|
Simplepowa
In Pursuit of Knowledge


Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 4,310
|
Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke
#19115022 - 11/10/13 01:52 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Drugs AlterNet / By Paul Armentano
Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke Why we can't allow the truth get stretched on health risks tied to cannabis.
November 1, 2013 | As public support for amending America’s antiquated and failed cannabis criminalization policies continues to grow to record levels, stalwart prohibitionists – predictably – are doubling down on tried-and-true propaganda tactics to attempt to turn the tide. One of their most common strategies is to emphasize alleged health risks associated with marijuana consumption, in particular the claim that cannabis smoking causes cancer and other tobacco-related respiratory risks. A recent example of this argument appeared in an October 29, 2013 Seattle Post-Intelligencer commentary, entitled “Marijuana smoking and the risk of lung cancer” by Eric Vallieres of the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. Predictably, his alarmist commentary is heavy on rhetoric but woefully short on facts. Of course, no one argues that the ingestion of combustive smoke, whether it is tobacco smoke or cannabis smoke, is healthy. However, it is inaccurate to allege that the risks to the consumer posed by these two substances are equal. In fact, the most recently available peer-reviewed science clearly rebukes the allegation that cannabis is as equal to or more dangerous than tobacco. For example, writing in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2012, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco reported that occasional to moderate cannabis consumption was not associated with the adversely pulmonary risks associated with tobacco smoking. Investigators "confirmed the expected reductions in FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration) and FVC (forced vital capacity)" in tobacco smokers. By contrast, "Marijuana use was associated with higher FEV1 and FVC at the low levels of exposure typical for most marijuana users. With up to 7 joint-years of lifetime exposure (e.g., 1 joint/d for 7 years or 1 joint/wk for 49 years), we found no evidence that increasing exposure to marijuana adversely affects pulmonary function." The full study may be read online here. The findings in JAMA were hardly a surprise. Previously, the largest case-controlled study ever to investigate the respiratory effects of marijuana smoking reported that cannabis use was not associated with lung-related cancers, even among subjects who reported smoking more than 22,000 joints over their lifetime. Summarizing the study’s findings in The Washington Post, lead investigator and pulmonologist Dr. Donald Tashkin of UCLA concluded, “"We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more positive with heavier use. What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect." The full study is available here. (Notably, pot propagandists such as Dr. Vallieres try to in vain to undermine these findings by citing a 2008 New Zealand study, which some purport to definitively demonstrate a link between cannabis use and lung cancer. In reality, that study only reported a positive correlation in 14 heavy using subjects – a sample size far too small to draw any conclusions from and a result that has, to date, never been replicated in any large-scale population case-control models. Moreover, the same study also found that light-to-moderate lifetime cannabis consumers, who consisted of the majority of the trials’ participants, possessed no increased risk of cancer.) More recently, this past May presenters at the annual meeting of the American Academy for Cancer Research reported that subjects who regularly inhale cannabis smoke possess no greater risk of lung cancer than do those who consume it occasionally or not at all — according to an analysis of six case-control studies, conducted between 1999 and 2012, involving over 5,000 subjects (2,159 cases and 2,985 controls) from around the world. They concluded, "Our pooled results showed no significant association between the intensity, duration, or cumulative consumption of cannabis smoke and the risk of lung cancer overall or in never smokers." Most recently, an editorial in July published in the journal Annals of the American Thoracic Society concluded: “Cannabis smoking is not equivalent to tobacco smoking in terms of respiratory risk. … [C]annabis smoking does not seem to increase risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or airway cancers. In fact, there is even a suggestion that at low doses cannabis may be protective for both conditions. … This conclusion will affect the way health professionals interact with patients, parents with teenagers, and policy makers with their constituents. … Efforts to develop cleaner cannabinoid delivery systems can and should continue, but at least for now, [those] who smoke small amounts of cannabis for medical or recreational purposes can breathe a little bit easier.” Why have scientists not identified a cannabis smoke/cancer link? The answer may be because cannabis, unlike tobacco, contains anti-cancer causing agents – a fact most recently reaffirmed this week in Newsweek on October 29 under the headline “Marijuana might kill cancer.” Reports the story, “In a paper published in October’s Anticancer Research, Wai Liu, a senior research fellow at St. George’s University of London, reports that he found six cannabinoids – active components of the cannabis plant – that can slow or outright kill cancer cells.” Previous peer-reviewed assessments of the properties of cannabis smoke and tobacco smoke further acknowledge that the pharmacological activities of these substances differ in such a manner that they are by no means equally carcinogenic. It is true that some studies of cannabis smoke and pulmonary function indicate that chronic exposure may be associated with an increased risk of certain respiratory complications, including cough, bronchitis, phlegm. That said, the ingestion of cannabis via alternative methods such as edibles, liquid tinctures, or via vaporization — a process whereby the plant’s cannabinoids are heated to the point of vaporization but below the point of combustion –- virtually eliminates consumers’ exposure to such unwanted risk factors and has been determined to be a ‘safe and effective’ method of ingestion in clinical trial settings. Cannabis smoking is certainly not without potential risks. But these risks should not be overstated, nor should they be asserted as a justification for a public policy that continues to criminalize and stigmatize responsible, adult cannabis consumers.
Paul Armentano is the deputy director of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), and is the co-author of Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink (2009, Chelsea Green).
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/dont-buy-fear-campaign-about-dangers-marijuana-smoke?paging=off¤t_page=1#bookmark
--------------------
Carl Sagan - "Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people." --- Robert Pirsig - "When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion." --- Brian Cox - "[One] problem with today’s world is that everyone believes they have the right to express their opinion AND have others listen to it. The correct statement of individual rights is that everyone has the right to an opinion, but crucially, that opinion can be roundly ignored and even made fun of, particularly if it is demonstrably nonsense."
|
KingKnowledge
Around



