Check out this latest request for applications from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA):
“Cannabis-related disorders (CRDs), including cannabis abuse or dependence and cannabis induced disorders … are a major public health issue. … Nearly one million people are seeking treatment for marijuana dependence every year and sufficient research has been carried out to confirm that the use of cannabis can produce serious physical and psychological consequences.
“Currently, there are no medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of CRDs. Given the extent of the use of cannabis in the general population, and the medical and psychological consequences of its use … there is a great public health need to develop safe and effective therapeutic interventions. The need to develop treatments targeting adolescents and young adults is particularly relevant in view of their disproportionate use patterns.”
In other words, the federal government is spending millions upon millions of your dollars to solicit research to find a supposed ‘cure’ for alleged ‘marijuana addiction‘ — at the same time that it is spending virtually no money on clinical trials to assess the medical value of cannabis itself.
I try my best to cut through the BS (“One million people are seeking treatment?!” Um, more like 287,933 — and six out of ten of them were referred by the criminal justice system following an arrest.) in my latest Alternet essay, “The Feds Are Addicted to Pot — Even If You Aren’t,” which you can read and comment on here.
Here’s an excerpt:
The Feds Are Addicted to Pot — Even If You Aren’t
via Alternet
Marijuana’s addiction potential may be no big deal, but it’s certainly big business.
According to a widely publicized 1999 Institute of Medicine report, fewer than 10 percent of those who try cannabis ever meet the clinical criteria for a diagnosis of “drug dependence” (based on DSM-III-R criteria). By contrast, 32 percent of tobacco users and 15 percent of alcohol users meet the criteria for “drug dependence.”
Nevertheless, it is pot — not booze or cigarettes — that has the federal government seeing red and clinical investigators seeing green.
Read the entire article here.
And, now it seems….SKUNK weed is EVEN more risky to inhale than reg. bud. Gimme a fucking break……
YEA….I got a Cannabis Related Disorder. It’s called Prohibition Paranoia. And can only be cured by Bill,…not a Pill, of Legalization.
Thank U & Goodnite,
Saint RICO
You should read the DEA Position on Marijuana published 3 years ago in 2006 but still has some great points. They have done , and are doing research on the effects of marijuana. Along with The Center of Medicinal Cannabis Research which you might be interested in.
I can’t believe this. I actually want to protest now.
Dear Paul,
What is going on with NORML Connecticut chapter???Everytime something arises for the good in Connecticut it gets shut down by Jodi Rell. Would a petition be a starting source to send to the state capitol involving as many signed names as it takes to decriminalize here……………????????
[Paul Armentano responds: The CT NORML Chapter is defunct, but you might want to touch base with Russ about the status of a new affiliate. Locally, A Better Way Foundation/Lorenzo Jones do some great work on this issue in CT. You are correct, however, that virtually all marijuana law reform is DOA until Rell gives up her seat at the end of 2010. I grew up in CT so, believe me, what goes on in this state is important to me. I’m still frustrated that Rell vetoed medical marijuana.]
It’s always nice how cigarettes fly under the radar. WHAT WE NEED IS CIGARETTES ILLEGAL AND MARIJUANA LEGALIZED WE NEED A CHANGE IN POWER(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
sounds like our gov. don’t know what TRUE addiction is…i want out of this country i REALLY do.i wonder if it’s possible to hitchhike to canada.
If someone wants to fund a study that highlights the ill-effects of “cannabis abuse”, and someone is employed while executing this study (which demonstrates no ill effects), and that study is published with much fanfare…wow, that sounds like a wonderful proposition. Merely ensure that all such studies are brought under public scrutiny, and all of that funding will have done some good.
Okay, I”ve been smokiung for 36 years now. Addicted? Perhaps in the sense that Good Things Are Worth Repeating. Also in the sense that it helps me deal with ADHD better than the ADHD meds which left me with headaches, teeth grinding and high blood pressure. Now when I go for a checkup, my last BP was like 110/70.
As for social acceptance, I don’t give a flying f*** about that so much as what I do care about is not getting fired for what I do at home.
The other percentage in treatment that are NOT court ordered? Probably there as an alternative to getting fired, only to be random tested back at work all the mroe frequently now. I want my Bill of Rights back! How is this not invasion of privacy, warrantless search, self-incrimination, etc. Just because it’s a “private” employer? Phooey!@
Lies, Lies, and a few more lies to go with this Constructive Fraud against the people.
