Slog - Comments on Reefer Madness http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness Which Stranger staffer will be the first to crack? People who smoke marijuana daily or weekly double their risk of developing a psychotic illness over their lifetime, according to a study published Thursday. Among all cannabis users, including sporadic experimenters and habitual users, the lifetime risk of psychotic illness increased by 40%, the report said. "It's not as if you smoke a joint and you're going to go crazy," said Richard Rawson, who directs the Integrated Substance Abuse Program at UCLA and was not involved in the study. But he cautioned: "It's definitely not a good idea to use heavy... Copyright 2008 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:29:43 -0800 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:22:29 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Mr. Poe Charles already has.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771381 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771381 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:32:05 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool I think this calls for a survey, complete with betting pool.

]]> Ari Spool http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771382 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771382 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:32:45 -0800 Comment by fixo One might question the use of the future tense in your intro, Jonah.

]]> fixo http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771383 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771383 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:33:27 -0800 Comment by Ronald Seems to me they've got it backwards (as most "surveys" do). The real finding should be that people with psychotic tendencies (and who are aware of those tendencies) know that they can medicate themselves with marijuana.

GOT THAT, YOU DIPSHITS?

]]> Ronald http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771389 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771389 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:37:17 -0800 Comment by Cato the Younger Younger My guess is Charles followed shortly by Dan

]]> Cato the Younger Younger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771390 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771390 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:37:37 -0800 Comment by David Schmader Scary fact of the day: Charles Mudede does not smoke marijuana.

]]> David Schmader http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771391 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771391 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:37:38 -0800 Comment by elswinger Mr. Poe beat me to it. Cane we get a list of all the Stranger writers who smoke weed (and where they get it)?

I'm not a cop.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771398 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771398 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:43:00 -0800 Comment by OR Matt Where are all the defensive pot smokers ... I find myself defending why I DON'T smoke, because it DOES make me paranoid and psychotic.

]]> OR Matt http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771400 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771400 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:44:46 -0800 Comment by Nick This study only shows a correlation, NOT causation.

]]> Nick http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771402 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771402 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:47:03 -0800 Comment by brad Yup, it'll be Dan. Now pass the pipe.

]]> brad http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771406 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771406 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:51:07 -0800 Comment by COMTE “It’s not as if you smoke a joint and you’re going to go crazy,”

But, but - that's been essentially the DEA's main argument since the original "Reefer Madness" was first screened! Is this gentleman saying the available scientific evidence refutes that argument?

Clearly, he must be fired immediately!

]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771409 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771409 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:52:38 -0800 Comment by Original Andrew Breaking News:

Everything that looks good, feels good, tastes good or even smells good will drive you crazy/cause cancer/kill you horribly dead dead dead.

Film at 11.

]]> Original Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771412 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771412 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:54:01 -0800 Comment by Gitai Schmader, gotta be Schmader. Everything I've read by and about him indicates that he consumes more pot than an Amsterdam coffee house.

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771415 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771415 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:55:08 -0800 Comment by adrian! well, i know for a 100% real and true fact that there is ONE person involved in strangery things who consumes, yes, EVEN MORE (remarkably more) than even mr. schmader has been allegedly alleged to consumme, allegedly. about twice as much. but i'll never tell. never.

]]> adrian! http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771425 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771425 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:08:00 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe I call bullshit on Charles not smoking weed.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771428 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771428 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:11:48 -0800 Comment by Joey the Girl And I say Adrian should spill on who the big pot smoker is!

I'm not much of a smoker myself, but only because it makes me paranoid and not much fun to be around.

]]> Joey the Girl http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771430 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771430 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:15:16 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe @16

Obviously, it's Adrian!

And you're Allison! HA!

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771436 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771436 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:22:29 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Inside jokes are the best. Bwana!

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771439 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771439 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:25:05 -0800 Comment by elrider I say Jonah. He's obviously a stoner skater, and his tirade about the skatepark suggests he's losing it.

]]> elrider http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771443 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771443 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:32:32 -0800 Comment by supergp @15: I think he's doing worse stuff than pot, judging by his posts.

]]> supergp http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771445 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771445 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:33:47 -0800 Comment by jackie treehorn @ David Schmader

Slog readership will exercise it's selective memory with this fact to be sure.

Oh, and happy Friday, Slog. Doing anything outrageous this weekend? Like wearing an eye patch?

]]> jackie treehorn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771448 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771448 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:37:10 -0800 Comment by irl500girl Wish the collective "they" would decide already! Not that it will change my habits at all but I just read a story the other day that smokin' weed fends off the Alzheimer's.

]]> irl500girl http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771457 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771457 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:46:05 -0800 Comment by Jonah S Definitely not a skater. I'm not nearly coordinated enough.

]]> Jonah S http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771463 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771463 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:57:50 -0800 Comment by thehim @4
This is a complicated topic. A study I saw recently (that wasn't too suspect as being pure propaganda) showed that people who have psychoses and who medicate with marijuana tend to actually get worse while they believe they're getting better. I don't know what the reality is here, but what I do know is that for the large majority of people, marijuana can not cause psychosis.

]]> thehim http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771465 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771465 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:58:10 -0800 Comment by Westside forever That's it, from now on, only pure, harmless, 100% American bourbon. Daily. In large, sweaty glasses. No chances of psychosis at all...

]]> Westside forever http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771478 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771478 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:12:21 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi @22,

You just have to decide which you'd rather have psychosis or Alzheimer's.

It's kind of like a lack of vitamin D contributing to MS. Which would you prefer, skin cancer or multiple sclerosis? Since the sun also ages the skin, I guess I choose MS.

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771493 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771493 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:25:49 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle I agree with @9. The fact that people who smoke lots of weed tend to be more paranoid could have a lot of causes:

1. people who have cancer and other incurable illnesses frequently use MJ to self-medicate - they might be paranoid the cops are going to force them to live in pain.

2. they might be worried their neighbors are going to steal their stash.

3. they might think that aliens attacked the WTC on 9/11 and that's why they smoke so much weed, to forget it.

4. It could be other things causing them to be paranoid - maybe they live in places where there is a lot of pollution, or poverty, or other stressors.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771500 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771500 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:35:59 -0800 Comment by Cale "It’s definitely not a good idea to use heavy amounts of marijuana"

sounds like personal opinion mr. scientist...

]]> Cale http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771537 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771537 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:10:31 -0800 Comment by irl500girl I'll go w/psychosis. . .sounds more fun and if it's not maybe I won't know it.

]]> irl500girl http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771671 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771671 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:57:10 -0800 Comment by Doug S Mark Vonnegut, son of Kurt, wrote a nice book about going crazy, called Eden Express. He went batshit, paranoid schizophrenic, complete with delusions and hallucinations. His first psychotic break occurred right after he took mescaline. His second one occurred right after he smoked a shitload of weed. And according to the wikipedia article on schizophrenia, weed is not good for people with schizophrenia.

Also, one thing I learned from reading Eden Express is that psychosis does not sound fun.

]]> Doug S http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771674 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/reefer_madness#c771674 Drugs Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:22:29 -0800