Dr. Sanjay Gupta: "Why I Would Vote No On Pot"

ravenguy2000 · 01-07-2009, 08:04 AM

Why I Would Vote No On Pot - TIME

Maybe it's because I was born a couple of months after Woodstock and wasn't around when marijuana was as common as iPods are today, but I'm constantly amazed that after all these years--and all the wars on drugs and all the public-service announcements--nearly 15 million Americans still use marijuana at least once a month. California and 10 other states have already decriminalized marijuana for medical use. Now two of those states--Colorado and Nevada--are considering ballot initiatives that would legalize up to an ounce of pot for personal use by people 21 and older, whether or not there is a medical need.

What do voters need to know before going to the polls?

The first is that marijuana isn't really very good for you. True, there are health benefits for some patients. Several recent studies, including a new one from the Scripps Research Institute, show that THC, the chemical in marijuana responsible for the high, can help slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease. (In fact, it seems to block the formation of disease-causing plaques better than several mainstream drugs.) Other studies have shown THC to be a very effective antinausea treatment for people--cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, for example--for whom conventional medications aren't working. And medical cannabis has shown promise relieving pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and reducing intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients.

But I suspect that most of the people eager to vote yes on the new ballot measures aren't suffering from glaucoma, Alzheimer's or chemo-induced nausea. Many of them just want to get stoned legally. That's why I, like many other doctors, am unimpressed with the proposed legislation, which would legalize marijuana irrespective of any medical condition.

Why do I care? As Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, puts it, "Numerous deleterious health consequences are associated with [marijuana's] short- and long-term use, including the possibility of becoming addicted."

What are other health consequences? Frequent marijuana use can seriously affect your short-term memory. It can impair your cognitive ability (why do you think people call it dope?) and lead to long-lasting depression or anxiety. While many people smoke marijuana to relax, it can have the opposite effect on frequent users. And smoking anything, whether it's tobacco or marijuana, can seriously damage your lung tissue.

The Nevada and Colorado marijuana initiatives have gained support from unlikely places. More than 33 religious leaders in Nevada have endorsed the measure, arguing that permissive legalization, accompanied by stringent regulations and penalties, can cut down on illegal drug trafficking and make communities safer.

Perhaps. But I'm here to tell you, as a doctor, that despite all the talk about the medical benefits of marijuana, smoking the stuff is not going to do your health any good. And if you get high before climbing behind the wheel of a car, you will be putting yourself and those around you in danger.

Eulogy · 01-07-2009, 08:42 AM

is he gonna try to make tobacco and alcohol illegal too or what

ravenguy2000 · 01-07-2009, 09:10 AM

Don't forget, everything at McDonalds

Eulogy · 01-07-2009, 09:13 AM

this guy isn't smart enough to realize that "IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU!!!" is not a good enough reason? wtf?

ravenguy2000 · 01-07-2009, 09:25 AM

I'm sure he's smart enough, but I don't really think that matters when your target audience is made of of your bosses at TIME and TIME readers.

Thaniel Buckner · 01-07-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravenguy2000

...wasn't around when marijuana was as common as iPods are today...

fuck weed give me what this guy is smoking.

Trotskilicious · 01-07-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ravenguy2000

Maybe it's because I was born a couple of months after Woodstock and wasn't around when marijuana was as common as iPods are today,

man he's out of touch

or what ****** said

kind of calls into question what relevance anything he has to say is. Since he's completely unaware of pot today.

Trotskilicious · 01-07-2009, 11:34 AM

Two other things, it's not addicting physically. I quit using daily sometime during the summer and altogether since October and have had absolutely no physical urges to smoke since.

All my car accidents under the influence of drugs were when I was drunk. None when I was high. But booze is legal.

Thaniel Buckner · 01-07-2009, 11:35 AM

anecdotal evidence.

publius clodius · 01-07-2009, 11:54 AM

sanjay gupta was the name of a character in my class 5 english book

Nimrod's Son · 01-07-2009, 02:32 PM

Paid for by the Anheuser-Busch corporation.

dudehitscar · 01-07-2009, 05:53 PM

weed should be legal and taxed well.

I wish people would wake the fuck up. I've never used it but damn does this issue tick me off.

28if · 01-07-2009, 06:39 PM

Would it be more or less expensive if it were legal? I assume it would be more expensive since it would be taxed, but I'm no economist.

