October 25, 2010 – With eight states looking to legalize medical marijuana through legislative initiatives or ballot measures this November (Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and South Dakota)(1), I wanted to review some of the pros and cons, as I see them, of marijuana use and abuse.

I’ve considered myself particularly qualified to weigh in on the subject ever since my philosophy professor pointed out to me as a college freshman that the Italian derivation of my name, Mal-erb-a, can be interpreted to mean “bad weed.” I’d like to think that my medical degree and some experience in the field of psychiatry help a little bit, too. To sum up my argument I’ll need to borrow a line from Eric Clapton, “It’s in the way that you use it.”

Medical Marijuana:
The medical benefits of marijuana (cannabis) are pretty well established. There is voluminous scientific research on the subject(2) that verifies its efficacy when applied to a variety of medical conditions, and plenty of first-hand evidence that it works for those who use it for their own health problems. While this first-hand testimony that comes from real patients is usually the type of evidence that scientific purists disparage as “anecdotal,” it is, in my opinion, the type of real-life experiential information that we should trust at least as much as the abstract statistical analyses of scientific studies.

The medicinal use of marijuana is well known to be of benefit in the treatment of nausea and other side effects from chemotherapy. It also helps improve the diminished appetite that patients undergoing cancer treatment can experience. It lowers intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients, decreases spasticity and other neurologic symptoms in multiple sclerosis, and there is evidence that it is useful in a variety of additional medical conditions.

Some tend to assume that marijuana first appeared on the scene in the 1960′s. However, history tells us that the medicinal properties of cannabis have been recognized for centuries. The medical use of marijuana is documented in Egyptian papyri dating back to 1,550 BCE. It was used in ancient India to treat insomnia, headaches and labor pains. And the ancient Greeks used cannabis for tapeworms, nosebleeds and ear infections.(3)

Both Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa have been used worldwide in homeopathic practice since as far back as the early 1800′s when detailed information regarding their clinical effects was published.(4) Homeopathic dilutions of these substances have since been found to be particularly effective in treating a wide range of mental/emotional problems including anxiety disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in addition to urinary tract infections like cystitis and prostatitis.

As far as I am concerned, its value in medical practice in allopathic, herbal and homeopathic forms is an open-and-shut case. Any resistance to its medical use from the mainstream medical community is likely to be a function of political expediency because to reject it on scientific grounds is just plain silly. When we consider that physicians legally prescribe powerful and addictive drugs like morphine, codeine, oxycodone (OxyContin) and hydromorphone (Dilaudid), to name just a few, it is hard to see the justification for outlawing medical cannabis. Nevertheless, there are a number of other contexts in which marijuana is used that we still need to consider.

Ritual Use of Marijuana:
The marijuana plant has likewise been used for centuries in the religious rituals of diverse cultures. Marijuana is just one of many entheogens (en-theo-gen = “within-god-creates”). Entheogenic substances are psychoactive substances used to enhance spiritual experience in religious, shamanic or other spiritual contexts. Cannabis oil was used by early Christians in a number of rites including the anointing with oil at baptisms. The ancient Chinese Taoists used cannabis as incense, and many Hindu practices included offerings of cannabis to their deities. (5)(6)

Some similar but more powerfully hallucinogenic substances used in such rituals include peyote, psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca and mescaline. Their common characteristic is their ability to open one up to an experience of the non-physical dimensions of existence. Marijuana users from the sixties generation are quick to point to its consciousness expanding capabilities. Shamans, healers and priests have used and continue to use marijuana in their healing practices and spiritual ceremonies. It is understood to act as a vehicle that provides easier access to and an enhanced experience of the “other side,” or the spiritual realm. It opens the consciousness to new possibilities and is a powerful catalyst for spiritual exploration and development. However, once the “doors of perception”(7) have been opened and spiritual insight has been achieved, I do not believe that it is productive or desirable to repeat the process endlessly, since a variety of other means (prayer, meditation, shamanic journeying, chant, etc.) can yield comparable results.

It is interesting to note that the proper use of these entheogenic substances under the guidance of an experienced elder or spiritual adept does not usually result in drug abuse, destructive tendencies or mental illness. The take-home message here is that it is the context within which marijuana is used that is determinative as to its effect. Given that the United States was founded on principles of religious freedom, citizens’ rights to use marijuana for spiritual purposes should be a no-brainer.

Recreational Use and Prohibition:
Research indicates that nearly 50 percent of Americans have tried marijuana at least once in their lives. Many find that it enhances creativity, and there is no doubt that it heightens one’s aesthetic sensibilities, and one’s experience of music in particular. By my count, at least the last three U.S. presidents are known to have tried it. Despite overwhelming evidence that most recreational users of marijuana come away unscathed from their experiences, we are living in a historical period of inordinately harsh laws that prohibit its use.

