“Like I said, if there are a few who somehow can’t stop consuming marijuana, they are a VERY few, and it’s not due to marijuana, but to some deeper, underlying issue. Perhaps a fraction of one percent. We don’t make policy for the 99 based on the one, especially whent it’s not marijuana causing the problem.”

Indeed. I don’t know what basis there is for that 1-in-100 figure for those who would like to temper their cannabis use but can’t on their own, other than guesswork. Let’s guess that it’s 1 in 200. And that 20 million people in the U.S. smoke marijuana regularly (which is probably way low). That would put the number of people having a problem at 100,000. We’ll probably never know. What we do know is that anything can be abused, and like you say, it likely has more to do with some underlying personal problem.

“Interesting statement. What do you think are some examples of “marijuana mythology?””

If you have the stomach for it, you could read through this for all the outmoded bilge about cannabis you will probably ever want to read.

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n726/a09.html?397

Here are some tidy deconstructions:

http://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/drug-czar-lies-of-the-week/07252008/

http://reason.com/blog/2008/07/30/why-smoking-pot-is-like-sex-wi

>>>”I agree that cannabis isn’t physically addictive. It can become a dependence situation. There are people who abuse all kinds of things, from gambling to celebrity idolatry to Facebook.”

Like I said, if there are a few who somehow can’t stop consuming marijuana, they are a VERY few, and it’s not due to marijuana, but to some deeper, underlying issue. Perhaps a fraction of one percent. We don’t make policy for the 99 based on the one, especially whent it’s not marijuana causing the problem.

Like I also said, for the majority of even these very few, often repeated consumption does not damage their lives – just as medical marijuana patients consume various times a day and still function well in life. Part of the definition of “abuse” has to include a significant level of resultant damage. Otherwise, we need to start talking about milk abuse.

>>>”One doesn’t have to buy into all the marijuana mythology”

Interesting statement. What do you think are some examples of “marijuana mythology?”

>>>”to acknowledge that some people need help altering their behavior for the better,”

Most people in marijuana “treatment” are mandated there. The only behavior they are attempting to alter is consuming marijuana.

>>>”to lessen dependence if it is a problem for them.”

“Lessen?” Are you trying to tell me there are marijuana “treatment” programs whose goal is anything other than total abstinence?

>>>”Appreciating that doesn’t make one an advocate of Prohibition.”

Again. Marijuana “treatment” programs treat a bogus addiction, dependence, whatever you want to call it, for the vast majority of the people sent there. We cannot approach a clear and rational view of any possible, small, disfunctional fragment of the marijuana consuming population until we end the all-consuming, gigantic fraud of marijuana prohibition. It clouds every issue that touches marijuana.

“Don’t take my gravy train, think of the children!”

If only it were that simple. I agree that cannabis isn’t physically addictive. It can become a dependence situation. There are people who abuse all kinds of things, from gambling to celebrity idolatry to Facebook.

One doesn’t have to buy into all the marijuana mythology to acknowledge that some people need help altering their behavior for the better, to lessen dependence if it is a problem for them. Appreciating that doesn’t make one an advocate of Prohibition.

My post solely addressed ideas. You say:

>>>”there are people who have a problem with overuse of cannabis. They use it compulsively and it impacts their effectiveness. That’s why there are organizations around to assist people who want help with reducing or eliminating their excessive usage.”

That’s an example of using words like “compulsively” to characterize addiction. Marijuana is not addictive. Those who have a problem with it just stop. If there are a few who somehow can’t stop, the benign nature of marijuana does not generally inflict damage. Consider the thousands of medical mariuana patients who consume various times each day, yet carry on a normal life.

Marijuana is not alcohol.

Marijuana “treatment” programs exist primarily to serve the courts, employers and parents. In most cases there was no need for assistance, and I would challenge you to present the methodology of these “treatment” sessions. From what I’ve heard, it amounts to a ‘good talking to’ – which none take seriously.

The consideration of marijuana prohibition is not an issue with two sides. If so, name ONE positive thing it accomplishes. It is clearly a monstrous fraud perpetrated by megalomaniac bureaucrat Harry Anslinger and friends in 1937. And is now supported by various huge vested interests, like law enforcement, prosecutors, prisons, drug testing/”treatment” centers, the alcohol and pharmacuetical companies, etc.

But the Internet and Prop 215 woke Californians, and much of America, to the truth. A growing majority of Americans want an end to marijuana arrests. There appears to be a majority of Californians who want to end marijuana prohibition all together. We’ll see in November.

However, Spook, you’re completely wrong in characterizing Bonnie in that uncalled-for fashion. First, whether it comports with your philosophy or not, the reality is that there are people who have a problem with overuse of cannabis. They use it compulsively and it impacts their effectiveness. That’s why there are organizations around to assist people who want help with reducing or eliminating their excessive usage.

Bonnie’s piece was well-balanced, listing positive as well as negative effects this substance has on people. or rather the positive and negative ways in which it is used, and can be abused like anything else.

Further, I asked her to write the piece, just as I asked others to write the other cannabis-related columns from varying points of view for people to read and consider. So you can direct your fire at me, not this good writer.

Finally, here’s some advice for commenters from good old Eleanor Roosevelt: “Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.”

http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/Library/studies/studies.htm

Even the DEA’s own administrative law judge, Francis Young, concluded after an exhaustive review of the evidence: “Marijuana, in its natural state, is one of the safest therapuetically active substances known to man.”

It’s time to end the monstrously destructive fraud of marijuana prohibition.

Vote YES on Prop 19!