Registered: 03/30/13
Posts: 2,876
Loc: East Coast
Last seen: 4 years, 6 months
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: Simplepowa]
#19115282 - 11/10/13 02:49 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Gotta love the term "joint-years"
If only I smoked a joint a day...make that 20.
|
tealeaf
Just Touch It


Registered: 09/21/06
Posts: 2,907
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: KingKnowledge]
#19115779 - 11/10/13 04:31 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
how does it cause cancer when it is killing it, chinese riddle for ya murica.
how can you compare tobacco to herb, one is a straight forward plant, the other contains a laundry list of mega unhealthy additives with a sprinkling of plant material.
if the feds are so gungho on saying herb causes cancer and thats why it should still be banned, then why does tobacco exists in the legal market and its proven 100% to literally kill you..........fucking hypocrites are the biggest losers
|
Konyap

Registered: 06/30/07
Posts: 33,945
Loc: Planet Piss
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: tealeaf]
#19116084 - 11/10/13 05:25 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Cancer typically is when old cells don't die
the stuff in weed makes it so they go through their end of life cycle
starts with a A-
|
Dest
Roller-Derby Coach


Registered: 06/14/09
Posts: 2,444
Last seen: 6 years, 5 months
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: Konyap] 1
#19118349 - 11/11/13 12:39 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Major pothead checking in here, still feeling like a god, will update.
|
Le_Canard
The Duk Abides


Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 94,392
Loc: Earthfarm 1
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: Konyap]
#19118992 - 11/11/13 04:05 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
I recall a large study they did here a few years ago where they tracked thousands of cannabis users over a number of years and actually found cannabis smoking actually lowered your risk of neck and chest cancers somewhat. Weed smoke is a relatively more healthy than smoking tobacco. Of course, inhaling the hot burning gases of combustible material of anything may cause health problems.
Edited by Le_Canard (11/11/13 04:09 AM)
|
Konyap

Registered: 06/30/07
Posts: 33,945
Loc: Planet Piss
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: Le_Canard]
#19119056 - 11/11/13 05:00 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Still I wonder
is weed less healthier then shrooms physically?(because nothing matters anymore)
|
Fungi
Psycho4ctive


Registered: 09/29/13
Posts: 393
Loc: Melbourne
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: Konyap]
#19119278 - 11/11/13 07:18 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Psilocybin rebuilds brain cells. I think weed has similar brain promoting activities where cannabinoids protect the neurons from damage. If our governments cared about our health, being fat would be illegal over night. How much better out society would be if instead of hunting down people with mdma or weed, cops would bust a door of the hinges to arrest an obese family devouring a bucket of KFC and giving a chubby teen a "fatty" warning. We all know obesity, strokes and heart attacks kill more people than all drugs, wars, accidents, murders and everything else combined. The government couldn't give a flying fuck about our health and well being, mental or physical.
-------------------- Formerly known as Psycho4ctive To Fathom Hell or Soar Angelic, Just Take a Pinch of Psychedelic
Edited by Fungi (11/11/13 07:19 AM)
|
Konyap

