nonparanoia
11-17-02, 12:26 AM
On August 4th of this year, the DEA and Federal Agents raided a house in rural Kentucky on the charge of growing marijuiana.
The house that was raided was owned by a family with 2 kids, who were home-schooled. The parents, who had never been in trouble with the law, were arrested on charges of growing and distributing marijuiana, even though it was being grown under strict guidlines for medical use.
Because there was a loaded gun that was used for hunting, (It was licensed and legal) the couple is now not only being charged with the State law, but now also from the Federal Government with having a firearm.
Does it seem fair that this couple, who is only trying to help out the sick and terminally ill, is being charged with these outlandish crimes, and will spend time in jail and on parole for growing a plant?
Besides, what is the big deal? There has been controversy surrounding this subject since the beginning. Why shouldnt marijuiana be legal to grow and sell, under guidlines?
Keith Stroup, NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuiana Laws) executive director, argued that nothing in a BLF (British Lung Foundation) report justifies
arresting
and jailing responsible adult marijuana smokers. "Any risk presented
by
marijuana smoking falls within the ambit of choice we permit the
individual in a free society," he said. "We do not suggest that
marijuana
is totally harmless or that it cannot be abused. That is true for all
drugs, including those that are legal. Clearly, however, marijuana's
relative risk to the user and society in no way justifies criminal
prohibition or the continued arrest of more than 700,000 Americans on
marijuana charges every year."
Plus, what are the medical benifits behind the use of marijuiana? Is there a serious physical risk with smoking marijuiana?
Stroup did agree that marijuana smoke arguably carries some health
risks.
"Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke contains a number of irritants
and
carcinogens. However, most marijuana-only smokers likely do not inhale
enough smoke to cause serious lung damage. In addition, many of these
carcinogens may be reduced or eliminated by the use of marijuana
vaporizers and other alternative smoking devices currently banned by
the
U.S. government."
Stroup also noted that the chief psychoactive ingredient in marijuana,
THC, is not carcinogenic and may actually offer protection against the
development of some malignancies. A 1996 U.S. toxicology study found
that
rats administered THC over long periods of time failed to develop
cancer
and had fewer tumors than rats not given the agent. A follow up study
by
a Spanish research team in 2000 found that injections of synthetic THC
eradicated malignant brain tumors - so-called gliomas - in one-third of
treated rats, and prolonged life in another third by as much as six
weeks.
Although there could be much more to say on this subject, I guess I will leave it with a question:
What do you think about the use of marijuiana, both for medical and recreational use, and about the laws regarding the growth of this very special plant.
The house that was raided was owned by a family with 2 kids, who were home-schooled. The parents, who had never been in trouble with the law, were arrested on charges of growing and distributing marijuiana, even though it was being grown under strict guidlines for medical use.
Because there was a loaded gun that was used for hunting, (It was licensed and legal) the couple is now not only being charged with the State law, but now also from the Federal Government with having a firearm.
Does it seem fair that this couple, who is only trying to help out the sick and terminally ill, is being charged with these outlandish crimes, and will spend time in jail and on parole for growing a plant?
Besides, what is the big deal? There has been controversy surrounding this subject since the beginning. Why shouldnt marijuiana be legal to grow and sell, under guidlines?
Keith Stroup, NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuiana Laws) executive director, argued that nothing in a BLF (British Lung Foundation) report justifies
arresting
and jailing responsible adult marijuana smokers. "Any risk presented
by
marijuana smoking falls within the ambit of choice we permit the
individual in a free society," he said. "We do not suggest that
marijuana
is totally harmless or that it cannot be abused. That is true for all
drugs, including those that are legal. Clearly, however, marijuana's
relative risk to the user and society in no way justifies criminal
prohibition or the continued arrest of more than 700,000 Americans on
marijuana charges every year."
Plus, what are the medical benifits behind the use of marijuiana? Is there a serious physical risk with smoking marijuiana?
Stroup did agree that marijuana smoke arguably carries some health
risks.
"Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke contains a number of irritants
and
carcinogens. However, most marijuana-only smokers likely do not inhale
enough smoke to cause serious lung damage. In addition, many of these
carcinogens may be reduced or eliminated by the use of marijuana
vaporizers and other alternative smoking devices currently banned by
the
U.S. government."
Stroup also noted that the chief psychoactive ingredient in marijuana,
THC, is not carcinogenic and may actually offer protection against the
development of some malignancies. A 1996 U.S. toxicology study found
that
rats administered THC over long periods of time failed to develop
cancer
and had fewer tumors than rats not given the agent. A follow up study
by
a Spanish research team in 2000 found that injections of synthetic THC
eradicated malignant brain tumors - so-called gliomas - in one-third of
treated rats, and prolonged life in another third by as much as six
weeks.
Although there could be much more to say on this subject, I guess I will leave it with a question:
What do you think about the use of marijuiana, both for medical and recreational use, and about the laws regarding the growth of this very special plant.