Zilos

(BuzzNote: Please note that this article refers to the government of the Philipines, not the government of the United States. The first time I read it I was very confused.)

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is not in favor of legalizing Marijuana, saying it would be open to abuse.

Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez said he does not favor the legalization of Marijuana on a wholesale scale, because it would lead to drug addiction of many if the government allows it to be sold openly.

[Zilos-note: except the fact that Marijuana is no more addictive that a stick of chocolate, or a cup of coffee.]

Gonzalez told The Manila Times that although Marijuana could be used for medical purposes, its bad effects should be considered more than the good effects.

“I am not in favor of the legalization of Marijuana on a wholesale scale for it could be subject to abuses,” Gonzalez said.

[Zilos-note: well, currently its being sold by a black market which can do whatever they please with it, it is not regulated one bit, well, except by those trusty drug dealers ]

He said it is the first time that Congress will consider the legalization of an illegal drug, like Marijuana. Gonzalez was a three-term congressman of Iloilo before getting the post of Justice Secretary on September 1, 2004.

Earlier, Rep. Solomon Chun*galao of Ifugao filed a bill seeking the legalization of Marijuana for medical purposes. Rep. Mikey Arroyo of Pampanga indicated he would support the bill.

Arroyo said he was willing to back the bill provided its good uses are supported by studies from medical authorities, the academe and the law enforcement.

Some studies said Marijuana could be an alternative medicine for terminal cancer patients suffering from chronic pain.

__________________
:: Posting Guidelines :: 420 Lounge :: Hemp Cultivation :: Myths :: Canadian Laws :: U.S. Laws :: Recipes ::

Unregistered

I have been sick over the weekend, so I haven’t smoked in about two days. I got a fever and I think smoking would only lower my immune system and keep me sicker longer. But my being sick is not why I haven’t smoked, it is because I am all out at the moment. I am usually high all the time, smoke about 5 times a day. Zilo was claiming in this article that marijuana is no more addictive then caffeine and chocolate. I do see people eating lots of chocolate, drinking lots of coffee; I have myself at times. But the addiction is a lot different for marijuana. I have plenty of intelligent people to back me up on this one; and that is, marijuana is addictive as hell. Just going through a normal day and not smoking much, will increase my anxiety to unbearable levels. Just knowing that I am about to smoke will help me relax again. So, we could probably assume that this is psychological addiction. What about physical addiction; I get the chills, stomach pains, minor headaches. Yes, I do know that many people can handle marijuana by using it in-excessively, but for me that doesn't work. If I am going to smoke, I want to feel like I can whenever I want, which happens to be often at this point in my life.
There is no doubt that marijuana is addictive and I am getting sick of people talking **** on its addictiveness. I am not opposed to legalization of the drug at all. Well, cause any one can see that the legalization would decrease crime, bring more money into our economy, and just make people in our country a lot more open and peaceful. But I see no point in continuing to write about how marijuana is not too addictive in every article that gets posted. And I bet if this site started being more truthful and not contradicting itself then I bet a lot more people would take legalization seriously. This is marijuana.com, probably the hub of the marijuana internet community, so our country is watching this website carefully. Best be taking it more serious if u want legalization to happen.

Buzzby

I have scientific evidence to back me up in stating that Marijuana is either non-addictive or about as addictive as coffee. In the world of science, anecdotal evidence such as yours only becomes relevant when such reports come at a sufficiently high statistical level. This has not happened with Marijuana. What you have is a strong psychological dependence, not an addiction. People can develop psychological dependence to just about anything that gives them pleasure. Most Marijuana users are not high all the time and they don't have any desire to be. If your claim that "Marijuana is addictive as hell" were true, the majority of regular users would be addicted (as with heroin). This is not the case.

From the Institute of Medicine report on Marijuana

In summary, although few Marijuana users develop dependence, some do. But they appear to be less likely to do so than users of other drugs (including alcohol and nicotine), and Marijuana dependence appears to be less severe than dependence on other drugs. Drug dependence is more prevalent in some sectors of the population than others, but no group has been identified as particularly vulnerable to the drug-specific effects of Marijuana. Adolescents, especially troubled ones, and people with psychiatric disorders (including substance abuse) appear to be more likely than the general population to become dependent on Marijuana.

This reinforces my point. Your idiosyncratic dependence has nothing to do with the substance being addictive. As the IOM states, "few Marijuana users develop dependence"


Are you, perhaps, unable to deal with your susceptibility to psychological dependence? That's the only reason I can think of for your insistence that this relatively harmless herb is an addictive drug. The only other people who insist so vehemently are narcs, politicians, and other prohibitionists.


