Marijuana - Is it truly evil?

michel said:

:clap

Nothing is evil per se (except for evil) . Marijuana might well be efficatious if pure, medically dispensed in tablet form (after having been deemed as safe by the regularity controls) - for people who suffer from certain delilitating ilnesses ( I am thinking here of M.S M.E, F.M.S).

My son unfortunately will not hear ny opinions on Marijuana - he deems it safe to smoke - and that is the end of it, as far as he is concerned.

There is now emmeriging evidence that a variety of Marijuana (for recreational purposes) called 'Skunk' (SP ? ) is far more dangerous than the 'ordinary variety'.

Personally, if I want to damage my Brain, I'd rather stand in the busy intersections of main roads, and inhale those lovelly car exhaust fumes - I mean, they must be safe, otherwise cars would have been banned (*Wouldn't they ?):shout

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Marijuana does not cause brain damage at all. That is a lie. Did you know the human brain actually has THC receptors? That is the chemical in marijuana, as you probably know. How could it damage the brain if we all have a receptor for it in our brain?

True that over-consumption of ganja can cause damage, but it is VERY VERY difficult to consume too much in one sitting.

Concerning the cars, inhaling the exaust DOES give you brain damage, but babylon will never ban them. Cars make the government money, so they will keep selling and making them even if it causes a Greenhouse Effect. What about cigarettes and alcohol? The government gets money off of them too. But cigs can cause cancer, alcohol can cause drunk driving and cirosis. But the government can tax them and make money off of them, so they will never be illegalized.

Seyorni,

Thank you for clearing that up for everyone. You truly speak with knowledge and wisdom. Give thanks!

CaptainXeroid,

Seen! I believe it should be legalized as well.

Jah Bless.

Ras Evan

P.S. If anyone is still under the impression that it causes cancer or psychosis, I will provide some info to discredit those myths/lies.

Sabio said:

God put the cannabis plant here for a purpose, it has many uses including medicinal. But just like any other substance it can be used for good (medicine) or evil (drug abuse) according to our free will.

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I agree... well said Sabio. :clap

Sabio said:

Well I think there is a distinction drawn, the bible calls alchohol; "wine", "beer", "strong drink", but does not seem to refer to it in the same catagory as pharmakia (sorcery, witchcraft), or as being used for sorcery or witchcraft.

As for abuse and addiction, they are the same, any substance that you favor over God (or place before God), which leads you away from God, falls into this category.

The Biblical references to Pharmakia or drug abuse, when read in context, refer to those people that were using these products to aid in a larger spiritual deception.

Sabio

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Sabio -

So use (as opposed to abuse or addiction) of alcohol is OK, but use (as opposed to abuse or addiction) of any other intoxicant is evil? I still don't get it; what is the distinction, and why? Or have I misunderstood what your comments mean?

Engyo said:

Sabio -

So use (as opposed to abuse or addiction) of alcohol is OK, but use (as opposed to abuse or addiction) of any other intoxicant is evil? I still don't get it; what is the distinction, and why? Or have I misunderstood what your comments mean?

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A slight misunderstanding...

Wine and beer which are described in the Bible were originally used as a food source. Grapes have a naturally occuring yeast on their skins, so grapes will naturally ferment into wine, this preserves the food value of wine for a longer period of time. The use of wine as an intoxicant is therfore not the primary use for wine.

That being said, it is not the "intoxicant" (wine, beer, marijuana) that is evil, it is "the intoxication" (mans intention of becoming intoxicated through overuse of some substance that God created for good).

Intoxication; an altered state that seperates you from God, and opens up your subconcious or subliminal state to negative outside spiritual influence.

Sabio

Then perhaps you will explain the following pros/cons:-

Using Cannabis: The Highs
Cannabis is available in several different forms:

herbal ('grass', 'weed', 'skunk'): the dried flower buds of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant
resin ('black', 'soapbar', 'hash'): a product made from cannabis buds in the form of a block. Resin can be of any colour, from dark brown to green. It is heated and then crumbled before use
oil: a thick, concentrated oil made by dissolving, filtering, then evaporating the resin. This is much stronger than all of the above and is classified as a Class A drug in the UK, the same as heroin or cocaine

Taking it
Smoking is the most common way of taking cannabis. A judicious amount of the drug is mixed with tobacco and hand-rolled into a cannabis cigarette. The 'spliff', 'joint', 'doobie', or 'reefer' is then lit up, inhaled, and often shared amongst a group of people.