Criminalization has made countless criminals out of otherwise ordinary citizens. We have allowed fear to motivate us to such an extent that we are willing to throw our kids in jail for something that many of us did during our own periods of youthful indiscretion. The hypocrisy of the contrast between the public face of our collective societal stance against marijuana and our true private attitudes toward the same is unconscionable. Even if young offenders manage to avoid jail sentences, their lives are often stigmatized in such a way as to seriously hamper them from pursuing productive lives as adults. We are two-faced about the issue and kids see right through that. Furthermore, prohibition of popular substances like alcohol and marijuana will always fail because people who desire them will find ways to get their hands on them anyway.

The Hazards of Marijuana Use and Abuse:
Understandably, those who wish to promote the benefits of marijuana can sometimes downplay the negatives. But they shouldn’t be glossed over because there are some potential problems that must be named for what they are. Although no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose(8) and its overall track record is remarkably safe, there are some hazards that, again, are largely a function of context. In other words, medical use in the context of professional medical care makes good sense, and ritual use performed with right intent and conscious purpose–ideally under the supervision of an experienced elder–can be an enlightening experience, but recreational use is potentially more problematic because it does have its pitfalls.

We all know the classic stereotype of the burnout pothead wasting his life away contemplating his navel while munching on potato chips. As is often the case, there is some validity to the stereotype. Used in excess, marijuana has a clear tendency to diminish motivation, blunt ambition and generally stunt normal emotional growth. While it can stimulate the mind it seems to interfere with emotional maturation in some individuals. It can also cause confusion and disorganized thought patterns. No doubt, some individuals can waste away good portions of their lives in a marijuana haze.

Marijuana is well known to be able to induce anxiety disorders, including panic attacks. More rarely, when used by the wrong individuals, it may serve as a trigger for psychotic states, including schizophrenia. I don’t believe that it “causes” psychoses as much as it can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for individuals already predisposed to developing such conditions.

The problem with recreational use is that it usually happens in uncontrolled situations with no serious purposeful agenda other than to get “high.” Mature experienced individuals can enjoy the benefits of recreational marijuana while avoiding the dangers, especially when used in moderation and with discretion. Many adults similarly engage in responsible social alcohol consumption. As with alcohol, marijuana certainly shouldn’t be served to minors.

Where do we go from here?
We have become an irrationally fearful nation that can make some very poor choices regarding our own best interests. As a society, we have abdicated personal responsibility regarding marijuana by inappropriately turning it into a legal issue. In attempting to solve the very complex issues surrounding cannabis use by means of a very black/white, right/wrong legalistic framework, we have created far more problematic issues. Prohibition encourages crime and guarantees a black market, and the casualties of this misguided effort have become our very own children. Decriminalization and/or legalization would go a long way toward crime reduction.

Abusers are not criminals in my opinion; they are persons in need of our help, guidance and compassion. As with alcohol, we must establish reasonable taboos with compassionate responses. (Although I do have strong reservations about the way beer commercials promote their products with messages containing images of wild parties, sexual objectification and fantasies of athletic heroism.) There is a reason that alcohol is not sold to those under the age of 21, and the same should apply to marijuana. Offenders should face firm but reasonable penalties and should be offered treatment and support, similar to the way in which a variety of alcohol programs are available to alcohol abusers.

One of my pet theories is that as the adults of my generation have tightened the reigns on alcohol and drug use by instituting much harsher punishments than we experienced as kids, it has left little room for modern kids to push the limits and sow their wild oats. The message is clear: partake of the forbidden at your own peril because the consequences can be severe. Since this has become such a risky option, so my theory goes, kids not surprisingly are turning to the final frontier of rebellion, that of sexual promiscuity. And with such easy access in the age of the internet, our kids are placing themselves in great danger at the hands of sexual predators and in terms of the harm that can come to body, mind and soul as a result of so many indiscriminate, casual sexual encounters.

By setting up more reasonable taboos with less dire consequences, there will be room for our children to occasionally experiment with those boundaries and, when they cross the line, we as a society and as individuals can be there to set them back on course before it is too late. Is it a foolproof strategy? No; there will always be casualties, but they will be far fewer in number. This overall approach is in keeping with the current cries against governmental overreach and allows us to return to the basic principles of freedom of choice and personal responsibility. And as Clapton intones, “So don’t you ever abuse it…” By Larry Malerba, D.O. – Practicioner, educator and leader in the field of holistic medicine.
Source.

