Slog - Comments on Opening Pandora’s Stash Box http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box I haven’t posted much on Slog about drug policy in the 2008 election--because it hasn’t mattered yet. Early in the donkey race, Obama and Clinton bickered via their spokespeople about the crack-cocaine sentencing reforms, they took wimpy positions opposing medical-marijuana raids, and presses slipped pages about Obama’s support for marijuana decriminalization (he later recanted). But both Democratic candidates fell short of any bold position to strong-arm the DEA or legalize pot—or directly debate the issue—lest they give the GOP ammunition in the general election. I mean, imagine the GOP attack ads: “Barack Obama said we need to decriminalize marijuana, but... Copyright 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 10:59:50 -0800 Mon, 12 May 2008 15:14:14 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Mr. Joshua While we're on the subject, I don't think I've seen you weigh in on this:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press08/marij_mental_hlth.pdf

So, there is a statistical correlation between marijuana use and depression in teens, and teens self-medicating with Marijuana are at a higher risk of developing depency. Granted, correlation is not causation, but you could say the same thing about smoking and lung cancer.

]]> Mr. Joshua http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022452 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022452 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 12:07:27 -0800 Comment by red great news! the obama campaign's response is very promising.
@1 - i would bet the same holds true for alcohol. no reason to arrest people for it. and relating to using marijuana for medical purposes, a doctor could determine whether that outweighs the benefits in the particular patient.

]]> red http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022461 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022461 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 12:12:38 -0800 Comment by gnossos @1...consider the source....

The real correlation here is that if it's backed by ONDCP it's statistically certain to be garbage.


On another note, Obama has stated that if he's elected he will overturn the ban on using funds for syringe exchange.

]]> gnossos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022490 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022490 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 12:32:06 -0800 Comment by ellarosa 1 & 3, i don't know if the stats are garbage or not, but i know from my own personal history that i would have been better off not smoking pot in my teens, or doing acid. it's not a good thing for anyone with a brain that is still developing, imo. it's for adults only. and it's definitely for sick adults.

]]> ellarosa http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022512 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022512 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 12:49:09 -0800 Comment by Dominic Holden @ 1) I mentioned the "pot causes depression" thing briefly last Friday in This Week on Drugs, calling it circular logic. Digging deeper than the sensational headlines, the Drug Czar says depression can lead to pot smoking, which can lead to later depression. So it seems that depressed people are smoking pot to cure their depression. It's post hoc ergo propter hoc at its finest.

]]> Dominic Holden http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022514 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022514 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 12:50:56 -0800 Comment by Brandon J. This is one issue where Republican logic starts to break down. Republicans are supposed to be for state's rights, but their rabid anti-drug stance puts them in direct conflict with many state's medical pot laws.

]]> Brandon J. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022642 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022642 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 14:24:09 -0800 Comment by Vince 1 Who believes what the White House says? They lie every time they open their mouths. And they have conveniently ignored science when they disagree with it, so to believe what they say now is a joke. And by now many, MANY, Americans have their own personal experience with pot and can make their own decisions. If it was one of their contibutors that wanted it, a big drug company for example, they be falling all over themselves finding a way to make money from it.

]]> Vince http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022713 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/05/opening_pandoras_stash_box#c1022713 2008 Mon, 12 May 2008 15:14:14 -0800