Rolling a joint

It can also be ingested orally, either eaten 'raw' or mixed with food preparations or hot drinks. When eaten, however, the effects can be stronger, since the dosage is less controllable.
The effects
The desired effects experienced by users are talkativeness, cheerfulness, relaxation and greater appreciation of sound and colour. Marijuana users often describe the experience of smoking marijuana as initially relaxing and mellow, creating a feeling of haziness and light-headedness. This is known as being 'high' or 'stoned'
Brain storm
Cannabis contains more than 400 chemicals, including 'cannabidiolic acid' - an antibiotic with similar properties to penicillin. However, the main psychoactive ingredient is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC.
To simplify a very long and complicated story, THC mimics the actions of receptors in the brain called 'neurotransmitters' and interferes with normal functions – rather like a child randomly pressing buttons on a control panel.
The effects of cannabis generally last for up to four hours depending on the amount used, and the body resumes normal service after that. There is no 'hangover' as with alcohol, instead users describe the feeling as being 'woolly-headed'.
This, however, is not the end of the story. As with any high, there comes a low...
Using Cannabis: The Lows

The fear
Not all the effects of cannabis are pleasant. High doses can cause mild hallucinations and sensory distortions, which may cause alarm. Users refer to this as 'getting the fear'.
Mild panic and paranoia are other side effects experienced by those who use the drug when already feeling anxious or depressed. Nausea and vomiting can occur when an inexperienced user tries too much at once; this is far more likely if cannabis has been used in conjunction with alcohol. This is known as a 'white' or 'spinout'.

Worse effects in
conjunction with alcohol


According to a recent study, 10-15% of people who smoked cannabis reported feelings of confusion or paranoia as a disadvantage of taking the drug. Around 30% gave these negative experiences as their reason for permanently quitting cannabis.
Memory loss
Users can also experience short-term memory loss and reduced coordination. This is due to the temporary confusion of parts of the brain which normally control these functions: the hippocampus, cerebellum and basal ganglia.
Taking cannabis for a long time may have lasting effects on the memory. According to new research, the memory and attention span of users seems to get worse the longer they take the drug. Long-term users also show an impaired ability to learn, and it is not clear whether giving up cannabis enables them to recover.
Lung cancer
Cannabis smokers also inhale more smoke for longer periods than cigarette smokers, so they take in four times more tar. If you also smoke normal cigarettes on top of this, your tar intake can hit the roof.
Additionally, the tar phase of cannabis smoke contains higher concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) than tobacco smoke. As PAHs are carcinogenic, the lung cancer risk gets even higher. A recent study by the British Lung Foundation found that just three cannabis joints a day cause the same damage as 20 cigarettes.
The law
In the UK, cannabis plants and resin are Class C drugs following declassification in January 2004. Cannabis is a schedule 1 drug, meaning that it is considered to have no legitimate therapeutic use.

Getting more relaxed

Despite declassification, production, possession and distribution of cannabis is still illegal and you can be arrested. In most cases of possession, arrest is less likely; usually the drug would be confiscated and a warning be given. The likelihood of arrest increases if you are caught with the drug in public places or in areas near children, such as playgrounds or schools. The difference in law mainly concerns the penalties: from the end of January 2004, if you are caught with cannabis, you could face up to two years in prison for possession (the previous maximum was five years). However, the maximum penalty for supplying the drug will remain the same: 14 years' imprisonment.


One of the strongest arguments for legalising cannabis are its medical uses.
Marijuana as Medicine

Perhaps the strongest argument for legalisation lies with the medical uses of cannabis. The British government is on the cusp of allowing its use to treat painful conditions, and in America an eminent medic has come out in favour. Professor Lester Grinspoon from Harvard Medical School believes that cannabis "is likely to be seen as a wonder drug of the 21st century."
Cannabis is widely known for its medicinal ability to ease a host of serious conditions:

cancer: cannabis can suppress nausea brought on by chemotherapy
AIDS: it can increase appetite and prevent weight-loss
glaucoma (an eye condition): cannabis can relieve eye pressure
muscular pain: it can ease muscle spasms and period pains

Queen Victoria
took cannabis
In the 19th century, cannabis was widely used to relieve muscle spasms and rheumatism. Even Queen Victoria was given it by her doctor to ease her period pains.
It was the invention of the syringe towards the end of the century that marked an end to its widespread medicinal use.

