cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Treatment Swells Marijuana Treatment Swells Posted by CN Staff on March 15, 2005 at 09:40:12 PT By Sundeep Malladi Source: Badger Herald Despite its illegality, marijuana use is still prevalent among a portion of Americans. According to a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study released March 4, the admission rates for treatment for marijuana as a primary substance of abuse increased 162 percent between 1992 and 2002.Additionally, the study showed admissions to treatment for marijuana abuse rose in 41 states, citing marijuana treatment admissions were only 45 admissions for 100,000 people in 1992. However, in 2002, the study found that number swelled to 118 admissions. SAMHSA spokesperson Leah Young said the study does not point to why increased use is occurring, instead the study suggests marijuana is not a benign substance.“[The study] does tell us that people are winding up in treatment in greater numbers,” Young said. “This is a cause for alarm because there [are] people [who] think marijuana is harmless.”According to National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) senior policy analyst Paul Armentano, the federal government and NORML both agree the increased number of teens sent to drug treatment in the past years influenced the increase in marijuana admissions as concluded in the SAMHSA survey.“Up until this last report [the federal government] made all this very clear,” Armentano said. “For the first time in [SAMHSA’s] history there was not a breakdown of how people got there [into treatment].”Armentano added few people voluntarily check themselves into treatment and for every 100 people using marijuana approximately nine show signs of dependence.But according to SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie, marijuana is not a harmless substance.Curie said in a release it is time for parents and young adults “to understand that marijuana is dangerous and it should be shunned for the illegal substance it is.”University of Wisconsin physician and addictionologist at Meriter Hospital Ian Powell said there could be other reasons as well why SAMHSA’s findings point to increased admissions for treatment.The marijuana known today may not be the same kind used in the 1960s when marijuana first became popular, Powell added.“We know people who raise marijuana in plantations have higher levels of cannaboids,” Powell said. “It means you’re getting more of a potent substance.”Powell noted many parents have become more educated about the substance over the years and have more readily sent their children to treatment.While many believe marijuana’s real danger lies in the fact it may be a gateway drug, others disagree.According to Hope Haven program supervisor Scott Forbes, marijuana is not the gateway drug many researchers seek.“Cigarettes are really the gateway drug,” Forbes said. “If there is a such, then it’s tobacco.”However, Forbes added, marijuana could still be considered a type of gateway drug since it encourages many to continue on in a pattern of illegal drugs.“Because it’s illegal there’s an extra line being crossed there,” Forbes said.Source: Badger Herald (Edu, Madison, WI)Author: Sundeep MalladiPublished: Tuesday, March 15, 2005Copyright: 2005 Badger HeraldContact: editor badgerherald.comWebsite: http://www.badgerherald.com/Related Articles & Web Site:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Genes May Play Role in Pot Addictionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20358.shtmlMore Seek Help for Marijuana Addictionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20320.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #17 posted by FoM on March 16, 2005 at 12:42:42 PT Off Topic Senate Votes to Open Alaskan Oil Drilling:http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=586919 [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by unkat27 on March 16, 2005 at 12:15:28 PT Another Gutless Reporter sucks up to the PTB Well, from this article it is evident that the ONDCP is succeeeding in spreading its half-truths and lies throughout the country. Why don't these so-called 'journalists' do a little more research? The vast majority of these people 'seeking' treatment for cannabis 'abuse' are merely doing so because the fascists who run the goddam fiasco of a law-enforcement department are giving them the choice between treatment and prison. No mention of this fact in this article, which tells me the author is just scoring political points and sucking up to the PTB. Another gutless reportersucks up to the PTB.Btw, there was $2 million cannabis bust in Worcester, Mass in the local news. Sure would like to have my hands in that booty. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by John Tyler on March 15, 2005 at 21:32:06 PT other "not harmless" things Is this the best argument they can come up with is that it is not a harmless substance? Come on. Nobody ever said it wasn't. It is just that it is a lot less harmful than arrest and imprisonment or a fine and a record. It is less harmful that alcohol. It is way less harmful that tobacco. There are lots of harmful and dangerous things, like boxing, football, auto racing, horse racing, mountain climbing, etc., etc. that are praised. Nobody is saying these things should be outlawed. Why is cannabis singled out? Cannabis is a multibuillion dollar industry. Why is a multibuillion dollar industry still illegal? You would think government would want to cash in on the this ecnomic bonanza. You would think also about the employees in the cannabis industry. These people are so dedicated, clever and persistent they have put together a decentralized business that encompasses progressive agriculture in various climates, finance, transportation, and distribution all while fending off attack (in a Gandhiesk fashion) from some of the most sophisticated and well funded governments in the world. In spite of their losses the industry prevails and prospers. They are able to overcome horrific adversity to make cannabis available in your community. Are these great employees or what? They can get the job done no matter what. It is a crime not to have society’s legitimacy confered on them and the industry they have built. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by The GCW on March 15, 2005 at 18:05:20 PT Marijuana Treatment Swells IN OREGON... Marijuana Treatment Swells?I could believe it if they were talking about how the amount of people using mecical cannabis legally in OREGON, has increased and increased.(I thought this was going to be an Oregon story...) [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on March 15, 2005 at 16:36:49 PT ngeo You are so right! Thanks! [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by ngeo on March 15, 2005 at 16:30:07 PT: Max & FoM Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage" and some other stuff like, we are all players. Updated, life is a movie, and we are all actors in the movie. We can play a good part, a bad part, a bit part, etc. Pretend there is a camera on you (there may be), or God looking over your shoulder, and try to make the right moves. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on March 15, 2005 at 16:02:24 PT Max Flowers and Everyone I'm very sick of the lies. I have trouble believing much of anything this administration says. I wish it would stop too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Max Flowers on March 15, 2005 at 15:52:34 PT Sick from lies It's hard to express just how sick I am of all these government lies. Lies, lies and more relentless lies. Blatant, bald-faced lies by highly-paid know-nothing "drug warriors"... shocking lies by the IRS about who is truly liable for paying taxes (hint: it's not who most of you might think)... lies by presidents and secretaries of defense and state and all of their whole crews...My life has been very different since I woke up to the reality of living under a lying, corrupt government. Never a dull moment, like a wild novel being played out in real life. It's really more excitement than I wanted. Someone make it stop now please. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by lombar on March 15, 2005 at 14:27:21 PT they know The government knows that activists have been scoring big points with the fact that Walters et al miss no chance to claim treatment is skyrocketing yet not acknowledging where the people are coming from. Now if they do not even include the breakdowns they can more easily claim that treatments are up because cannabis is bad/addictive. More obscuring the truth to make the half-truths and lies harder to refute. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by ngeo on March 15, 2005 at 12:37:56 PT: "Treatment" I see SAMHSA, which has a vested interest in cannabis prohibition, no longer tells where the 'treatment' victims are coming from; and the article does not enlarge on Armentano's statement. Obviously much of the increase in 'treatment' is due to the choice of 'treatment' or jail imposed by the courts. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by siege on March 15, 2005 at 11:39:31 PT OFF TOPIC I have been fishing two times in the tennessee river you put the fish in your ice box and then you go to clean them, they are ROTTEN, In a very short time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by ekim on March 15, 2005 at 11:38:02 PT John Jay College of Criminal Justice welcomes Leap Mar 16 05 Seminar in Police Problems Class #2 02:10 PM Jim Gray New York New York USA The John Jay College of Criminal Justice welcomes Judge Jim Gray to the second of two classes of its Seminar in Police Problems Class to discuss issues related to the failure of drug prohbition. Mar 16 05 Seminar in Police Problems Class #1 12:30 PM Jim Gray New York New York USA The John Jay College of Criminal Justice welcomes Judge Jim Gray to its Seminar in Police Problems Class to discuss issues related to the failure of drug prohbition. This is the first of two classes. Mar 17 05 Bard High School Early College PTA Meeting 07:00 PM Jim Gray New York New York USA Speaker Judge Jim Gray will speak at the Bard High School Early College PTA Meeting to discuss a variety of issues related to the failure of America's drug policies. Mar 17 05 Ellis Henican ABC Satellite Radio Interview 02:00 PM Jim Gray New York New York USA Speaker Judge Jim Gray is a phone in guest on the Ellis Henican ABC Satellite Radio Show. Judge Gray will be sharing his knowlege and expertise on a variety of issues such as mandatory minimums, drug prohibition effects on minority populations and the relationship of prohibition to crime. Mar 19 05 Dick Shaw Show 03:10 PM Jack Cole Indian