this can't come fast enough. i sure would like to do a j.

Horsefeathers.  All schedule 1 means is that it has a high potential for addiction with no medical benefit.  No one is classifying it with cocaine or LSD even though it IS a hallucogenic.  It only falls into the same category because of it's description.

BTH..settle down.   They're STILL only talking about it for medical use..not recreational.

  Something else I've just read, with the Federal govt. having changed it's policy of pursuing federal marijuana convictions, a bill was introduced into the house today that  once passed will allow those,  who are  currently being prosecuted in marijuana related cases, to use defensive evidence that they were in compliance with that particular state's laws. They are not allowed to do that now.

http://www.safeaccessnow.or...

I'd say that makes a friendlier govt. .

--virgil

 Nancy,

it was a psychiatrist who pratices addiction medicine who proposed the change in the American Medical Association's policy to support Marijuana's decriminalization.

--virgil

 Nancy,

" No one is classifying it with cocaine or LSD even though it IS a hallucogenic."

Not true. That's exactly what a schedule I classification does. Cocaine, however,  is scheduled,  II (2).

--virgil

www.alternet.org/drugreporter/143821/lies_about_m arijuana_drive_people_to_a_much_more_harmful_drug _--_booze

why should it only be for medicinal use, if it even goes that far? seriously, i work hard and pay my taxes. who's business is it what i do with my free time if i'm not stepping on anyone else's toes. it doesn't infringe on anyone's rights at all. this should be a no brainer for both liberals and conservatives because the truth of the matter is that this is an issue of civil liberties.

 what happened to the pursuit of happiness? i should be able to get high just because i want to.

Hey you can always go down to Vons & purchase a case of Vodka & then crash your car, damage your organs & die of liver cancer, that's if the car wreck didn't kill you first. Or you could end up in prison for multiple DUI's or beating your wife. Big Al will be waiting... Hmmm....suddenly smoking a joint sounds more appealing. I am not a pot smoker, but I don't see an issue with people who smoke weed. They are always mellow & peaceful. Now some of the strains of cannabis these days are extremely potent. I say smoke weed in moderation. Same thing with Alcohol. 

So go smoke a joint & take a walk on a beautiful path over looking the ocean. Play some good music like Bat For Lashes while you're at it.......: )

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Even if marijuana became legal even for recreational purposes, it would still be a sin: http://en.allexperts.com/q/...

An Argentinian archbishop recently warned against legalizing drugs: http://www.catholicnewsagen...

Sorry to be such a party pooper, but I'd be remiss if I didn't light up some truths and exhale some smoke from them your way.

My POINT!

 Schedule I Drugs
Schedule I drugs have a high tendency for abuse and have no accepted medical use. This schedule includes drugs such as Marijuana, Heroin, Ecstasy, LSD, and GHB. Recent activists have tried to change the schedule for Marijuana citing the possible medical benefits of the drug. Pharmacies do not sell Schedule I drugs, and they are not available with a prescription by physician.

Schedule II Drugs
Schedule II drugs have a high tendency for abuse, may have an accepted medical use, and can produce dependency or addiction with chronic use. This schedule includes examples such as Cocaine, Opium, Morphine, Fentanyl, Amphetamines, and Methamphetamines. Schedule II drugs may be available with a prescription by a physician, but not all pharmacies may carry them. These drugs require more stringent records and storage procedures than drugs in Schedules III and IV.

Schedule III Drugs
Schedule III drugs have less potential for abuse or addiction than drugs in the first two schedules and have a currently accepted medical use. Examples of Schedule III drugs include Anabolic steroids, Codeine, Ketamine, Hydrocodone with Aspirin, and Hydrocodone with Acetaminophen. Schedule III drugs may be available with a prescription, but not all pharmacies may carry them.

Schedule IV Drugs
Schedule IV drugs have a low potential for abuse, have a currently accepted medical use, has a low chance for addiction or limited addictive properties. Examples of Schedule IV drugs include Valium, Xanax, Phenobarbital, and Rohypnol (commonly known as the "date rape" drug). These drugs may be available with a prescription, but not all pharmacies may carry them.

Schedule V Drugs
Schedule V drugs have a lower chance of abuse than Schedule IV drugs, have a currently accepted medical use in the US, and lesser chance or side effects of dependence compared to Schedule IV drugs.  This schedule includes such drugs as cough suppressants with Codeine. Schedule V drugs are regulated but generally do not require a prescription. 

And info, if you think marijuana users veg out quietly on their couches all the time and never go out on the road and drive when IMPAIRED, you are sadly mistaken.

"Hey you can always go down to Vons & purchase a case of Vodka & then crash your car, damage your organs & die of liver cancer, that's if the car wreck didn't kill you first. Or you could end up in prison for multiple DUI's or beating your wife. Big Al will be waiting... Hmmm....suddenly smoking a joint sounds more appealing. I am not a pot smoker, but I don't see an issue with people who smoke weed."

Yeah, that's a REALLY good reason to legalize ANOTHER mood altering chemical.  Compare it to alcohol.

And that is all I have to say on the matter.  We've been down this ridiculous road too many times already.  Keep banging that drum though it gives you another "cause."
 

That's a good, interesting post, Nancy.

Heroin is an interesting case because it could have a legitimate medical use if there weren't other medications with lower risks.  Heroin is a fantastically good pain killer, which is what a narcotic is.  Heroin is a kind of souped-up derivative of morphine.

Heroin's hazard is that it's very difficult not to get hooked, even if it were administered medically.

AP, all opioids and benzos have a high risk of abuse and addiction but do serve a proven medical purpose.  And you are so right.  Anyone who has been on opioids WILL become adicted to some degree.  Even Vicodin which is handed out like candy.  People who use it very long and then stop start to have withdrawel symptoms like restless leg.  Among others.

My whole point is and always has been, why do people want to legalize yet ANOTHER mood altering chemical that has no PROVEN medical benefit?  We already have alcohol which has very little, if any, medical benefit....why another?

Thanks for your input AP, you're the only reason I responded this time.

What is methamphetamine scheduled at  - Does anyone know ?

--virgil

Thanks for the response; I understand that you're not in the mood to debate legalization again.  ;)

If you were, I wouldn't base my arguments upon grasped straws of contrived medical purposes.  But I'll let that be that.

Virgil, methamphetamine is mentioned as Schedule II in Nancy's post.

   "My whole point is and always has been, why do people want to legalize yet ANOTHER mood altering chemical that has no PROVEN medical benefit?  "

Because we spend 30 billions a year chasing marijuana smokers when we don't have to. Marijuana prohibition is violent and close to a million people a year are incarcerated for simple possession.

besides that, Californians overwhelmingly support marijuana's decriminalization.

Some people are compassionate and reasonable people; some people are not, Nancy.

--virgil

 what medical benefit does crystal meth have ?

My point is,

The schedule is politically influenced with no integrity. Wev'e seen that this last forty years of american drug war.

--virgil

Methamphetamine is known medically as Desoxyn.

(~Geek side showing, alas~)

What is it used for, Dawn ?

--virgil

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder.  Same purpose as Ritalin.

If you think that was geeky, wait until you see the post that I have in the works.  ;)

It's so cranial that I'll need a weekend at Club F.A. to unwind me.

 I know people who are and have been addicted to crystal meth.

I don't know anyone who did not start using that stuff unless they were self-medicating.

Marijuana is different, of course; it's not addicting like amphetamines or opiates are. It's more benign than alcohol ( everyone knows that ). It does have medical value - that's been proved.

--virgil

"It does have medical value - that's been proved.

--virgil"

So does Peyote. ( everyone knows that )

See,  Nancy ?

This guy knows what I'm talking about.

--virgil

I refer you to motopoet...

http://people.bakersfield.c...

 It's funny how people refer to others who use marijuana as a pothead. But the guy who spends his money and time drinking beer is not referred to as a beer head.

Sorry,  the pothead argument, Nancy, is not an argument. It's especially weak when used against the decriminalization of marijuana.

However, using public resources ( that we do not have ) to chase marijuana smokers with no positive results coming from that activity, is a valid argument for marijuana's decriminalization.

--virgil

If only Virg knew then what can be revealed today that justifies Nancy's arguments that there is no medical benefit from the killer weed except to make them psychotic: http://www.catholiceducatio...

But maybe that's the end game, so folks can someday say "Secularism is the marijuana of the masses."

You do know that occultists and black magic practitioners often "bless" these illicit stuff, don't you?

Pax, 

Marijuana's legal already ... I say it's time for you and Nancy to get over it .

--virgil  

With marijuana's decriminalization, Nancy's worried about not having her capitve audience to talk down to anymore.

Pax, I don't know what your issue is, but don't you think its time to stop screwing with other people's lives for your want of understanding ?

--virgil