Pt2

Injecting drugs meant they could take effect a lot faster. Cannabis cannot be dissolved in water, so it can't be injected.
Only recently have scientists began to scrutinize the chemical more closely, and have started to conduct clinical trials to test its medical effects.
Relief for multiple sclerosis sufferers
There are a total of 85,000 people suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) in Britain. This incurable debilitating disease manifests itself with a host of symptoms:
balance problems
muscle weakness and spasms
incontinence
pain
tremors
Although pharmaceutical drugs are available to MS sufferers, the condition is difficult to control. Clinical tests performed by the Multiple Sclerosis Society showed that most patients responded positively to cannabis. The drug especially alleviated spasms, pain, tremor and increased bladder control.
In addition, a postal survey was conducted amongst patients self-medicating with cannabis in the UK and the USA. More than 90% reported a beneficial effect on their condition. Unfortunately, many patients end up obtaining cannabis illegally.
Is cannabis harmless?
Cannabis is less addictive than amphetamines, tobacco or alcohol, and does less harm to the body It may be psychologically addictive. Heavy users can display aggressive impulses if their supply suddenly stops, a side effect similar to that of anabolic steroids

A government report found that high use of cannabis isn't associated with major health or sociological problems, unlike other harder drugs Cannabis may be a 'gateway' drug to more harmful substances like heroin and cocaine

Its effects are beneficial to sufferers of various medical conditions, including cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma It has a higher tar content than tobacco, so smoking cannabis presents the same health problems: bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer

Cannabis has an effect on the heart, similar to the effects of exercise. It may be just as good for the heart as going to the gym It can disrupt the control of blood pressure increasing the risk of fainting. Even occasional use is bad for people with heart and circulation disorders, and for those predisposed to schizophrenia



Origin of the species
The drug itself is derived from Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica, a plant related to nettles and hops that grows wild in many parts of the world. Cultivation dates back thousands of years.
The first written account of cannabis use can be found in Chinese records dating from 2800 BC. However, experts widely accept that cannabis was being used for medical, recreational and religious purposes for thousands of years before that.


Cannabis plant
The plant is believed to have originated in the mountainous regions of India.
When left growing wild, it can reach a height of 5 metres and flowers naturally from late summer to mid autumn.

Customs estimate that up to 80% of cannabis resin entering the UK originates from Morocco and most smuggled supplies in its herbal form come from Jamaica. However, an enormous amount of cannabis these days is actually home-grown.



Legal high
Doctors have been allowed to prescribe capsules containing THC, the main active ingredient of cannabis, for years. Nabilone - a synthetically manufactured copy of THC - was licensed in 1982 for prescription use against nausea caused by chemotherapy.

THC molecule


However, some patients complain of the same side effect that many people state as the drug's main recreational attraction - it gets you stoned. Due to the complex relationship between THC and receptors in the brain, researchers haven't yet managed to separate the active medical ingredients from the brain-bending ones.
Cannabis aerosols
Patients taking the drug in capsule form are unable to control the dose as they can with careful inhaling. So the pharmaceutical industry has started developing THC aerosols and inhalers that don't harm lungs. This makes it easier for patients to control their dose and prevents them from getting too disorientated.

Pt2

Injecting drugs meant they could take effect a lot faster. Cannabis cannot be dissolved in water, so it can't be injected.
Only recently have scientists began to scrutinize the chemical more closely, and have started to conduct clinical trials to test its medical effects.
Relief for multiple sclerosis sufferers
There are a total of 85,000 people suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) in Britain. This incurable debilitating disease manifests itself with a host of symptoms:
balance problems
muscle weakness and spasms
incontinence
pain
tremors
Although pharmaceutical drugs are available to MS sufferers, the condition is difficult to control. Clinical tests performed by the Multiple Sclerosis Society showed that most patients responded positively to cannabis. The drug especially alleviated spasms, pain, tremor and increased bladder control.
In addition, a postal survey was conducted amongst patients self-medicating with cannabis in the UK and the USA. More than 90% reported a beneficial effect on their condition. Unfortunately, many patients end up obtaining cannabis illegally.
Is cannabis harmless?
Cannabis is less addictive than amphetamines, tobacco or alcohol, and does less harm to the body It may be psychologically addictive. Heavy users can display aggressive impulses if their supply suddenly stops, a side effect similar to that of anabolic steroids

A government report found that high use of cannabis isn't associated with major health or sociological problems, unlike other harder drugs Cannabis may be a 'gateway' drug to more harmful substances like heroin and cocaine

Its effects are beneficial to sufferers of various medical conditions, including cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma It has a higher tar content than tobacco, so smoking cannabis presents the same health problems: bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer

Cannabis has an effect on the heart, similar to the effects of exercise. It may be just as good for the heart as going to the gym It can disrupt the control of blood pressure increasing the risk of fainting. Even occasional use is bad for people with heart and circulation disorders, and for those predisposed to schizophrenia



Origin of the species
The drug itself is derived from Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica, a plant related to nettles and hops that grows wild in many parts of the world. Cultivation dates back thousands of years.
The first written account of cannabis use can be found in Chinese records dating from 2800 BC. However, experts widely accept that cannabis was being used for medical, recreational and religious purposes for thousands of years before that.


