Dear LEO's @ Officer.com,



A friend of mine passed me a link to your thread, at http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114110.



Since you won't allow me to register at your forums, I decided to openly reply to your thread.



I'm not here to argue at all, though, and my only real goal is to thank those of you who have allowed yourselves to keep an open mind while sharing a bit of information about myself and why it means so much to me to see officers supporting the current marijuana legislation in question.

I'm an old timer, now retired, who spent a vast majority of my life working; be it as a child/teen to help support my family or as an adult to raise my own.

A few years back, a rather large piece of pipe got loose and, long story short, I now have very limited mobility in my lower extremities. The medication I was using helped dull the pain I have to the extent that I could be awake, sit in a chair, or just... exist... but as a father of 2 growing boys it killed me to no longer be able to do things with them.

About 2 years ago a younger friend of mine offered me some marijuana to help ease my pain when I had an "episode" while visiting. To be completely honest, I was desperate. And in my moment of desperation I accepted something that I was always taught was evil, horrible, immoral, etc. It worked fantastic. Within what seemed to be only moments, the pain began to slowly fade and before I knew it I was relaxed and pain-free.

What really surprised me is the lack of fuzziness that I had come accustomed to with my normal pain-killers. Finally, to top it all off... I had more mobility.

I'm not going to attempt to say that marijuana miraculously cured me, because it certainly did not. What it did do, and continues to do, is give me significantly more of a life than I had before. The increased mobility and mental clarity allows me to do things like walk with my children, sit in normal metal bleachers for my son's entire baseball game, and even on some occasions briefly slow-dance with my wife.

I used to pray to God to allow me the ability to be a part of my family again, so despite my once-negative views on the plant, there is no longer any way or reason I can continue to not support it.

Marijuana is also not just for people such as myself who seem to have some physically obvious handicap, and that is why I support its complete legalization.

The younger friend of mine, for example, uses marijuana for his ADHD. While this may sound ridiculous at first, the science behind ADHD actually has much to do with overactive cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Some of you may say, "Why use marijuana when there are legal drugs like Ritalin?" The answer comes in two parts: First, he used to be on Ritalin and enjoyed it until it started to give him anxiety attacks. He put up with it, though. Second, when he was insured, Ritalin was not a problem because it only cost him $10 or so... the problem was that he lost his insurance (was dropped from his parent's).

Without insurance, Ritalin is no longer an option. Without Ritalin, school was becoming impossible. Luckily my friend was introduced to marijuana by a friend of his, and he has found certain strains that promote the focus he needs. He is hardly a "stoner", by the way, as he is currently finishing his BS and has goals of a Ph.D., which I have no doubt he will attain.

Aside from my personal story, I wanted to chime in on some of the posts I have read in this thread. While I am definitely not a doctor or a scientists, these days I spend a lot of time reading about things that interest me (such as marijuana).

##Quote from: Sarkis##
Aren't laws made for the overall good of society? I think our government has weighed the cost/benefit factor of the legalization of marijuana and concluded that the effects of marijuana will have an overall negative effect on our society.
##(end quote)##
Many laws are indeed made for the good of society, but other laws are made because of lobbyists with agendas. If you read about the history of when and why marijuana was originally made illegal, it has more to do with lobbyists than the good of society. In fact, Marijuana was first made illegal because it was said to make people (namely mexicans and blacks) violent/offensive/etc... later on, however, during the red-scare and at the height of anti-communism, Marijuana was kept illegal for the exact opposite reason (saying that it would cause too many Americans to be laid back and allow the Soviets to easily take us over).

Currently, the federal government has so many restrictions regarding marijuana and studies on marijuana that it is hard to say they have concluded anything about it.

##(begin quote)##
If 10% more people are out smoking dope every day and becoming useless to society, they become a burden on the rest of the people.
##(end quote)##
Seems like a fairly harsh prediction. It's always easy to drift towards negative stereotypes to support reasons to hate something, but that doesn't make it true. Alcohol is much more detrimental to the productivity of a person, yet the economy surged after the repeal of prohibition. I believe, unless there is evidence to support otherwise, most people are mature enough not to throw away their lives for a substance... be it alcohol, marijuana, or caffeine.

##(begin quote)##
Sooner or later people will be asking for even stronger drugs.
##(end quote)##
They might, but that has little to do with marijuana.

##Quote from: David Hineline##
I agree with you marajuana is not even as bad on society as alcohol, since alcohol is legal it becomes acceptable and can do it's damage legally, I don't think we need another drug to supliment alcohol, one is bad enough.
##(end quote)##
The irony in this statement is that in the time it took you to write it, I'd wager a dozen or so new drugs less effective than marijuana with a laundry lists of side-effects were passed through the FDA. We could argue all we want about the problems with how many drugs exist in this world--we could even dive into the philosophical issues surrounding it if you want--but the fact remains that each individual on this earth has a similar goal: enjoy life.

Not all of us are the products of perfect genetics, and in all reality our lives are controlled by a very complicated, very-chemical-reliant organ in our heads that isn't always in line with our goals.

