Comments on: Washington Post examines baby boomers and marijuana

By: Leonard Krivitsky, MD, DD

Leonard Krivitsky, MD, DD — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:59:54 +0000

The fact that medical marijuana is highly effective in a variety of medical conditions ranging from pain to muscle spasms to nausea to malnutrition to glaucoma to just name a few is really beyond dispute. Unable to contradict these obvious facts, the opponents have engaged in numerous fear-tactics such as claiming that marijuana is addictive, that it is a “gateway drug” and that medical marijuana legalization will lead to increase in crime rate. As an addiction medicine specialist, I am more interested in truth than in political correctness, so here are the facts:
1. Marijuana’s addiction potential is a fraction of that of alcohol (3% vs. 10%)
2. The “gateway drug” theory is by now completely discredited by the science of addiction medicine, for if this ” theory” were true, most of us would have become drug addicts long time ago by being exposed to innumerable substances, not only to alcohol, nicotine or marijuana, but all the way down to caffeine and sugar.
3. According to Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook, 4-th Edition, page 267 cannabis use suppresses, rather than incites, a violent crime. Medical marijuana legalization will curb the drug gang violence south of the border as well.
I worked in drug addiction clinics of Philadelphia for years, and I have seen plenty of cases of severe dependence on opiates as well as many “nerve” and “sleeping” pills. Recent overdose death of Corey Haim is a good illustration of what I have observed over and over – an addiction to current “legal” controlled prescription drugs. At the same time I have seen very, very few questionable cases of marijuana dependence and NEVER a case of marijuana “overdose”. In Canada the government even pays for medical marijuana for veterans,
http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/canada-pay-military-veterans-medical-marijuana
whereas here we are still debating whether or not we will succumb to fear-tactics of the “opponents”. Let’s reject the fear-tactics and quickly legalize medical marijuana in all 50 States!

By: MatterofLiberty

MatterofLiberty — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:06:03 +0000

Also how can Marinol(aka dronabinol) be a Schedual III drug but Cannabis (a natural mechanism used make to dronabinol(aka 9THC)) is Schedual I? If the FDA wants to keep their stance on this then they should conceed that EITHER A)THC is NOT the ingriedient in Cannabis that makes you “high” OR B)Cannabis is only as dangerous as a Schedual III drug!

Russ you’ve got a mic, see if you cant get an answere out of somebody!

By: MatterofLiberty

MatterofLiberty — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:55:44 +0000

If more older folks started a redress of grievances to the government it would go a long way in pushing ahead legalization!

Furthermore why cant NORML or somebody just sue the DEA & FDA to stop any further legal activity on Cannabis users until Congress can amend the Controlled Substances Act to define “ABUSE”?? Since their is no current definition as defined by the Act.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:33:20 +0000

The problem with pills and older folks, is that they cause constipation (pain pills in particular). From what I have heard, this is a really serious issue for older people and can land them in the hospital. Unless you talk with someone in the medical profession, you may not hear about this, but it is very common according to my physical therapist.

The pills aren’t just expensive, they also damage the liver and kidneys. When people have to stay on them ‘forever’, this becomes a huge issue too.

If it were legal, I think the elderly would be more willing to try Cannabis instead of pills.