Former surgeon general calls for marijuana legalization

[kpete]

Source: CNN

Former surgeon general calls for marijuana legalization
By the CNN Wire Staff
October 18, 2010 1:11 a.m. EDT

(CNN) -- Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders told CNN Sunday she supports legalizing marijuana.

The trend-setting state of California is voting next month on a ballot initiative to legalize pot, also known as Proposition 19. The measure would legalize recreational use in the state, though federal officials have said they would continue to enforce drug laws in California if the initiative is approved.

"What I think is horrible about all of this, is that we criminalize young people. And we use so many of our excellent resources ... for things that aren't really causing any problems," said Elders. "It's not a toxic substance."

Supporters of California's Prop. 19 say it would raise revenue and cut the cost of enforcement, while opponents point to drug's harmful side-effects.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/10/18/former.surgeon.general.marijuana/index.html

[xchrom]

1. she is so awesome. nt

[polichick]

2. "we criminalize young people" - This is what upsets me most. Good on her! nt

[molly77]

39. Have we always been this retarded?

Alcohol and cigarettes are legal...if you have a marijuana conviction you can't get a student loan?

[polichick]

47. imo it's a culture war thing - Republican sociopaths against "hippies." nt

[Enthusiast]

48. Yup.

And the Republicans are even more wrong now than they were in the 60s and 70s. And they were WAY wrong then.

[letterwriter]

3. Yes - finally!

Someone who has some sense!

[ixion]

7. She made sense when she served under Clinton, and was summarily dismissed

such is the fate of someone who speaks outside the status quo narrative.

[RainDog]

13. she was honest about masturbation - and the right wing hates honesty

the right wing cannot continue their idiotic fantasies about trickle-down economics and literal biblical readings and god hates gays when people tell the truth.

This woman did a great and valuable service to this nation by telling the truth - even if it got her fired - because the nation now admits (beyond the totally crazed idiots like that woman in Delaware) that truth.

The problem with that moment, of course, is the DEMOCRATS were so CRAVEN and SUPPLICATING to right wing idiots that the woman was fired.

Democrats need to learn to tell idiot republicans to shut the fuck up.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. "DEMOCRATS were so CRAVEN and SUPPLICATING to right wing idiots"

the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Ticonderoga]

45. Yes but they won't because anymore

there is very little difference between a corporatist (D) and a corporatist (R).

[reggie the dog]

37. wasnt she forced to leave her post under clinton

because her son got busted for using weed?

[ixion]

42. she was dragged through the mud from day one...obviously targeted for political assassination...

That may have been the excuse (and a lame one, at that) but the motivation was that she wasn't following the narrative.

[felix_numinous]

4. K & R

Dr. Jocelyn Elders was always one of my favorites, she speaks truth to power so had to be marginalized, for--daring to say masturbation should be taught as a part of safe sex! And what could be more true? I guess her truth was just too much for the repressive right, even during Clinton years. Now her stance about marijuana legalization is also about keeping young people safe. She is to be admired.

[AlbertCat]

5. All the above posts are true and right on!

She's the best! Speaking like an adult about what goes on in reality instead of pandering to unsubstantiated notions, treasured just because that's what people WANT to be true.... but clearly isn't.

[AlbertCat]

6. while opponents point to drug's harmful side-effects.

Yeah, like relaxing and having a good time for just a few hours.

If that is their real concern, then they should be fighting for the criminalization of alcohol and tobacco...first.

[awoke_in_2003]

20. "relaxing and having a good time"....

part of me believes that this is EXACTLY why they don't allow it. Why allow the proles any pleasure?

[NoodleyAppendage]

8. Now, I can masturbate and get high! Thanks, Doc! n/t

J

[closeupready]

9. Just wear protective eyeglasses and do not inhale.

:)

[obxhead]

10. ...

:spray: :rofl: :rofl:

(at you both)

[boppers]

24. Well played!

:rofl:

[nicky187]

33. In that order, or simultaneously?

Well done.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.:thumbsup:

[KossackRealityCheck]

12. What an amazing lady!

God, just mentioning her name reminds me of how Clinton, who I generally liked, threw her under the bus over comments on of all things, masturbation. Now we have someone running on a masturbation platform in Delaware.

As a doctor, I'm sure she is aware of its role in pain management and promoting appetite among cancer and AIDS patients, and public health experts have begun to look at drug laws in terms of harm reduction, which means it definitely is not a matter for the criminal "justice" system.

[Duer 157099]

14. That's cool. Did she ever say that when she was SG?

I'm so tired of people waiting til they are out of their power positions to say what is obvious to the rest of us.

If she said that while she was SG, then good, she's consistent.

[reggie the dog]

38. i believe she was the sg who said cannabis

was the safest therapeutically active substance known to man

[Vidar]

15. Intelligent, honest & courageous--no wonder she was fired.

[Supersedeas]

54. That's how it works when intelligent people have integrity

[mdmc]

16. Intelligent, honest & courageous. FIRE HER!

[Vincardog]

17. Exactly what "harmful side-effects"? Please show me the study

[boppers]

27. It depends on methods, and usage.

Inhaling any burning plant material is pretty much established as harmful.

The mental issues are stuck in a cause/effect loop that needs more study (do they use because they have mental problems, or do they have mental problems because they use)?