I smoke a lot of pot but I really don't mind it's legal status. You have to be pretty fucking retarded to get caught with it unless you're selling. Right now it's cheap and readily available, so whatever.

Future Boy · 01-07-2009, 06:52 PM

Why would it be more expensive?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudehitscar

weed should be legal and taxed well.

This.

Trotskilicious · 01-07-2009, 06:55 PM

yeah then i'd just grow my own

from what i understand the only real difficulty lies in concealing it and making sure it gets light

dudehitscar · 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 28if

Would it be more or less expensive if it were legal? I assume it would be more expensive since it would be taxed, but I'm no economist.

I smoke a lot of pot but I really don't mind it's legal status. You have to be pretty fucking retarded to get caught with it unless you're selling. Right now it's cheap and readily available, so whatever.

???? No it would be a lot less expensive if it were legal. There is a huge markup on illegal items because of the 'relative' inability to obtain.

Second. You can easily get caught and just be a user. I've seen 3 people this year who have worked at my work for over 20 years get hurt on the job, just severe enough to warrant a clinic visit, get automatically drug tested(like most big employers) and then get FIRED for marijuana use. It's bullshit. For clarification: Testing positive for marijuana use does NOT mean you are high at the time.

Also think of all the money you are paying in taxes to fight marijuana use and users. Wake up.

Trotskilicious · 01-07-2009, 07:54 PM

little white kids don't know this stuff

28if · 01-07-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudehitscar

???? No it would be a lot less expensive if it were legal. There is a huge markup on illegal items because of the 'relative' inability to obtain.

Second. You can easily get caught and just be a user. I've seen 3 people this year who have worked at my work for over 20 years get hurt on the job, just severe enough to warrant a clinic visit, get automatically drug tested(like most big employers) and then get FIRED for marijuana use. It's bullshit. For clarification: Testing positive for marijuana use does NOT mean you are high at the time.

Also think of all the money you are paying in taxes to fight marijuana use and users. Wake up.

Yeah I didn't think about drug testing. Luckily none of the jobs I've held so far have asked for one.

TuralyonW3 · 01-08-2009, 12:15 AM

He sounds like a real fucking idiot.

redbreegull · 01-08-2009, 12:30 AM

addicting lol

JokeyLoki · 01-08-2009, 12:57 AM

I can't believe Obama picked this guy. Hilarious.

Fathoms (unadored) · 01-08-2009, 03:10 PM

The article is so poorly constructed it almost reads like some type of weird reverse psychology pro-weed progaganda.

"The first is that marijuana isn't really very good for you. True, there are health benefits for some patients. Several recent studies, including a new one from the Scripps Research Institute, show that THC, the chemical in marijuana responsible for the high, can help slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease. (In fact, it seems to block the formation of disease-causing plaques better than several mainstream drugs.) Other studies have shown THC to be a very effective antinausea treatment for people--cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, for example--for whom conventional medications aren't working. And medical cannabis has shown promise relieving pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and reducing intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients."

Sarcastic Smile · 01-13-2009, 03:08 AM

So less than an ounce is basically legal here now.. many police chiefs from surrounding Boston cities are saying it's too much of a pain in the ass to issue the tickets and have bluntly said their officers will not be issuing the tickets

killtrocity · 01-19-2009, 11:39 PM

1. Prohibition always creates more problems than it solves

2. Legal weed could jeopardize the financial stability of certain drug companies

3. Nobody has every died from smoking weed

If you're concerned about your lungs and short term memory, don't smoke. The reasons for marijuana's illegality are purely political and anyone who believes otherwise is uninformed or delusional.

Brute Squad · 01-20-2009, 02:12 PM

JORDAN-OBAMA-020--www.shoes-trader.com International Trade Co.,Ltd

Pizza Club · 01-20-2009, 02:19 PM

I would not rock fake Js.

christian zombie vampires · 01-22-2009, 11:53 AM

wow i'm actually going to not read time anymore. i've still liked the occasional interesting piece of theirs even though its just time warner but this is really dumbed down for them and really insulting. next month's letters column will have some outraged professor from california running down all the old pro-legalization points and then painted with just enough shades of conspiracy theorist.

duovamp · 01-22-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eulogy

is he gonna try to make tobacco and alcohol illegal too or what

Isn't this the logic behind "If we let gay people marry, we'll have to let people marry animals and multiple spouses too!!"?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eulogy

this guy isn't smart enough to realize that "IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU!!!" is not a good enough reason? wtf?

