Prohibitionists like to blame legal cannabis for everything from rising crime to our national mental health dilemma. The truth is just the opposite, argues Katherine Mangu-Ward.
As psychiatrist and addiction specialist who treats teens and adults alike, a couple of thoughts. First, the passage of 'medical' marijuana legislation was premature and irresponsible, as there were so few high quality double blinded, randomly controlled studies to support use for such an array of illness as Arnold-Chiari syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and PTSD. And blessing by the states in effect touted the 'benignity' and benefits of marijuana, giving many recreational users the false sense it was safe, or at least not hazardous. Second, there are so little longitudinal studies on the effects of marijuana, a drug delivered in combusted vapors and containing many of the same carcinogens as tobacco, that the long term risks are unknown and undetermined: it took decades of research to validate the cause effect between cigarettes and COPD and lung and heart disease. Third, cannabis may not be associated with such serious acute effects as deaths due to DUI or domestic violence, but I have my share of patients who have divorced their husbands for spending every waking moment smoking pot and playing video games in the basement and high school student who drop out of extracurricular activities as smoking weed, whether alone in their bedroom or with friends in the park, becomes their reason d'etre.
I could add a few more points, but I wanted to add that the brains natural cannabinoids have a host of functions, one of them apparently is playing a role in the development of brain pathways and connections, particularly the pruning and myelination that occurs during adolescence and young adulthood. Heavy use of high potency cannabis is implicated in the disruption of these necessary and natural processes, and seems to be linked to cognitive impairments and even the psychosis we are witnessing in teens.
Just once, I’d like to hear a pro-marijuana argument that doesn’t mention some form of, “Well, alcohol is worse!” It reminds me of a kid who’s in trouble with his teacher, so he tries to pivot the conversation by saying that his classmate was even more badly-behaved.
I think the most sensible thing that could be done with regard to stronger and stronger pot is to label legal marijuana with the amount of THC it contains. We require the same thing with alcohol (labeling by proof).
Something that wasn't mentioned in either of these articles is the adulteration of pot products with fentanyl. That seems like a much bigger danger to users than any amount or strength of marijuana.
"While this trend predates legalization, it’s notable that the tipping point came after many Americans witnessed the effects of legalization firsthand. It’s hard to reconcile these figures with the prohibitionists’ dystopian portrait of a nation of newly zombified citizens."
I do not understand who she's talking to. I live in a "medical" marijuana -legal state, and I "experience the effects" of marijuana use every time I go to Walmart or go to the park. I think zombie is a pretty good descriptor.
I don't know if making the drug illegal again is the right thing (which I think is her argument here?), but it's muddled by touting the benignity of the drug (which I think is just plain wrong). Separate your arguments and I might be able to agree with you in part. I still think we should treat marijuana similar to the way we treat tobacco... gross and unhealthy, a habit to kick, not a cool, benign, recreational activity
I live in rural Missouri where marijuana is highly prevalent. It has created a community of apathetic and absentminded youth. Not to mention the dependence that marijuana smoking creates - these poor folks are tied to it lest they vomit profusely or suffer in other ways.
I am all for the scientific findings about weed. I have always thought, as long as you don't hurt anyone, it's more or less okay. A responsible adult has a hard day on the job and wants to smoke or chew a gummy to relax after the day's stresses, I say "ok." However, I grew up around Jeff Spiccoli-like stoners. Their lackadaisical approach to life and general laziness angered me. I see it on the rise. I am 57. Forty-odd years ago it was not that big a problem in my corner of the woods. Now I see it, I smell it, and I see the negative effects of it everywhere. I see a bored, stupid, brain-dead populace. Now, if you sincerely need it for pain, take it, but in general, I see legal weed as dubious.
Arguments for and against marijuana are irrelevant. If you choose to use drugs of any kind, then accept their consequences (if any). As long as I am not asked to offer financial support, or aid or any other form of assistance to people who have problems with drugs then I could care less how self-destructive anyone chooses to be.
Like so many issues, increased weed use and all the negatives it entails is a symptom of societal collapse, not a cause. Building a society of empowered individuals with the freedom to pursue personal happiness and the spirituality needed to know how to do so is the only way. Im not necessarily against weed prohibition if only because until this century we had done so largely successfully. But I also don’t think suddenly outlawing weed at the federal level would really change anything. As far as weed being readily available, the cat is very much out of the bag.
The argument against Legalization wins by a knockout in the first round. The arguments by Ms. Mango - Ward are not convincing in the least. It’s a negative argument; alcohol is bad so we should legalize “pot” too . We should never have fallen for it. Legalization of Marijuana has been a disaster. Unfortunately there is no putting that cat back in the bag. The death spiral for America continues.
Why do you have to knock on LSD? Psychedelic therapy is an interesting point of research right now. Not that trendy micro dosing crap the soy boys do. No, no, research supports what they call “Heroic” doses of psilocybin and ketamine to treat depression, PTSD . etc.