O! Yes I forgot, don’t for get to drink your drugs and mixed them with the ones in the bathroom. but don’t smoke a joint instead, you’ll be arrested, raped, and ran over all for you’re own good don’t you know, it is for your own good that the law unjustly come upon you, outlaw you, and destory your liberties, remeber they are protecting you even from yourself.
Thank you government for running me over and wiping me and my family out, it was for my own good, don’t you know.
They KNOW! They are wrong and their action UNJUST!
They KNOW they are the criminals, that they have commited treason against the will of the people using a Constructive Fraud to abrogate the rights of the people. The truth is out!
Jury Lawlessness by way of Jury Nullification. Teach your children well, for tomarrow they may sit in the jury box. Learn to just say NO, refuse to convict anyone for using cannabis and their law will be of no use. JURY NULLIFICATION, Know it, teach it, practice it, and flush that cannabis law right down the drain. Defy the law by use of our Court System, start by sitting in the jury box and use jury nullification to stop this unjust law. Just do it!
Jury Nullification in law is equal to Checkmate in chess. Get it! Use it! Stop their damm foolishness once and for all. Best damm way to shove that unjust law up the government ass.
The reason I got an Rx for medical marijuana was so I could STOP taking a bunch of expensive and arguably dangerous prescription drugs–Adderall, Xanax, muscle relaxers, etc. I can’t tell you how wonderful it’s been to have a clear head for these last several months. I was even able to give up alcohol!
I am really disappointed that the NIH is on this track. We have a national emergency now w/r/t the rising costs of health care, and cutting costs is the primary focus of both bills. The $50 I spend per month on medical marijuana adds up to a MONTHLY savings of $400 for my insurance company!
I think polite calls, letters, and emails are in order to the following:
1. Scientific/Research Contact(s):
Ivan Montoya, M.D., M.P.H
Division of Pharmacotherapies and Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 4143
Bethesda, MD 20892
Telephone: (301) 443-8639
Fax: 301-443-2599
Email: imontoya@mail.nih.gov
2. Peer Review Contact(s):
Teri Levitin, Ph.D.
Director – Office of Extramural Affairs
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
6101 Executive Boulevard, Suite 220, MSC 8401
Bethesda, MD 20892-8401
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: (301) 443-2755
FAX: (301) 443-0538
Email: tlevitin@mail.nih.gov
3. Financial/Grants Management Contact(s):
Ericka Wells
Grants Management Specialist
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH/DHHS
6101 Executive Boulevard
Suite 270 MSC 8403
Bethesda MD 20892-8403
Telephone: (301) 443-6710
FAX : (301) 594-6847
E-mail: wellse2@nida.nih.gov
Sorry, I’m calling BS on this one. I’ve smoked off and on since 1976. I’ve done the wake and bake for years, followed by just not smoking at all for years. Never, not once, did I ever feel the need for a joint. I may have wanted one, but not needed one. Not like cigarettes or coffee. I have never experienced a single moment’s discomfort with not smoking, other than thinking “Wow, this jerk might be interesting if I were stoned out of my gourd”, but that would be the extent of it all. Basically, it’s not addictive. And yes, I’ve smoked a ton of weed. Okay, more like half a ton over the years. The only danger I have ever felt it presented me was in the old Paraquat sprayed days, diesel fuel soaked on the bale that washed up the beach days, and from cops in general. All of these dangers are a result of the stupid laws, not the weed. As for the law, they can kiss my ass on weed, I like it and that’s their problem, not mine.
#3was right nothing like a good smoke after working hard. i did work hard once or twice.im 52 and disabled from a brain tumor but i still love getting high.i cant walk or talk right but i still get high.
my brother in law got yelled at for smoking reefer and drinking beer at the same time. its ok if he drinks.he got yelled at by his wife who was a smoker at one time. owell what can you do?i will smoke reefer until i cant light a match.i cant smoke a cigar they make me weeze and i dont inhale
Ofcorse the feds are addicted to pot, theyed go out of business without it. The feds care about power more then theyll ever care about weed… It’s just that marijuana happens to be their “power crutch” Now that they are started to lose a little bit of that power (and public interest in their BS cause) im sure we’ll be hearing even more lies then before. Just look how the DEA is blowing the public opinion out of proportion…
“[I]t’s basically the same thing as the government being in bed with drug traffickers. It sends the wrong signals to children not just that it’s OK to use marijuana, but that it’s OK to use all drugs,” says Gregory Lee, a retired Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) agent and author of “Global Drug Enforcement.”