Before the FDA, before prescription drugs, and before much of what we know today... people used marijuana. More importantly, in the thousands of years of use there have been no attributed deaths due to marijuana. I think that is worth remembering when criticizing it as a legitimate drug.

##Quote from: willowdared##
I don't think it will happen. I have mixed feelings, because I think what they smoke these days is very different/stronger then 60's pot.
##(end quote)##
That idea is thrown around a lot these days, but realistically it simply is not true. Yes there are some areas where they have grown some very potent plants (such as London Skunk), but on average, it is pretty much the same.

http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/general/mjmyth/Exposing_02_1095.html

Even if it were true, there really isn't any science to show that higher potency is a bad thing.

##(begin quote)##
There are some of the same health concerns as cigarettes, plus you can actually get high from second-hand pot smoke, so others (kids) would be put at additional risk.
##(end quote)##
I can't really think of any health concerns cigs share with marijuana. Sure, smoking *anything* (or inhaling combusted organic matter) is probably best to avoid... but marijuana can be eaten or--such as in my case--vaporized.

Even if smoking was your preferred method of marijuana use, it has been shown to not cause cancer:
http://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/news/20060523/pot-smoking-not-linked-to-lung-cancer

And to your final point, when you smoke/inhale marijuana, a vast majority of the THC (90%+) is absorbed via your lungs within the first couple seconds. While inhaling second-hand-smoke is best to be avoided, the fear of someone getting high off it (or a "contact high") is simply an irrational worry. No more realistic than someone becoming drunk due to being around a bunch of intoxicated people (although this can happen due to psychological reasons).

##Quote from: Southflaguy##
If they do legalize marijuana they're just going to lace it w/ something else
##(end quote)##
Why? The best logical response to this statement can be found here:
http://www.showmethefacts.org/entry1.html

In short... marijuana salesmen are just like any other salesman... so why would they spend more money putting expensive additives into their product or even risk pissing off their clientele? It just doesn't make sense and is, again, a very irrational worry.

##Quote from: Monkeybomb##
Fact is it is a gateway drug.
##(end quote)##
Facts should be true... this one is not. There has never been any evidence or accepted (i.e. peer-reviewed) study to support the gateway drug theory. The logic behind calling marijuana a gateway drug could also be applied to water being a "gateway" to harder liquids (since so many people start out drinking water).

One of many studies: http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/study-say-marijuana-no-gateway-drug-12116.html

##Quote from: JasperST##
Pot is different than alcohol in that it stays in your system much longer and alters the way you think. 
##(end quote)##
Again, a completely false claim. While the remnants of marijuana (metabolites) stay in your system up to months at a time (depending on frequency of use), the actual effects of marijuana fade after only hours (depending on method of use). Believe me, I wish it weren't true... I wish my relief lasted longer, but it is simply not true.

##(begin quote)##
Every long term pot smoker I know, knew or ever heard of has oatmeal for brains. 
##(end quote)##
Anecdotes should never be reason for action. Personally, the group of marijuana users I befriended are all professionals with degrees and educations (in fact, I am the only one without a college degree). The longest user has been a daily user for well over 20 years and he is still sharp as a knife.

Contrast that with friends of mine who are big users of alcohol (my old co-workers from the construction union), they have few goals and aspirations in life and would rather watch TV than read a book.

But again, anecdotal evidence is weak and varies.

##Quote from: Looker##
I never felt like trying it and I hope my kids don't either.
##(end quote)##
I sincerely hope and pray your children are never in a position to use *any* substance.

There isn't a day that goes by I don't wish I could give it up and go back to the way life used to be.

Personally, I hate hippies... and what I hate more is being ignorantly lumped in with them.

But let me ask you this... if your child was ever in a position where they had to either take a drug with a higher-than-average health risk or take marijuana, would you really put your emotions in the way of their health? Or would you look at the numbers and data for what was best for your child's health?

##(begin quote)##
P.S. Only people who like paying taxes will buy pot from stores if it becomes legal.
##(end quote)##
As a huge conservative, I loathe taxes. However, I will happily pay them if it means I no longer have to feel like a criminal.

##Quote from: Southflaguy##
As far as adult being able to get high, go some palce else...There's places on this planet where you can smoke dope freely, take a vacation there...
##(end quote)##
Just in case you were not aware, marijuana use is not black and white (either high or not high). Just as a few sips of alcohol can "loosen you up" and several more sips can level a person out... it is completely possibly to use marijuana without being inebriated. I never allow myself to get to that point and control my dosage very precisely.

##Quote from: TXCountySheriff##
And it will get worse as children grow old addicted to pot. Imagine, a country on dope.
##(end quote)##
Again, it is completely wrong, false, and invalid to claim marijuana is addictive. Marijuana simply does not contain the chemicals needed to cause a dependency. While some people (a negligible percentage) do find themselves more dependent than others on marijuana, this is attributed to individual physiology rather than the plant itself (the same reason why some people don't get addicted to cigarettes, or while others do get addicted to sugar, fast food, or chocolate).

