i think it should be leagal in every state why just 14

TX needs to get on board and legalize!

I am surprised the states that have legalized it for "medical use" haven't been inundated with new residents.

Here here Leagalize Texas

Stupid decission, now there are going to be clinics prescribing pot for everyone that claims to be in pain, like the pain clinics that prescribe pain killers to addicts. It is very well known that those clinics exist and prescribe pain killers with no legal control. South Florida is full of those clinics were you just walk in complain of pain here and there and they give you a presription for vicodin in a heart beat. Same will happen with pot, I can see it coming. Bad bad mistake.

Legalize it in all states and be done with it

Hey Florida lets get to the powers at be and change the laws here! We can do it!! Too many people have been prosecuted for those who do partake, let's do it for them. They went the distance for us.

I don't know why it isn't legalized all over the country and taxed like mad. It would contribute so much to the recovering economy. It is already there anyway in EVERY state and community so why not let the money go to taxes in the U.S. and not to drug dealers all over the U.S. Mexico and South America? I mean how is it any worse than getting drunk or smoking cigarettes? Those are legal and the Government makes billions off the taxes. So many road projects, schools, government offices, etc. are funded with alcohol and tobacco taxes. Also, the reference to "pain killers" such as vicodin is just not true (and must come from a inexperienced person who just believes what critics have said) because it has never been shown to have that disasterous addiction or physical withdrawl that is associated with Opiates. I smoked every evening for 6 years and stopped "cold turkey" more than 2 years ago to get another job and had NOT ONE problem quitting. The same has been true of everyone that I know who has quit. Last time I checked quitting cigarettes seems to be "one of the hardest things ever" and alcohol withdrawal is a really nasty thing to have to go through.

illinois is a loser state im moving

Fighting the people over this plant is stupid. Lets concentrate on the thiefs and murderers. The worse thing that could happen to a pot smoker is probably choking on an oreo cookie. Grow up stereotype people. Theres much worse things to worry about in the world. Legalize it! One less person going to jail. Less cost for the government. Less stress on society.

Ang, i understand your stress over the "clinics" in south florida that seem to just hand out painkillers because they are dangerous and sometimes fatal... but, have you ever seen someone overdose on marijuana? have you ever seen somebody lying on the street in a ball because they haven't had a bowl in 2 days? think about it, it's a plant not an abusive substance.

Right on !! go big green 4-20 forever.

I agree, everyone should legalize it. A good comrad of mine will be going away for the next 5+ years all for contributing this plant to most of his friends, for several years. They finally caught up to him and now he'll be locked up for what I think of as a victimless crime.
Huge waste of all those agents who were tracking him and now the government money that is going to instate him.
Stupid.

I have fibromyalgia, RA, Parkinson's Disease, Seizures and numerous other chronic and very painful problems. I was a "hippie" but reached an age that I decided it was not proper for me and I just quit...just like that. No problems. Now I have already went thru the Vicodan withdrawals (although my new pain med is stronger, it is not similar to vicodan.) Now when I might possibly be able to get off this one, I am scared of what it might be like.

I remember the pot, how much it relaxed my muscles and joints and helped me sleep. And yes, there would be numerous "clinics" prescribing it, but compare the drug to pain pills; well, there is no comparison. I GO to one of those pain clinics and u r right. Too easy.

Wouldn't it be great if they prescribed pot instead of these horrible other drugs?

Please legalize in Texas, I am a chronic pain patient thats on vicodin,oxycontin,xanax,etc. for six ruptured disc in back from auto accident and these pharmaceutical companies are getting rich off of me not to mention I will die early from taking All THIS CRAP

IT'S A PLANT HOW IS A PLANT ILLEGAL THIS IS THE STUPIDEST LAW ON THE BOOKS JUST MAKE IT LEGAL ALREADY ACROSS THE BOARD!!!!!!!!!!!

What is it about POT that is SOOOOOO different than all the S*** the pharmecutical companies spew out at us? Cripes!.......even meds prescribed for cholesterol, heartburn, and other ailments that don't impair a person's mind or reflexes.......start taking any one of the new DRUG on the market.......READ the side effects! A lot of these prescritions have many warning labels for many mind altering effects!

