Government warnings regarding marijuana need to be changed

[JJScorpio]

I wonder how many crack/meth/heroine addicts got addicted due to Govt warnings that state pot is as dangerous as other hard core drugs. I talked with an addict yesterday and asked him why he even tried heroine in the first place. His answer made me think. This person told me that he had smoked pot for years and the warnings were as bad as heroine and the others so he figured heroine might not be that bad either. One time, and he was an addict.

It did make sense to me. If a teen, unknowledgable of drugs were to read Govt warnings, they include pot in with the harder drugs. Why would a person believe what is said regarding the hardcore drugs when pot is placed in the same category with them? Maybe if pot was removed from these warnings, maybe some people would not try them. I wonder how many people that tried pot and saw that there was nothing wrong with it, tried the other drugs thinking the same thing.....

 

[jojajico]

very interesting JJ a good topic to discuss. but we all kno the government is fucked this is just another example. the more research i do the more i find the health benefit from smoking weed. may not be great for your lung capacity but it kills cancer cells, among other things. wasnt there a woman that died a couple weeks back, yea she was the worlds oldest woman at like 125 and she attributed her old age to smoking weed everyday and drinking strong palm wine or something like that... go figure

 

[JJScorpio]

The thing is, most teens know people that smoke pot that are well known and respected in the community. Why should they believe the other drugs are bad when they see proof that pot isn't? I don't think it is as bad as alcohol, but it would make more sense to put pot in the same catagory with alcohol and leave the drugs that are going to ruin someones life in their own catagory. Like the one guy told me " look at what was said about pot, why think they weren't lying about heroine being bad too "?

 

[Speeding Mullet]

Just pulled this off of the independants website. Of course everything is relative, and the study has to be trusted for this list to be believed. I wasn't sure if the 14 deaths attributed to cannabis are true. Did the cannabis actually kill them, or did they get hit by a bus and were found to have been using cannabis. The two scenarios are entirely different.
Anyway, here's the list:

Drugs: the real deal
This is the first ranking based upon scientific evidence of harm to both individuals and society. It was devised by government advisers - then ignored by ministers because of its controversial findings
Published: 01 August 2006
1: Heroin (Class A)
ORIGIN: Vast majority comes from poppy fields of Afghanistan
MEDICAL: Sedative made from the opium poppy. Can be smoked or injected to produce a 'rush'. Users feel lethargic but experience severe cravings for the drug
NO. OF UK USERS: 40,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 744
STREET VALUE: £30-100 a gram
DANGER RATING: 2.75/3

2: Cocaine (Class A)
ORIGIN: Made from coca shrubs from Colombia and Bolivia
MEDICAL: Stimulant made from leaves of the coca bush. Increases alertness and confidence but raises heart rate and blood pressure and users will crave it
NO. OF UK USERS: 800,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 147
STREET VALUE: £30-55 a gram
DANGER RATING: 2.25/3

3: Barbiturates (Class B)
ORIGIN: Synthetic lab-made drugs, used to be prominent in clubs
MEDICALowerful sedatives. Widely prescribed as sleeping pills but dangerous in overdose and now superseded by safer drugs
NO. OF UK USERS: Not many
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 14
STREET VALUE: £1-2 a tablet
DANGER RATING: 2.10/3

4: Street Methadone (Class A)
ORIGIN: Synthetic drug similar to heroin but less addictive
MEDICAL: Similar to morphine and heroin and used to wean addicts off these drugs because it is less sedating. Street versions may be contaminated
NO. OF UK USERS: 20,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 200
STREET VALUE: £2 a dose
DANGER RATING: 1.90/3

5: Alcohol (Legal)
ORIGIN: Brewed across the world in many different forms
MEDICAL:Central nervous system depressant used to reduce inhibitions and increase sociability. Increasing doses lead to intoxication, coma and respiratory failure
NO. OF UK USERS: Most adults
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 22,000
STREET VALUE: £2.25 pint of lager
DANGER RATING: 1.85/3

6: Ketamine (Class C)
ORIGIN: Anaesthetic drug popular on club and rave scene
MEDICAL:Intravenous anaesthetic used on humans and animals which, when taken in tablet form, creates hallucinatory experiences
NO. OF UK USERS: Unknown
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: N/A
STREET VALUE: £15-50 a gram
DANGER RATING: 1.80/3