Because I’m a grown up now I get Ketamine prescribed by a doctor a couple times a year now. Ketamine is the best choice, its also a surgical anesthetic. So the risk of “I can fly!” the splat! Goes down, the more you take the less mobile you are.
Before the conservatives start wagging their fingers at me… You want to get closer to God? Take Ketamine as a medication not as a drug of abuse and start praying. It play a significant role in converting me to Christianity. I say as a medication since I took psychedelics recreation as a teenager. No sign from God.
Then I did as an adult with the honest intention of bettering my life. Oh boy… Now I go to church and read the bible.
I can attest to the strength of todays pot toked vaped gummies chocolates and brownies….I was offered a gummy by family members at a dinner party after cocktails and dinner. They were purchased from the corner “Grass Roots” Pot store and listed as 22% thc. After a short period I was so stoned I could barely stand up. Compared to the “stoners” at the party who were drinking, vaping and consuming gummy’s (age range 35-65), their tolerances were remarkable! They acted like they were on speed! They partied through the night! I on the other hand needed fresh air and guided home (a 1/4 mile walk) by one of the stoned kids. It took me 12 hrs to come off that uncomfortable high. Now granted I don’t partake in legalized high octane pot so I was out of my league.
Yes, the risks and harm of alcohol surface daily in practice. One the distinctions between alcohol and the loosening of laws regarding the use of cannabis is that alcohol has historic and cultural roots stretching back thousands of years, and is associated traditions and routines such dinners and parties and ballgames and is of course also associated with a billion dollar hospitality and food and beverage industry, which will fight tooth nail about even putting warning labels on a bottle of booze. Judging by recent research, which is examining the long term, more subtle effects of alcohol, such as the increased risk of breast cancer in women and the atrophy of brain structure, there are some who recommend that if you are not currently consuming alcohol, don't start. Humans are far more focused on immediate consequences, such as the bar fight or the car accident, than the long term consequences and frankly, denial is still a present and powerful defense against realities.
Katherine, either your weed sucks or you're not smoking or ingesting enough of it. Speaking from experience it ruined my life for about 5 years before I tapered my use enough to realize it was causing my severe anxiety. Reason should sponsor a bake off where the crew smokes weed at 15-20 minute intervals 5 straight hours every day for a year. Do it for science.
What happened to all the adults in the room. It started when the constant pressure of the "Make Weed Legal" leaders made a brilliant business move and said nobody is against a medicine that can help people. Lets do some dubious research and eventually with papers in hand snowed enough people to have it be called MEDICAL / Medicinal marijuana and crowed it is desperately needed to help people. So that opened the door exactly the way they wanted, just get that foot in the door. Yes just what America needed. America the most pill taking and drug taking group of people on earth. Fast forward the learning curve and eventually the real damage of smoking got to the people and look how smoking is viewed today. The health cost alone beside the cost to individuals, companies and families from the damage caused by smoking is staggering. So let us as the adults in the room say yes smoking is very bad, bad, bad. Lets spend billions trying to convince our children do not smoke. However, let's pretend that marijuana is medicine and so now smoking it is not bad. Excuse me but i believe we all have the same lungs. Look at a map and the MAJORITY of the world calls marijuana illegal and does not condone it's sale in cannabis shops. Most of Europe and the Scandinavian countries do not allow it but do allow some medical marijuana use. Could they possibly know something we don't???
Why when we see the horrid damage being done in our country already from the illicit use of drugs and the over use of prescribed drugs need to add another drug to our cabinet. Did we not learn our lesson from alcohol. You might say banning it did not work and I agree it did not stop alcoholism. But we did learn about the immense damage it has caused and continues to cause in families, individuals and our hospitals. So lets add another potential hazard, let also make it legal sounds logical to me !!!!
It takes billons of dollars and years of research to get some of the actual drugs we now have to treat our diseases and illness legal and approved . There is no such thing as this level of peer reviewed research data available for cannabis yet. The advocates of course say there is but look at some and you will immediately see conflict of interest. I again agree there is conflict of interest easily seen in the history behind the granting of FDA approval but there is still years of research being done. Maybe we are just giving in because the states look at the dollar signs. After all why not try to tap into the previous black market of drugs. Some actually advocate legalizing all drugs. They now understand you will never eliminate the black market, especially when you continue to make it legal. Could the adults find their way back into the room after they see the horrific effects that all drugs have caused, this is just another we do not need.
The pro-legalization crowd can argue their theoretical points but they require people to reject their real-life experience. I speak less of those who use routinely. It is hard to appreciate (or admit) the downside of one's own addictive habit. But, those who love, live with, work with, etc. the habitual user are well aware of the lives curtailed by marijuana, both in the immediate sense of impairment and the long-term 'lost years' to being routinely stoned.