Start Hootin' and Hollerin' at all the Dr. and Pharmeceutical Co. that prescribe and concoct dangerous potions for ANYthing that might ail a person.

Just think! POT is actually MORE regulated (in the states that have leagalized it.) Than ANY of the prescriptions available.

I would love to see people protest this strongly about the "legal" drugs on the market! What these chemicals are doing to our bodies!? There are actually people on extra meds to counteract side effects! DISGUSTING!

Make it legal, I dont smoke it but many people I know do, seems it would be safer than beer or liquer that really impaires you. It would help the economey and put a lot of people to work who are afraid to seek jobs cause the can't pass a drug test. We are a smart nation so lets get out of debt and put the tax on it just like alcohol,and the same impairement rules that go with DUI's or under the influence

Pot is is the victim of polictical prohibition (thanks Nixon, and yes he was a crook) just like alcohol used to be. The government has ignored it's own findings (such as the Schaefer report) that conclude there are few to no adverse effects from smoking pot. It's a crime that people who could benefit from this medicatin are denied it due to some bureaucrat's prejudice.

if they legalize it everywhere its going to be ruined. government controlling output and growth. your fucking stupid for wanting it legalized everywhere. think about it moron

if they legalize it everywhere its going to be ruined. government controlling output and growth. your fucking stupid for wanting it legalized everywhere. think about it moron

Why you drink and drive when you can smoke and fly..

Why you drink and drive when you can smoke and fly..

Hmmm, pay more money for legal pot or, risk your life trying to get it & possibly go to jail? Hard decision? It's clear who's the moron. Jail is a serious consequence for a serious crime. Legalize it or at least decriminalize it!

the only moron here is you. You think about it... if we can buy it legally, and it is taxed, the government MAKES money, instead of losing money trying to fight it. also, if we can grow our own, or buy it like we do cigarettes, the drug cartels will be put out of business, and we'll stop overcrowding our prisons. how is legalizing it gonna ruin it?

Medical marijauna helps. Doctors had me on all kinds of stuff after my major stroke. Stuff made me really sick and want to quit on life. I smoked some pot out of despoeration and my anxiety has dropped over 50%. My brain seems to be working better and I have hope again that I can recover and get back to life. I'm prescribed pot and don't flaunt it. I feel much better and I'm not on all the other meds making me sick. I'm going to die young. Why would you have anything against me smoking pot?

If legalizing pot will help people learn to speak and to spell English correctly, I'm all for it. I mean, "...I have WENT through...."? and "leAgalize"? Come ON, folks! If you want to sell your argument, at least speak and spell the language! You have GONE through something, or you WENT through something (without the "have"). And if legalizing medicinal marijuana will give someone relief from pain, that can be a good thing. We'll soon learn how easy or hard it is to regulate it so that it doesn't get into the wrong hands, the hands of those who are simply looking for easy money or a "quick trip". Is marijuana more dangerous than cigarettes or alcohol, or for that matter, texting while driving? With cigarettes or texting, you might have a teeny chance to pull out of a bad situation. Alcohol and pot slow your mind down, there's no question on that. In situations where "split-second decisions" do NOT have to be made, marijuana may answer a definite need.

You are crazy. Look what government is doing now. What would happen if they legalized it. The crime rate would drop. Children would not loose their parents to meaningless charges. If you want to get your own, then get your own the way you do it now. Legalizing will not affect you.

Medical Marijuana does not simply treat pain, folks, it is actually treatment for conditions with neurological lesions (like Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, & Multiple Sclerosis). Also, in terms of pain, not anyone who claims pain gets a narcotic prescribed, it is hardly reasonable to assume pot will necessarily be overprescribed. Regardless, it is less habit forming, studies have shown (Jouranl of American Medical Association) that marijuana is not as addictive as most prescription and street drugs, and brain damage due to moderate cannabis use actually grows back (not quickly, but still show me the heroin addict who gets those cells back).

Speaking of all the companies that make money off of us for having to buy the pain medication and other prescriptions, that is exactly why they won't legalize because all those companies are afraid of losing money because of all the ailments that marijuana can help with: pain, anxiety, nausea, etc...and they feel that if they legalize marijuana that people will turn to that instead of the medications and they would lose thousands if not millions. I for one am definitely for the use of medical marijuana because I don't have insurance and can't get prescriptions for some of the things I need help with. LEGALIZE IT ALREADY!!!!

