THE FACTS
No one has ever overdosed on marijuana
In 2001, 331 people died from alcohol overdose, with 75,000 people having alcohol-related deaths, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It is impossible to know the number of deaths caused by marijuana, although most experts agree it is significantly lower than alcohol.
Students lose federal aid when convicted for possessing marijuana
In 1998, an amendment to the Higher Education Act withdrew financial aid from students convicted of any drug offense — including simple possession — before or during studies. Although the bill has been scaled back to include only those convicted while in school, a bill introduced by Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., seeks to repeal all penalties. More than 200,000 students have been denied aid by this provision, according to Students for Sensible Drug Policy.
Marijuana does not cause cancer
According to a UCLA study — the largest of its kind — even heavy marijuana use does not lead to lung cancer. Although marijuana contains known carcinogens, it is believed THC keeps cells from becoming cancerous. Marijuana contains tar and other chemicals, which may lead to an elevated chance of bronchitis and respiratory infections. However, these risks can be nearly entirely eliminated by using a vaporizor — a device used as an alternative to smoking — which only combusts the THC.
Marijuana is not addictive
While any behavior can become a force of habit, marijuana is not physically addictive. Those who experience withdrawl symptoms, if experienced at all, are extremely mild. Nicotine withdrawl is much worse by comparison.
Marijuana has not been proven to impair long term brain function
While intoxication impairs learning ability and memory, no study has proven any long-term cognitive effects of marijuana. There is no evidence that marijuana kills brain cells.
Marijuana is America’s No. 1 cash crop
Although the exact amount is impossible to know, one study estimated the total marijuana production in the U.S. in 2006 to be $35.8 billion. That’s more than the combined value of domestic corn ($23.3 billion) and wheat ($7.5 billion).
Marijuana has medicinal value
Marijuana is useful in reducing nausea in chemotherapy patients, reducing the pressure of glaucoma and stimulating appetite for AIDs patients, aside from other treatments for pain. Critics argue the commercially produced pill Marinol is not as effective as smoking marijuana.
Legalizing marijuana would have a net benefit of about $15 billion per year
If marijuana was taxed like tobacco and alcohol it could bring in $6.2 billion, according to a 2005 Harvard study. The nation would save $7.7 billion in law enforcement ($5.3 billion in state and local government expenses, $2.4 billion in federal expenses). Who knows how much of the federal deficit could be eliminated by taxing marijuana consumption.
THE LOGICAL FALLACIES
The gateway theory
Correlation does not prove causation. Simlarly, as Austin, Texas criminal defense lawyer Jamie Spencer put it, lack of correlation does show lack of causation. On Spencer’s Web site, a Dallas lawyer explained why ineffective government programs like the DARE program don’t reduce drug use.
Legalizing marijuana is not a good investment for “the children”
Legalizing and regulating marijuana might make it more difficult for young people to get their hands on it. But do we have a problem with anyone under 15 abusing alcohol today? Why would it make a difference?
Marijuana causes people to be unmotivated
Coed Magazine created a list of the ten most successful pot-smokers of all time.
The list included Sir Richard Branson, Michael Phelps, Michael Bloomberg, Ted Turner, Stephen King and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Compiled and written by Mark Macmurdo.
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Contact The Daily Reveille's opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com
Because I Got High: The facts and logical fallacies about marijuana use
Published: Sunday, April 19, 2009
Updated: Monday, April 20, 2009
 "Photo: Gumbo courtesy art")
Gumbo courtesy art
Cannabis prohibition has cost tax payers $1 Trillion since 1937. Some body got the money. They don't want to give it up. Nothing to do with kids or dangers of pot. Nixon lumped Hemp and Medicinal into the mix rejecting his own scientific study. Starting the CSA and the modern drug war. Nothing to do with kids or the dangers of pot. Coincidentally removing hemp fiber steel, wood, plastic, cotton, polyfiber and protein competition.While keeping the booze and drug stores free of competition, and 90 million pounds of abortion causing chemicals on US cotton, not required for hemp. Simultaneously continuing to collect another $Trillion from the workers "saved da kids".
If you ARE a motivated person, cannabis can be a help depending on the tasks at hand.
weed does not make you unmotivated unless you are unmotivated to begin with. The truth is,if anything it makes you more contemplative and open to new ideologies that are counter to the ones that have been ingrained in your head through generations of refer madness. One could hardly say that Michael Phelps, Robert Mitchum, Carl Sagan, Drew Carey, even one of the worlds most famous pot smoker "Snoop Dog" is a very highly motivated individual, the list goes on of extremely motivated pot smokers. This is just more of the B.S. beliefs that surround the marijuana issue.