As for a country on "dope"... again, do you have any idea of the irony in your statement? Any idea what kind of legal poisons we prescribe to our kids with a pat on the back from the FDA?

For literally thousands of years civilizations have used marijuana... and here we are. It wasn't until the lobbyists helped outlaw it that so many problems began to happen.

##Quote from: beachcop05##
The DEA views it as a strong drug, that's why it's classified as a Schedule 1 drug, meth and cocaine are Schedule 2 drugs.
##(end quote)##
Last I checked, the DEA was not my physician. Nor are they in any way qualified to say how healthy anything is. They rely on scientists and studies, which sadly they don't seem to recognize when it comes to marijuana.

##(begin quote)##
Scientific studies have proven that one marijuana cigarette can hold as much as 1000 times the amount of carcinogenic material then a regular cigarette.
##(end quote)##
Some studies have shown that marijuana has high-levels of carcinogens, however, cannabinoids (specifically THC) seem to nullify the increased risk. Again, feel free to reference the latest study showing no link between smoking marijuana and lung cancer:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729_pf.html

Some others regarding marijuana's anti-cancer traits:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm

##(begin quote)##
Take any DEA class offered to your department to find out the truth about it.
##(end quote)##
That's like asking someone to take a class on burgers taught by PETA. Why not instead turn to academia? Surely if the DEA is being forthwith and honest there will be large amounts of medical data to backup any claims made.

##Quote from: JasperST##
Would you want your surgeon to be a pot smoker? 
##(end quote)##
If a person manages to make it to the level of a medical doctor and they feel they need to use marijuana... who am I to say otherwise? Do you have any idea how many surgeons drink?

##Quote from: Southflaguy##
Add testicular cancer to the list...
##(end quote)##
I'm always open to new research, but this one is fairly flawed. The UK Center for Cancer Research even remarked that "no previous studies had found a link between marijuana and [testicular cancer##".

##Quote from: FJDave##
Ok, so we'll just ignore scientific research and actual truths and go with what you (so offensively) said.
##(end quote)##
While he may have not said it as eloquently as he should, the underlying points are still valid (in that it is a bit questionable to deny the medicinal value of THC when a synthetic equivalent is marketed as a "breakthrough" drug).

##Quote from: Nikk##
Smoked marijuana contains more than 400 different chemicals and the delivery system is flawed - there are currently no FDA-approved medications that are smoked.
##(end quote)##
The current methods of ingesting marijuana may not be as precise as prescribed drugs, but they are hardly flawed. After a month or so of use, it is fairly easy to figure out dosages. And, unlike many drugs, there is never a fear or risk of ODing.

##Quote from: JasperST##
You mean like brain damage, emphysema and various cancers? 
##(end quote)##
There is no evidence to support the myth of it causing brain damage (quite contrarily, there is some to show it supports the development of new brain cells). Emphysema may be legitimate (I personally haven't read up on this), but only if it is smoked. And as for cancer... cannabinoids are showing huge promise as legitimate cancer-fighters (which could be why smoking marijuana does not increase the risk for lung cancer).

##(begin quote)##
Do you know that the National Cancer Institute approached the DEA to help with the funding to research marijuana and create Marinol? Why do you suppose that is?
##(end quote)##
Well, first off they approached the DEA in the 1980's which was already a big anti-marijuana time (it would have been absurd to expect them to push for marijuana legalization). Second, it sounds a lot like they knew the benefits of marijuana when it came to cancer, and thus were looking for a "middle ground" with the DEA... the result was Marinol. This doesn't mean Marinol is the best choice, only that it was the choice made.

The real interest is how the studies that support Marinol don't seem to carry onto its natural equivalent.

##Quote from: Nikk##
It's not the other chemicals that is the question, it's the combination of them that requires more research for safety purposes.
##(end quote)##
There has been thousands of years of "research" done with marijuana... and weirdly enough the plant only became problematic several decades ago.

I'm all for more research, but you act like the US is happy to allow marijuana research to happen... especially when it shows positive results.

----------------

I apologize for the long post, but I owe a lot to this plant and I felt that this was a good use of my time since a vast majority of the people in this thread are charged with the responsibility and power to enforce this great nation's laws... even when they are questionable.

I'm not asking any of you to change your mind... simply to keep an open mind. I used to be like many of you before I was put into a position I now have to live with for the rest of my life.

I'm not asking for much... I just want to enjoy my life without being labeled a criminal. I thank each and every one of you for the service you provide to this country and your local communities and I thank you for taking criminals off the street. But please do not associate this plant synonymously with criminal. The person you slap cuffs on after finding a baggie of marijuana on their person may be a detriment to society... but then again they might be an honest citizen of this country. They might even be like me. And they might even be like your children.

I hope I have at least opened a few eyes and hearts.

If you are interested, I respectfully ask you to consider watching a documentary I found to be an asset: http://blip.tv/file/1356143/

God bless,
J.S.