Ending the drug war

[mbsyl]

Hi, I'm new here and this particular Forum caught my eye.
Drug policy has been some what of an obsession for a few years now and I've always thought that it needed better marketing, more support, etc.
So are there any other people out there who are against the war on drugs and can see the damage it's doing to our world?
Or at least the war on marijuana?
Or Medical Marijuana?
Or personal freedoms?

One good idea might be a website gathering signatures/stories of medical marijuana users. Maybe have highlights, along with commentary on the ongoing policies pertaining to medical cannabis, and the science behind cannabis.
You don't see very many patients get the kind of coverage they should. There are some truly amazing stories, and I think 'celebritizing' patients-making them an issue for mainstream media to talk about on a regular basis, etc. would be great for the movement.
The great philanthropist/journalist Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times mentioned in a recent documentary something about compassion...how he prefers to write personal stories linked to social issues because it humanizes the story somewhat, and makes the reader more interested and caring.
I think it's more practical to start where you're more likely to produce actual change. Medical marijuana has been adopted by 14 states so far, and there are ballots and initiatives all over the place.
California might even legalize marijuana soon even.

So does anyone else have any ideas?

[DerekS]

Marijuana is in a different class. More and more states will liberalize their policies towards it.

As for the war on drugs like meth, heroin, and crack/cocaine? That war will NEVER end. I'm of the opinion that locking up users does nothing but crowd our prisons and waste resources- but I can't see the war on hard drugs getting anything but worse.

[CGM]

I am a strong proponent of medical marijuana, or just laxer marijuana laws in general.

I like your idea, there are sites like you mentioned but none are... how should I word this... "of high enough quality" to be really noticed? I'm currently developing a marijuana health related information website, although its been on the back burner as I have been working on my LandShuffle project.

And as a correction, marijuana will never be 100% 'legal'. Decriminalized, perhaps which is close enough (and would make me a happy person). Even in the Netherlands its simply decriminalized. Even in some states, its the same way. Ohio, first offense with an ounce or less is treated like a traffic violation. In Nevada, if you're 21 or older its the same deal. Slap on the wrist and a fine. Beats jail!

I obviously believe it should be an option for those who wish to seek it for medical reasons.

And of course, I wish anyone could just sit out on their back porch and enjoy the Spring weather with a joint without fear of a nosy neighbor calling the law. But since you didn't ask about that, i'll leave the pro or against marijuana talk for another thread.

I'm down for another passion project, PM me if you'd like me to help out or do something. I'm a NORML supporter and would love to help out in anyway for something positive.



EDIT: And as far as the other drugs go, some aren't as bad as others. I believe in treatment over punishment for drug addictions, and I don't believe magic mushrooms should be in the same category as say, meth. Etc.

[mbsyl]

Marijuana is in a different class. More and more states will liberalize their policies towards it.

As for the war on drugs like meth, heroin, and crack/cocaine? That war will NEVER end. I'm of the opinion that locking up users does nothing but crowd our prisons and waste resources- but I can't see the war on hard drugs getting anything but worse.

I don't know about Never. It's a lot further away than medical marijuana/recreational marijuana, but I wouldn't say never. I wouldn't be surprised if we come to our senses some time in the next couple of decades, but that might just be wishful thinking.
Don't be such a pessimist.

[mbsyl]

I am a strong proponent of medical marijuana, or just laxer marijuana laws in general.

I like your idea, there are sites like you mentioned but none are... how should I word this... "of high enough quality" to be really noticed? I'm currently developing a marijuana health related information website, although its been on the back burner as I have been working on my LandShuffle project.

And as a correction, marijuana will never be 100% 'legal'. Decriminalized, perhaps which is close enough (and would make me a happy person). Even in the Netherlands its simply decriminalized. Even in some states, its the same way. Ohio, first offense with an ounce or less is treated like a traffic violation. In Nevada, if you're 21 or older its the same deal. Slap on the wrist and a fine. Beats jail!

I obviously believe it should be an option for those who wish to seek it for medical reasons.

And of course, I wish anyone could just sit out on their back porch and enjoy the Spring weather with a joint without fear of a nosy neighbor calling the law. But since you didn't ask about that, i'll leave the pro or against marijuana talk for another thread.

I'm down for another passion project, PM me if you'd like me to help out or do something. I'm a NORML supporter and would love to help out in anyway for something positive.



EDIT: And as far as the other drugs go, some aren't as bad as others. I believe in treatment over punishment for drug addictions, and I don't believe magic mushrooms should be in the same category as say, meth. Etc.

I agree @similar, but low quality sites.
I wouldn't even say they're low quality so much as they're just not mainstream media friendly. They don't create a buzz.
They need stories to have a certain flair if they're going to get the media to give them much play, but I think with the right ideas it would be possible to start getting the issue more air time.
What's your marijuana health site like exactly?
Landshuffle sounds interesting (I googled).
All I've ever wanted was a place in the country.
"Coming Soon! Website currently being developed. In the mean time, here is some live Twitter feeds:" - from landshuffle
(is should be are)
So are you a website designer? I've been thinking of getting into that.
Another naysayer @ never legal. Well, I think the Netherlands and other places Would legalize it if the USA lead by example. We kind of have a way of influencing other countries' drug policies. There's a ballot in California that's going to try to legalize/tax recreational marijuana in 2010, but I'll admit it feels a bit soon.
I'm also a NORML supporter and I'll send you a PM now.

