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

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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>

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