Then now we can talk about the other benefits. For one, legalizing is taking it off the streets and making it harder for these Mexican cartels to make money on the black market. There is less demand for the black market crap because all who are legal do not have to go searching for some pot anywhere they can find it. Also, the American teenager might find it a little harder to be a "baller" selling this horrible Mexican Shwag.
Let’s also look at the economic benefits. There is an entire source of commerce for these areas where it is legal. The marijuana is supplied by local growers to the dispensary which in turns hires employees to manage and run. We pay taxes on everything we buy. Hmmm...wonder why we haven't heard about the tax revenue that has been generated in these states that have legalized? I guarantee you it is way more revenue than the little taco cart out front is paying.
The bottom line is that marijuana cannot be compared to crack. I can list all of the age old reasons of why it should be universally legal but I would waste my time. Think of the medical benefits, the economic benefits, the social benefits, less tax money spent on criminalizing people who use, and whatever else can benefit from the legalization of medicinal marijuana. There are plenty who will disagree and shake their heads in discontent. Those are the people who I will see with organ failure 30 years from now because they chose Pfizer over natural remedies.

what makes me sad is that our gov.won't except
THC for medical purposes but allow pharm.companies make Marinol(a synthetic out of chemicals)

I just read the dumbest comment. most be some one with out chronic pain. I live in one of those states that have it.I am 54 disabled carpenter with arthritis threw out my body.I have to live on morphine and with the pot it helps me not take some much and I am able to function.So see who ever befor you say something talk to some one that it really helps.I not only smoke it but make butter and bake with it.It makes me able to be a person again.Not a drugged up person on pain pills

I agree that pot is safe and needs to be legal, I would rather see someone smoke pot then drink and drive. All states should legalize pot and stop the stupid lies about pot. I enjoy a joint and a good movie at home instead of drinking and maybe killing someone driving. A true stoner.

I agree that pot is safe and needs to be legal, I would rather see someone smoke pot then drink and drive. All states should legalize pot and stop the stupid lies about pot. I enjoy a joint and a good movie at home instead of drinking and maybe killing someone driving. A true stoner.

Well, I am not against or pro pot. However, I have to say that the argument that because more harmful drugs are legal then they should just legalize pot is invalid and flawed. Just because there are worse things out there doesn't mean that another bad thing should be legal.

I do think that pot is not as bad as other things out there, but it is not a good thing either. Though some people may use it responsibly and in their homes, there are people who go drive under the influence and some people may want a harder drug later and then that person may really do some damage to him/her self. Most people do not try harder drugs but some do and just about all of them start with pot.

I lost a very good friend from college because of it. He always used to tell me that he loved smoking and then driving...Well one day he "T-Boned" a minivan going 50 mph and got seriously injured. The witnesses in the area reported that he did not have the headlights on (it was 9pm or so) and he made no attempt to stop until he was very very close to the minivan. His delayed reaction caused the accident. In the hospital, the emergency doctor said that he was not responding to the medications that were given because his brain was so baked that it affected the response of all the medications and treatments necessary to save his life. Also, the autopsy showed no other drugs in the body such as alcohol or cocaine or prescription drugs.

So I have to say that it CAN be dangerous for those who are stupid enough to use it without being responsible. Also, it is not like this drug is actually good and provide your body with valuable nutrients. Yes it may relieve a pain, but because some legal drugs may be worse than pot, doesn't mean that pot should be legalized.

Having said that, I really think some of these legal drugs should be removed from the market and educate the public about alternative ways to prevent some diseases as opposed to having to deal with some of these preventable diseases.

Rennyrij -- I had the very same thoughts on spelling and grammer as I read the comments.
Did anyone read the article on MSN entitled "Puff Daddies" about near retirement age people who are returning to using recreationally?
At least this is a step in the right direction!

The PROS completely out-weigh the CONS....It needs to be LEGALIZED! I am a wonderful mother and I live a very decent life, but I smoke because I have anxiety. Does that make me a CRIMINAL?!

Great! Its finally done, now all states should legalise it and don't criticise it. It helps people with mental illnesses, anxiety, loss of appetite, cancer, glaucoma, and opens up your seven senses,etc. The only problem I have is people mixing other harmful drugs with it that causes destruction. Marijuana has lots of omega's, calcium, protein, etc. And it's not just for smoking. This should have been done a long time ago.

