Fenixpunk

In 1995, based on thirty years of scientific research, editors of the British journal Lancet (the British equivalent of New England Journal of Medicine) concluded that "the smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health."
The reasons the pro-marijuana lobby wants marijuana legal have little to do with getting high, and a great deal to do with fighting oil giants like Saddam Hussein, Exxon and Iran. The pro-marijuana groups claim that hemp is such a versatile raw material that its products not only compete with petroleum, but with coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, pharmaceutical, timber and textile companies. It is estimated that methane and methanol production alone from hemp grown as bio-mass could replace 90% of the world's energy needs.

Dupont held a patent on a synthetic compound used to break down wood pulp to make paper. To make paper from Hemp didn't require any chemicals. In order for Dupont to profit from these chemicals, they had to see to it that Hemp was out-lawed. Andrew Mellon sat on the board of Dupont and Mellon's nephew was Harry Anslinger, the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics at the time. William Randolph Hearst owned many big newspapers and working together they whipped up a smear campaign of "Yellow Journalism" in America, spreading propaganda that the African-Americans and Mexicans were smuggling in a new killer dope weed that would lure white women to fall prey to the seduction of the "Negro", while under the influence of Jazz music. Racism and fear were used to outlaw something that was used by every man, woman, and child in America. It wasn't until after the marijuana tax act was passed that the American Medical Association realized that "marijuana", a slang term for hemp was in fact "Cannabis", our second most prescribed medicine. This is when "Reefer Madness" began.

Moderate smoking of marijuana appears to pose minimal danger to the lungs.
Most tobacco smokers consume more than 10 cigarettes per day and some consume 40 or more. Regular marijuana smokers seldom consume more than three to five joints per day and most consume far fewer. Thus, the amount of irritant material inhaled almost never approaches that of tobacco users.

Marijuana is not physically addictive. Fewer than one in 10 marijuana smokers become regular users of the drug, and most voluntary cease their use after 34 years of age. By comparison, 15 percent of alcohol consumers and 32 percent of tobacco smokers exhibit symptoms of drug dependence. observable cannabis withdrawal symptoms are rare and have only been identified under unique patient settings. Marijuana-related withdrawal symptoms are mild and subtle. Symptoms may include restlessness, irritability, mild agitation and sleep disruption. However, for the overwhelming majority of marijuana smokers, these symptoms are not severe enough to re-initiate their use of cannabis.

Marijuana is already the third most popular recreational drug in America, despite harsh laws against its use. Millions of Americans smoke it responsibly. Our public policies should reflect this reality, not deny it. In recent years, we have significantly reduced the prevalence of drunk driving and tobacco smoking. We have not achieved this by prohibiting the use of alcohol and tobacco or by targeting and arresting adults who use alcohol and tobacco responsibly, but through honest educational campaigns. We should apply these same principles to the responsible consumption of marijuana.



There is no evidence that marijuana users - even longterm users - suffer permanent impairment. Indeed, numerous studies comparing chronic marijuana users with non-user controls have found no significant differences in learning, memory recall or other cognitive functions.

Impossible to overdose on marijuana, youd have to smoke so much in such a short period of time that basically you would die from lack of oxygen not from the drug itself.

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