The National Institute on Drug Addiction were kind enough to publish a new book for teens recently. It's about drugs in general. Here is what they have to say about medical marijuana....( i think they forgot a few things)

Q: Is marijuana sometimes used as a medicine?

A: There has been much talk about the possible medical use of marijuana. Under U.S. law since 1970, marijuana has been a Schedule I controlled substance. This means that the drug, at least in its smoked form, has no commonly accepted medical use.

THC, the active chemical in marijuana, is manufactured into a pill available by prescription that can be used to treat the nausea and vomiting that occur with certain cancer treatments and to help AIDS patients eat more to keep up their weight. Scientists are studying whether THC, and related chemicals in marijuana (called cannabinoids) may have other medical uses. Because of the adverse effects of smoking marijuana, research on other cannabinoids appears more promising for the development of new medications

Q: Can people become addicted to marijuana?

A: Yes. Long-term marijuana use leads to addiction in some people. That is, they cannot control their urges to seek out and use marijuana, even though it negatively affects their family relationships, school performance, and recreational activities (9). According to one study, marijuana use by teenagers who have prior antisocial problems can quickly lead to addiction (3). In addition, some frequent, heavy marijuana users develop “tolerance” to its effects. This means they need larger and larger amounts of marijuana to get the same desired effects as they used to get from smaller amounts.

Q: What if a person wants to quit using the drug?

A: In 2004, over 298,000 people entering drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse. However, up until a few years ago, it was hard to find treatment programs specifically for marijuana users.

Now researchers are testing different ways to help marijuana users abstain from drug use. There are currently no medications for treating marijuana addiction. Treatment programs focus on counseling and group support systems. There are also a number of programs designed especially to help teenagers who are abusers. Family doctors can be a good source for information and help when dealing with marijuana problems.

(the best part is when you check their provided references. Some were dated back to 95')

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That's really hard to swallow.

**GULP**

Such a terrible drug that they had never had treatment centers for it till a few years ago ? Go figure that one ...

Hold on a minute here. It's says long term use I could become addicted to marijuana?

Sure beats how quickly I got addicted to my morphine for pain relief. LOL Oooops did I say that out loud? Funny too how hard it has been to get off the killerz completely? I think there is another pharmaceutical I could use for that one. And another and another......

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my friend, you did say that out loud and I know all too well where you are coming from. Opiates (oxys, morphine, perks, codine, oxys, and oxys) are the worst possible thing you could introduce someone too. The addiction grasp these pills can hold on you would make a python look like a dirt worm.

It is the main reason that drives my activism that I put in. Both of us have seen first hand exactly how addictive and deadly these pills are that they give us, but then to call marijuana a sch.1 drug???? seriously????

im glad im not alone here in seeing the hypocrisy

and if I was never strung out myself on oxys, Im not sure if I would have ever felt this way about decriminalization.

Before I got addicted to legal pills my stance was "sure what the heck, legalize it"

after I beat the addiction it's now "something HAS to be done about this so people do not have to suffer withdrawal the way I did, when marijuana would have worked for just fine.

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Well I wish I could get right off them but I can't! Simply put I have reduced my intake and won't go up that hill again but as far as being able to get off them. Count me as I wish I could.

Maybe one day, probably not, I'll deal with that devil when I see him again is all.

I wish I never took them but once the genie is out of the bottle they say. Plus I still have a gr8t deal of pain to deal with.

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