Hmmm… In 25 years of my existence I don’t believe Ive heard anyone say that it would be wise to legalize “all drugs” Especially when there’s kid’s lives at stake. The reality is that kids do drugs with our without permission from the government. Sometimes when they can’t find marijuana they’ll turn to to harder drugs. Im sure everyone with a brain can agree that that’s not good. So what better way to keep “all drugs” out of children’s hands then to legalize and strictly regulate the most harmless drug of them all? If they are truly sincere about keeping kids off drugs, they would reevaluate their current policy and seek to better educate kids about the consequences of inviting drugs into their lives… Instead of telling straight-faced lies. One more thing and I hope the feds are listening.. IF OUR CHILDREN OUR SO PRECIOUS WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT USE THEM AS PROPAGANDA?? ANSWER ME THAT DEA!!!
sickofthis, actually I do like the idea of having all drugs legalized. No, I will stick with the ones I do now. Booze, cigarettes, coffee, weed, and shrooms. I have no desire to do crack, heroin, cocaine, or PCP. But legalizing all of them would result in a lessening of violent deaths as we have now, in relation to the drug wars. We would have better quality drugs, resulting in fewer deaths from the varying qualities of drugs today, and we would be able to treat people medically, rather than judicially as we do today. Not to mention, I don’t believe the government that claims it is here to protect our freedoms can say so while regulating what we can put into our own bodies. I could go on, but it seems to me there is a growing movement for just such an action. And much of it is a growing grass-roots demand for the restoration of individual liberties and justice, rather than the blind and tyrannical rule of law and order we have today. In any case, I will never give Big Pharma any of my business at all. Those are the true poisons in my opinion.
i did coke before and it did nothing for me i wanted too smoke reefer after.i think i always want too smoke reefer.
They’re not actually seeking help for addiction to marijuana. Any time someone works in a federal office and they’re caught with weed, they are sent to ‘rehab’ where they play golf and sip martinis for a few days so the Fed can say they sent the person to reform and they’re now a whole new person. That’s what all the applications are for.
Hey maybe if all you libs would chill out on expanding the government to never imagined levels we wouldn’t have this problem…. same with all you hypocritical conservitives – people should be allowed to do whatever they want as long as it does not directly hurt someone else… marijuana is no different than gun control… where do you see worse gun violence, in the boonies of Maine or the streets of New York? Which has tougher gun control…. prohibition does not work no matter what the substance or issue is. This country needs to get back to the basics, and get rid of about 99% of the laws on the book. Go read the new health care bill in the senate – bet you won’t get more than a few paragraphs. Make laws simple:
Don’t kill
Don’t hurt people
Don’t steal
Use common sense
Think I just condensed about 20 million pages of legislation.
In summation…
Keep to yourself and stop f-ing everything up for everyone else… if you want to make marijuana users look more favorable, work your ass off if you smoke pot and show everyone how much more productive you can be. Sorry to offend anyone, just my rant, just remember to always place yourself in the other dudes shoes even if you totally disagree – at least you know what he’s thinking
ive been disabled for 4 years now from brain tumors and i want too see legal pot soon.
“HOUSE APPROVES BILL THAT WOULD EASE FEDERAL GRIP ON WASHINGTON” Don’t you guys mean federal grip on the WORLD???
“But the DEA continues to stand in the way. Mr. President, it’s time for a change.”
The DEA is controlled behind the scenes by the same secret society that the president takes orders from. So is the FBI, so are several police departments and politicians. We can all change this lie we live in simply by being aware and reading between the lines. I recommend that people research secret societies as well as their link to government corruption, and you will soon see the rather obvious link to prohibition and the REAL reason why the DEA and the FED seem to have a hard time stepping down…. -Alex Jones Wake Up Call- That’s a good place to start. Every American deserves to know the truth.
Just this last week The DEA got 2.3 Billion Dollars for next years War on drugs. If you ask me We have a long way to go.
“Make no mistake, the marijuana possession permitted by the bill to a user or caregiver is illegal under federal law, with penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000,” Van Hollen said in written testimony to the committee.
Are you a fucking moron??? Obama ordered the Federal government to stand down on prosecuting patients where medical marijuana is legal in their state! That means if WI gets medical marijuana and the FEDS start busting patients, they are in direct defiance of the President of the United States. Should hardly be a concern and if it turns into one, then that would be proof that the FED’s have high-jacked our country.