Bush targets marijuana smokers

[BizarroCub]

Bush targets marijuana smokers

Richard Luscombe in Miami
Sunday July 25, 2004
The Observer

New super-strength marijuana readily available on US streets is prompting the White House to change direction in its war against drugs.

Research from the government-sponsored Marijuana Potency Project claims today's cannabis is more than twice as strong as in the mid-Eighties, leading to greater health risks for those smoking it at increasingly younger ages.

Now President George Bush, who had already promised a more aggressive campaign against substance abuse, has ordered that resources be allocated to fighting so-called 'soft' drugs instead of concentrating on harder forms, such as heroin and cocaine.

'We are working hard on education, but unfortunately a lot of today's parents are under the impression marijuana is harmless and that their kids trying it is some kind of rite of passage,' said Jennifer de Vallance, of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

'They might have had experience in their own teenage years with no problems, but this is not the same marijuana as in the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties. Today's forms are much stronger and potentially more harmful, especially to young people whose brains are not fully developed and are therefore more susceptible to adverse reactions.'

The Marijuana Potency Project, at the University of Mississippi, analysed more than 30,000 samples seized over the past 18 years by the authorities. It found that the average level of the active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), jumped from 3.5 per cent in 1985 to more than 7 per cent in 2003.

Of more concern to the analysts is that the upward trend appears to be continuing. The average potency of 20 marijuana samples seized and tested so far this year exceeds 9 per cent, with a peak of 27 per cent in one batch from a state in the North West.

'Today's marijuana is a much more serious problem than the vast majority of Americans understands,' said John Walters, the government's director of drug control policy who has promised a clampdown on producers.

Those who support the legalisation of cannabis are not convinced. 'Whenever government officials speak about drugs issues, a more detailed examination of the facts is a good idea,' said David Borden, executive director of the Washington-based Drug Reform Coordination Network.

'These projects are always government-funded and, without criticising the researchers, officials take what they want from it and send out their press releases. There has always been a wide range of potencies. It doesn't mean people are getting more intoxicated, because the higher the potency, the less they smoke.'

Figures suggest overall drug use in America's high schools has fallen by 11 per cent in two years but the National Centre on Addiction and Substance Abuse reports the number of children and teenagers receiving treatment for marijuana abuse jumped 142 per cent over the last decade, and that emergency hospital admissions of 12 to 17-year-olds in which marijuana was implicated rose 48 per cent in four years.

Borden acknowledges children must be steered away from drugs, but says: 'Their anti-drugs efforts have had a paradoxical effect in promoting the underground cultivation of marijuana. The number of users makes it an appealing target and there is no limit to the number of arrests that can be made, and the government uses those numbers to scare the public into thinking there is some big problem.

'All the government has been able to do is encourage people to experiment with stronger drugs than they would have before.'

[tranKwilized]

Oih, don't even get me started.....

http://www.undergroundads.com/whatwedo/images/outdoor_norml2.gif

[Amalthea]

HOLY SHIT MATT I typed that EXACT thing [minus the Oih] .. haha weird ... yeah i'm not touching this subject with a 10 foot pole

[mattb]

And they say we are free........

[nuAge420b]

lol the drug game was too hard for the govt. maybe they figure divide and conqour? aim low achieve high?

[cleophite]

:lame: :ranton:

[tranKwilized]

HOLY SHIT MATT I typed that EXACT thing [minus the Oih] .. haha weird ... yeah i'm not touching this subject with a 10 foot pole

:delirious: Beat ya to it :D I just edited something in though, hopefully I don't get in trouble for it :angel:

[cleophite]

trouble? you bet you're in it.

bend over.

[Amalthea]

trouble? you bet you're in it.

bend over.
uh oh .. matt's gunna get it :whip: :tarvis:

[tranKwilized]

trouble? you bet you're in it.

bend over.

Is there a Ben in the house?! Ben Dover?! Is there a Ben Dover in the house?! Lauren sez your in trrrrooubbbllleeeee :spankdajunkie:

[tranKwilized]

uh oh .. matt's gunna get it :whip: :tarvis:

You! Go play with your Meatwad and stay out of this :shakesfist:

[cleophite]

Is there a Ben in the house?! Ben Dover?! Is there a Ben Dover in the house?! Lauren sez your in trrrrooubbbllleeeee :spankdajunkie: don't know about that, but there IS a matt who is going to get a whoopin' next time i see him.

[Yakko Red]

So I was sitting here, talking to El Diablo, and he says that this is all bullshit.

He's a good friend and tend to believe him.

[tranKwilized]

:haha:

...without even knowing, I can take a pretty good guess at who 'he' is :delirious:

[Yakko Red]

He's a good friend, a gentlemen, and definitely a scholar.

