado and sense that they're not impaired. In fact, drunks think they drive better after a few.

[BoneDaddy]

23. The same laws that apply to alcohol

while driving should apply to marijuana. Driving while impaired is driving while impaired. I don't think anyone is advocating that spin.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. I'm afraid of stupid drivers.

As a motorist myself. I'd rather have stoned drivers who didn't have their heads shoved up their asses.

[tekisui]

25. Unless you drug test, you don't know if your employees are

stoned now.

Further, legalization would not turn everyone into a stoner the next day. Those who smoke, would do so without fear of getting caught. Those who don't won't. Your concerns are unwarranted.

[FiveGoodMen]

29. Let's see... how do I break this to you...?

Just because it's illegal doesn't mean you aren't dealing with them now.

[Hippo_Tron]

37. The NHTSA doesn't keep statistics on stoned driving fatalities

And the reason they don't is that there aren't enough of them to collect any significant data. I would be a lot more worried about people driving and talking on their cell phone than people driving while stoned.

[Patchuli]

39. You should fear drunk drivers

and cell phone using drivers more than a stoner driver.

[FarrenH]

42. An interesting aside

The UK AA did a study on stoned drivers then suppressed the results. They were only released when a newspaper got wind of it and started making a noise about it. Basically, the results showed that stoned drivers are way better than drunk drivers and while drunk drivers get progressively worse with each tot, stoned drivers reach a theshold beyond which additional consumption has no additional effect on driving ability. This isn't just about co-ordination. Stoned drivers demonstrated better judgement, driving more cautiously when stoned while drunk drivers in the test drove more recklessly when drunk. These results were confirmed by another study done by the Australian AA.

And I think sub-par work performance is the worst reason on earth to prohibit marijuana use. Imagine making the argument that people should be forced to go to gym or prohibited from overeating because unfit employees put in sub-par performances. Ridiculous. Employers have every right to hire, fire and reward people based on work performance, but absolutely no right (moral, legal or otherwise) to demand regulation of their employees lives outside of the workplace to improve performance.

[etherealtruth]

43. Driving under the influence is illegal

Alcohol is legal .... no one is expected to allow employees to be intoxicated at work, nor would anyone be expected to tolerate the use of recreational drugs from employees or co--workers while at work.

[mdmc]

45. +4

[marcg]

3. Ditto Warpy

[mlevans]

4. Three cheers and a tiger for Langston and the AMA!

Do you suppose the Feds will put up more than tokin' resistance...?

[laughingliberal]

8. tokin' resistance. lol nt

[ensho]

6. good

nt

[Echo In Light]

10. Funny, I posted this at another forum this week & the a-hole mods deleted it

It's scary just how RW things in general can be in this empire

[TheKentuckian]

16. I'm waaaaaaaaaaay over it. The war on drugs is possibly or 2nd largest

money sink after the DoD or no worse than third now that we get to stake Wall St as they gamble away more money than exists to siphon off a relative couple of bucks.

If you cut the military by half or so, end the stupid failure that is the war on drugs, and stop the madcap corporate communism and invested a good chunk of those resources into our country we could get in gear again. We must get some kind of claw back as far as inheritance taxes too. The fucks that stole all the money plus a shitload should seriously be helping to pay this crap back. 100 million+ is 90% and I will mock and dismiss any family farm whining. A few of their eggs can be broken to make the omelet.

Anyway, if my state had any sense we'd already be Vegas East/Little Amsterdam and flip Uncle Sam's bullshit off. I'm pretty sure we could easily eliminate individual taxes and get more people productive in the economy but it seems the no brainers are always utterly off the table.

[The Midway Rebel]

19. The AMA was against criminalizing cannabis in the first place back in the 30's.

At first, the AMA had no idea what "marijuana" was. It was cannabis to them. "Marijuana" was the RW Hearst term for the plant cannabis.

I vote that we end the drug war NOW! Let us end the fear and hysteria about pot and spend our energies on better more important things.

[dhpgetsit]

21. Aspirin is more dangerous then marijuana.

[chimpymustgo]

26. Legalize.

[pleah]

28. K&R

[Grassy Knoll]

30. Nug it

[Patchuli]

40. Yummy!!

Kind nugs, to be sure!

[Union Yes]

31. Feds are what's dangerous, not the weed.

[brewens]

32. I'm all for legalization. It's funny though that...

both of the friends of mine that have medical grower cards in Oregon are really just stoners that worked the system. One had to go back to get back injury records from a job he'd had 10 years before to get his card. Took that to the right doctor and he was in! Claimed chronic back pain and said weed helped.

[Oldenuff]

34. So what?

I could care less if someone uses the system..In fact...more power to them!

As far as the AMA calling BS on Cannabis scheduling,good for them.As far as driving "impaired",wonder how many folks are driving after having far too much coffee...or after having had a particular pain reliever after having had dental work done.Or having a major argument with a employer...or spouse for that matter.The list goes on...you'd probably be aghast at the number of people who are "impaired" and driving.

[brewens]

38. How about being impaired by being...

Too Freakin' Old To Drive!!

[Swamp Rat]

36. Scatter seeds everywhere.

:)

[freebrew]

44. I tried that,,,

the damned birds ate them....

[defendandprotect]

47. Interesting . . .