Why isn't it a good enough reason?

Trotskilicious · 01-22-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duovamp

Isn't this the logic behind "If we let gay people marry, we'll have to let people marry animals and multiple spouses too!!"?

No, because both alcohol and nicotine are both more dangerous and more habit forming than marijuana.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duovamp

Why isn't it a good enough reason?

See above.

Eulogy · 01-22-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duovamp

Isn't this the logic behind "If we let gay people marry, we'll have to let people marry animals and multiple spouses too!!"?

Why isn't it a good enough reason?

what are you talking about?

01-07-2009, 08:04 AM	#1
ravenguy2000 NO FATS Location: NO FEMS Posts: 29,035	Dr. Sanjay Gupta: "Why I Would Vote No On Pot" Why I Would Vote No On Pot - TIME Maybe it's because I was born a couple of months after Woodstock and wasn't around when marijuana was as common as iPods are today, but I'm constantly amazed that after all these years--and all the wars on drugs and all the public-service announcements--nearly 15 million Americans still use marijuana at least once a month. California and 10 other states have already decriminalized marijuana for medical use. Now two of those states--Colorado and Nevada--are considering ballot initiatives that would legalize up to an ounce of pot for personal use by people 21 and older, whether or not there is a medical need. What do voters need to know before going to the polls? The first is that marijuana isn't really very good for you. True, there are health benefits for some patients. Several recent studies, including a new one from the Scripps Research Institute, show that THC, the chemical in marijuana responsible for the high, can help slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease. (In fact, it seems to block the formation of disease-causing plaques better than several mainstream drugs.) Other studies have shown THC to be a very effective antinausea treatment for people--cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, for example--for whom conventional medications aren't working. And medical cannabis has shown promise relieving pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and reducing intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients. But I suspect that most of the people eager to vote yes on the new ballot measures aren't suffering from glaucoma, Alzheimer's or chemo-induced nausea. Many of them just want to get stoned legally. That's why I, like many other doctors, am unimpressed with the proposed legislation, which would legalize marijuana irrespective of any medical condition. Why do I care? As Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, puts it, "Numerous deleterious health consequences are associated with [marijuana's] short- and long-term use, including the possibility of becoming addicted." What are other health consequences? Frequent marijuana use can seriously affect your short-term memory. It can impair your cognitive ability (why do you think people call it dope?) and lead to long-lasting depression or anxiety. While many people smoke marijuana to relax, it can have the opposite effect on frequent users. And smoking anything, whether it's tobacco or marijuana, can seriously damage your lung tissue. The Nevada and Colorado marijuana initiatives have gained support from unlikely places. More than 33 religious leaders in Nevada have endorsed the measure, arguing that permissive legalization, accompanied by stringent regulations and penalties, can cut down on illegal drug trafficking and make communities safer. Perhaps. But I'm here to tell you, as a doctor, that despite all the talk about the medical benefits of marijuana, smoking the stuff is not going to do your health any good. And if you get high before climbing behind the wheel of a car, you will be putting yourself and those around you in danger.

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01-07-2009, 08:42 AM	#2
Eulogy huh Posts: 54,787	is he gonna try to make tobacco and alcohol illegal too or what

01-07-2009, 09:10 AM	#3
ravenguy2000 NO FATS Location: NO FEMS Posts: 29,035	Don't forget, everything at McDonalds

01-07-2009, 09:13 AM	#4
Eulogy huh Posts: 54,787	this guy isn't smart enough to realize that "IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU!!!" is not a good enough reason? wtf?

01-07-2009, 09:25 AM	#5
ravenguy2000 NO FATS Location: NO FEMS Posts: 29,035	I'm sure he's smart enough, but I don't really think that matters when your target audience is made of of your bosses at TIME and TIME readers.

01-07-2009, 11:34 AM	#8
Trotskilicious My Fiesta Name is Pendejo Location: I'm never going outside again unless I need someplace to throw up. Posts: 10,968	Two other things, it's not addicting physically. I quit using daily sometime during the summer and altogether since October and have had absolutely no physical urges to smoke since. All my car accidents under the influence of drugs were when I was drunk. None when I was high. But booze is legal.

01-07-2009, 11:35 AM	#9
Thaniel Buckner Minion of Satan Location: kicksville Posts: 7,060	anecdotal evidence.