[the sex molesters]

hah. i don't smoke weed.... and that's the god's honest truth.... but forreal, i've never known a single person to have an "adverse reaction" from smoking it. i think the propaganda war has gone on so long that people in power are actually starting to believe it....

[tranKwilized]

Fani and I were discussing reform the other day actually, and he brought up a good point. One of the problems forseen with legalization in the US is that Americans do everything in excess and abuse the fuck out of privledges and rights. Boo if you want, but it's a fact.

As far as actual risk goes, I think there is very little risk for your seasoned smoker. For example, from what I understand, many people can operate a motor vehicle under the influance of marijuana with no issues. In fact, past studies (British I believe) have shown that it barely effects driving ability at all. But your non-everyday smoker may have a much higher chance of accidents if he / she was under the influence; due to substantially lower reaction times and their inexperience in dealing with the effects of the plant.

Obviously if it were legalized, all types of smokers would indulge and I'm sure many would abuse. Ultimately it's up to the user to determine how sound he / she is for driving, or any other potentially life threatening / damaging tasks. But thus is the case with alcohol, and look how many alcohol related accidents occur each day / month / year. This brings me back to the abuse aspect. In moderation, I think most people could handle legalization. Unfortunatly I think most would agree in that moderation would not be the case.

In this sense, I agree with not so much criminalization but at least strong regulation. I really don't think it would be benificial to our Nation to legalize it completely. Amsterdam is definately on the right track with their laws regarding it, but then; Amsterdam is a MUCH smaller country in comparison.

I have more to say, but it's time for me to leave work so you've got the truncated version for now :D

[the sex molesters]

i believe in de-criminalization... like canada.... but i think that's about as far as we should go.

[Liftedtrance]

He's a good friend, a gentlemen, and definitely a scholar.

hm. he sounds just like my friend Hector.

and "The average potency of 20 marijuana samples seized and tested so far this year exceeds 9 per cent, with a peak of 27 per cent in one batch from a state in the North West."
:drool:

[Tigger]

most people in this country are on drugs, Ritalin, Claritin, Viagra, Prozac, Tylenol, Alcohol, and on and on. Marijuana is not a health issue but a political issue.
There is an old movie called Reefer Madness, watch it if you can find it.

[spinal cracka]

"marijuana , hey at least its not crack"

[A.J.]

not really suprised

[wh0reamuffin]

anyone that thinks that needs to :69:

[maynard]

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/marijuan.htm

[Methodus]

and this is different from any other president how ? yeah, didn't think so. next.

[not applicable]

drugs are bad.

weed is a plant mother fucker.

god made pot and pot dont hurt.

[BizarroCub]

and this is different from any other president how ? yeah, didn't think so. next.

So I'll keep supporting policies I disagree with because the person instituting them is continuing to institute the same bad policy as everyone else. That makes total sense.

[Methodus]

So I'll keep supporting policies I disagree with because the person instituting them is continuing to institute the same bad policy as everyone else. That makes total sense.

No, but I wouldn't try to hype it up either. It's barely news worthy. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence is aware of the laws on the books in regards to illegal substances. And whether or not Bush has continued the "war on drugs" that Clinton loved oh so much, at least I don't have to hear about it every other day.

[wh0reamuffin]

just to prove, that our president is a ex college cheerleadering alcoholic with the mind of a lab rat and the intelligence of a fly. durrr....i hear "there are rumors on the internets"....FREEDOM and LIBERTY.

JIHARD

[Shakey]

most people in this country are on drugs, Ritalin, Claritin, Viagra, Prozac, Tylenol, Alcohol, and on and on. Marijuana is not a health issue but a political issue.
There is an old movie called Reefer Madness, watch it if you can find it.
:werd: and by the way, i don't think theres a person left in the usa who hasnt seen reefer madness. i got that old ass shit on dvd.

[gabriel]

further, trace the history of marijuana becoming a scheduled substance. drug companies dont want it cuz they can't control it and drugs that work affect their profit margin.

[Methodus]

just to prove, that our president is a ex college cheerleadering alcoholic with the mind of a lab rat and the intelligence of a fly. durrr....i hear "there are rumors on the internets"....FREEDOM and LIBERTY.

JIHARD

You seem to have suffered a hard hit on the head. I will be asking you a few questions.

What is your name?
What is your address?
What is your telephone number?
What is today's date?

NO, IT'S NOT JULY 29th, 2004!!!

[zartan]

methodus, you will not make personal attacks against this person because he doesnt' like bush's policies. thank you.

[Hope]

Dubya is targeting smokers, cause he's a coke head and he doesn't want to rat out his friends.

[Skandar]

Where is the research that says more potent marijuana is necessarily worse for you? Doesn't it make sense that a) it's more pure, and b) you smoke less of it?

[Shakey]

Where is the research that says more potent marijuana is necessarily worse for you? Doesn't it make sense that a) it's more pure, and b) you smoke less of it?
:yes: thats the way i look at it.

