ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist®.com: Putin Punishes Georgia</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style3 { height: 68px; } .MsoNormal {} h1 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style4 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; } .style6 { height: 69px; } h2 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style7 { width: 133px; } .style8 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> &nbsp;<table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr> <td height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style7"> <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="7" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="482" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140" class="style6"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="1" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" class="style6"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="300" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="624" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style3"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#8226; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#8226; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#8226; <a href="teflon.html"> THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#8226; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> REACTIONS</a> &#8226; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="2"> <td height="2" class="style7"></td> <td width="489" height="2576" colspan="3" rowspan="2" align="left" xpos="133" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <p class="style4">Reefer Madness at Time Magazine</p> <p><b><font face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica">by John M. Curt</font></b><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b>is<a href="books.html"><br> </a></b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b> (310) 204-8700</b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright July 24, 2010<br>All Rights Reserved. </i></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="style8">&nbsp;N</span>ot since the 1936 government-sponsored propaganda film  Reefer Madness, has a respected U.S. publication been so exploited to torpedo an upcoming California vote on legalizing marijuana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Time Magazine s July 22 article exploring the  complex link between marijuana and schizophrenia is one such egregious attempt to sabotage the nation s first realistic attempt at legalizing cannabis, originally banned in the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>by the 1932 Federal Bureau of Narcotics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>California s Prop 19 or Marijuana Control Act, slated for the November 2010 ballot, legalizes the manufacture and sale of cannabis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Proponents hail the 14-year track record of 1996 Prop 215, legalizing marijuana use under doctors prescriptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Fourteen years of medical marijuana hasn t seen a dramatic increase in pot smoking, promised by opponents, insisting marijuana leads to dangerous drug abuse. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Time Magazine reports that schizophrenics those suffering from delusions, hallucinations and decline in personal and social functioning are twice as likely to smoke pot, or, even more alarmingly, those that smoke double their chances of developing schizophrenia<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>A 2007 medical review indicated that a single trial of marijuana increased schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders 40%, attesting to the unreal disconnect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If that were true, you d see a dramatic increase in schizophrenia and psychotic disorders since 1996, the year California s compassionate use law went into effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Epidemiology studies indicate that schizophrenia rates remain the same, round 1% of the population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Studies of schizophrenia indicate that the disease is a genetic, neurological and biochemical disorder having little to do with substance abuse or failed family relationships.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Patients with mental health problems typically use illicit drugs, not, as researchers suggest, to induce schizophrenia or psychotic symptoms but precisely because dysfunctional people tend to use marijuana and other recreational drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No matter how researchers draw links to marijuana, there s a disproportionately high number of homeless schizophrenics, garden-variety psychotics, untreated bipolar disorders, developmentally disabled, etc. wandering the streets, let down by a failed mental health care system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If marijuana were correlated with developmental disabilities, would the same researchers conclude that there s cause-and-effect?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When New York s Albert Einstein Medical School s Dr. Serge Sevy examined 100 schizophrenics between 16 and 40, he found that 75% smoked pot before the onset of their disease, not different from patients with other mental problems.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Examining the relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia, National Institute of Health researcher Marie-Odile Krebs studied 190 patients and found that marijuana exacerbated schizophrenic symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>She also found that cannabis sensitive patients those with more so-called endocannabinoid receptors produce more dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with schizophrenia and psychotic states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Kreb s research gives the government exactly what it wants:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Scientific proof to oppose legalizing marijuana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When you consider the sponsor of Kreb s research, namely, the U.S. government, it s no wonder that it presents the worst case scenario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Her research shows nothing other than schizophrenics don t do well on any mind-altering drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While it s true marijuana produces rare psychotic symptoms, including paranoia and panic attacks, it doesn t cause schizophrenia.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>California s 14-year Prop 215 experiment with medical marijuana hasn t produced an increase in schizophrenia, psychosis or other known adverse reactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While it s true that atypical reactions occur, the same can be said for any mind-altering drug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Legalization proponents tout the expected tax windfall from Prop 19 s state-controlled regulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>If the last 14 years is any guide, expected changes in the incidence of marijuana use seem unlikely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Opponents often site the dangers of increased marijuana use, including, addiction and more dangerous drug use, the so-called gateway hypothesis advanced in the government-sponsored propaganda film,  Reefer Madness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Government researchers know there s no link at all between marijuana use and genetic-based, neurological or biochemical-caused disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, etc.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Time Magazine s recent exposé on  A Complex Link Between Marijuana and Schizophrenia displays the extremes to which the government will go to advance its  Reefer Madness hypothesis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Such fears have been long-discredited in the legitimate scientific community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Marijuana has been vetted more over the last 14-years than most FDA-approved drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Since 1996 in California, there s been no increase in schizophrenia, psychosis or other mental disorders from marijuana use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>More available in potent form than ever, prescription-grade marijuana hasn t created the mayhem loudly proclaimed by yesterday and today s opponents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>November s legalization initiative, ironically, faces opposition from Northern California s boutique medical marijuana growers, worried about hurting their specialized business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Citing junk-science only obscures the real issues.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <b>John M. Curtis </b>writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He&#x2019;s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet</a> and <a href="books.html">Operation Charisma</a>.</p> </td> <td width="1" height="2576" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="2"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="2574"> <td height="2574" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style7"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="1" height="2574"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2574"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td height="1" class="style7"><spacer type="block" width="133" height="1"></td> <td width="7" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="7" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="300" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="300" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> Homecobolos> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">©1999-2005 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"> Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>