like addiction potential? I've been smoking for 12 years, sometimes heavy, sometimes not. I've never had withdrawals, irritability, insomnia, or any of those other suspect symptoms; short-term mem impariment happens mainly when under the influence, DMAE effectively counteracts that. As far as the claim that marijuana affects dopamine (? lol), it has more to do with endogenous anandamide, I've posted a link on this compound in the Drug Chemistry Forum. A lot of those claims are suspect, because pot affects people differently, like many other substances. Some peopl I knew could smoke a lot, and barely feel anything, same with LSD. The main "danger" is to industry; pot tends to make many people amotivated, and question authority. You could see why big business would frown upon it.
I never said addiction, im saying how it fucks with your perception, speeds up your heart rate, reduces oxygen capacity of your blood, respiratory illnesses.
for one thing, it's a bronchodilator. respiratory illness?? bs. it does speed up the heart rate, but so does caffeine. Reduces oxygen capacity of the blood? never heard of that, but it's possible. Still, it's no worse than phenylephrine nasal sprays or pseudoephedrine decongestants, which can give you hypertension; I've seen people in worse shape from taking adrenergic weight-loss pills. why aren't these illegal? the latter fucks with the brain, and can be euphoric too. yet we see commecials for hydroxycut, "trimspa, babee!", and various other ephedrine derivatives; these can cause serious emotional disturbances too.
Well, think about this, you are inhaling smoke, carcinogens, god knows what else, and you tell me that this doesn't affect your lungs, that's bullshit.
did you read that link? those would-be carcinogens are muted (expression); besides that fact that thc reduces inflammation of the lung tissue, rather than aggravate it.
Now, I see here that you are taking a completely scientific look at this, just looking at studies, but think about this. The body naturally wants to rid itself of dangerous things, we vomit when we ingest something bad, and we cough when we inhale something bad, so when we cough while smoking weed, it is our body telling us that it isn't good for us.
that's the initial aggravation from inhaling smoke, yes I understand that; but once thc bind to the receptors, bronchodilation occurs. I was just thinking about it right now: those studies on your link are biased, because marijuana is a Cat-I substance, which effectively puts it out of reach of objective research in the U.S. other world countries laugh at our drug policy, about how misinformed we are, because of our controlling schedule.
Well, anyway, I never really wanted to get into the long term dangers of marijuana, what I was originally saying is that marijuana distorts perception.
take for instance, ibogaine... it's a Cat. I controllled substance (hallucinogen); it causes perceptual distortions too, but the sort of lucid dreaming type; more notably, it has a >80% recovery rate for heroin addicts, because it breaks the feedback loop in the pleasure pathway, basal ganglia dopamine system; so why is it in a class which is labelled "no medical utility, and high potential for abuse" ??? it kills addictions of all sorts.
OK, I don't know why it is in that category, but what I am telling you is that I understand why it is illegal, and that is because it distorts perception.;
lol you don't get it. PCP distorts perception too, yet it's regulated as a C-II substance, so is Meth; they have a high potential for abuse, but have accepted medical utility...they're illegal if you don't have a prescription. Marijuana is C-I, which means it is "illegal", period..no medical use, high potential for abuse. what is wrong with this picture? and you still haven't answered my question..."why is datura, a highly toxic, deleriant illegal"?
The reason I never answered your post is that I have no idea what datura is, I can't say anything about it. And I'm tired of arguing with you, I'm not a god damn lawyer, therefore, I'm not going to go into this legal mumbo-jumbo, all I originally said is that marijuana fucks with your perception, and therefore I see why it is illegal.
then you're seeing why something is illegal for the wrong reason; that's not why it's illegal. a lot of pharmaceuticals can distort perceptions too, yet they're not illegal. The laws are full of loopholes and grey area; I don't expect you to know what these laws are, or why they exist, but I'm replying to tell you this: the laws do not necessarily reflect the pharmacology. i'm no lawyer either, but I am a biochemist who understands drug mechanisms, and interactions. the marijuana laws are purely political in nature.
Hemp, maybe I should create another thread for it to cause less confusion. But, if Hemp has so much potential, why is it not grown in large quantity and mass produced?
^^^^^^^ The paper industry The cotton industry The petroleum industry The tobbacco industry The conservatives Inquiring mind....I think this thread brings to light the key point outlined in another thread....social injustice is a result of capitalism. Well, interestingly, things are legislated by capital too......not by logic!
Now, I am all for beneficial drugs to be legal, if marijuana is beneficial, then ok, I believe it should be legal with a perscription, but I am saying that I see why it isn't legal recreationally.
ahh, now this is a sensible view, and I am inclined to agree; this is where rescheduling it from C-I to C-III (a category which Xanax and Valium are in) would make more sense, rather than keeping it illegal altogether. The C-I designation prevents it from being further researched (independently) in this country. I know it's not exactly a "harmless" drug, but we'll never fully know with such restrictions placed on it. i'm not against the regulation of drugs, it's just that the level of regulation of certain ones is inconsistent with their inherent hazards.