MSgt Thomas Vance USAF Ret. Published: March 24, 2014 11:02AM
~~Doctor Michael Privitera, in his op-ed piece in the Kentucky Enquirer titled, ‘Research medical marijuana for epilepsy’, dated 23 March 2014, repeats the myth of marijuana being linked to adverse mental health outcomes with his comment, "Research in recreational marijuana users indicates a risk for learning and behavior". It is the marijuana and psychosis myth that is loudly touted by the prohibitionists whenever medical or recreational legalization comes up! There is NO link proven between psychosis and marijuana use. This comes from a 2007 Lancet article which reviewed several improperly done studies. The Lancet article is here-
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(07)61162-3/abstract
They are debunked in this article---http://www.alternet.org/story/59500/smoking_pot_won't_make_you_crazy,_but_dealing_with_the_lies_about_it_will
This particular Lancet article was used by Peter Gordon while running for Prime Minister of England. He called for increased penalties for marijuana users as a means to get votes. It backfired on him and his top medical official quit over it. The myth of marijuana and mental illness started as ‘marijuana causes schizophrenia’ and is now down to, ‘marijuana causes learning and behavior problems in teens’, something that has never been proven. One thing one has to take note of is that all these supposed studies all say, could or might, could indicate, Etc. None say it does. It's another prohibition myth that refuses to die!
The real question one must ask is what about all the other illnesses that children suffer from that can be helped by the medical use of marijuana? What about their suffering and the suffering of thousands of our citizens that can be helped? Do they not deserve the same consideration as epileptic children?
In reality much research has already been done on marijuana around the world and some of the discoveries are quite astounding. Research at Complutense University in Spain has shown that when the cannabinoid THC is introduced to several different cancer cell lines in the test tube, in vitro, the cancer cells die. This is one of the studies driving current research on marijuana’s effects on cancer. An article about this can be accessed here-
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/18/molecular-biologist-explains-how-thc-completely-kills-cancer-cells/
Marijuana prohibition has been a huge mistake and I would estimate that thousands of Americans have suffered and died unnecessarily because of it. Let us put this colossal mistake to bed. Let us end marijuana prohibition in America.