Legalize it. I've never known anyone to get violent on pot. Alchohol much worse. And it does NOT lead to stronger drugs. Tax the hell out of it and get rid of some of this deficit. It's ridiculous for pot to be illegal in any state.

I was for legalizing marijuana. Now after reading the comments, I'm not so sure. Some of these people have lost their ability to spell and express themselves.

There has NEVER been a death caused directly by the use of marijuana. How many cancer patients on medicaid and dsiability supported by our tax dollars have the disease due to cigarettes, yet continue to use them, and we continue to pay. How about the people on dialysis due to cirrhosis from the over use of alchohol....again using medicaid and other government programs our tax dollars support. How many loved ones do we lose every day to these legal products, but I have to worry about avoiding law enforcement because of a plant. Who elected these guys???? My only hope is the 20something generation takes their place in the political workforce sooner than later so the millions of dollars we put to use prosecuting low level smokers can go to something worthwhile....like the education of the harmful effects of alchohol and tobacco..... you know....the legal stuff.

What happens when theres a drunk actin beligerent and out of control? Fights, DUI's, domestic violence, abuse of all sorts...But what happens when ya smoke one? You relax on the couch, don't argue about a damn thing, laugh at the fly on the wall and ya order a damn pizza...now seriously why is marijuana illegal yet alcohol is? Its the same thing as prohibition in the 20's I believe, there were underground companies, people gettin murdered, locked up, crazy stuff! Very similar to what happens now...sorry if its a rant, just smoked and in deep thought lol....

I see alot of comments in regards to pain pills and yes they are an addictive and harsh way to manage pain in the body. The same with alcohol, it tears down the liver, results in cancer, medical, drama, DUI's, a gamet of sorts. But marijuana doesnt cause any of that. I have bipolar disorder and marijuana is the only thing that can get my head right, the numerous and massive variations I have tried never worked. They always made me disfunctional and sometimes even more depressed. It is a natural herb grown. A gift from god. There are more harsh additives in one cigarette than there is in one joint. Seriously, Obama is on the right track now he just needs to open it up to every state!

You cannot compare pot to any other prescription pain medication. Those are all physically addidictive, pot is not. I watched my father go thru numerous chemo treatments and given all kinds of pills to help with nausia, appetite, and pain, he was finally (after a year and a half of pleading for something different) given prescription pot which was the only thing that helped and made a positive difference in his quality of life. Let people make that a personal decision for themselves and everyone else SHUT UP!!! If you don't like it, don't do it, move to another state, i don't care.

I think its great, I believe America was in need for something like that to happen. My question is.... why not legalize it in general. Probably this would turn our better.

I think its great, I believe America was in need for something like that to happen. My question is.... why not legalize it in general. Probably this would turn our better.

This plant was made illegal for those who stood to make a lot of money from making it illegal, they lobbied to get it done they were "connected" and they could gain more by the propaganda, hence "Reefer Madness" was produced by them. People didn't ask questions back then the way we do today, they took to newspapers' word as truth and they took the politician's word as truth. We know better today. Now we know to ask the questions. We have a wealth of knowledge on the internet. Research it, see who was behind it, I think you will all be very surprised. Thomas Jefferson, who was one of our most inventive Presidents grew it and I don't know if he smoked it, but I bet he did. I practice an ancient religion that used canabis for cermonies and seeing...yet the American Civil Liberties Union would not address that issue. Yet the Christians were allowed to serve wine for communion during prohibition. For us it is a matter of using all of the elements to have communion with God. We plant the seed in the Earth (our Mother), we give it water (nourishment), air (to give it life), harvest it hang it to dry, then fire to ignite the spirit as it enters our body, this is our communion with the elements. There are many injustices that have from making this little plant illegal. The fact of the matter is, it is a gift from God and as soon as the pharmacutical companies can get their hands on a way to make it into a pill they will lobby to get it legalized. We do not need another pill, that will only end up being buldozed into the earth and water tables when they expire. I have to ask you "Who truly are the drug Lords in the country?"

after paying out about 8,000 dollars in fines.this pisses me off.canibis is much safer then some prescription drugs.How about my money back? lets not for get the people that went to jail over this.the only bad side to cannibis is you start thinking about the crap that is going on this country,and the munchies.almost killed muself eating 2 12 foot log sub sandwiches!

