Re: [DIYbio] Re: THC legislation is next week

It's strange that the DEA drug schedule wording uses 'drug or other
substance'. If we take the first defintion for each 'drug' and
'substance':

drug - A substance that has a physiological effect when ingested or
otherwise introduced into the body, in particular.
substance - A particular kind of matter with uniform properties: "a
waxy substance".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Schedule_I_drugs_(US)

If a drug is a substance, and a substance has uniform properties then
I definitely don't think Marijuana is a substance, and therefore not a
drug.

If we look at the definition of medicine:
1- The science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
of disease (in technical use often taken to exclude surgery).
2- A drug or other preparation used for the treatment or prevention of disease.

then I would consider it a medicine since that 'other preparation' is there.

Marijuana is a plant that could very well be evolving without us
knowing. Sure the growers or their boss selectively drives this
evolution based on the 'strength' of the resulting product, but
they're definitely not at the end of the line with a GCMS making sure
THC not some new cannabinoid is the reason.

Is this good or bad, I don't know. But as a scientist I know that
natural products can change and vary. They all might get you 'high'
but maybe they don't all affect cancer the same, or neuroprotection or
heavy machinery safety.

Let's not debate safety and health issues though, I've never heard
much good medical research about ethanol other than it being an energy
source/sink and concentrated as a disinfectant.

People like to relax, and not everyone is the same, so I think it's
natural that different neuronal pathways help different people be
comforted or 'in the mood'.

Even using the word 'recreation' in this context is not telling the
whole story, as that word is defined as:
recreation- Activity done for enjoyment when one is not working.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who aren't 'sick' or abusers that
consume medicines to prevent disease.

Disease-
1- A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant,
esp. one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a...
2- A particular quality, habit, or disposition regarded as adversely
affecting a person or group of people.

So if I know I have to go work on my automobile in the garage, and I
know I will scrape my skin, tear some flesh, get nasty greasy... sure
I'm gonna be drinking beer while I'm at it because beer suppresses
some part of my CNS that responds to pain or the discomfort thereof. I
definitely don't enjoy garage work, so it's not recreation. I guess
that's medical?

On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 8:55 AM, Cathal Garvey <cathalgarvey@gmail.com> wrote:
> While I personally agree with your position that drug use is foolish,
> I'm in favour of decriminalisation (I don't say "legalisation") for a
> variety of reasons, both economic and ethical.
>
> Firstly, nonviolent or non-threatening crimes should generally never
> result in jail time. Fines perhaps, community service or psychological
> help, but why incarcerate a person who doesn't pose a threat to anyone
> else? Especially as the research shows that rates of re-offense are
> generally unaffected by jail time.
>
> Secondly that criminalising the drugs provides an avenue for vibrant,
> violence-inspiring drug markets. States should medicalise, not
> criminalise, drug addiction. By "decriminalising" drugs without
> explicitly permitting them for official sale, states can offer free,
> high-purity drug therapy programs to remove any profit margins from drug
> dealers and help remove stigma for addicts.
>
> Thirdly that criminalisation prevents research by forcing would-be
> researchers to undergo expensive and timewasting vetting and control
> paperwork, so research showing what is and isn't dangerous is hard to find.
>
> When it comes to Marijuana, there has actually been some research
> showing that people are *safer* drivers after smoking some. Presumably
> in moderation, of course. I'd be more concerned that, according to some
> admittedly contentious results, THC can trigger conditions in some
> users. Most famously, Parkinson's disease. But to a lesser or more
> anecdotal extent, more frightening conditions such as schizophrenia.
>
> It would seem, and would make sense to me as a geneticist, that one's
> genetic makeup can determine the safety of recreational psychotropics;
> THC is widely known to trigger long-term changes in neural makeup, and
> has even been suggested to trigger nerve regrowth. Well and good in a
> medical context, but nerve regeneration or new neural growth is not
> necessarily a good thing. Your brain spends the first fifth of your
> lifespan pruning neurons *out*, why interfere?
>
> So yea; decriminalise, yes. But I feel it's foolish to fully legalise
> while doubts remain about long-term safety. Decriminalising first would
> allow more real research about safety before taking the step of
> legalising for sale OTC.
> Oddly, this means I'm just as much in favour of decriminalising LSD than
> THC, given the widely known lack of toxicity of the former drug,
> although *obviously* one is far more dangerous to others while tripping
> on LSD than on THC; bad trips, attempting to drive, wandering into
> traffic, etc..
>
> On 31/10/12 14:38, Jeswin wrote:
>> How come there's no test to see if someone if impaired by any drug
>> (similar to alcohol test like breathalyzer or count the alphabet
>> backwards)? If you are impaired while driving any vehicle or while in
>> the public, then you should be arrested for possible injury to others
>> or to self. If found carrying, one should be charged with intent to
>> sell if the amount on person is above a certain limit.
>>
>> I oppose drug use and believe drug abuse/addiction is a
>> medical/psychological condition that needs to be treated by a doctor
>> or related professional.
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 10:30 AM, General Oya <generaloya@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Good question. Here in DC, our nation's capital the voter result was held
>>> from the public at first due to congressional interference and has yet to be
>>> implemented. Although it has been said that medical marijuana will be rolled
>>> out within the year through the liquor stores. In Maryland we've been cowed
>>> under due to our reliance on federal monies. However, Dr. Ben Cardin, the
>>> Democratic senatorial candidate has been the front runner in attempting to
>>> implement medical cannabis for years now. We have a system now, that says
>>> you can get a note from a doctor that can be produced at trial to reduce a
>>> charge to $100 fine, but you still have to go through the hassle of being
>>> arrested and detained and the court battle, while there is nowhere for
>>> citizens to legally acquire their medicines without resorting to the black
>>> market. Prohibition has truly failed and is costing the country dearly.
>>>
>>> Scientists, Doctors, Accountants, Police (L.E.A.P.), Educators, and even
>>> some politicians have become more and more vocal in their support for
>>> legalization/decriminalization.
>>>
>>> I would like to think that the states that have legalization on the ballot
>>> would have enough transparency to assure that the populace's votes are
>>> actually counted and the actual results released. However if one watched the
>>> Fort Collins debate that was shown on National Geographic's American Weed,
>>> you would see that apparently without any increase in turnout the number's
>>> shifted at the last moment in repeal of medical legislation in a very
>>> suspect way.
>>>
>>> In Colorado there is a lab called "Full Spectrum" responsible for testing
>>> the states medicinal strains for THC content and contaminants. I'd love to
>>> bring something like that to Maryland as well.
>>>
>>> Take Care,
>>> Ryan
>>>
>>> On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 12:05 AM, Nathan McCorkle <nmz787@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> How do you tell if the laws go through or not?
>>>>
>>>> On Oct 30, 2012 9:04 PM, "GeneralOya" <generaloya@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> New PubMed Data published last week on Anti-cancer efficacy of
>>>>> Cannibinoids.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23103355
>>>>>
>>>>> Get out there and vote to Legalize!!!
>>>>>
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>>>
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>>
>
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-Nathan

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