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Marijuana Rx

March 6, 2009 9:10 AM

Has medical marijuana gotten a bad rap? Dr. Jon LaPook talks with Dr. Herbert Kleber and Dr. Mitch Earleywine on the pros and cons of using medical marijuana for your health.

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by rfague November 27, 2009 11:10 PM EST
Legalize it already, fer cryin' out loud.
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by Big-Jim-bob November 27, 2009 7:13 PM EST
Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco), and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans. According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use. Our public policies should reflect this reality, not deny it.

Marijuana is far less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Around 50,000 people die each year from alcohol poisoning. Similarly, more than 400,000 deaths each year are attributed to tobacco smoking. By comparison, marijuana is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose. According to the prestigious European medical journal, The Lancet, "The smoking of cannabis, even long-term, is not harmful to health. ... It would be reasonable to judge cannabis as less of a threat ... than alcohol or tobacco." from NORML

It's time to change the laws...
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by hereticzero November 27, 2009 2:35 PM EST
It is wrong to deny a person the right to choose for one's self, even if that choice is unwise. Evidence has shown marijuana does not pose a public health threat and yet the Federal government insists on prohibition of the plant and its use. My last job was with the Federal govt. processing Death Certificates. I never found one that was due to the result of marijuana use. When used in a responsible manner, marijuana is the safest alternative to tobacco and alcohol and illegal street drugs. Marijuana has killed no one although our government and its supporters are responsible for the deaths of unsuspecting homeowners during no-knock raids at the wrong address. I fear my local police more than the drug user that may live next door.
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by dragon8me November 27, 2009 11:27 AM EST
Prohibition is insanity.
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by excoachken November 27, 2009 9:28 AM EST
With Doctors able to dispense opiates via prescription, why, in 2009, are we still arguing about this?
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by clauneck November 27, 2009 4:32 AM EST
Guess this has been going for ages, Marijuana does not lead you to other drugs NO NO NO NO, u go for other drugs only if u want to, now a day's life has became so stressful and every person needs to dedicate some time for himself, the human cannot live for work only, we need to enjoy yourself and have fun without disturbing other people and keeping peace, some turn to alcohol and some turn to Marijuana some turn to other drugs which is worse, the worst thing is that the government agrees with alcohol which is much worse than Marijuana, and alcohol kills so much people but of course the government is making so much profit from alcohol that it is worth it to keep it legal and keep things low on the media, so the media never speaks bad about it, I wish there was a true program that says all the aspects on things, and why we have things that are worse than Marijuana and are legal.
It seems that the government scares our families that if we use Marijuana we will start using having drugs. Now a day's live become over controlled by the government media bombarding us with what they want us to know, everywhere you go is with cameras and security, and all we just want to do is go to work, after works smoke some Marijuana with our friends have a good time maybe watch a movies, than wake up for work again and start a new day I do not see anything bad in this. And I can assure you that Marijuana does not hold u back from your career I have an amazing career it just depends on the person and to keep a balance in life. Everything in life can be used bad a wrong, but why always the bad is mentioned in the media, guess people love more to watch bad things in the media now a day life's, every were u turn on the news, u see WAR, ACCIDENTS, BAD NEWS always negative things, I think these things need to be more controlled and more balanced because there are some good people out there that are making amazing things but it is not important for the media anymore.
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by culturechang November 26, 2009 7:11 PM EST
All marijuana got a bad rap when legislators blatently lied about its effects to Congress in the 1930s. Much of our policy is based on willfully invited and willfully accepted Washington lies.
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by rwsmith29456 November 26, 2009 3:38 PM EST
It helped my brother get through chemo and I've never heard of it hurting anybody that didn't overindulge. Don't work or drive drunk or stoned is a sensible rule. And people say it has more tar than cigarettes. I've never seen anybody smoke pot as much as people chain smoke cigarettes. If it makes people fell better I'm I'm all for it. BTW, I don't use it myself. It just doesn't make sense to keep such a stigma aoubt it. Get rid of junk, meth, coke etc. and leave pot alone.