[mbsyl]

Apparently I can't PM until I have 13 more messages under my belt, so I'll just put the PM here.

Hey, I'd love to take a look at your marijuana health site, though I don't know how much use I can be besides ideas.
I don't know website design or marketing, but I'm hoping to learn.
I do have a passion for this stuff though, and, I think, a pretty good brain that can come up with creative ideas to help achieve my goals.
I don't have many people I can really discuss this with, and I'm encouraged by the idea of combining brain powers on the topic and seeing what comes of it.

[faisallatif]

i know only one thing that beside medical issues drugs are very harmful for human being,

[DerekS]

I don't know about Never. It's a lot further away than medical marijuana/recreational marijuana, but I wouldn't say never. I wouldn't be surprised if we come to our senses some time in the next couple of decades, but that might just be wishful thinking.
Don't be such a pessimist.

Come to Baltimore.

[StephenG]

Quite a bit of non hysterical research needs to be done on drugs as of yet.
In Ca, all the physc patients were released to run on the streets as homeless, a very large percentage of them have become chrystal meth addicts. I have to ask myself if there is some chemical in there that they are craving for medicinal purposes. Don't get me wrong, I think meth is th emost insidious drug out there but I have to wonder if it or something similar may have a place.
Down and out alcholics seem to function fairy well for some reason when they are using heroin just as people who are in extreme pain.
Only thing about marijuana I have a problem with is the memory loss issues. I had to give it up years ago because it causes an irregular heartbeat in me.
burgalaries, shoplifting, murders, no telling the cost of drug addiction in this country.

[DerekS]

I have to ask myself if there is some chemical in there that they are craving for medicinal purposes.

Yeah, it's called dopamine. It occurs naturally but the receptors are heinously over stimulated by drugs like meth, heroin, and coke. Once the overstimluation begins, it cannot be reversed. The receptors are permanently damaged. I'm no scientist, but I've heard that meth can damage the receptors after just 1 use. That's why its a safe bet that dopamine influencing drugs will never be made available for recreational use.

As for medicinal purposes- some of the active ingredients in those drugs have been around for some time. Morphine. Pseudo ephedrine. etc.

[mbsyl]

they can be harmful, yeah.
not as harmful as the futile war on drugs though.

[mbsyl]

Come to Baltimore.

ha!
i've seen The Wire maybe 3 times the whole way through, so I kinda feel like I have been (although I know it's a poor substitute).
have you ever seen it?

[mbsyl]

Quite a bit of non hysterical research needs to be done on drugs as of yet.
In Ca, all the physc patients were released to run on the streets as homeless, a very large percentage of them have become chrystal meth addicts. I have to ask myself if there is some chemical in there that they are craving for medicinal purposes. Don't get me wrong, I think meth is th emost insidious drug out there but I have to wonder if it or something similar may have a place.
Down and out alcholics seem to function fairy well for some reason when they are using heroin just as people who are in extreme pain.
Only thing about marijuana I have a problem with is the memory loss issues. I had to give it up years ago because it causes an irregular heartbeat in me.
burgalaries, shoplifting, murders, no telling the cost of drug addiction in this country.

Yeah, it's a shame @ psych. patients. Especially really bad ones who can barely function. Hospitalizing/caring for them would be too Big Govt. I guess(unlike the war on drugs).
I'm not sure @ meth/heroin. My only guess would be that meth makes them feel good simply because of the dopamine rush.
I've seen studies indicating that marijuana doesn't have any significant effect on your memory in the long-term.
I know that in my experience alcohol has seemed to have a worse effect on my memory than marijuana, and I've never been a heavy alcohol user.
Burglaries, shoplifting, and murders are mostly products of the drug war.

[mbsyl]

Yeah, it's called dopamine. It occurs naturally but the receptors are heinously over stimulated by drugs like meth, heroin, and coke. Once the overstimluation begins, it cannot be reversed. The receptors are permanently damaged. I'm no scientist, but I've heard that meth can damage the receptors after just 1 use. That's why its a safe bet that dopamine influencing drugs will never be made available for recreational use.

As for medicinal purposes- some of the active ingredients in those drugs have been around for some time. Morphine. Pseudo ephedrine. etc.

"damage" is a relative term. I'm very skeptical of anything I hear from the government about drug policy/science, but I have seen some crazy meth heads for sure, so I don't know.
I also knew a frequent meth user who had perfect teeth, looked 10 years younger than he was, and was quite bright.

[DerekS]

"damage" is a relative term. I'm very skeptical of anything I hear from the government about drug policy/science, but I have seen some crazy meth heads for sure, so I don't know.
I also knew a frequent meth user who had perfect teeth, looked 10 years younger than he was, and was quite bright.

I've seen the same data from independent studies. Although the government propaganda on marijuana is WAY off (which really damages their credibility), meth is definitely the most dangerous drug out there. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. I know several people who "regularly" used meth, and although I'm sure it damaged their lives in some way, you'd never know it from talking to them or looking at them. I've also known plenty of functional heroin addicts. I'm just saying that these drugs so potent that we'll most likely never see laxer laws regarding their use (just look at the disaster government run methadone programs are.)

I have seen The Wire. It was excellently written, and a pretty accurate description of Baltimore's drug trade, politics, and culture. The last season was a little weak though. Keep in mind that there's more to the city than The Wire's corners (but it can seem pretty damn close at times- we just had 2 cops shot yesterday morning.)