Registered: 06/30/07
Posts: 33,945
Loc: Planet Piss
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: Fungi]
#19121201 - 11/11/13 03:24 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
I think with shrooms though, while you have a tolerance that also makes you immune to the effects you could also technically pass out, so there are some negatives to shrooms. Weed makes you pass out from smoking too much being tired/drained, but with shrooms it changes your blood pressure so who knows what you could pass out doing.
|
lessismore
Registered: 02/10/13
Posts: 6,268
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: KingKnowledge]
#19121208 - 11/11/13 03:25 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
KingKnowledge said: Gotta love the term "joint-years"
If only I smoked a joint a day...make that 20.
Once you smoke the first 20 joints, 20 years have passed, hence 20 joint-years
I think I have to subscribe to Terence McKennas idea on how to do MJ do it rarely, get the strongest stuff you can get
everyday is a big time consumer, own experience but you may feel normal after many months/years of quitting, if you are a heavy user the fog stays for a while, several months
even just one night of smoking would give me brain fog for many days not the pleasant brain fog of psychedelics where you get good overview of your thoughts but the unpleasant brain fog where you got no concept of time, self, appointments, social life, negative thoughts/weird thoughts(no control of thoughts), bad memory both short and long term memory that didnt work...
MJ started to give me bad trips so I quit for good few years back
it works good for a lot of people, but if you got very little self control like me stay away :-) and I didnt smoke 20 years, although it felt like that, only a few years know people who have smoked many years and it got them pretty unmotivated... daily use is hard to control
I dont buy into the skunk vs hash damage scare tactics though I used to smoke up to 1/8th of skunk everyday, the strongest stuff for few years head did feel very weird for many months after stopping but the trip wasnt more paranoid than with good strong hashish... hash is actually much stronger / more paranoid for me , often up to 40% thc compared to 15-20% of skunk
it might be more unsafe as it is a hybrid though... but thats thats just nonsense fearing the unknown smoking weed is a risk to the mind in any case, only do when on top of life
and a risk to the lungs too... even if you smoke bong I got bong lungs within a few months of smoking everyday... cough everyday for years after stopping didnt make running/cycling easier
legalize weed for freedom, not due to health / money reasons smoke if you want to, but dont involve science in it, smoking isnt healthy in any form
but as a medicinal herb it does have its positives, although only if you are disabled by the pain/chronic pain patient IMO I had kidney stones, smoking lots did work as good as morphine, and docs wouldnt give me morphine more than a few times... so constant pain removes headache instantly too, better than the best pharmacy pill that takes 40mins to work or so , but at the cost of giving brain fog for weeks
its a double edged sword... it can cure and destroy, depending on use, like any pill often it destroys, rarely it cures, often it helps people cope
legalizing it wont make a difference I think... its already available to anybody at any age, anywhere
Edited by lessismore (11/11/13 03:59 PM)
|
meatables
Psychonaut


Registered: 08/13/13
Posts: 82
Loc: Innerspace
Last seen: 5 years, 7 days
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: lessismore]
#19129080 - 11/12/13 10:46 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
Yay head fog! Srsly tho I agree with above sentiment... was a long time (14yr) pothead (1/4oz+/d mostly reggy) fog is quite set in... slowed way down this year... might burn 1g/week good shit and is much more appreciable than maintaining a daily stone...
-------------------- Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you!
|
lessismore
Registered: 02/10/13
Posts: 6,268
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: meatables]
#19130317 - 11/13/13 08:26 AM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
there's a time and place for everything :-)
we all try weed once :-) but some like to smoke it everyday
50% of them can control it good, 50% get stoned for 20 years before quitting
it is as hard to moderate as smoking cigs I think
only if you got much self control/stable living will daily smoking work optimally
i.e. same work for 5+ years, routine work etc.
personally I couldn't control it, would get stoned each time ;-) weed is so strong these days/maybe had good connect, take 1 puff and I was stoned, good strong skunk these days lol
but didn't realize it at first... smoked 3-4 joints at a time... then I tried slowing down and found even 1-2 hits would get me super stoned / unable to do anything
pot/weak hash is probably much much better for daily smoking....
btw my dad used to smoke for 20 years before quitting, so thats is probably where I got it from ;-) he said the fog lasted over a decade after stopping.. dunno..
it did help me read, play guitar, enjoy music though... but the munchies/paranoia/fog weren't worth it ;-) memory would be terrible if I didn't get to smoke.... close to no memory .. sucked
Edited by lessismore (11/13/13 08:47 AM)
|
brianisswindy
Mellow

Registered: 10/07/13
Posts: 33
Last seen: 9 years, 5 months
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: lessismore]
#19131411 - 11/13/13 01:53 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
I'm not exceptionally experienced in this. I've been smoking for about 2 years now (still in college). I play d2 college soccer and have noticed weed benefitting my athletic performance. A lot of people may disagree but this is from my experience. I also have asthma, pretty bad actually and I have noticed that smoking marijuana doesn't make it worse. I thought when I first started smoking that i can't smoke while in season, but the. I had tried it and only noticed better athletic performance; maybe this being due to weed giving me creativity, it helpse Perform on the field. It also helps tremendously with recovery after being so sore from games. Promotes deeper sleep for stronger recovery. Also has been noticed to increase my focus and attention; I rip a few gravs before going to the gym everyday I have noticed my best workouts after smoking.
On another note (from personal experience) I don't subscribe to the "addictive" trait in weed. I would go from smoking 1/8th oz a day to completely stopped and not smoke again for 3 months (due to potential drug testing for student athletes. I had no problem quitting nor was I constantly wanting or feeling a need to get high.
I just believe cannabis effects different people in different ways.
Rant over.
|
Godfather1376
Psychedelic Aventurer



Registered: 07/07/13
Posts: 1,061
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
|
Re: Don't Buy into the Fear Campaign About Dangers of Marijuana Smoke [Re: brianisswindy]
#19133457 - 11/13/13 09:25 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
|
|
IIRC, the "Cannabis kills cancer" is related to the US government patent on the cannabinoids (yes, our gov does in fact have a patent on their website, #6630507 ) on how as antioxidants and neuroprotectants, cannabis helps kill free-radicals. We as humans get free-radicals regularly, but the body destroys them. Many cancers start when a free-radical is not destroyed by the body and can use mitosis to make more free-radicals in an area, making a tumor.
|
|