One more thing. I also think urine testing should be made illegal. It is an invasion of privacy and it's more crap in the landfills. How degrading do you find it to have to pee in a cup? If there was probable cause, as in showing up screwed up at work caused by taking a drug okay; but then let's make the pharmacutical company accountable too for coming up with all these damn pills. We were given everything we needed here without someone screwing it up and making money off of the little guys back. I had a bumper sticker once that said IF THE PEOPLE WILL LEAD, THE LEADERS WILL FOLLOW. Here's our chance to make the Change, isn't that what this administration is all about? CHANGE.

First off, I think you guys need to know that Mary Jane was legal for many years. We are talking from the USA's creation to about the slavery days. When it was demonized cause black people and Mexicans were using and running it to the US. It was said that when black people ingested it, it made them crazy, violent, sex crazed for white girls etc. So the big government said NO POT FOR YOU!!!!! LOL. They made it illegal. HHHHMMMMMMM lets see.

FACT - Mary J was the biggest cash crop for our founding father gorge Washington. He had the stuff
growing behind the white house and other properties he owned. Same for Jefferson and a number of them... Too many to list.

Fact - Here is a list of committee's that have evaluated the herb as follows:

the National Academy of Sciences Analysis of Marijuana Policy (1982);
the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse (the Shafer Report) (1973);
the Canadian Government's Commission of Inquiry (Le Dain Report) (1970);
the British Advisory Committee on Drug Dependency (Wooton Report) (1968);
the La Guardia Report (1944);
the Panama Canal Zone Military Investigations (1916-29);
and Britain's monumental Indian Hemp Drugs Commission (1893-4).

All found it to be non lethal compared to anything else, anything...

FACT - There is no scientific evidence for the theory that marijuana is a "gateway" drug. The cannabis-using cultures in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America show no propensity for other drugs. The gateway theory took hold in the sixties, when marijuana became the leading new recreational drug. It was refuted by events in the eighties, when cocaine abuse exploded at the same time marijuana use declined. As we have seen, there is evidence that cannabis may substitute for alcohol and other "hard" commercial drugs.

Fact - a study, conducted in the Netherlands, examined the performance of drivers in actual freeway and urban driving situations at various doses of marijuana. It found that marijuana produces a moderate, dose-related decrement in road tracking ability, but is "not profoundly impairing" and "in no way unusual compared to many medicinal drugs." It found that marijuana's effects at the higher doses preferred by smokers never exceed those of alcohol at blood concentrations of .08%, the minimum level for legal intoxication in stricter states such as California. The study found that unlike alcohol, which encourages risky driving, marijuana appears to produce greater caution, apparently because users are more aware of their state and able to compensate for it (similar results have been reported by other researchers as well.

Fact - Government experts now admit that pot doesn't kill brain cells.(8) This myth came from a handful of animal experiments in which structural changes (not actual cell death, as is often alleged) were observed in brain cells of animals exposed to high doses of pot. Many critics still cite the notorious monkey studies of Dr. Robert G. Heath, which purported to find brain damage in three monkeys that had been heavily dosed with cannabis.(9) This work was never replicated and has since been discredited by a pair of better controlled, much larger monkey studies, one by Dr. William Slikker of the National Center for Toxicological Research(10) and the other by Charles Rebert and Gordon Pryor of SRI International.(11) Neither found any evidence of physical alteration in the brains of monkeys exposed to daily doses of pot for up to a year. Human studies of heavy users in Jamaica and Costa Rica found no evidence of abnormalities in brain physiology.(12) Even though there is no evidence that pot causes permanent brain damage, users should be aware that persistent deficits in short-term memory have been noted in chronic, heavy marijuana smokers after 6 to 12 weeks of abstinence.(13) It is worth noting that other drugs, including alcohol, are known to cause brain damage.

FACT - THE EMERGING EVIDENCE

Recently, five scientific journals published prominent articles trumpeting cannabinoids (compounds in marijuana) as potential anti-cancer agents.