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by BeachBuzz November 26, 2009 3:32 PM EST
I wonder if Dr Kleber is a member of the AMA ? Guess he hasn't got the memo. It is unfortunate that we still have so call authorities that are willing to spew such nonsense for their 15 minutes of fame.
The only people left to scare are those over 70. I know of no rational individual that can make an honest argument for the continued prohibition of Cannabis. The cost on the American tax payer alone is reason to repeal prohibition. Factor in the cost on the American family, 850,000 Cannabis arrest last year. 89% for simple possesion. Men,women and children placed in jail. The corruption that is caused from the Black Market reaches all over the world, it taints all Law enforcement and all Governments. America, you need to wake up ! Dr. Kleber, you should be ashamed!
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by westernkypika November 26, 2009 12:40 PM EST
People are finally speaking out and supporting the legalization of marijuana movement. Dr. Herbert Kleber has several flaws in his argument both on the dependency and the gateway drug theory. There is a proven mental dependency of marijuana but clearly the physical is nonexistent and far more damaging. That argument goes out the window when you think of the more powerful, more addictive pharmaceutical drugs and the use of tobacco. So marijuana is far less damaging in that regard. The gateway drug theory only strengthens the argument that marijuana should be legalized. If your dealer says has been supplying your marijuana and says he has no inventory but has cocaine or heroin. The war on drugs is the problem the has ruined far more lives then the simple recreational use of marijuana. Far be it we should certainly not let any of our kids use pot but do you think a drug dealer would care the age of your child? Please take action and write to your representatives on making your voice heard that marijuana should be legalized.
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by wow_loll October 21, 2009 6:24 PM EDT
Wow. Seriously Guys. Weed I Must Say Is Really Nice And Just About Everyone Does It. I Think That It Shud Be At Drug Stores Or Hospitals Which It Is. And Just Sell It By Dubs. Or Something.
People Would Be Coming In And Outta That Store Or Hospital Like Crazy. Think Of How Much Money You Would Be Makeing Buy Growing And Selling Weed To People That Love It Or Need It For Their Body.?
I Vote Yes To Legalizing It(:
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by naught89 October 12, 2009 10:56 PM EDT
Its wonderful to know that they can put out drugs such as Oxycontin xanax paxil ext. that your hear people doing crazy things on like killing there kids and addiction so far out they could die from and they say that extended use of marijuana could not be good, these other drugs it takes weeks all you morons who do not think it should at least be given a try need to go to bed or something because you cant say anything, if you compare it to the other medical legal drugs that you F*** give us. get outta here you do not deserve a say an anything.
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by urimeshi14 September 17, 2009 7:58 PM EDT
i agree with everyone who favors it!!! lets face it. PEOPLE LIKE SMOKING WEED!!!! it makes angry people happy, it makes u eat, it makes u sleep better. theres no addiction issuse watso ever like ppl below said. its just a lie. and the fact that its a drug makes people think its harmfull which is crap its not harmfull at all. it relaxes your brain and muscles. also, the sperm count and fretility issuses are only if you eat weed. not smoke it. u cant expect t keep weed legal and hope ppl will stop smoking it. its gods gift to the world. its not a gateway either. if they wanted to do crack or lsd they would of already. MAKE IT LEGAL!!! TAX IT!!! GET US OUT OF DEBT!!!! the US especially tenns to late 20's love weed. its just a fact. it makes life in general better. u cant honestly say it kills because it doesnt. if you can make alcohol and tabacco legal which have EXTREAM health hazzards and kill millions a year im POSSITIVE you can make marijuana legal. face it our parents and grandparents smoked weed when they were teens. its NEVER GONNA CHANGE!!! ppl will continue to smoke weed legal or not until it runs dry of the planet!!
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by urimeshi14 September 17, 2009 7:55 PM EDT
i agree with everyone who favors it!!! lets face it. PEOPLE LIKE SMOKING WEED!!!! it makes angry people happy, it makes u eat, it makes u sleep better. theres no addiction issuse watso ever like ppl below said. its just a lie. and the fact that its a drug makes people think its harmfull which is crap its not harmfull at all. it relaxes your brain and muscles. also, the sperm count and fretility issuses are only if you eat weed. not smoke it. u cant expect t keep weed legal and hope ppl will stop smoking it. its gods gift to the world. its not a gateway either. if they wanted to do crack or lsd they would of already. MAKE IT LEGAL!!! TAX IT!!! GET US OUT OF DEBT!!!! the US especially tenns to late 20's love weed. its just a fact. it makes life in general better. u cant honestly say it kills because it doesnt. if you can make alcohol and tabacco legal which have EXTREAM health hazzards and kill millions a year im POSSITIVE you can make marijuana legal. face it our parents and grandparents smoked weed when they were teens. its NEVER GONNA CHANGE!!! ppl will continue to smoke weed legal or not until it runs dry of the planet!!