Cannabis plant
The plant is believed to have originated in the mountainous regions of India.
When left growing wild, it can reach a height of 5 metres and flowers naturally from late summer to mid autumn.

Customs estimate that up to 80% of cannabis resin entering the UK originates from Morocco and most smuggled supplies in its herbal form come from Jamaica. However, an enormous amount of cannabis these days is actually home-grown.



Legal high
Doctors have been allowed to prescribe capsules containing THC, the main active ingredient of cannabis, for years. Nabilone - a synthetically manufactured copy of THC - was licensed in 1982 for prescription use against nausea caused by chemotherapy.

THC molecule


However, some patients complain of the same side effect that many people state as the drug's main recreational attraction - it gets you stoned. Due to the complex relationship between THC and receptors in the brain, researchers haven't yet managed to separate the active medical ingredients from the brain-bending ones.
Cannabis aerosols
Patients taking the drug in capsule form are unable to control the dose as they can with careful inhaling. So the pharmaceutical industry has started developing THC aerosols and inhalers that don't harm lungs. This makes it easier for patients to control their dose and prevents them from getting too disorientated.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/hottopics/cannabis/index.shtml#keypoints

Tuesday, 27 January 2004 10:00The Daily Telegraph · www.telegraph.co.ukCANNABIS DANGER FOR DRIVERS
The dangers of driving, working or having unprotected sex after cannabis may be as significant as the drug's harmful effects on health, psychologists said yesterday.

Researchers at Birmingham University said policy makers overlooked the indirect dangers of smoking cannabis. In a study of 100 regular and 90 casual users, 74 per cent admitted driving under the influence of the drug.

A quarter of users said they had taken the drug before or at work, with just over half admitting that it had impaired their ability to do their job.

Michel,

Again I have to come back to the point, that "intent" is very important in defining a good or bad use of something. I do not argue the medicinal purposes of cannabis, there are many and some Governments are very closed minded about these medicinal uses unfortunately.

People who are stricken with a disease (like some you refer to) do not generally take a drug to "get high", they are ususally trying to find some sense of normality, or relief from pain.

When you recieve meds that knock you out before an operation, you get high as a kite, but the motive is to relieve pain and put the person out for surgery, not get them high. Very distinct differences indeed.

I will restate my position:

- Marijuana in and of itself is not bad
- Intentional intoxication from whatever source, for recreation purposes, is rebellious towards God and dangerous as it opens the subconciouse to outside spriritual influence, hence the warnings in the Bible about drug abuse as sorcery or witchcraft.
- Medicinal use of Marijuana and other "drugs" should be done with professional guidance.

Sabio

Sabio said:

A slight misunderstanding...

That being said, it is not the "intoxicant" (wine, beer, marijuana) that is evil, it is "the intoxication" (mans intention of becoming intoxicated through overuse of some substance that God created for good).

Intoxication; an altered state that seperates you from God, and opens up your subconcious or subliminal state to negative outside spiritual influence.

Sabio

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Sabio -

Do I understand, then, that your contention is that today's use of alcohol as an intoxicant (as opposed to a preservative) is just as bad as use of any other intoxicant according to Christian principles?

Sabio,

I agree with you, but are you saying that using marijuana for spiritual purposes is wrong? Or am I misoverstanding something?

Michel,

Many things what you posted are true, but many many many are flat out lies. You have to overstand, bredren that the governemt will do or say ANYTHING to convince people to follow them.

Rolling a Joint -

Mostly correct, but many do not use tobacco in their spliffs. I see tobacco as evil, it causes cancer and is very bad for your health.

The Lows -

There are no lows to cannibis, that is a lie you have been told, Idren. And concerning hallucinatory effects if cannibis, this is based on false studies that are invalid. In fact, any study completed before 1997 has been deemed invalid by the medical and scientific communities. This myth was based most likely on results from injesting chemical fertilizers which can be used on marijuana. So another lie, seen?


Lung Cancer -

Another lie. A study in 1997 showed that marijuana isolates and kills certain cancer cells. This study was conducted and buried by the US government until a scientist discovered it in 2003 and published it in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Brain Storm -

Cigarettes contain 4000 chemicals. What do you think pon that? Besides, cannibis's chemicals are ALL natural.

Pill form -

I am not educated on that. I don't believe in taking pills. There are many more natural ways to help yourself. Cannibis for example.