That is why we do make every effort to tell the truth in all matters. Don't you think it's a bit egotistical to assume that you are right and all the scientific studies are wrong?

__________________

Unregistered

Buzzby, I appreciate ur spending some time to prove what I had said earlier was wrong. I have read scientific research on addictiveness of marijuana and have got many conflicting view points. Some propaganda while some seemed to be fairly legitimate sources and held good facts to back up their ideas.

Marijuana highs for me last about one-two hours and after that my anxiety usually kicks in again and I want to smoke again so I am not thinking so much. I can not really see this happening with users of coffee/chocolate (as Zilo mentioned) and other pleasurable things (as u had mentioned). I think u also forgot to prove my claim on marijuana's physical addictiveness is wrong. As I mentioned before not smoking for me brings on chills, stomach pains, and light headaches. I do not smoke cigarettes or do anything else that I could mixing the addictive symptoms up with. Most likely this is from the excessive amount that I smoke. But still the psychological affects that make me want to smoke a lot bring on the aforementioned physical withdrawal affects.
Please any thoughts or rebuttals would be appreciated.

Bluee

How convenient a scapegoat, Marijuana must be addictive.

Ever stop to think that maybe you are weak, and that your weakness is what is perceived as addiction?

__________________
Pessimism is being content when things go bad, while enjoying life when proven wrong.

blaze420.

very few people smoke as much as you, and those who do are likely addicted just like you. i know i dont want to be high ALL the time, and i sure as hell wouldnt smoke 5 times a day. i happen to have a friend in the same position as you. you're not going to get addicted by smoking a few J's every weekend. if you just blatantly and excissively abuse it, tho, and/or use it to run away from your problems too much, then yes, i think any substance used in such a manner would be addictive.

Buzzby

This makes sense to me. Most people smoke to get high and enjoy a pleasant change of consciousness. You smoke to suppress extreme anxiety. You're not a recreational user - you're medical.

I don't know if Marijuana is the best med to use for that condition. Have you consulted a psychiatrist about the anxiety? One might be able to prescribe something that will relieve those symptoms and leave you free to smoke just for fun. I doubt that the anxiety is a withdrawal symptom. I would bet it's a preexisting condition.


I see it all the time. There are many people who can't function without a cup of coffee. Gambling "addicts". Food "addicts". Sex "addicts". If they don't get their "fix" they're overwhelmed by anxiety.


I never said it was wrong. I do think your symptoms are more acute than any I've heard of. For some people Marijuana can be addictive. It's just mildly addictive. It's withdrawal symptoms are akin to those of withdrawing from drinking several cups of coffee a day.

I know that I can drink one big mug of coffee in the morning. If I drink more than that, after a few days I begin to get headaches and a craving for coffee in the afternoon and evening. So I limit my intake to that one big mug.

If I smoke a lot of Marijuana daily for a while I find that it takes more to get me high. I can't afford that. Pot's too expensive. I periodically quit for a week, to knock out my tolerance and to demonstrate to myself that I'm in control. For the first couple of days I feel a bit tense, shaky, and headachey. Nothing earthshaking. Then I'm fine. That's typical Marijuana withdrawal. No worse than coffee withdrawal.


A lot of that intensity is due to your anxiety. I've seen people with that problem exhibiting the same symptoms without Marijuana being involved. I think it's due to adrenal gland exhaustion. Anxiety is an unfocused fear state. When you're afraid your adrenal glands pump out adrenaline to prepare you to fight or flee. Eventually your adrenals run dry and you've consumed all the ready energy resources in your body. You crash and exhibit the symptoms of low blood sugar: tiredness, chills, shakiness, stomach pains, and headaches. The next time this happens, try drinking a glass of orange juice and see if it makes your feel better. Orange juice raises your blood sugar level very quickly.

If you can put up with the physical symptoms for a couple of days you'll be over it. But that doesn't remove the underlying reason why you smoke so much, the anxiety, so it would be hard not to start up again. If you don't want to be addicted to Marijuana you'll need to find another way to deal with the anxiety.

Unregistered

that is so true, marijuana is addictive.

i've been smoking for about 3 years, about 2 or 3 times daily. people who arent addicted dont know, but listen to the people who actually know from expeience.

smokebud4life

are they so stupid to not see that legal or not it is here to stay and with dealers running the dope trade who this just makes for more crime and murders, and for what? a plant the the government is so afraid to legalize?

grass supporter

i think grass should be legal i mean alcohol is and that is much worse than grass

booze

*tends to make u aggressive
*is addictive
*is very bad for your liver and can posion you to the point you die

grass

*non addictive
*relaxing and causes people to calm down as oppessed to shout off
*no real evidance of actually bodily harm

which do you think should be legal?