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by mark_in_LA September 16, 2009 5:02 AM EDT
p.s. Great to hear talk about vaporizing. I use my through-water vaporizer daily and am so thankful it was invented. The only problem with vaporizing is, that there is no problem! oh well :)
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by mark_in_LA September 16, 2009 4:44 AM EDT
Thanks Dr. LaPook! I hope I live to see full legalization of the sacred herb. Praise God, and down with tyranny!
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by MichiganResident September 10, 2009 11:35 AM EDT
Marijuana is safe. You are wasting your time trying to prove otherwise, it's medically proven. When you are depressed, why would you take pills that make you have loose bowels and cause stroke or heart attack? When was the last time you heard anyone loosing last night's lasagna down their leg after smoking pot? You don't. I have been on anti-depressants, quite a few different varieties, and none of them produced more benefits than side effects. And it works wonders when my Scoliosis is acting up, better than any short acting pain reliever I was prescribed. I have been using marijuana medically for years and smoking cigarettes just as long, but found that it was harder to give up cigarettes than the marijuana for one month. I have never been interested in other man made drugs that are supposed to be irresistible to potheads... I never plan to use marijuana to try to take over the world or anything. It's all a social acceptance thing, people are afraid too much of what other people will think if they changed their minds. (after being properly educated) It's time to realize that the drug companies that manufacture all these miracle cures for pain have had their time, but as of now the time is 420...
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by jaysmouth September 9, 2009 2:06 PM EDT
Dr. Herbert Kleber is a fraud. It is obvious by how he counteracts his colleague that he has an agenda. The link between marijuana and mental illness is a joke. It looks like with the debate in California going on, Reefer Madness Part 2 is coming up. Check out the Heath Tulane Study. Thats where the "this is your brain on drugs" commercial came from. Check out the film Generation RX. These people are scum that say marijuana should be illegal. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs wrote their programming systems using weed. Most of the people I went to University with,smoked pot. Its a scam! Marijuana is the best drug on this planet. Only those who profit from it want it kept illegal....I hope they lose this time!!!!!!!!!
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by jessicalynnp August 31, 2009 9:34 PM EDT
i would rather be in a room full of pot smokers than a bunch of drunks. "God is great
Man is not
Man made whiskey
God made pot
Pot is natural
it grows on the ground
If God didn't want it
it would not be around
So for all you red necks who dont
get high fire one up give
Weed a try." unknown
Who decided that alcohol should be legal and not marijuana? I think that the person or people had to have been drunk. I think that if they would have been high they would have thought about it a little longer lol since it slows down the thought process. Drinkers tend to do things so quick that bad things happen. I thought this is a free country. It is our life. What are they afraid of? World Peace and a lot of happy people, or are they afraid that they will lose money. I think I would rather live a happy life and die knowing that i enjoyed my time here was,rather than worring about having money to buy things that you can't take to the grave.
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by israelr777 August 22, 2009 8:21 PM EDT
well i am no rocket scientist but let me let u in a secret i smoked marijuana since i was 15 to 22yrs of age untill i went to jail.i thought this was suppose to be united states not communist country i thought all laws suppose to be same everywher but whatever besides the point.marijuana should be legal but laws similiar to alchol see ive i know ther isnt a way to test for marjiuana usage but u can still get a sobriety feild test to make sure driver is imparried.ILL tell u reasons why should be legal #1 kids are going to do it regardless it will always be on earth ther is no death releated to this (plant) {NOT MAN MADE DRUG)#2 is will it help economy yes it would you can make rope,glue,form of curtains it would put a lot of buissness oppurtunity out farmers stores your talkin about alot of money it will stop marijuana trafficing.bad side drug runners will bring the more heavier drugs over wich means 1 time pop life for any thing other then marijuana.i will leave more comments.For now leave this little advice for people to read on and who wants ther kids in jail learning worse topics other marijuana. PLS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ON IT GETTING LEGALIZED CU I HAVENT SAVED ENOUGH TO MOVE 2 AMSTERDAM YET.
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