Comments on: Legitimate patients http://bananapeelproject.org/2009/10/05/legitimate-patients/ thoughts on technology and the politics of psychopharmacology Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:29:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Annie http://bananapeelproject.org/2009/10/05/legitimate-patients/#comment-502 Annie Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:54:07 +0000 http://bananapeelproject.org/2009/10/05/legitimate-patients/#comment-502 Hey Brad, I restumbled upon an article I had read once, and this time thought of you and your drug politics/culture studies. You may have read it. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/10/health/10pain.html Here's the author, who I just (re) discovered. See his series at the top. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/donald_g_jr_mcneil/index.html?inline=nyt-per Hope all is well. And very interesting post. Annie Hey Brad,
I restumbled upon an article I had read once, and this time thought of you and your drug politics/culture studies. You may have read it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/10/health/10pain.html
Here’s the author, who I just (re) discovered. See his series at the top.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/donald_g_jr_mcneil/index.html?inline=nyt-per

Hope all is well.

And very interesting post.

Annie

]]> By: Brad http://bananapeelproject.org/2009/10/05/legitimate-patients/#comment-484 Brad Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:01:57 +0000 http://bananapeelproject.org/2009/10/05/legitimate-patients/#comment-484 Interesting -- thanks, Kelle. I can run through it pretty fast: 1. Huge cash crop? Sure. 2. Lots of revenue opportunities? Definitely. 3. An "awesome herbal remedy for most ailments"? Hardly. It works very well for lots of people and for lots of different things, but it's hardly a miracle drug. Also, using marijuana is not "just like" getting a massage or using LSD. But his point is right on--there have to safe spaces for all kinds of things. 4. Gateway drug? No. Neither is alcohol. There is no such thing as a drug that in and of itself causes or even predisposes one to going on to other drugs. 5. It's true that alcohol is far more dangerous than marijuana, but that's a terrible reason to argue for legalization. There are plenty of other reasons. Thanks! Interesting — thanks, Kelle. I can run through it pretty fast:

1. Huge cash crop? Sure.
2. Lots of revenue opportunities? Definitely.
3. An “awesome herbal remedy for most ailments”? Hardly. It works very well for lots of people and for lots of different things, but it’s hardly a miracle drug. Also, using marijuana is not “just like” getting a massage or using LSD. But his point is right on–there have to safe spaces for all kinds of things.
4. Gateway drug? No. Neither is alcohol. There is no such thing as a drug that in and of itself causes or even predisposes one to going on to other drugs.
5. It’s true that alcohol is far more dangerous than marijuana, but that’s a terrible reason to argue for legalization. There are plenty of other reasons.

Thanks!

]]> By: Kelle Anzalone http://bananapeelproject.org/2009/10/05/legitimate-patients/#comment-483 Kelle Anzalone Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:31:55 +0000 http://bananapeelproject.org/2009/10/05/legitimate-patients/#comment-483 Hey, So I found this portion of a blog post of musician Jason Mraz's blog thefreshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com. I read it and I immediately though of you and your studies. It's interesting to read his perspective even though its short. Here it is: vaqkiddo: what is your stand on legalizing marijuana? Marijuana is already one of the largest cash crops in the United States – I would love to see Farmers thrive and not be jailed. It would be beneficial for the whole to not spend millions each year incarcerating and rehabilitating growers and users. I think it would actually stimulate the economy to have another taxable good on the market, much like tobacco and alcohol are taxable. Marijuana is an awesome herbal remedy for most ailments and should be taken very seriously. Its recreational purposes should not be abused and those committed should clear the space for it, just as you would if you were going to have a 5-hour massage or take LSD. In every case, I think it needs to have an intention for use; a time and place, for spiritual and healing purposes. In my opinion, marijuana is NOT a gateway drug. Most people experience this euphoria through alcohol first. One in 25 deaths around the world is caused by alcohol consumption, and booze is now as damaging to global health as tobacco was a decade ago, according to a new study in the British medical journal the Lancet. – June 29th, TIME.com let me know what you think. TTYL. =) Hey,
So I found this portion of a blog post of musician Jason Mraz’s blog thefreshnessfactorfivethousand.blogspot.com. I read it and I immediately though of you and your studies. It’s interesting to read his perspective even though its short. Here it is:

vaqkiddo: what is your stand on legalizing marijuana?

Marijuana is already one of the largest cash crops in the United States – I would love to see Farmers thrive and not be jailed.

It would be beneficial for the whole to not spend millions each year incarcerating and rehabilitating growers and users. I think it would actually stimulate the economy to have another taxable good on the market, much like tobacco and alcohol are taxable.

Marijuana is an awesome herbal remedy for most ailments and should be taken very seriously. Its recreational purposes should not be abused and those committed should clear the space for it, just as you would if you were going to have a 5-hour massage or take LSD. In every case, I think it needs to have an intention for use; a time and place, for spiritual and healing purposes.

In my opinion, marijuana is NOT a gateway drug. Most people experience this euphoria through alcohol first.

One in 25 deaths around the world is caused by alcohol consumption, and booze is now as damaging to global health as tobacco was a decade ago, according to a new study in the British medical journal the Lancet. – June 29th, TIME.com

let me know what you think. TTYL.
=)

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