Marijuana vs. the FDA: Go Marijuana!

[3113]

I'm wishing them the best of luck...

Group challenges feds on medical pot

OAKLAND, Calif. - Armed with a new study showing the drug can ease pain in some HIV patients, medical-marijuana advocates sued the federal government Wednesday over its claim that pot has no accepted medical uses.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court by Americans for Safe Access, accuses the government of arbitrarily preventing "sick and dying persons from seeking to obtain medicine that could provide them needed and often lifesaving relief."

The Food and Drug Administration's position on medical marijuana "is incorrect, dishonest and a flagrant violation of laws requiring the government to base policy on sound science," Joe Elford, said chief counsel for Americans for Safe Access.

California is one of 11 states that have made marijuana legal for people with a doctor's recommendation. But because the U.S. government does not recognize pot's medical benefits, patients can still be arrested by federal authorities.

Last week, researchers from the University of California at San Francisco reported in the journal Neurology that a test involving 50 HIV patients showed that those who smoked pot experienced much less pain than those given placebos.

 

[minsue]

 

[vampiredust]

go marijuana, it's your birthday
we're going to part like it's...

sorry couldn't resist some cheesy ol 50 cent

 

[Wildcard Ky]

There's only one reason pot isn't legal: The government couldn't tax it, and the taxable alcohol industry would lose billions of dollars.

It's all about big business. If pot were legal, anyone could grow it in their back yard. The gov't wouldn't be able to tax it, so you can't have it.

People smoking pot would lessen alcohol sales. Alcohol generates large tax revenues, and alcohol producers are big business in America. We all know that big business has thousands of lobbyists, and they get what they want.

It's all about money.

 

[CharleyH]

I'm wishing them the best of luck...

I am too - no offence, but Americans are a little behind the times these days. .

 

[champagne1982]

There's only one reason pot isn't legal: The government couldn't tax it, and the taxable alcohol industry would lose billions of dollars.

It's all about big business. If pot were legal, anyone could grow it in their back yard. The gov't wouldn't be able to tax it, so you can't have it.

People smoking pot would lessen alcohol sales. Alcohol generates large tax revenues, and alcohol producers are big business in America. We all know that big business has thousands of lobbyists, and they get what they want.

It's all about money.

I disagree that the gov't wouldn't be able to tax it. They could tax like crazy. The price would go down and the quality and THC content uniformity would (hopefully) improve. Did you know that it is virtually impossible to overdose on inhaled, unadulterated marijuana?

It's a huge cash cow going unmilked. Should be just a matter of time.

 

[CharleyH]

There's only one reason pot isn't legal: The government couldn't tax it, and the taxable alcohol industry would lose billions of dollars.

It's all about big business. If pot were legal, anyone could grow it in their back yard. The gov't wouldn't be able to tax it, so you can't have it.

People smoking pot would lessen alcohol sales. Alcohol generates large tax revenues, and alcohol producers are big business in America. We all know that big business has thousands of lobbyists, and they get what they want.

It's all about money.

I doubt booze will lose out. And also no on any grower concerns - like alcohol and prescription drugs and restaurants - it would be monitored. You could grow your own shit, but there would be licensing and health concerns if you wanted to sell it - like any business ... and it would be taxed.

 

[McKenna]

I doubt booze will lose out. And also no on any grower concerns - like alcohol and prescription drugs and restaurants - it would be monitored. You could grow your own shit, but there would be licensing and health concerns if you wanted to sell it - like any business ... and it would be taxed.

I'm waiting for the day when Walmart starts selling the "Brew Your Own MaryJane" kit.

 

[CharleyH]

I'm waiting for the day when Walmart starts selling the "Brew Your Own MaryJane" kit.

LOL - you WILL be waiting a while. lol - funny.

 

[glynndah]

I'm waiting for the day when Walmart starts selling the "Brew Your Own MaryJane" kit.

Grow lights, potting soil, fertilizer, security fence, shot guns and ammo. What more do you need? A few seeds and you're all set.

 

[McKenna]

Grow lights, potting soil, fertilizer, security fence, shot guns and ammo. What more do you need? A few seeds and you're all set.

A match to light the bonfire. I'm inviting all my friends. Inhale deeply!

 

[CharleyH]

A match to light the bonfire. I'm inviting all my friends. Inhale deeply!

Chuckles - just following the thread.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Hey hey
Ho ho
FDA's got to go.
Yaaaaaay, Pot!

Phhphphphphphththth, phphphphphphththth, Phhphphphphphththth - wow . . .

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

The FDA's hartred for Mary Jane is only because those boobs are stoned on hard drugs. They concider themselves a higher form of junkie. That and they get to write their own perscriptions for Percodin, Demerol...etc.

 

[CopyCarver]

The FDA's hartred for Mary Jane is only because those boobs are stoned on hard drugs. They concider themselves a higher form of junkie. That and they get to write their own perscriptions for Percodin, Demerol...etc.

They must still be pissed at themselves for approving Marinol. It's not the same, but very sweet in its own way. (Especially good when washed down with Jameson.)

 

[mjl2010]

One of the "Burbs" near here had a rather embarrassing incident.

Seems the local cop shop had some big urns outside the main door. No one said anything at first but eventually the newspaper got a hold of the story. There were ten inch plants growing out of the urns. Too bad someone told. Of course, I'd like to see someone with the balls to go and harvest it.

Another police department had it growing in the ditch right across from the entrance to the station. I wathed it grow until August when someone finally noticed it. Too bad it was just starting to bud too. Probably was no good but just the same...