7: Benzodiazopines (Class C)
ORIGIN: Tranquilisers used to beat anxiety and insomnia
MEDICAL:The most common prescription tranquillisers. Effective sedatives which have a calming effect, reducing anxiety, but are addictive
NO. OF UK USERS: 160,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 206
STREET VALUE: Prescription drug
DANGER RATING: 1.75/3

8: Amphetamines (Class B)
ORIGIN: Synthetic stimulants snorted, mixed in drink or injected
MEDICAL:Man-made drugs that increase heart rate and alertness. Users may feel paranoid. Newer form, methamphetamine, is addictive
NO. OF UK USERS: 650,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 33
STREET VALUE: £2-10 a gram
DANGER RATING: 1.70/3

9: Tobacco (Legal)
ORIGIN: Most of the leaf comes from the Americas
MEDICAL: Contains nicotine, a fast-acting stimulant which is highly addictive. Tobacco causes lung cancer and increases the risk of heart disease
NO. OF UK USERS: 12.5m
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 114,000
STREET VALUE: £4.50 a packet
DANGER RATING: 1.65/3

10: Buprenorphine (Class C)
ORIGIN: Can be made in a laboratory
MEDICAL: More expensive alternative to methadone used to wean addicts off heroin. Preferred by some addicts because it leaves them more 'clear headed'
NO. OF UK USERS: Unknown
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: N/A
STREET VALUE: Unknown
DANGER RATING: 1.55/3

11: Cannabis (Class C)
ORIGIN: Plant is easily cultivated in temperate climates
MEDICAL: Leaves of the cannabis sativa plant or resin can be smoked or eaten. It is a relaxant but stronger forms can also cause hallucinations and panic attacks
NO. OF UK USERS: 3m
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 16
£40-100 an ounce
DANGER RATING: 1.40/3

12: Solvents (Legal)
ORIGIN: Organic compounds found in glues, paints, lighter fluid
MEDICAL: Includes glue, gas lighters, some aerosols and paint thinners. Produces euphoria and loss of inhibitions but can cause blackouts and death
NO. OF UK USERS: 37,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 53
STREET VALUE: £9.99 a tin of paint
DANGER RATING: 1.35/3

13: 4-MTA (Class A)
ORIGIN: Amphetamine derivative; similar effects to ecstasy
MEDICAL: Amphetamine derivative, similar to ecstasy, and also known as 'flatliners'. Popular dance drug, producing feelings of euphoria
NO. OF UK USERS: Unknown
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: N/A
STREET VALUE: Unknown
DANGER RATING: 1.30/3

14: LSD (Class A)
ORIGIN: Hallucinogenic, synthetic drug more popular in 1960s
MEDICAL: Man-made drug that has a strong effect on perception. Effects include hallucinations and loss of sense of time. A 'bad trip' can cause anxiety
NO. OF UK USERS: 70,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: N/A
STREET VALUE: £1-5 a tab
DANGER RATING: 1.25/3

15: Methylphenidate (Class B)
ORIGIN: Medicine, similar to amphetamines
MEDICAL: The chemical name for Ritalin, the stimulant drug used to treat children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder which helps them concentrate
NO. OF UK USERS: Unknown
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: N/A
STREET VALUE: Unknown
DANGER RATING: 1.20/3

16: Anabolic Steroids (Class C)
ORIGIN: Hormones used by bodybuilders and sportsmen
MEDICAL: Synthetic drugs that have a similar effect to hormones such as testosterone. Used by body builders to increase muscle bulk
NO. OF UK USERS: 38,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: N/A
STREET VALUE: £7.99 a tablet
DANGER RATING: 1.15/3

17: GHB (Class C)
ORIGIN: Synthetic drug, sold as 'liquid ecstasy'
MEDICAL: The date rape drug, Gammahydroxybutyrate, is a sedative that has a relaxing effect, reducing inhibitions, but can lead to stiff muscles and fits
NO. OF UK USERS: Not many
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 3
STREET VALUE: £15 a bottle
DANGER RATING: 1.10/3

18: Ecstasy (Class A)
ORIGIN: Synthetic drug in tablets; popular in dance scene
MEDICAL: MDMA or similar man-made chemicals. Causes adrenaline rushes and feelings of wellbeing but also anxiety and high body temperature
NO. OF UK USERS: 800,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 33
STREET VALUE: £1-5 a pill
DANGER RATING: 1.05/3