The memory issues, both short term, and long term, are well documented, but comparable to severe alcohol abuse, which is legal.... same with several other issues.

Wait, what was I saying?

:evilgrin:

[theaocp]

36. Interesting

Can you please point me to the well documented links on long term memory issues? I'd love to read them.

You are correct that inhaling combustible material is harmful, but when acting as a bronchial dilator, cannabis helps the lungs to keep themselves clean. If that's not one's bag, you're also right that they can change their methods: vaporizer (yay!) and oral consumption (yum!)

Ultimately, the whole issue can be resolved through changing alcohol and tobacco to Schedule I substances: high potential for abuse and no recognized medical value. At least then we'd be consistent ... and the world would tear itself apart. Fuck it, let's just be hypocrites.

[boppers]

51. GIYF

http://www.google.com/search?aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=marijuana+memory

Surf away!

[theaocp]

52. Thanks, but I thought you had something specific

Interestingly enough, the first article I came across involved a study with 64 people and the comments section suggested a recent Ohio State study on the benefits to memory from cannabis use.

[boppers]

53. Oh, there's a lot of different studies.

Literally thousands.

I have no idea why so many different fields have decided to run so many different experiments.

:evilgrin:

Here's a generic '.gov' starting point:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/researchreports/marijuana/marijuana3.html

All that being said, here's a MUST READ for anybody trying to read *any* medical studies:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/11/lies-damned-lies-and-medical-science/8269/

[Ticonderoga]

46. But we breath burned oil byproducts

daily and no one has served a day in prison because of it.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. Part of me was hoping...

this would be C. Everett Coop- I mean, how great would it be that someone with an Amish beard would back marijuana legilization?

[awoke_in_2003]

21. and before we start blast CEK...

he advocated some form of AIDs education in school- pretty damn radical for the 80's

[beac]

22. The old coot.... er, Coop... is pushing 95 and just got remarried this Spring.

I wouldn't be surprised if he's a secret toker. Something's gotta be keeping the old blowhard going, 'cause it sure ain't his compassion for his fellow man.

[awoke_in_2003]

25. but he did advocate...

some form of AIDs education in school- like I said upthread, pretty radical for the 80's.

[urotsukidoji]

23. THE DEFINITIVE BOOK on this subject.

For those individuals that wish to assess the true Science of the cannabinoids for themselves - without all of the lies and politics so common to this "debate" - I suggest you all read a brilliant new book called "The Pot Book," edited by Julie Holland, MD. (It's available from Amazon for around $12 and, no, I don't work for the company).

http://www.amazon.com/Pot-Book-Complete-Guide-Cannabis/dp/1594773688/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287462423&sr=8-1

I have found no better resource for the Truth.

[Lilith Velkor]

26. Welcome to the DU!

AWESOME username. :rofl: :thumbsup:

[ooglymoogly]

28. KR Here speaks the gravitas of common sense and honesty.

This woman should be revered as a saint, shining like a diamond in the black quagmire of pretension and duplicity that has overcome us.

[The Wizard]

29. She's a doctor

and recognizes insanity when she sees it.

[Shining Jack]

30. K&R

She have all my respect and admiration.

[zogofzorkon]

31. Its high time

someone had to say it

[indimuse]

32. KNR! n/t

[aikoaiko]

34. Still telling it like it is.

Three cheers for Dr. Elders.

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[madmax]

35. Finally, The Age of Enlightenment

Smoked a little weed when I was in my teens and 20's. Now once in a blue moon and believe alcohol, cigarettes, and Rx Drugs are more harmful than herb and they're legal.

:smoke:

[Can of Whoop-ass]

40. Pot

If it weren't for the times, the repugs wouldn't give pot the the time of day. They see this issue as their band-aid of the month for instantly improving their cosmetic status. A quick fix to saving the taxation of these CEO's and other wealthy bums. These people at traitors period.
Pot should have been decriminalized in the 1930's but the gov't spent a generation demonizing it.
It was a problem for President Nixon and then Gov. Reagan. And cost us billions over the years.
They didn't give a damn about pot but saw the law againt it as a means to stop the protestors and dissidents in the anti-war crowd.
And millionsd of young Americans were given a lifetime of criminal records housed with murderers. In some States pot smokers were given more prison time than murderers because the image the conservaloons had of them was "commie. pinko, beatnik, hippie, artist and poet, junkies and musicians". IOW, Social misfits.
Outcasts.

[lunatica]

41. I love Joycelyn Elders. She's one of my heroes

I'd love to see a debate between her and Christine O'Donnell regarding masturbation.

[shawn703]

43. Yawn...

It's easy to be for something like this when you're a FORMER politician. I completely agree with Elders, but unless it's someone with the power to effect a national change on this policy NOW, and has the courage to stand up for it when they're actually risking their political careers, I can't get too excited about it.

[Romulox]

44. This is another area where the Dem's Me-Too! policies cede massive ground to the Republicans.

Simply put, if this is an issue that important to you, you're about equally well off voting Dem or Repub. :shrug:

[Bluenorthwest]

49. I can not agree at all, at all

The great changes so far have happened at the State level, and a vast majority of support for those changes came from Democrats. This history goes back to the 1970's. Jerry Brown signed CA's first decriminalization bill when he was governor for example.

[Romulox]

50. The vast majority of those changes have come via citizen initiative.

As in California, many of the establishment Dems have fiercely fought reform.