Tag Archives: Addiction

Drug Policy, Featured

Here are people that aren’t feeling the “Joy” Kamala

Kamala Harris – This presidential candidate is disregarding public health and safety and the future of our kids for drug money that will end up in her campaign war chest.
The families of dead children after their suicides – THC is the number one drug found in the bodies of young suicides.

The families of children in addiction therapy – THC is the drug driving the most young people to addiction therapy.

The families and individuals who have pot induced psychosis – This can become a life long and devastating disease

The families of those who have been killed by pot impaired drivers – pot impaired driving deaths in WA double after “legalization”

The children of drug addicted parents and the families of children who have been injured or died while under the care of pot impaired parents – many children left in cars, children drowned while parents sleep, children burned

Those in emergency rooms scromiting – Hyperemesis syndrome The users who have discovered they have high levels of heavy metal poisoning – pot plants collect and concentrate heavy metals from the soil. Further concentrated in hash oil products.

The users/addicts themselves – although they often won’t admit it. They are trapped by the drug, often needing to use multiple or even a dozen times a day, their relationships are suffering, they may suffer from amotivational syndrome.

The employers of users who can’t depend on sound judgement or dependability of using employees.

The unborn whose brains and bodies are being injured by the prenatal use of parents.
“This is Kamala Harris signaling to drug dealers in the pot industry- ‘I’m here, I’m running, I will be your advocate'”- Carla Lowe
“The only person that will really feel Joy will be Kamala Harris when she receives a large donation from the Pot Industry for her Presidential Campaign” – Scott Chipman

(Originally published by CALMca.org)                                                                   Citizens Against the Legalization of Marijuana                                                               For more in formation, call 619-990-7480 Scott
or 916-990-7489 Carla
Addiction

5 Ways Marijuana is a Gateway Drug

Marijuana Presents Itself as a Gateway Drug For Many

Under the right circumstance marijuana leads people towards addiction, mental illness, or other harmful drugs. Scientific studies on the drug have shown its ability to damage brain circuitry. It numbs the reward system, sending users on a search for a stronger high. Peer influence or personality traits can lead to use of drugs beyond marijuana. Here are some reasons why marijuana tempts someone to open the gate and try other drugs.

1. Biological Evidence and Plateau Effect:

Studies showing the damaging effects marijuana has on dopamine receptors and our brain’s reward system suggest marijuana may lead to the use of many other different drugs. In one study done by the University of Michigan Medical School, researchers found a negative correlation between the amount of marijuana consumed over time and the amount of dopamine that was released in the brain in response. This study suggests a change in the reward system over time with a high-inducing drug like marijuana. This decrease in the amount of dopamine released creates a plateau effect. Smokers will then seek other drugs in order to achieve the high they used to experience with pot.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says cannabinoids are able to decrease the reactivity of brain dopamine reward circuits over time, leaving frequent marijuana users vulnerable to other drug addiction. Additionally, THC promotes an enhanced response to other drugs in the same way that alcohol and nicotine do, which may lead to the progression of more serious drug addictions.

2. Social Environment:

While the scientific evidence supports the idea of marijuana being a gateway drug, it is important to consider the pot smoker’s social environment. Those who begin taking drugs or abusing other substances are likely surrounded with other frequent users. And often their peers have moved on to chasing greater highs. Through their friends they are introduced to harder drugs. There is no predicting who will succumb to addiction in such a progression. If someone is already inebriated or high, they will be less able to resist the invite from a friend to try another substance. Plus, while the motivated, wealthy or successful individual may seemingly thrive with the use of recreational pot, their not so motivated and less successful counterpart may become a cocaine addict. According to the Foundation for a Drug-Free World 99.9% of cocaine addicts began their drug journey with marijuana, alcohol, or nicotine.

3. Gangs and Drug Dealing:

One of the most subcultures is that of drug dealing gangs. The goal of these groups is to make a profit off of the same drug they are hooked on. Check out the story of one man, Eddie Martinez, who managed to overcome a life of drug dealing and now advises young people to steer clear of the dangers which surround marijuana and its victims.

4. Addictive personalities

For some marijuana use may be an occasional form of recreation or a one-time deal. However, various personality traits make one susceptible to substance abuse. This is what is known as an addictive personality. Especially males, who are often considered “risk-takers,” have a greater chance of becoming addicts when they are willing to engage in extreme behaviors. So while marijuana presents itself as a gateway drug to many, the risks to an individual depends their personal choices. See this article, Big Marijuana Claims vs. The Science.

5. Craving the High:

Marijuana, alongside alcohol, is one of the most accessible high-inducing drugs on the market, making it a gateway drug to intoxication addiction. John Daily, an adolescent and young adult addiction specialist argues it is not the THC that people get hooked on.  Jon says, “Addicts are hooked on intoxication” so it makes sense that those who become Opiate or Heroin addicts began with marijuana because it was the most readily available drug which later lead to their pathological relationship to getting high.

 

Addiction, California, Child Endangerment, Drug Policy, Editorial, Environment, Featured, Informational, Local Issues, Medical Marijuana

2016 Marijuana Legalization Initiative Comparison

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SAFE AND DRUG FREE COMMUNITY ACT COMPARED TO NEWSOM’S MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION INITIATIVE

Since Prop 215 (The Compassionate Use Act) was enacted in 1996, California has devolved into de facto legalization.  Over 50,000 cultivation sites grow marijuana under the guise of medicine, then illegally sell it to 60% of the United States market for recreational use.  In the meantime, massive quantities of our precious water is being used for marijuana cultivation, resulting in destruction of our natural resources and ruining the quality of life in once fine communities.