Beach FL USA Jack Cole explains why LEAP backs "legalization" over "decriminalization" on WTAN Radio 1340AM, in the Tampa, Florida area. Mar 20 05 Hempology Society 6th Annual Convention 12:00 PM Matt McCally Victoria British Columbia Canada The Hempology Society of the Camosun College Club welcomes Speaker Matt McCally to its 6th Annual Convention to discuss issues related to the failure of drug prohbition. Mar 29 05 A Cop On Drugs 08:00 PM Peter Moskos New York New York USA Former Baltimore Police Officer and current John Jay College professor Peter Moskos explains the "Harms of Drug Prohibition: A Cop On Drugs" when he visits with students and faculty of Columbia University. http://www.leap.cc/events [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by ekim on March 15, 2005 at 10:41:09 PT Ohio Patient Network US OH: PUB LTE: Care For SickURL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n443/a10.html Newshawk: Media Activism Center http://www.mapinc.org/resource Votes: 0 Pubdate: Wed, 09 Mar 2005 Source: Cincinnati City Beat (OH) Copyright: 2005sLightborne Publishing Inc. Contact: letters citybeat.com Website: http://www.citybeat.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1692 Author: Mary Jane BordenCARE FOR SICK Thank you for publishing the excellent article "Toking the Cure" ( issue of March 2-8 ). I would like to clarify two points. First, I'd like to explain the image behind the article's subtitle, "Medical marijuana isn't about five hippies and a dog." In January, I visited State Sen. Robert Hagan's office with five other Ohio Patient Network members. As I heard them eloquently tell their stories, I realized how damaging the negative stereotype of marijuana is to the sick and dying. Cannabis, as these patients powerfully showed, is no longer about hippies and the counterculture. In fact, the senator's aide mentioned to us afterward that we, as ordinary citizens, might have more clout with legislators than highly paid lobbyists. snipped http://www.leap.cc/events [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 15, 2005 at 10:21:57 PT Sam Thank you for the article. What we are doing to the earth and the people makes me ill. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 15, 2005 at 10:19:18 PT Excerpt From Article from The Village Voice Up In Smoke March 15, 2005Last year, a survey by AARP's magazine found that an overwhelming 72 percent of respondents backed the medicinal use of marijuana. While the results are available on its website, AARP: The Magazine never printed the survey results. The Drug Policy Alliance says this might be because of "attacks from a so-called 'media watchdog' organization and fanatical anti-drug groups." The watchdog in question is Accuracy in Media, which late last year accused AARP of "pushing so-called 'medical marijuana' on America's elderly citizens" and asserted that an AARP magazine features editor "is an admitted drug abuser." But Steve Sloan, the AARP magazine's chief editor, says the poll got so much play in the media that it was an old story by the time the magazine would have printed it. He denies there was political pressure. Complete Article: http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0511,murphy,62078,6.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on March 15, 2005 at 10:03:51 PT More Orwellian Doublespeak Marijuana is really bad because it's....really bad! No matter how many alcoholics die or go into AA or rehab, we MUST arrest all the marijuana smokers! It's NOT harmless! For God's sake, people are in TREATMENT! Horrors!We need to arrest YOU because some 16-year-old kid is in treatment. Excellent logic! God help us if a few teens catch a buzz while playing videogames.As an aside, has anyone read the news about the EPA & mercury regulation? It will look familiar. This "Administration" uses the same methods across the board. Hire bogus scientists to create your own truth. Eliminate critical information in huge government bureaucracy reports. Most importantly, pretend as if your objective is 100% different from the results of your actions. For instance, claim that your goal is "protect ratepayers" of utilities, not to protect the handful of men who own the huge, corrupt utilities from gouging us even more. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/03/15/epa_rule_will_limit_power_plant_mercury/If you cut through all the Orwellian BS, the resulting logic will be completely absurd. In this case, they're telling us that consumers would rather breathe, eat, and drink mercury than pay another 1% for electricity. Sorry to go off-topic, but this is really disturbing. A crime against nature. What will be the effect of fish, animals & birds who's offspring are less intelligent and sicker than normal, over 10 or 20 generations? According to the right wing, this should be heinous crime against God's Creation. Yeah right, like Bush believes in God. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ekim on March 15, 2005 at 10:02:47 PT 165% increase on arrests --Da-- whats not to get? * Marijuana prohibition fails to produce intended results. Total US marijuana arrests increased 165% during the 1990s, from 287,850 in 1991 to 755,000 in 2003. http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20348.shtml http://www.leap.cc/events/ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment