Sorry to revive a long neglected thread but I stumbled upon this and just had to give my two cents. I am aiming for short and sweet but there is so much to say on this kind of topic. I haven't read the complete study just what everyone else has.
- I guess I've been misinformed because I have been lead to believe that there were very few studies done on cannabis. I did find one a couple of years ago that suggested (proved is a strong word for me) that certain chemicals in cannabis cured breast cancer in mice. (remember this one for my conspiracy theory below)
- This appears to be a study of a study (or more acurrately - studies). Therefore, it is only stating what has been stated by others. Therefore it doesn't prove anything, because it isn't even trying to. It is, therefore, only as valid as the studies it is studying.
- The publishing of the study and the subsequent article seems to me to be a residual of the "Reefer Madness" era. The same paranioa causing propaganda that gave us the Cold War.
- A controlled substance cannot be controlled if it is on (or forced onto) the blackmarket. The irony of this word's usage seems like a joke to me.
- The statistics that one user quoted make a good logical argument against this "study's" conclusion. It refers to high usage in Canada and "normal" levels of mentally ill people.
- Just because something is published in a respectable journal does not mean it is true. No more than is something true simply because it is stated by an "official". Please don't make me search for the examples of this, I consider this to be obvious.
- Pot making someone "dum".... hmmm.... I've smoked pot (chronically at times) for years and I am considered by many people whom I have met to be pretty smart. Most of this is probably because I have continued my education for 20 years beyond high school. I have a dimploma (top of my class) and 3 trade certifications (at or near top of my class). Just so you know I'm not tooting my own horn I will admit to dropping out of University but I was doing well and just had second thoughts about the profession. My point here is that I am definitely not dum. Also, I've met just as many "dum" non-pot users as pot users. Same goes for mental stability. I learned a long time ago not to judge people by the drugs they choose to take or not take.
- Some of the criteria used to determine mental illness are way out-of-date. The site run by the cops for drug reform lists the criteria used in a study on this subject and pokes some pretty big holes in the study. These criteria are probably left over from when men would have their wives commited so they didn't have to get a divorce. Lack of conformity seems to be a common theme.
- Hmmm.... you get bribes and they don't sway your opinion. Good for you. You must have a pretty strong or noble character because bribes are meant to sway opinions. That's why people give out "free" stuff. See my point?
- Some use drugs (legal or illegal) to self-medicate. I won't judge the practice but this may explain why the one army guy had a story about a guy that when bonkers after having to quit. The other possibility that comes to mind is that it was the stress of being broken down so he could be reformed into the military's image of a good soldier.
- Laws are not always just. Examine any other culture and you will find laws you disagree with. Following a law for the sole reason that it is a law is mindless. Challenging laws and lawmakers is actually a part of the american constitution.
Finally, in the form of a synopsis, an allusion to a conspiracy (doesn't make me crazy)
- big Drug (Pharma.) must hate things that you can grow in your backyard and cause a multitude of health benefits. Especially if they could reduce the risk of cancer.
- the Man (Oppressors) must hate things that affect your mind in such a way as to allow you to view reality from a different perspective than the one served up by the mass (controlled) media.
- MJ gets an undue amount of attention considering its lack of detrimental effect on society.
- hemp is illegal and it's not even a drug (proof that these sort of things do happen). DOW chemical apparently had a hand in that one.
Sensibility