19: Alkyl Nitrites (Legal)
ORIGIN: Liquid, better known as 'poppers'; inhaled
MEDICAL: Gives a strong, joyous rush and a burst of energy for a few minutes which quickly fades and can leave a powerful headache
NO. OF UK USERS: 550,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: N/A
STREET VALUE: £2-6 for 10ml
DANGER RATING: 0.95/3

20: Khat (Legal)
ORIGIN: Green-leaf shrub grown in region of Southern Africa
MEDICAL: Natural stimulant, its leaves are chewed to produce a feeling of wellbeing and happiness. Popular with the Somali community
NO. OF UK USERS: 40,000
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: Not many
STREET VALUE: £4 a bunch
DANGER RATING: 0.80/3

SM
P.S. lol 40-100 pounds an ounce. Try again!

 

[Trichome Toker]

Any chart that lists cocaine as more dangerous than alcohol can not be taken seriously.

 

[Speeding Mullet]

Last year alcohol killed 0.04% of the using population.
Last year cocaine killed 0.6% of the using population

SM

 

[Trichome Toker]

Yeah, but how many people got killed by alcohol consumers Vs. cocaine users?

Anyone who spent any time in county jail will tell you that alcohol use has way more dangers than just ODing.

Like waking up in prison for example, for anything from drunk driving to killing your wife.

I saw people come into prison who killed someone and didn't even remember doing it they where so pissed drunk.

 

[Speeding Mullet]

I completely agree that alcohol is more dangerous TT, and I mean't to tag an edit onto my post, but for one reason or the other I'm feeling abit sold out by life at the moment, and I haven't got the mindset to get my point across properly.

I think what I was going to say is that yes, despite these figures I agree that alcohol is more dangerous than cocaine, because of the fact that so many more people use it, or come into contact with people that are using it.
If I didn't have the mental agility of a desk right now, I would probably be able to articulate my point better, but the situation is conspiring against me currently.

SM

 

[Trichome Toker]

All I can say is, I saw large amounts of cocaine turn people into assholes, but I saw large amounts of alcohol turn people into assholes.

I mean like violently out of control, piss on your carpet right in front of you and think nothing of it, spit in your face for no apparent reason and deny it all the next morning.

Cocaine has OD potential just like alcohol, maybe even more because the purity varies so greatly in an unregulated black market.

Just saying for blatant out of control behavior, alcohol is ten times worse than any other drug in that regard, I myself have made a huge ass of myself on alcohol, more than any other drug.

The only time I ever woke up in prison and had to have the cop explain to me why I am in prison cause I can't remember, that was alcohol.

 

[BirdDawg]

I'd like to know where they came up with 16 deaths due to cannabis. And in only one year! To my knowledge, no one has ever died from using it.
"11: Cannabis (Class C)
ORIGIN: Plant is easily cultivated in temperate climates
MEDICAL: Leaves of the cannabis sativa plant or resin can be smoked or eaten. It is a relaxant but stronger forms can also cause hallucinations and panic attacks
NO. OF UK USERS: 3m
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 16
£40-100 an ounce
DANGER RATING: 1.40/3 "

 

[jojajico]

I'd like to know where they came up with 16 deaths due to cannabis. And in only one year! To my knowledge, no one has ever died from using it.
"11: Cannabis (Class C)
ORIGIN: Plant is easily cultivated in temperate climates
MEDICAL: Leaves of the cannabis sativa plant or resin can be smoked or eaten. It is a relaxant but stronger forms can also cause hallucinations and panic attacks
NO. OF UK USERS: 3m
NO. OF UK DEATHS IN 2004: 16
£40-100 an ounce
DANGER RATING: 1.40/3 "

ditto

 

[NserUame]

Unless you got a metric ton of marijuana dropped on you I really don't see how it could kill you.

 

[Guest]

fucked up if you asked me, where the hell did this chart come from, Bush's ass?

 

[dude06version]

probly someone died from like a serious heart condition or something. and just happened to be smoking some mj at the time, or had it in their system.or something like that..i mean dont you think that would be over all the news channels etc if they had a legit case of death from mj... theyll do what they have to do to say someone died from mj...

 

[GMT]

hmm, thinking about it, I bet they found it in the blood tests on car crash victims and used it as the reason for the accident.

 

[Deft]

hmm, thinking about it, I bet they found it in the blood tests on car crash victims and used it as the reason for the accident.

I hate that, its extreemly misleading and not based on any sort of truth or sience..

There aint no corrolation betwen cannabis matabloites and impaird driving..