References:

(1) Medical Marijuana, ProCon.org
(2) Research Findings on Medicinal Properties of Marijuana, MarijuanaLibrary.org

(3) Medical Cannabis, Wikipedia
(4) Timothy F Allen, MD, The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica, Vol. II, Boericke & Tafel, New York, 1875. p. 448
(5) Entheogens, Wikipedia
(6) Religious and spiritual use of cannabis, Wikipedia

(7) The Doors of Perception, Wikipedia
(8) Annual Causes of Death in the U.S., DrugWarFacts.org

September 27, 2010 – SAN FRANCISCO — California has a long history of defying conventional wisdom on the issue of marijuana, including its embrace of the drug in the 1960s and its landmark medical pot law 14 years ago. So it may not be all that surprising that a November ballot measure to legalize the drug has created some odd alliances and scenarios.

Pot growers have opposed it. Some police have favored it. Polls show the public is deeply divided. Only politicians have lined up as expected: Nearly all major party candidates oppose the measure. And hanging over the whole debate is the fact that marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

As the Nov. 2 election nears, Proposition 19 has become about much more than the pros and cons of the drug itself. The campaigns have framed the vote as a referendum on everything from jobs and taxes to crime and the environment.

The measure gained ground in a Field Poll released Sunday, pulling ahead 49 percent to 42 percent among likely voters. The poll also found that Californians have become steadily more permissive toward the drug since pollsters began quizzing state residents about their attitudes 40 years ago.

Proponents say the measure is a way for the struggling state and its cities to raise badly needed funds. A legal pot industry, they say, would create jobs while undercutting violent criminals who profit off the illegal trade in the drug.

“I think it’s a golden opportunity for California voters to strike a real blow against the (Mexican) drug cartels and drug gangs,” said Joseph McNamara, who served as San Jose’s police chief for about 15 years. “That would be a greater blow than we ever struck during my 35 years in law enforcement.”

Supporters, including a group of former and current law enforcement officials, have called attention to the failure of the so-called “War on Drugs” to put a dent in pot production in California, and they say police need to pursue more dangerous crimes.

To pull ahead, opponents will have to convince voters that legalized marijuana will create a greater public safety threat than keeping it illegal.

“If the price drops, more people are going to buy it. Low-income people are going to buy marijuana instead of buying food, which happens with substance abusers,” said Pleasant Hill police Chief Pete Dunbar, who also speaks for the California Police Chiefs’ Association, one of many law enforcement groups against the measure.

As a result, he said, legalizing marijuana would only encourage the cycle of theft and violence driven by people who need money to buy drugs. Opponents of Proposition 19 argue that the wording of the proposed law would compromise public safety by gutting restrictions on driving and going to work while high.

The state district attorneys’ group has come out publicly against Proposition 19, as have many county governments, the editorial boards of the state’s biggest newspapers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said the law would make California a “laughingstock.”

Under the proposed law, adults 21 and older could possess up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use and grow gardens up to 25 square feet.

The proposal would allow cities and governments to decide for themselves whether to tax and allow pot sales. Opponents say a vague, disorganized patchwork of regulations would ensue and lead to chaos for police and courts.

There’s also the prospect of legal chaos, given the fact that pot will remain illegal under federal law regardless of what happens. Every former Drug Enforcement Administration boss is asking President Barack Obama to sue California if the measure passes on the grounds that federal law trumps state law — the same argument the administration used in suing Arizona over its immigration law.

Proposition 19 is the brainchild of Richard Lee, an Oakland medical marijuana entrepreneur who spent more than $1 million to get the measure on the ballot. Also the founder of a trade school for aspiring marijuana growers and retailers, Lee has pushed legal marijuana as a boon to the state’s economy and an important source of tax revenue to help close the state’s massive budget deficit. The Service Employees International Union, the state’s biggest union, has endorsed the measure as an economic booster.

But analysts have said the economic consequences of a legalized pot trade are difficult to predict. The state Board of Equalization last year said a marijuana legalization measure proposed in the state legislature could have brought California up to $1.4 billion in tax revenue. On Friday, the agency said Proposition 19, which leaves marijuana taxing decisions to local governments, contained too many unknowns for its analysts to estimate how much the measure might generate.

In July, the nonpartisan RAND Drug Policy Research Center forecast that legalizing marijuana could send prices plunging by as much as 90 percent. Lower prices could mean less tax revenue even as pot consumption rose, the group said.

The potential price drop has brought unexpected opposition, or at least suspicion, from rural pot farmers who fear the loss of their traditional, though legally risky, way of life.

Marijuana has become so crucial to rural economies along the state’s North Coast that even some local government officials are working on plans for coping with a pot downturn.

The state’s medical marijuana economy is thriving as hundreds of retail dispensaries across California sell pot to hundreds of thousands of qualified patients. And some medical marijuana supporters have said Proposition 19 could undermine the credibility of the drug as a medical treatment.

“I’m just against the whole concept of the recreational use of marijuana,” said Dennis Peron, the San Francisco activist who was the driving force behind the 1996 ballot measure that legalized medical marijuana. Source.