As psychiatrist and addiction specialist who treats teens and adults alike, a couple of thoughts. First, the passage of 'medical' marijuana legislation was premature and irresponsible, as there were so few high quality double blinded, randomly controlled studies to support use for such an array of illness as Arnold-Chiari syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and PTSD. And blessing by the states in effect touted the 'benignity' and benefits of marijuana, giving many recreational users the false sense it was safe, or at least not hazardous. Second, there are so little longitudinal studies on the effects of marijuana, a drug delivered in combusted vapors and containing many of the same carcinogens as tobacco, that the long term risks are unknown and undetermined: it took decades of research to validate the cause effect between cigarettes and COPD and lung and heart disease. Third, cannabis may not be associated with such serious acute effects as deaths due to DUI or domestic violence, but I have my share of patients who have divorced their husbands for spending every waking moment smoking pot and playing video games in the basement and high school student who drop out of extracurricular activities as smoking weed, whether alone in their bedroom or with friends in the park, becomes their reason d'etre.
I could add a few more points, but I wanted to add that the brains natural cannabinoids have a host of functions, one of them apparently is playing a role in the development of brain pathways and connections, particularly the pruning and myelination that occurs during adolescence and young adulthood. Heavy use of high potency cannabis is implicated in the disruption of these necessary and natural processes, and seems to be linked to cognitive impairments and even the psychosis we are witnessing in teens.
Just once, I’d like to hear a pro-marijuana argument that doesn’t mention some form of, “Well, alcohol is worse!” It reminds me of a kid who’s in trouble with his teacher, so he tries to pivot the conversation by saying that his classmate was even more badly-behaved.
I think the most sensible thing that could be done with regard to stronger and stronger pot is to label legal marijuana with the amount of THC it contains. We require the same thing with alcohol (labeling by proof).
Something that wasn't mentioned in either of these articles is the adulteration of pot products with fentanyl. That seems like a much bigger danger to users than any amount or strength of marijuana.
"While this trend predates legalization, it’s notable that the tipping point came after many Americans witnessed the effects of legalization firsthand. It’s hard to reconcile these figures with the prohibitionists’ dystopian portrait of a nation of newly zombified citizens."
I do not understand who she's talking to. I live in a "medical" marijuana -legal state, and I "experience the effects" of marijuana use every time I go to Walmart or go to the park. I think zombie is a pretty good descriptor.
I don't know if making the drug illegal again is the right thing (which I think is her argument here?), but it's muddled by touting the benignity of the drug (which I think is just plain wrong). Separate your arguments and I might be able to agree with you in part. I still think we should treat marijuana similar to the way we treat tobacco... gross and unhealthy, a habit to kick, not a cool, benign, recreational activity
I live in rural Missouri where marijuana is highly prevalent. It has created a community of apathetic and absentminded youth. Not to mention the dependence that marijuana smoking creates - these poor folks are tied to it lest they vomit profusely or suffer in other ways.
I am all for the scientific findings about weed. I have always thought, as long as you don't hurt anyone, it's more or less okay. A responsible adult has a hard day on the job and wants to smoke or chew a gummy to relax after the day's stresses, I say "ok." However, I grew up around Jeff Spiccoli-like stoners. Their lackadaisical approach to life and general laziness angered me. I see it on the rise. I am 57. Forty-odd years ago it was not that big a problem in my corner of the woods. Now I see it, I smell it, and I see the negative effects of it everywhere. I see a bored, stupid, brain-dead populace. Now, if you sincerely need it for pain, take it, but in general, I see legal weed as dubious.
Arguments for and against marijuana are irrelevant. If you choose to use drugs of any kind, then accept their consequences (if any). As long as I am not asked to offer financial support, or aid or any other form of assistance to people who have problems with drugs then I could care less how self-destructive anyone chooses to be.
Like so many issues, increased weed use and all the negatives it entails is a symptom of societal collapse, not a cause. Building a society of empowered individuals with the freedom to pursue personal happiness and the spirituality needed to know how to do so is the only way. Im not necessarily against weed prohibition if only because until this century we had done so largely successfully. But I also don’t think suddenly outlawing weed at the federal level would really change anything. As far as weed being readily available, the cat is very much out of the bag.
The argument against Legalization wins by a knockout in the first round. The arguments by Ms. Mango - Ward are not convincing in the least. It’s a negative argument; alcohol is bad so we should legalize “pot” too . We should never have fallen for it. Legalization of Marijuana has been a disaster. Unfortunately there is no putting that cat back in the bag. The death spiral for America continues.
Why do you have to knock on LSD? Psychedelic therapy is an interesting point of research right now. Not that trendy micro dosing crap the soy boys do. No, no, research supports what they call “Heroic” doses of psilocybin and ketamine to treat depression, PTSD . etc.