01-07-2009, 11:54 AM	#10
publius clodius Apocalyptic Poster Location: thank you mario but our princess is in another castle Posts: 3,209	sanjay gupta was the name of a character in my class 5 english book

01-07-2009, 02:32 PM	#11
Nimrod's Son Master of Karate and Friendship Location: in your butt Posts: 72,971	Paid for by the Anheuser-Busch corporation.

01-07-2009, 05:53 PM	#12
dudehitscar Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 2,652	weed should be legal and taxed well. I wish people would wake the fuck up. I've never used it but damn does this issue tick me off.

01-07-2009, 06:39 PM	#13
28if Apocalyptic Poster Location: yeah seriously i think we've more than established a consensus on reality, it's not that abstract. Posts: 3,446	Would it be more or less expensive if it were legal? I assume it would be more expensive since it would be taxed, but I'm no economist. I smoke a lot of pot but I really don't mind it's legal status. You have to be pretty fucking retarded to get caught with it unless you're selling. Right now it's cheap and readily available, so whatever.

01-07-2009, 06:55 PM	#15
Trotskilicious My Fiesta Name is Pendejo Location: I'm never going outside again unless I need someplace to throw up. Posts: 10,968	yeah then i'd just grow my own from what i understand the only real difficulty lies in concealing it and making sure it gets light

01-07-2009, 07:54 PM	#17
Trotskilicious My Fiesta Name is Pendejo Location: I'm never going outside again unless I need someplace to throw up. Posts: 10,968	little white kids don't know this stuff

01-08-2009, 12:15 AM	#19
TuralyonW3 Immortal Location: WPB FL Posts: 22,292	He sounds like a real fucking idiot.

01-08-2009, 12:30 AM	#20
redbreegull Socialphobic Location: listen you beautiful bitch, I'm about to fuck you up with some truth Posts: 11,457	addicting lol

01-08-2009, 12:57 AM	#21
JokeyLoki has great self of steam. Location: SECRET OBAMA FUCKDEN RENDEZVOUS Posts: 24,144	I can't believe Obama picked this guy. Hilarious.

01-08-2009, 03:10 PM	#22
Fathoms (unadored) Apocalyptic Poster Location: Iceland Posts: 4,664	The article is so poorly constructed it almost reads like some type of weird reverse psychology pro-weed progaganda. "The first is that marijuana isn't really very good for you. True, there are health benefits for some patients. Several recent studies, including a new one from the Scripps Research Institute, show that THC, the chemical in marijuana responsible for the high, can help slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease. (In fact, it seems to block the formation of disease-causing plaques better than several mainstream drugs.) Other studies have shown THC to be a very effective antinausea treatment for people--cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, for example--for whom conventional medications aren't working. And medical cannabis has shown promise relieving pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and reducing intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients."

01-13-2009, 03:08 AM	#23
Sarcastic Smile Amish Rake Fighter Location: I fuck in my spare time, this is what I do at work you dumb bitch.-esty Posts: 3,687	So less than an ounce is basically legal here now.. many police chiefs from surrounding Boston cities are saying it's too much of a pain in the ass to issue the tickets and have bluntly said their officers will not be issuing the tickets

01-19-2009, 11:39 PM	#24
killtrocity Professional Location: POLLOS Posts: 6,244	1. Prohibition always creates more problems than it solves 2. Legal weed could jeopardize the financial stability of certain drug companies 3. Nobody has every died from smoking weed If you're concerned about your lungs and short term memory, don't smoke. The reasons for marijuana's illegality are purely political and anyone who believes otherwise is uninformed or delusional.

01-20-2009, 02:12 PM	#25
Brute Squad oh for fuck's sake Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,507	JORDAN-OBAMA-020--www.shoes-trader.com International Trade Co.,Ltd

01-20-2009, 02:19 PM	#26
Pizza Club Apocalyptic Poster Location: you sound like a casual fan. Posts: 3,204	I would not rock fake Js.

01-22-2009, 11:53 AM	#27
christian zombie vampires Apocalyptic Poster Location: funk barn Posts: 3,459	wow i'm actually going to not read time anymore. i've still liked the occasional interesting piece of theirs even though its just time warner but this is really dumbed down for them and really insulting. next month's letters column will have some outraged professor from california running down all the old pro-legalization points and then painted with just enough shades of conspiracy theorist.