Marijuana XXX

why am I not surprised that Frank would want to propose a law that makes something neither legal nor illegal...

I have said that this is a waste of our money fighting it for a long time booze alone has caused more problems in our society then pot ever has.

Its time now to change it.

Markwes wrote:

meta4 wrote:Holey Moley! CNN just said federal laws unfairly target African Americans.... damn liberal media sources

Somebody needs to 'splain that one to me. Are the biggest users African American?

I don't have a problem with the idea, but why make possession legal if selling it is still illegal? It should be all or nothing.

when you consider the percentage of blacks in america, and the percentage of blacks in prisons/jails or in court systems--and seems alot are for drug related stuff generally, is it a surprising conclusion?

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html
12.8% according to the census bureau.

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/usa/Rcedrg00-01.htm
Nationwide, black men are incarcerated at 9.6 times the rate of white men.

Arizona -- Responses to this past week’s Courier editorial highlighting a new “legalize marijuana” bill have troubled me. Some stated, essentially, what’s the big deal? Legalize it, people should be able to do what they want. It’s their choice.
The bill calls for an end to federal penalties for Americans carrying less than a quarter-pound of marijuana. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who introduced the proposal, used law enforcement as one of his reasons. Apparently, he said, current laws targeting marijuana users place undue burdens on law enforcement resources.

"I cannot think there are many people who are in favor of using limited federal resources in law enforcement to arrest people because those people decide to smoke marijuana," Frank said.

Folks, if the problem is not enough money for law enforcement or the way police are using the money, that’s one thing. The answer is not to legalize the offense, but managing the problem – focusing on the money or law enforcement.

Besides, Frank shows his lack of understanding in his quote above. It appears that he sees it as “no big deal” to smoke a little pot.

A definite line exists between right and wrong. And, marijuana blurs judgment and, thus, the line.

People claim, “I should be allowed to make my own decisions. Government can’t tell me what to do. I’m not hurting anyone.”

Just because you think you’re not hurting anyone, doesn’t mean it’s true. It sounds like an alcoholic who demands his/her keys; “I can drive myself home, I’m not drunk.”

How would you know? You’re the one who’s drunk. Their judgment is not what it’s supposed to be, and they would not know that they’re hurting someone else … until it’s too late.

As for alcohol being legal, that’s a topic for another time; however, you don’t legalize everything because something similar already is. That’s like the parental argument of “if your friends jump off a cliff, are you going to” follow them?

Think about it.

Source: Daily Courier (Prescott, AZ)
Author: Tim Wiederaenders, Managing Editor
Published: Sunday, August 03, 2008
Copyright: 2008 Prescott Newspapers, Inc.
Contact: editorial@prescottaz.com
Website: http://www.dcourier.com/

Related Article:

USA -- The chemicals in marijuana could put the brakes on colon cancer, according to new research. That doesn't mean smoking a joint will help, though, as the chemicals only form part of the process.
Raymond DuBois and colleagues at the University of Texas in Houston discovered that a key receptor for cannabinoids, which are found in marijuana, is turned off in most types of human colon cancer.

Without this receptor, a protein called survivin, which stops cells from dying, increases unchecked and causes tumour growth.

To better understand the role that the receptor, called CB1, plays in cancer progression, the researchers manipulated its expression in mice that had been genetically engineered to spontaneously develop colon tumours.

"When we knocked out the receptor, the number of tumors went up dramatically," says DuBois. Alternatively, when mice with normal CB1 receptors were treated with a cannabinoid compound, their tumours shrank.

Dual Attack

The findings suggest a two-step treatment plan for colon cancer, as well as for other cancers that might be linked to this receptor.

First, turn the CB1 receptor back on, and then activate it with drugs currently in development that mimic marijuana. But how to turn it on?

The researchers found that in human colon cancer cells, the gene that makes the receptor is blocked by a process called methylation, in which a small chemical group is added to the DNA.

Treating the cells with decitibine – a demethylating drug already approved for use in humans – removed the chemical group and the gene began making the receptor. Drugs that mimic marijuana might then activate the receptor, although DuBois did not test this.

Journal reference: Cancer Research (vol 68, p 6468)

Source: New Scientist (UK)
Author: Aria Pearson, NewScientist.com News Service
Published: August 1, 2008
Copyright: New Scientist, RBI Limited 2008
Contact: letters@newscientist.com
Website: http://www.newscientist.com/

Smok'em if you got'em!

America's alcohol prohibition lasted 13 years, filled the country's prisons, inspired contempt for the law among millions, bred corruption and produced Al Capone. What it did not do was keep Americans from drinking.
America's marijuana prohibition drew into its 72nd year this month. It has created a huge underground industry catering to users, helped the U.S. prison population balloon into the world's largest, and diverted the resources of American law enforcement. What it has not done is keep Americans from using marijuana.

"You can't do that." always seem to get a lot done...