These include:

Clinical trial data published in January 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Clinical Investigation that found cannabinoids significantly inhibit skin tumor growth in mice. Investigators of the study concluded, "The present data indicate that local cannabinoids administration may constitute an alternative therapeutic approach for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer."
Clinical trial data published in the March 2003 issue of The FASEB Journal that found that the "local administration of a non-psychoactive cannabinoid inhibits angiogenesis (tissue growth) of malignant gliomas (brain tumors)."
A clinical review in the October 2003 issue of the prestigious journal Nature Reviews Cancer that concluded that cannabinoids’ "favorable drug safety profile" and proven ability to inhibit tumor growth make them desirable agents in the treatment of cancer. According to the review’s author, tumors inhibited by cannabinoids include: lung carcinoma, glioma, thyroid epithelioma, lymphoma/leukemia, skin carcinoma, uterus carcinoma, breast carcinoma, prostate carcinoma, and neuroblastoma (a malignant tumor originating in the autonomic nervous system or the adrenal medulla and occurring chiefly in infants and young children).
Clinical trial data published in the November 2003 issue of the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics that found the administration of the cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) inhibits the growth of human glioma cells both in vitro (e.g., a petri dish) and in animals in a dose-dependent manner. Investigators concluded, "Non-psychoactive CBD produce[s] a significant antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo, thus suggesting a possible application of CBD as an antine plastic agent (something which prevents the growth of malignant cells.)"
And finally, a clinical review in the December 2003 issue of the journal Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets that summarized "the demonstrated antitumor actions of cannabinoids," and elaborated on "possible avenues for the future development of cannabinoids as antitumor agents."

U.S. KNEW IN ’74... AND AGAIN IN ’96!

This wasn’t always the case. In fact, the first ever experiment documenting pot’s anti-tumor effects took place in 1974 at the Medical College of Virginia at the behest of the U.S. government. The results of that study, immortalized in an August 18, 1974 Washington Post newspaper feature, were that "THC slowed the growth of lung cancers, breast cancers and a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, and prolonged their lives by as much as 36 percent."

Despite these favorable preliminary findings, U.S. government officials banished the study, and refused to fund any follow up research until conducting a similar – though secret – study in the mid-1990s. That study, conducted by the U.S. National Toxicology Program to the tune of $2 million concluded that mice and rats administered high doses of THC over long periods had greater protection against malignant tumors than untreated controls. However, rather than publicize their findings, government researchers shelved the results – which only became public one year later after a draft copy of its findings were leaked in 1997 to the journal AIDS Treatment News, which in turn forwarded the story to the national media.

Nevertheless, in the nearly eight years since the completion of the National Toxicology trial, the U.S. government has yet to fund a single additional study examining pot’s potential as an anti-cancer agent.

SCIENCE IGNORED NO MORE

Fortunately, researchers at Madrid, Spain’s Complutense University, School of Biology have generously picked up where U.S. researchers so abruptly left off. In 1998, the research team – led by investigator Manuel Guzman – discovered that THC can selectively induce program cell death in brain tumor cells without negatively impacting the surrounding healthy cells. Then in 2000, Guzman’s team reported in the journal Nature Medicine that injections of synthetic THC eradicated malignant gliomas (brain tumors) in one-third of treated rats, and prolonged life in another third by six weeks. A commentary to the study noted that the results were the first to convincingly demonstrate that cannabis-based treatments may successfully combat cancer.

Today, Guzman believes that enough favorable clinical evidence exists supporting pot’s anti-cancer properties to warrant clinical trials in humans. "The scientific community has gained substantial knowledge of the palliative and anti-tumor actions of cannabinoids during the past few years," Guzman wrote in the October 2003 issue of Nature Reviews Cancer. "Anti-tumor compounds should selectively affect tumor cells [and] it seems that cannabinoids can do this, as they kill [malignant] tumor cells but do not affect their non-transformed counterparts and might even protect them from cell death. ... As cannabinoids are relatively safe compounds, it would be desirable that clinical trials using cannabinoids ... could accompany [ongoing] laboratory studies to allow us to use these compounds in the treatment of cancer." Guzman concludes the article by noting that the Spanish Ministry of Health recently approved a human clinical trial – the first ever – aimed at investigating the effects of intracranially administered THC on the life expectancy of volunteers suffering from malignant brain tumors.

