Efforts To Legalize Marijuana For Recreational Use
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-10-16/efforts-legalize-marijuana-recreational-use
On November 6th, voters in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon will weigh in on whether marijuana should be legalized. 17 states currently allow marijuana for medical purposes, but initiatives in these three states make recreational use legal as well. The proposed laws directly contradict federal law which classifies marijuana as a controlled substance along with heroin and LSD. A recent Rasmussen poll suggests that more than 50% of Americans favor legalizing and regulating marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol and tobacco. Please join us to discuss the debate debate over legalizing marijuana.
Guests
Allen St. Pierre
executive director, NORML.
Mark de Bernardo
executive director, Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace.
Jonathan Martin
reporter, The Seattle Times.
John Ingold
reporter, The Denver Post.
Comments
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It is time that the issue of marijuana legalization be removed from the 'Drug War' debate. People need to realize that the plant does have healing properties, and if some people use that for stress relief, that is not a bad thing in an increasingly stressful society.
I consider myself a survivor of the psychiatric drug industry. In trying to be a responsible person and seek treatment for issues with depression and anxiety, I lost over a decade of my life in dealing with various side effects of various meds, and hospitalizations from those side effects, and losing the ability to hold down a job.
Using marijuana medicinally, however, has helped me tremendously in the ability to become a productive member of society again. Which would the anti-marijuana fighters prefer, I be a 'useless' citizen collecting a government check, or a productive member of society?
Thank You for making that point. I am in total agreement with you and wish that I had access to that form of treatment so as not have to deal with the "high" that I get so I can get to what I really need, the medicine. There is a time and place for the high, but is not always appropriate. Thanks again for your comment
Well said, Nanne. Thank you.
Some very important points:
1. To say that there is "no medicinal use" is ludicrous. First of all the FDA is very biased towards pharmaceuticals. Secondly, it is well-known that cannabis has been a respected medicine for many centuries. I've read 15th century medical books that spoke of its effective medicinal applications. I also know people who use medical cannabis after having tried pharmaceutical drugs which made them too dopey, whereas the cannabis allowed them to lead a normal life, work, earn money, take care of their families. The FDA approved real drugs made them feel "too drugged up" to function normally.
2. To claim that marijuana is so dangerous and should not be legal, WITHOUT SIMULTANEOUSLY WORKING actively TOWARDS ILLEGALIZING BOTH ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO is just plain hypocritical. Until people like Mark get out in the streets with demonstrations promoting alcohol prohibition, they will continue to look like the hypocrites that they are.
3. Mark keeps citing all kinds of studies. Why doesn't he cite the many studies that prove (see Canadian study, e.g.) that alcohol is far, far more dangerous to society and the individual. Has he ever had a close family member killed by a drunk driver?
Mark is following the old "reefer madness" line without any real thought or rational analysis. This position may allow him to keep his job, but it also demonstrates that he is not capable of an original, well-thought out idea that might put him at risk in his present employment. He is prejudiced.
With some standard of harm to individual and others. If the harm in prohibition is near or greater than the harm in use that may be an option. Tobacco is viewed in this manner by many as is alcohol. The harm in prohibition of things like heroin and angel-dust are less than the harm of using.
The NAH sayers have GOVT jobs, for sure. Had they bothered to do any research, they would have learned of marijuana's medical purposes.
Secondly, they could have done a comparative analysis between alcohol and marijuana and they would have found marijuana to have healing qualities; whereas, alcohol has no benefits but is LEGAL.
Fortunately, I live in a state where we have followed the medical research and are not listening to these govt sponsored haters. I wonder how much money the haters are receiving from these groups?
This is a natural herb that has healing properties and was made ILLEGAL by our GOVT for monetary purposes. GREED!!!!
The people that want to smoke marijuana will smoke marijuana regardless of its legality. If it is legalized, employers will still drug test and if they don't pass, they will be fired or denied employment. Do I care if the fry cook at McDonalds is a pothead? No. Do I care if the surgeon who if fixing to cut me open is a pothead? YES. These things will not change if it is legalized. In fact, I believe drug testing would INCREASE, and make it harder for those who smoke pot. That is their problem. That is the definition of freedom.
The greater good would be served by legalization.