[Methodus]

methodus, you will not make personal attacks against this person because he doesnt' like bush's policies. thank you.

Huh?

:confused:

[PaulieWalnuts]

Does this mean that the 203 can now be upgraded to 204? or 203 V.20?
Gawd, I remember going down there at 2PM from work to score once or twice. Now it's going to be like:

"Hocus-pocus! Getcha hocus-pocus clones here!"

"Weed grown in Dolly's feces! Thass right! We got this weed str8 from cloned sheepshit! Stronger than McGwire!"

[blazinkikgurl]

Bush, leave the pot smokers alone with their "bushes" of goodness

[maynard]

further, trace the history of marijuana becoming a scheduled substance. drug companies dont want it cuz they can't control it and drugs that work affect their profit margin.

let's not forget, let's NOT forget Dude, that the 3 men most responsible for the anti-marijuana propoganda that did so much to reinforce the notion that pot is "evil" during the 30's and 40's were all affiliated with big tobacco companies.

it's a fucking sham. it's legal to kill yourself with cigarettes, perfectly legal to kill yourself with alcohol, but that damn weed...it's just *so* horrible that we need to put it in a different class altogether.

i hate this country.

[Foundation]

liberty / freedom / liberty / freedom/
where the people of iran stand for liberty / america stands with you
where the people of america stand for liberty / you will get beaten by a fascist cop and thrown in jail
where the people of america stand for freedom / you will be fined and jailed for consuming natural plants

[Tigger]

lame!
it's OK to be high on Ritalin or Prozac...

[sunnybug]

lame!
it's OK to be high on Ritalin or Prozac...

haha for real...and don't mind all the drunks that are out on the street killing more...no lets take away something that makes people feel good when they're ill, be dumb when you want to be dumb, think when they want to think...i think there are much more important things our gov.t needs to deal with, but yeah that would be smart, so never mind...this country sucks, i wish it would get it's priorities straight.

[maynard]

haha for real...and don't mind all the drunks that are out on the street killing more...no lets take away something that makes people feel good when they're ill, be dumb when you want to be dumb, think when they want to think...i think there are much more important things our gov.t needs to deal with, but yeah that would be smart, so never mind...this country sucks, i wish it would get it's priorities straight.

you mean...deviate from the status quo? b..b...but....why on earth would you do that? folly!

[sunnybug]

i don't think i should be considered a fool for our gov.t being full of shit.

[Beals]

i like how bush is leaving the harder drugs alone as its his last term. and how many times have you heard of someone suckin dick for marijuana?

Free yayo in '09 for bush
:ohyea:

[Beals]

and how many more billions of dollors do we get taken out of health care & education for this?

[maynard]

i don't think i should be considered a fool for our gov.t being full of shit.

get sarcasm well, you do not. ;)

[Yakko Red]

dear hq

i miss you

love

frank

[maynard]

you're not missing a whole lot.

[Sheisty McFuckerton]

Yeah, that's right... Let's ease up on heroin and cocaine, 'cuz ya know, those things aren't that bad, and let's go after the REAL problem, pot - the only one of the bunch which actually has recognized medical benefits, and does least amount of damage to the body...

Somebody needs to hurry up and shoot Bush.

[checkone_bbdd]

Bush does anything irritateing to take our focus off his war

[Tigger]

:word:

[Shakey]

:word:
dont you mean...:werd:...hehehehe :ohshit:

[checkone_bbdd]

did anyone see the Chappelle Show where he played black Bush... GAY PEOPLE ARE GETTING MARRIED!!

[checkone_bbdd]

same deal

[NYGblue]

There is a religion where growing your own weed is legal all over the country. If you are a card carrying member and the govt. tries to confiscate your produce you can sue them....

[Shakey]

in the usa......? i don't think so.

[NYGblue]

It is... my g/f was telling me about it... its based out of Hawaii... but it applies to the entire country.... govt. does a good job of keeping these things quiet... I haven't done any research on it yet but I will at some point. Though frankly smoking isn't a big enough priority in my life to care about it.

[checkone_bbdd]

what when do I join!!

[checkone_bbdd]

Why did some give me negitive points and call me an asswipe?? thats soo random... if you have some thing to say to me, say it so i know who you are and I can know why you called me an asswipe

[BizarroCub]

It is... my g/f was telling me about it... its based out of Hawaii... but it applies to the entire country.... govt. does a good job of keeping these things quiet... I haven't done any research on it yet but I will at some point. Though frankly smoking isn't a big enough priority in my life to care about it.

Kinda like the Peyote churches...

[Beals]

i read about it in one of the canibibles at my friends house, along with some graaaavy pictures of some 40% plants :eddie: :twothumb:

[sunnybug]

get sarcasm well, you do not. ;)


yeah i figured but i wasn't sure...christyne cleared it up...haha no worries;)