"Cannabinoid research continues to show tremendous potential in the treatment of cancer," summarizes University of Southern California professor Mitch Earleywine, author of the book Understanding Marijuana: A New Look at the Scientific Evidence. However, he laments that the "vast majority of this work originates outside the United States, often in countries that lack our economic and scientific advantages. Let’s hope that our drug policy won’t stymie the battle against the second leading cause of death in America."

Indeed. Let’s not add a potential treatment for cancer to the ever-growing list of victims of pot prohibition.

FACT - Animal tests have revealed that extremely high doses of cannabinoids are needed to have lethal effect. This has led scientists to conclude that the ratio of the amount of cannabinoids necessary to get a person intoxicated (i.e., stoned) relative to the amount necessary to kill them is 1 to 40,000. In other words, to overdose, you would have to consume 40,000 times as much marijuana as you needed to get stoned. In contrast, the ratio for alcohol varies between 1 to 4 and 1 to 10. It is easy to see how upwards of 5000 people die from alcohol overdoses every year and no one EVER dies of marijuana overdoses.

FACT - God has given us life. He has created certain herbs and plants for eating and healing. " Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." (Gen 9:3).

What does this mean?

The hemp plant (scientific name: cannabis, slang: marijuana) is one of the many useful herbs "yielding seed after its kind" created and blessed by God on the third day of creation, "and God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:12) He gave hemp for people to use with our free will.

God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth.…To you it will be for meat." … And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:29-31) The Bible predicts some herb's prohibition. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall … speak lies in hypocrisy … commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (Paul: 1 Timothy 4:1-3)

The Bible speaks of a special plant. "I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more." (Ezekiel 34:29) A healing plant. On either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare 12 manner of fruits, and yielding her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelations 22:1-2) A gift from God.

How was cannabis used in Biblical times and lands?

Cannabis was used 12 ways: clothing, paper, cord, sails, fishnet, oil, sealant, incense, food, and in ceremony, relaxation and medicine. For so the Lord said unto me, "I will take my rest and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs. For afore harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches." (Isaiah 18:4-5)

What should the ministry do?

Teach God's truth. Warn your congregation that the war on marijuana is unchristian and must be ended. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you will be no priest to Me … for I desired mercy and not sacrifice. (Hosea 4:6, 6:6)

What does the Bible say about marijuana? The Bible says that God created hemp for people to use "as meat," (ie, to consume), that its seed oil is to be used as an ointment, and that cannabis is "to be received with thanks-giving of them which believe and know the truth." Paul also warned that some people would "speak lies in hypocrisy" and prohibit us from using it.

It also says that we "shall not bear false witness" about people who use cannabis, nor judge them because that judgement is reserved to the Lord. The Lord hates those who speak lies and sow discord among brethern. For those people harrassed and imprisoned for using cannabis rightfuly, Jesus offers these words of comfort, "Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness's sake: For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

What would Jesus do regarding medical marijuana?

Despite common knowledge and widespread scientific support, the federal government has for nearly 30 years kept cannabis in schedule 1 as a deliberate way to deny patients access to medical marijuana. This includes people suffering from asthma, cancer, migraine headache, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, and provides relief for many other conditions. As a result, people at various locations across the USA have had to risk and suffer years in prison for providing medical marijuana to patients as an act of compassion and personal conscience. What would Jesus do? He chose to break the law in order to heal the sick.

"At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn, and his disciples were hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2) But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day 3) But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungered, and they that were with him? … 10) And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered, And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11) And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and lift it out? 12) How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13) Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. 14) Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 15) But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence, and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16) And charged them that they should not make him known." (Matthew 12: 1-2, 10-16) (also see Mark 3, Luke 13, John 9)

Should people give blind obedience to government?

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2) Why do thy disciple transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread." 3) But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? … 7) Ye hypocrites! … 12) Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13) But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14) Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind, And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:1-3, 7, 12-14)

Passages from the King James Bible that are relevant
to the legal and moral status of Cannabis sativa, L.

