In the United States, the use of cannabis for medical or recreational purposes has been legalized in 28 states and Washington D.C. Additionally, in November 2014, Colorado and Washington made history by voting to legalize the recreational use of cannabis. So should the cannabis industry be held to the same standards as pharmaceutical, alcohol, tobacco, and other industries?
This is a good point to start. I have to say that I am surprised that the cannabis industry does not address the issue of science more often. It is well known that modern medical science is in a bubble. The last decade has seen the usual parade of anti-science conspiracy theories and pseudoscience that goes hand in hand with such mentality. The scientific method, and the scientific community, are among the most powerful forces in the world, and are a threat to anti-science. Anti-science forces have been trying to undermine science for centuries, and they will continue to do so, because they have a vested interest in keeping their irrational, superstitious and anti-science beliefs alive. It is a question of the big fish eating the small
A recent study published in the journal PNAS suggests that consuming marijuana at least once a week may lower the risk of death. The study was conducted on more than 400,000 adults who were between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time they were interviewed. The researchers followed the participants for nearly a decade. At the end of the study, the researchers discovered that those who used marijuana at least once a week were 16 percent less likely to die during the course of the study than those who were never users of the drug.
The gateway hypothesis isn’t a guarantee that someone who smokes marijuana today will shoot heroin tomorrow.
The cannabis business seems to be spreading throughout the United States like a Mack Truck speeding down the highway with a “red-eye express” flag on the back.
Despite the federal government’s lack of support and the fact that about 70% of people polled believe the industry should be taxed and controlled like alcohol and cigarettes, the business of producing and selling marijuana has grown into a multibillion-dollar enterprise.
Nonetheless, opponents of the nug are concerned that increasing attempts to legalize the leaf would usher in catastrophic times. They also don’t understand why the nation is ready to listen to government health authorities about pandemic-related problems while dismissing marijuana’s scientific proof.
“At a time when millions of Americans are turning to the CDC and the NIH for advice on COVID-19, the health warnings about marijuana from these very same institutions are being ignored in favor of claims delivered by pot profiteers,” wrote Kevin Sabet, president of the anti-drug organization Smart Approaches to Marijuana. “How come there is a double standard?”
Sabet’s greatest pet peeve is the widespread belief that cannabis isn’t a gateway drug. He thinks that advocates of marijuana have a misunderstanding of the “gateway hypothesis.”
It’s not a guarantee that someone who smokes marijuana today will inject heroin tomorrow; rather, it’s a notion that, as the name implies, opens the door to the possibility. “The reality is that most individuals who use drugs do not use just one,” Sabet said, citing a research published in the journal Addiction that showed cannabis users are 2.5 times more likely to develop opiate addiction.
While Sabet’s reasoning is commendable and even correct, the same could be argued for alcohol and cigarettes, which are both legal in the United States. A gateway drug is a chemical that changes the brain in some manner. Alcohol is often blamed, owing to the fact that it is the first substance that most teenagers take.
Sabet is also concerned about increased criminality as a result of continuing cannabis legalization efforts. “While it is impossible to tell if marijuana legalization causes crime, lots of evidence indicates a strong link,” he said, citing two studies that show higher crime rates in Colorado, where marijuana is legal.
Realistically, though, this crime is linked to marijuana and can be traced back to differing cannabis regulations throughout the nation. The legalization of marijuana hasn’t resulted in an increase in rape, homicide, or theft. The majority of the offenses are related to organized crime and money laundering, as well as probation violations and parcel service transfers.
Sabet seems to be concerned about the potency of marijuana. He bases his argument on numerous studies that demonstrate a connection between high-potency cannabis and mental disorders including schizophrenia and psychosis.
He stated, “Today’s marijuana is up to 50 times stronger than marijuana used in the past, leading individuals to do more than just’chill out.” “Scientists have verified that these goods are harmful.”
Is this correct?
To a certain extent, yes. Despite the contradictory data, individuals who acquire mental health issues as a result of frequent cannabis use seem to be wired for it.
Furthermore, as the New York Times reported in 2019, “overuse of coffee, nicotine, alcohol, stimulants, and hallucinogens may all induce schizophrenia.” In the United States, the majority of these substances are legal.
“The overwhelming majority of individuals… do not go on to acquire a chronic disease like schizophrenia, which is marked by recurrent episodes of psychosis, as well as cognitive difficulties and social withdrawal,” the study added.
There’s also the legend that marijuana may help with the opioid crisis. Sabet takes issue with this assertion, and rightfully so. As he explains in his piece, marijuana supporters continue to rely on a “now-debunked” research that claims that legalizing marijuana reduces opioid fatalities by 25%.
Cannabis proponents continue to rely on a “now-debunked” research that claims that legalizing marijuana reduces opiate fatalities by 25%.
Further study by Stanford University has shown the opposite: Opioid fatalities rose by 25% in places where marijuana is allowed. Sabet said, “We must stop promoting the erroneous idea that marijuana is a cure for opiate addiction.”
Studies indicate that individuals who use cannabis on a regular basis are more likely to misuse prescription opioids, confirming the gateway hypothesis. Other research suggests that cannabis, like ibuprofen, isn’t a very good pain treatment. It just isn’t the same.
“Supporters of legalization often argue as though science is on their side. The reality is that every major medical organization opposes marijuana legalization. Legalization supporters’ cherry-picking, which often includes non-peer reviewed studies or papers published in low-quality publications, “does a great disservice to people seeking the truth,” Sabet said.
Because COVID-19 and cannabis are two distinct things, people in the United States may be more willing to listen to the federal government regarding COVID-19. Most people are afraid of contracting a virus and being put on life support, but they are well aware that marijuana does not carry such dangers.
They don’t want to die, so they’re looking for information on vaccines, masks, and other preventative measures. Even marijuana’s most ardent opponents are unconcerned about it harming people after all these years.
The actual danger posed by cannabis remains in the policies that promote its prohibition. Every year, tens of thousands of individuals are imprisoned, families are disturbed, careers are lost, and so on, all because conservatives are frightened of high society.
Sure, there’s a double standard here. After all, this is America. We have a double standard. However, it is coming from all directions.
Cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, but that hasn’t stopped the cannabis industry from attempting to jump the legal hurdles. This has lead to the rise of myriad cannabis-related businesses, from cannabis-related clothing lines to cannabis-related research firms. The cannabis industry is no stranger to controversy, however, and some wonder if the push to legitimize cannabis-based products is really being driven by the facts.. Read more about is alcohol a gateway drug and let us know what you think.
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