A) Drug cartels lose their revenue stream
B) Drug violence decreases
C) Huge increase in Tax revenue
D) No longer a gateway drug since you don't have to buy
from a DRUG DEALER who is just as happy to sell you
CRACK or HEROIN.
E) Jails are no longer filled with non violent criminals
F) Police forces are free to fight more dangerous crimes
Kids are drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, dipping snuff, stealing pain killers from medicine cabinets, and smoking marijuana REGARDLESS of its legality. Be a better parent, pay attention. Or would you rather the government do that for you?
Marcus Wiggins wrote:
"I find it amusing that the same people that demonize cannabis also cry foul when denied their Big Gulp in NYC. "
Utter nonsense. Libertarians are completely consistent on these issues.
I live in an area where medical marijuana is legal. An unforeseen consequence is that I am exposed to the smell and smoke in public places and at home because I have a neighbor who grows it, yet any contact with marijuana gives me a headache. How are my rights protected?
Josh, you should run for office.
stach83 wrote:
"Alcohol is a man made substance "
Back to science class with you!
MtnWoman wrote:
"alcohol has no benefits"
False. Let's stick to facts. Studies show that moderate alcohol use can be beneficial to health in a variety of ways.
Good call.
The abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs result in more health and social problems than marijuana use. Gambling is legal, even though social problems arise. Eating disgusting amounts of food is legal, even though health problems arise.
Why should taxpayers fund this discriminatory, government prohibition?
I really like The Diane Rehm Show. It's very informative and relevent. Ms. Rehm is very classy.
So Mr. Mark de Bernardo, executive director, Institute for a Drug-Free Workplace, show me in this sea of comments about your program segment, the overwhelming, or even hint of, support for your well spoken position. Take your time. Read them carefully. Tell me how warm and fuzzy all this support makes you feel. I will presume you know how to read and give you plenty of time to review these comments. Do you feel the warmth?
Beyond this, explain to me how in polling, the group business owners comes to represent a more valuable sample than the group all citizens. Take your time to explain carefully. I am very patient.
I would offer my self-serving question of how can you deny your own moral fiber to be this propagandist but this denies eons of human history which reveals that wherever a village has a despotic chief, there are always a handful of sycophants to spread his word.
The widespread use of alcohol and tobacco is already causing a great amount of social and health care costs. Adding Marijuana would drastically increase these costs. The taxes collected from alcohol and drugs pale in comparison to federal expenditure on related health treatments.
Edwin
Boise, Idaho
I live in Baltimore, MD. The Kolmac Clinic, located on the campus of the Sheppard Pratt hospital, is an outpatient addiction rehab facility. Kolmac offers free to the community a revolving eight week seminar on addiction education. The seminar is presented by Dick Prody. Mr. Prody specializes in treating patients with complicated addictions. He has been practicing for over thirty five years. He is a recovered alcoholic. The first class in the series debunks the myths of addiction. One of the myths is that marijuana is not addictive. It is in
fact, highly addictive. Mr. Prody tells the story of one of his patients who was able to recover from heroin and alcohol addiction but could never free himself from marijuana addiction.
How sad that your guest is irresponsibly perpetuating this myth. He should attend this seminar before he speaks authoritatively on a subject of which he does not have accurate knowledge. His statement that marijuana is not addictive is exactly what every marijuana user wants to hear to justify the use of this drug.
I hope Diane will be informed of the facts.
The MAIN problem that we have with Medical Marijuana is that the Big Pharma has lobbyists and have "paid off" the FDA and are allowed to monitor themselves.
My father has stage 4 cancer which the medical marijuana can help with the THC oil to fight his cancer. He can't get it to help him. He does not need the smokeable marijuana, but he needs the oil!
There is proof that this works! BUT the Pharma can't "patent" a plant so there is NO money in it for them! So they try to make their own "man-made marijuana" which they can cash in on. They DO however make trillions of dollars on man-made drugs and poisons such as chemo and radiation.
Marijuana will always have a hard time to become decriminalized because the Big Pharma will always fight it because they will lose trillions if it does become legal.
Yes, fermenting is a natural process. However, it is man who ferments and mixes in a manner which can be sold in mass quantities. There is nothing "natural" about beer or liquor. I did just fine in science, thank you. Biology especially.