Again, ganja DOES NOT cause cancer of any sort, it is known to isolate and kill cancer cells.

You have to overstand, bredren Michel, that people will do or say anything to prove that they're right. I hope you got something from I posts, thank you for that article.

Jah Bless.

Ras Evan

I am not against the use of Cannabis as medication - especially against pain; I would be first in the queue - I have the strongest tablets against pain, as well as morphine tablets for those times when nothing else works.

I was quoting the article in the hope that certain Forum members who boldly admit to taking Cannabis of the dangers of operating machinery or driving whilst 'under the influence' - just as I would to anyone who drinks and drives. I used to, before I knew better......Just trying to give a balanced view, that's all.

michel said:

I am not against the use of Cannabis as medication - especially against pain; I would be first in the queue - I have the strongest tablets against pain, as well as morphine tablets for those times when nothing else works.

I was quoting the article in the hope that certain Forum members who boldly admit to taking Cannabis of the dangers of operating machinery or driving whilst 'under the influence' - just as I would to anyone who drinks and drives. I used to, before I knew better......Just trying to give a balanced view, that's all.

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Seen! BIG UPS! I overstand your view.

Do you also support the use of ganja spiritually?

Jah Bless.

Ras Evan

P.S. Best of luck with your pains. I suggest the use of marijuana in relieving those pains. Natural uses of herb and not pills are the best way. In I opinion.

Impressive posts, Michel ( you must spread some karma around....).

Some thoughts: Marijuana is an intoxicant just as alcohol is. Driving or operating dangerous machinery under its influence should be discouraged. Under the influence of alcohol people are overconfident; drive fast and dangerously. Stoned, people are overcautious, creep along at 20 Kph, and are over focused, failing to notice hazardous situations.

You are correct that there are harmful compounds in smoked ganga and that inhaling smoke of any kind cannot be good for the lungs. But keep in mind that two or three tokes on a joint, once or twice a day, hardly compares to the exposure a 10 cigarette per day smoker receives. And I've never known anyone to mix tobacco with marijuana.

You mention Delta-9-THC capsules. I've administered these to patients, but they're much less effective than inhaled marijuana. The effect is not immediate, so titrating dosage to effect is difficult, and, as anti-emetics, oral medications have obvious drawbacks.

I've read that in Indian states where alcohol is legal and marijuana illegal, marijuana use is a greater social problem than alcoholism is and forces people to associate with a criminal element. In those states where marijuana is legal and alcohol illegal the converse applies. Apparently the social effects of this drug have more to do with its legal status than any intrinsic qualities.

Hello JAHLion!!
I believe alchohol to be far worse than smoking a little weed. Drinking just bloats my stomach from trying to drink enough to get a buzz. Marijuana IMHO is easy , gentle and relaxing. People tend to be a little pushy about keeping up at a drinking function but this has never been the case with smoke in my experience.
Marijuana is not evil, lies are.

Seyorni said:

Apparently the social effects of this drug have more to do with its legal status than any intrinsic qualities.

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Wow... well said... I've never looked at it this way. Thanks.

nothing is good nor evil. objects do not feel or think.

objects can be manipulated to be either used for evil or good, but how it is used is all a matter of personal view point.

I agree with some above, saying that it can be used for medical reasons or to get high.

Getting high, Its just another temporary escape. not a solution. of course people get a real spiritual high off of God and thats quite genuine, i think.

It is arguably a greater evil to send people to prison for marijuana than it is to use marijuana.

Sunstone said:

It is arguably a greater evil to send people to prison for marijuana than it is to use marijuana.

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I'll roll up some frubals for ya!

Sabio said:

I beg to differ with you NetDoc, In all of the following scriptures the words "witchcraft" and "sorcery" are translated from the original greek "pharmakia", or literally drug abuse.

Gal 5:16-23
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft ("pharmakia" or drug use), hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Acts 8:11
And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Revelation 9:21
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
So my take on this is that the Bible clearly warns us that drug abuse is a sin.

Sabio

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Pharmakia means to conjure up something manmade which tries to duplicate nature. God gave us everything we need. The earth is plentiful with medicines, and salves, and things with which we can use to heal the body. Pharmekia, is man's attempt to duplicate that which God already provided for us. So when the bible speaks against pharmakia, the moral of the story is that natural is better. Prescription drugs is more the target of these verses, and not something that God provided us, and is available in nature, in it's natural state. Pot is not processed for human consumption. I do believe that moderation is the key.

God does not speak against wine, he does speak against drunkeness, and sloth, and gluttony.