MJL

 

[R. Richard]

I doubt booze will lose out. And also no on any grower concerns - like alcohol and prescription drugs and restaurants - it would be monitored. You could grow your own shit, but there would be licensing and health concerns if you wanted to sell it - like any business ... and it would be taxed.

I used to live at the beach. Basically, you could buy illegal weed from damn near any beach bum in the area. There was no concern about quality or health, just price. Any kid in the beach area who had the money could get the weed. However, it was very difficult for an underage kid to get booze. If you sold booze to a kid, they took your license. Weed sellers had no license.

I used to run at a high school track in the beach area. There were some strange red lights in a porch at the back of one of the school buildings. I had just about convinced myself that they were some kind of a burglar alarm/fire system. One night I was very thirsty after my running workout and I went in search of a drinking fountain and the mystery of the red lights. The red lights were kids smoking weed and passing the joints around. By kids, I mean in some cases kids who looked like they had not hit the double digits in age yet.

 

[SeaCat]

While I hope this group does win I don't see it happening.

There are too many jobs involved in the war on drugs for it to be given up. To many people require the war on drugs for their livelihood. If they were to say "Okay, let's legalise Drugs" then they would be out of their jobs. Who's going to give up their three figure job?

Cat

 

[3113]

I am too - no offence, but Americans are a little behind the times these days. .

No offence at all--in fact, only a "little" behind the times? We're decades behind the times!

 

[3113]

I used to live at the beach. Basically, you could buy illegal weed from damn near any beach bum in the area. There was no concern about quality or health, just price. Any kid in the beach area who had the money could get the weed. However, it was very difficult for an underage kid to get booze. If you sold booze to a kid, they took your license. Weed sellers had no license.

This was one of the exact same arguments for legalizing liquor post prohibition. If it's illegal, well, then anyone can buy it no matter the age. Bit if it's legal, then you can regulate it. In addition when booze was illegal anyone could make it however they liked--with nasty poisous stuff in it and there was nothing anyone could do. You certainly couldn't sue if the gin you drank poisoned you, and you certainly couldn't count on there being laws to make sure it was safe. You took your chances with ever glass of the bathtub gin.

Once liquor was legal, laws were put in place to make sure it was safe.

 

[cumallday]

There's only one reason pot isn't legal: The government couldn't tax it, and the taxable alcohol industry would lose billions of dollars.

It's all about big business. If pot were legal, anyone could grow it in their back yard. The gov't wouldn't be able to tax it, so you can't have it.

People smoking pot would lessen alcohol sales. Alcohol generates large tax revenues, and alcohol producers are big business in America. We all know that big business has thousands of lobbyists, and they get what they want.

It's all about money.

There is more than one reason. Ask your local logging and pulp & paper companies about this. Better yet, ask their lobby groups, pst...hemp = cheap, eco-friendly paper!

Anyone does grow it in their backyard anyways, pst...I say this as I look into a mirror. Lots of folk make their own alcohol too.

Alcohol sales, in my slurred and experienced opinion, would feel no slump if the weed found itself legal. Its as much about money as it is about information and perception. Please smoke responsibly.

 

[Edward Teach]

There's only one reason pot isn't legal: The government couldn't tax it, and the taxable alcohol industry would lose billions of dollars.

It's all about big business. If pot were legal, anyone could grow it in their back yard. The gov't wouldn't be able to tax it, so you can't have it.

People smoking pot would lessen alcohol sales. Alcohol generates large tax revenues, and alcohol producers are big business in America. We all know that big business has thousands of lobbyists, and they get what they want.

It's all about money.

I don't know what the deal is, WK, but the tobacco industry has been ready to produce pot for a long time. It could be taxed just like alcohol and made illegal to grow without paying the tax just as alcohol is.

Also, I've talked with a lot of people in law enforcement about legalizing drugs and almost all of them agree that drugs need to be decriminalized to some extent.

I'm sure that money somehow plays a part and our good shepherds, The Christian Right, probably have have their nose in it too.

 

[i812]

Maybe I'm a hardliner, but I think smoking pot should be mandatory. I'm convinced that the world would be a better place.

 

[Gi_Venus]

I don't know what the deal is, WK, but the tobacco industry has been ready to produce pot for a long time. It could be taxed just like alcohol and made illegal to grow without paying the tax just as alcohol is.

Also, I've talked with a lot of people in law enforcement about legalizing drugs and almost all of them agree that drugs need to be decriminalized to some extent.

I'm sure that money somehow plays a part and our good shepherds, The Christian Right, probably have have their nose in it too.

It would be marketed quite readily, a large portion of people do not like to bother growing their own. They do not grow their own vegetables do they? The Government could get revenue by selling permits to grow it...grin. Sure there are growers who would not buy a permit but if you make it low enough in cost. Why not buy a permit? I would. People are growing it anyway, here in Florida growers are leasing houses, filling them with grow lights and plants. Every now and then one gets busted. The infrared signature gives them away from the heat of the lights....the roof lights up like crazy.

 

[wordofvirtue]

Speaking as a chronic pain patient, I'd love to see pot legalized or at the very least, decriminalized. Unless you live it, you have no idea what it is to never have a "comfortable" moment (and I use that word very cautiously -- I will likely never be truly pain free). Since the doctors refuse to adequately treat pain, there needs to be some other option. My employment circumstances will not allow me to risk smoking, unfortunately. However, in the days when I used to toke up, it really helped with the pain. I'd use if I could.