And the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:12)

God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so." And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Gen. 1:29-31)

(No prohibition of cannabis or any other drug is made in the Ten Commandments: See Ex. 20:1-17)

(Cannabis is mentioned in Ex. 30:23 but King James mistranslated it as 'sweet calamus') :
Moreover, the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even 250 shekels, and of qaneh-bosm [cannabis] 250 shekels, 24 And of cassia 500 shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy anointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. 26 And thous shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick ahd his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28 And the altar of burnt offerings with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. (Exodus 30:22-29)

* As one shekel equals approximately 16.37 grams, this means that the THC from over 9 pounds of flowering cannabis tops were extracted into a hind, about 6.5 litres of oil. The entheogenic effects of such a solution -- even when applied topically -would undoubtedly have been intense.
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man and oil to make his face to shineth. (Psalm 104:14-15)

The Lord said unto me, "I will take my rest and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches. (Is. 18:4-5)

And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. (Ezekiel 34:29)

(Jesus:) "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." (Matt. 15:11)

One believeth that he may eat all things. Another…eateth herbs. … Let us not, therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Epistle of St. Paul: Romans 14: 2,3,13,14,17)

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereupon thou hast attained. (Paul: 1 Timothy 4:1-6)

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielding her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Rev. 22:1-2)

I can go on and on and on and on over and over again, you be the judge and learn your own facts not propaganda bull crap...
peace...

I say if we put all the world leaders in one room, gave them each a joint and bag of Doritos- a lot of conflicts would be solved! I'm all for legalizing it. My husband suffers from chronic pain due to a work related accident where he broke his neck and back. He also has anxiety through the roof due to PTSD. Pot makes life liveable with him. Our theme song is "She Only Likes Me When I'm High." :) Seriously, the drugs they prescribe him scare the hell out of me. They are dangerous, the side effects are dangerous and the withdrawls are horrible. How can they justify making those legal and a plant illegal?

It was made illegal in the early 1900's.

Have your freedom and enjoy ! Read more about detox drinks at www.detxodrink.com I have used this for 15 yrs and have never flunked a test.

Legalize in GEORGIA!!

We have street gangs cutting the ears off kids and fighting the cartels for drugs and profits all because of the prohibition. Who does it help? NOBODY!

Prohibitions of cannabis arose in many states from 1906 and onward. By the mid-1930s, cannabis was regulated in every state by laws instituted through The Uniform State Narcotic Act.[1]
In the 1970s, many places in the United States started to decriminalize cannabis. Most places that have decriminalized cannabis have one or more of civil fines, drug education, drug treatment in place of incarceration, criminal charges for possession of small amounts of cannabis, or have made various cannabis offenses the lowest priority for law enforcement. In the 1990s many places began to legalize medical cannabis, which conflicts with federal laws, as cannabis is a Schedule I drug according to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which classified cannabis as having high potential for abuse, no medical use, and not safe to use under medical supervision. Multiple efforts to reschedule cannabis have failed and the United States Supreme Court has ruled in United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Coop and Gonzales v. Raich that the federal government has a right to regulate and criminalize cannabis, even for medical purposes.

The plant was prohibited, not made illegal the act stated above made it illegal.... ?????

WIn what all states did they legalize? I cant seem to find the list anywhere...

I LOVE THIS FORM POST, I LOVE IT>>>> :)

Correction on tokengrunts first post. The first paragraph on your post talks about African american
men used it it would make them crazy, sex crazed, etc. That refers to documentaries on cocaine not pot.

You are right my friend. 100% right. I mixed up the facts on two different drugs. OMG! My bad, I am sorry for the confusion. Good looking out man...

Peace...

All comments seem to be positive for legalizing mariuana...however you have the skeptics who will never change their way of thinking. Why tax the heck out of cigarettes and not alcohol. Are these comments set for a spelling bee or what so what if they can't spell things right...see the skeptics and hypocrites? I do. Legalize it and tax it it's a simple plan. I would take it rather than having to take all my medications I am on now prescribed by my physicians if I can stay off those pills hell yeah!!!!! I am probably taking more medication that hurts me then helps me. I am with you guys hell yeah legalize it. F--- the hypocrites!!!!!

Tokengurnts post is crazy long and full of detail. You should write a book. LOL. WOW! informative, and strangely satisfying???

I think 80-90% of us agreee its ok to use and it
should be legalized. The revenue generated from
taxing it would be tremendous. I'm sure Obama did
enhale and hopefully this will be resolved before he leaves office. Hawaii does have some good stuff!!