Because I’m a grown up now I get Ketamine prescribed by a doctor a couple times a year now. Ketamine is the best choice, its also a surgical anesthetic. So the risk of “I can fly!” the splat! Goes down, the more you take the less mobile you are.
Before the conservatives start wagging their fingers at me… You want to get closer to God? Take Ketamine as a medication not as a drug of abuse and start praying. It play a significant role in converting me to Christianity. I say as a medication since I took psychedelics recreation as a teenager. No sign from God.
Then I did as an adult with the honest intention of bettering my life. Oh boy… Now I go to church and read the bible.
This comment was entirely off topic.
I can attest to the strength of todays pot toked vaped gummies chocolates and brownies….I was offered a gummy by family members at a dinner party after cocktails and dinner. They were purchased from the corner “Grass Roots” Pot store and listed as 22% thc. After a short period I was so stoned I could barely stand up. Compared to the “stoners” at the party who were drinking, vaping and consuming gummy’s (age range 35-65), their tolerances were remarkable! They acted like they were on speed! They partied through the night! I on the other hand needed fresh air and guided home (a 1/4 mile walk) by one of the stoned kids. It took me 12 hrs to come off that uncomfortable high. Now granted I don’t partake in legalized high octane pot so I was out of my league.
Me personally will stick to Martinis.
Yes, the risks and harm of alcohol surface daily in practice. One the distinctions between alcohol and the loosening of laws regarding the use of cannabis is that alcohol has historic and cultural roots stretching back thousands of years, and is associated traditions and routines such dinners and parties and ballgames and is of course also associated with a billion dollar hospitality and food and beverage industry, which will fight tooth nail about even putting warning labels on a bottle of booze. Judging by recent research, which is examining the long term, more subtle effects of alcohol, such as the increased risk of breast cancer in women and the atrophy of brain structure, there are some who recommend that if you are not currently consuming alcohol, don't start. Humans are far more focused on immediate consequences, such as the bar fight or the car accident, than the long term consequences and frankly, denial is still a present and powerful defense against realities.
Katherine, either your weed sucks or you're not smoking or ingesting enough of it. Speaking from experience it ruined my life for about 5 years before I tapered my use enough to realize it was causing my severe anxiety. Reason should sponsor a bake off where the crew smokes weed at 15-20 minute intervals 5 straight hours every day for a year. Do it for science.
What happened to all the adults in the room. It started when the constant pressure of the "Make Weed Legal" leaders made a brilliant business move and said nobody is against a medicine that can help people. Lets do some dubious research and eventually with papers in hand snowed enough people to have it be called MEDICAL / Medicinal marijuana and crowed it is desperately needed to help people. So that opened the door exactly the way they wanted, just get that foot in the door. Yes just what America needed. America the most pill taking and drug taking group of people on earth. Fast forward the learning curve and eventually the real damage of smoking got to the people and look how smoking is viewed today. The health cost alone beside the cost to individuals, companies and families from the damage caused by smoking is staggering. So let us as the adults in the room say yes smoking is very bad, bad, bad. Lets spend billions trying to convince our children do not smoke. However, let's pretend that marijuana is medicine and so now smoking it is not bad. Excuse me but i believe we all have the same lungs. Look at a map and the MAJORITY of the world calls marijuana illegal and does not condone it's sale in cannabis shops. Most of Europe and the Scandinavian countries do not allow it but do allow some medical marijuana use. Could they possibly know something we don't???
Why when we see the horrid damage being done in our country already from the illicit use of drugs and the over use of prescribed drugs need to add another drug to our cabinet. Did we not learn our lesson from alcohol. You might say banning it did not work and I agree it did not stop alcoholism. But we did learn about the immense damage it has caused and continues to cause in families, individuals and our hospitals. So lets add another potential hazard, let also make it legal sounds logical to me !!!!
It takes billons of dollars and years of research to get some of the actual drugs we now have to treat our diseases and illness legal and approved . There is no such thing as this level of peer reviewed research data available for cannabis yet. The advocates of course say there is but look at some and you will immediately see conflict of interest. I again agree there is conflict of interest easily seen in the history behind the granting of FDA approval but there is still years of research being done. Maybe we are just giving in because the states look at the dollar signs. After all why not try to tap into the previous black market of drugs. Some actually advocate legalizing all drugs. They now understand you will never eliminate the black market, especially when you continue to make it legal. Could the adults find their way back into the room after they see the horrific effects that all drugs have caused, this is just another we do not need.
The pro-legalization crowd can argue their theoretical points but they require people to reject their real-life experience. I speak less of those who use routinely. It is hard to appreciate (or admit) the downside of one's own addictive habit. But, those who love, live with, work with, etc. the habitual user are well aware of the lives curtailed by marijuana, both in the immediate sense of impairment and the long-term 'lost years' to being routinely stoned.