Currently, a whopping 19.5% of the California budget is directed towards dealing with issues related to substance abuse. However, surprisingly only 1% of this 19.5% is spent on prevention. Most of it is used for shoveling up the damage and treating the wounded, horrible economic policy. Furthermore, out of the 129 Americans who die every day of drug overdose, almost all started their drug journey with marijuana, and 59% of people arrested (Sacramento) test positive for marijuana.

Against this background, two contrasting ballot initiatives will be introduced to the California voters in the 2016 elections: The Safe and Drug-Free Community Act and Newsom’s Adult Use of Marijuana Act. The former seeks to prevent our California communities from transforming into drug production and consumption havens, and preserve our natural resources for our future generations; the latter seeks to make marijuana, universally known as the “gateway drug”  widely available, without considering the social, economic and environmental cost of the drug.

SAFE AND DRUG-FREE COMMUNITY ACT

The Safe and Drug-Free Community Act which which seeks to prevent marijuana use will save lives, cut crime, improve academic achievement, save taxpayers billions of dollars and help regain and retain all that made California and this nation great.

The Safe and Drug-Free Community Act addresses the marijuana related issues faced by California communities as follows:

  • Keeps marijuana illegal. Today’s high potency marijuana is known to cause brain damage, mental illness, psychotic breaks, suicidal depression, harms to a fetus, and increased traffic deaths.
  • Would prevent privately owned cultivation sites which are destroying our natural resources, sucking up mass quantities of water (6 gallons/day/plan) and causing irreparable ecological damage.  One cultivation site will remain, owned and controlled by the government to fulfill the intent of Prop 215.
  • Privately owned dispensaries will be banned to stop the enormous abuse that has and continues to take place.   State owned dispensaries will be allowed where local communities choose to allow them and “medical marijuana” will be more tightly controlled with lab testing, packaging, potency and consists. 
  • The legal age of “medical marijuana” will be raised from 18 to 21. The American Society of Addictive Medicine recommends no one under age 25 use marijuana based on scientific evidence that the human brain isn’t fully developed until then.  Ages 18, 19 and 20 are critical years for brain development, and at least closer to brain maturity, where the vulnerability to harm is far less. 
  • Imposes strict standards on doctors who recommend marijuana, something currently lacking. 
  • Requires dispensaries to report marijuana as part of CURES Act so pharmacists can safe guard against adverse interactions with conflicting medicines that could cause harm. 
  • Sets a standard for marijuana impaired driving.  Currently 12.6% of drivers (one-in-eight) are driving impaired to some degree by marijuana.  Traffic deaths owing to marijuana have doubled in California.  Stoned drivers are even killing people on sidewalks. 
  • Mandates a statewide educational program for parents, teachers, students and the general public so people can make an informed decision about using marijuana, allowing their children to use it, or what and whom to vote for.

NEWSOM’S ADULT USE OF MARIJUANA ACT THREATENS OUR FUTURE

As with Prop 215, this ballot initiative is once again financed by drug money that flows from and through out-of-state billionaires who are putting millions into their campaign to persuade California citizens to overlook the harmful effects of the drug. New York billionaire Sean Parker has been recruited to augment money that will flow from George Soros and the DPA. Despite openly stating that he doesn’t want marijuana near his own children, Lt Governor Gavin Newsom, is leading the legalization effort full force. Their stated benefits of legalization and arguments for it are frankly an affront to one’s intellect:

  1. They Say It Will Protect Our Kids – They want to tax and regulate marijuana so we have money to teach our kids not to use it.  Brilliant!  Expanding the availability and access will increase adolescent use as it has in Colorado, Washington and all places in the world where it has been decriminalized.
  2. They Say It Is For Adult Use Only – Today’s highly potent pot can cause permanent physical and chemical changes in the brains of anyone under 25 years old.  Marijuana use peaks at age 20 and tapers off rather rapidly after age 25, so the focus from a marketing standpoint is on young people, just like Big Tobacco.   Governor Brown has stated, “…How many people can be stoned and still enable us to have a great state and nation?”  Actually it’s worse than just getting stoned. Diminished intellect, mental illness, psychotic breaks, depression, suicidal tendencies and addiction are life-long chronic conditions.   You can’t just sleep it off. 
  3. They Say It Can Be Regulated – If the government was capable of, or cared about regulation, God knows they would have demonstrated it by now. California has over 50,000 mostly illegal cultivation sites producing pot under the guise of medicine, then illegally selling to 60% of the US market.  In the meantime, the pot plantations are inflicting irreparable harm on our precious ecosystems.
  4. They Say It Will Benefit The State Economically – The social costs of marijuana, like alcohol and tobacco, are 10 times greater than tax revenues.  Expanding the use of marijuana for the sake of the 8% who want to get high, or make money on those who do, will cost the other 92% more. Nor will the black market go away.  Cartels don’t pay taxes so they have a price advantage.  
  5. They Say They Want Local Government Control – Over 83% of California communities currently have bans or moratoriums on marijuana because they don’t want this junk in their communities.  Under the Newsom initiative local communities would lose that control unless the people, through a ballot initiative, decide they don’t want it.  How’s that for “slipping it to you?”
  6. It Would Retain “Medical Marijuana” – The existing program which allows anyone over 18, for any purported illness, to access all of the pot they want for personal consumption or to sell, doesn’t go away.  We already have de facto legalization, producing more pot than Californians can consume. 

Marijuana is a dangerous drug, with proven ability to destroy the brains of our youth, inflict irreparable harm on our natural resources and pose a public health and safety problem for everyone.  Anyone that aspires to be Governor of this fine state needs to demonstrate that protecting people, the planet and our tax dollars are of higher priority than pandering for drug money for his or her personal campaign.

In the interest of public safety and environmental protection, just defeating full legalization isn’t adequate.  We need to roll back what exists.

TELL THE OUT-OF-STATE BILLIONAIRES TO GO PACKING!