Yesterday, in the comments section of our election poll, TPG wrote: Interesting contrast between this [and] the legalize-marijuana poll. Richard, as an addiction specialist, it would be fascinating to read your take on that poll, and on the results tonight of what happened in California (whatever that might be!)

As you may have guessed, we’re delighted that Proposition 19 was not passed. I’ve treated literally thousands of people with drug addiction, and have no qualms about stating that pot is more often than not the first drug tried by people who later have addictions to “hard” drugs. Additionally, my experience with thousands of patients has shown that smoking pot is not the benign activity many proclaim, and in fact, is just the opposite.

Driving while stoned is no different than driving while drunk. Marijuana has an impact on one’s motivation, ability to concentrate, and ability to distinguish between safe activities and harmful ones (whether or not it is smoked or imbibed in another manner). It causes problem with memory and some studies show it can lead to psychosis and increase psychotic episodes in people with existing psychosis.

Though there is heated debate about which studies are accurate, some show that inhaling marijuana deeply into the lungs is just as dangerous as inhaling tobacco since it is held for far longer than tobacco (yes, we know, legalization activists, that others studies disagree).

Does marijuana have benefits? Undoubtedly. It does increase hunger and lessen nausea in people undergoing chemotherapy. It does lessen pressure on the eye for glaucoma patients. And it does reduce pain. But so do medications.

Until the “high” is taken out of marijuana, I simply can’t endorse its use (but would perhaps reconsider in dire cases where no other option was available after all options had been tried).  Feeling high makes you want to continue to feel high. Being high means you are not dealing with life. That can’t be a good thing, in our book.

P.S. As for the huge response to the marijuana poll, as well as the overwhelming response in favor or legalization, we have been made aware that a legalization activist asked his friends to log on and vote in the poll. We WELCOME ALL VOTERS. However, we hazard a guess that more people vastly interested in promoting legalization were far more motivated to vote than those who weren’t in favor. But, that is just a guess, and we might very well be wrong. Hope to have some more exciting Therapy Soup polls for you, though!

Comments

This post currently has one comment or trackback. You can read the comments or leave your own thoughts on our new comments page.

Trackbacks

No trackbacks yet to this post.

    Last reviewed: 4 Nov 2010