For anyone who would like Mr. de Bernardo's e-mail address, here it is. I already shot him a nice little note ;)
mdebernardo@drugfreeworkplace.org
BarbaraHart again demonstrates the failure of the casual use of specific words. The medical definition of addiction includes a physiological response that aggravates withdrawal. Scientifically, marijuana is not addictive. The casual definition of addiction includes "compulsion." I will state comfortably that BarbaraHart is an addict under the casual definition and perhaps should seek therapy. I would be wondrously excited to learn that BarbaraHart has no compulsions.
I love your show-
Marijuana is a money issue-
it is clear that the government makes more money on its unsuccessful and farcical war on drugs.
Alcohol is a drug, its legalization has caused more damage than any other drug and yet it is the drug of choice by law makers, politicians & money makers. All the discussion about marijuana is political, financial and wrong.
I don't know who this de Bernardo character is, but it looks to me like he is an attack dog (albeit an ineffective one) for business interests who has a propensity for cherry picking citations from studies of which he has no understanding. Unfortunately, the show does not allow his farce to be scrutinized as he was when he testified in Congress. And one last thing, who calls marijuana "dope"???
Google "de Bernardo Franken" or check out the link below. This guy is a piece of work. I have no idea how he made it out of grade school.
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/63717157.html
@BarbaraHart
You imply that if someone uses a potentially addictive drug (and I agree that marijuana can be psychologically addictive) they will become addicted to it. That may be true of opiates, I don't know what the studies show on that, but it is nonsense with regard to alcohol and marijuana. Some people will become addicted to alcohol (like your Mr. Prody) but others will use occasionally and have no problem. Same with marijuana.
Hello,
The argument that Marajuana is a "gateway drug" is in my opinion invalid. When people become addicted to drugs or alcohol there is an underlying psycological issue and not that they smoked marajuana. The only way to control drug/alcohol use is through education not by making it illegal. Trying to enforce these types of laws is a waste of time, effort and money, all of which would be useful elsewhere.
Thanks
Well said!!
What a rude and unpleasant man Mark de Bernardo is. And so angry sounding. While I agree that people in positions that could harm others (surgeons, pilots, bus drivers, etc) might possibly justify drug testing, in other situations it is an unnecessary expense for business and a humiliation for the employee. In fact, when Florida, in its continued "war on the poor" required all persons on welfare to be drug tested - while simulaneously complaining about the cost of welfare - they discovered that the welfare recipients tested positive at a dramatically lower rate than the general Florida population.
And while Mr. Bernardo is emphatic (rudely so) that prison offenses are not common for drug violations, he is clearly in error. Many reports have been published about the explosion in the prison industry largely fueled by drug offenses (individuals, not dealers, non-violent) and predominately people of color. Nor do we expunge prison records once people sucessfully complete their sentences and probation (like many other humane countries do).
I suspect that there is a lot of possibility for investigative journalists to show the link between the myth of the sucess in the war on drugs and the profiteering (Pharma, prisons, testing,) done at the cost of humane treatment and civil rights.
Thank goodness people are continuing to push this issue! Stupidity from all sides. Its no more harmful than alcohol or the rampant abuse of prescription drugs. I'd rather spend my tax money on education, and encouraging people to make smart choices rather than the failed drug war or prosecuting these people.
This is a plant, not a drug, per se. This plant has been used for medicinal and recreational purposes for thousands of years. To understand the War on Drugs in relation to cannabis, you should consider who has the economic incentive to keep it on the black market, because that is where it thrives and will continue to thrive (unless it is legalized, of course). These often unrecognized beneficiaries of the War on Drugs include: private prisons and their hugely influential correctional officer unions, pharmaceutical companies, police departments seeking more funding, cotton producers (marijuana's textile form, hemp, is arguably superior to cotton) and last, but certainly not least, the drug dealers themselves. All these parties and probably more, stand to lose a huge amount of profits should marijuana be legalized. If people were simply allowed to grow marijuana (it's not called weed for nothing), it could reshape these industries. This debate is as much about morality, safety or health as the war in Iraq was about WMDs.
To any sane human listening to this conversation, the anti-legalize folk, sound, to put it politely, a little backwards....which begs the questions..are they really that stupid and/or, what is their 'real' agenda?