America’s High: The case for and against pot

Ok, so the downside of legalizing is that a person with a mental disorder had a negative experience trying to use a psychoactive substance to manage the disorder? That's solid!! Sure it's worth a shot to see if it works, but bi-polar people ought to be a little careful what mind altering substances they consume, don't you think? I highly doubt that if a bi-polar person attempted to self medicate their mental disorder with alcohol, and it went poorly (actually I bet that happens quite a bit, and I bet it usally does go poorly), that anybody would seriously think that's a good reason to ban alcohol!! I've been waiting for a long time for a serious, convincing legal explanation as to why alcohol use is condoned (more that condoned, it's a major part of our culture) while marijuana is illegal. Someone somewhere please answer this question if you can! And with something other than 'well we have enough problems with alcohol, do we really need another mind-altering substance in society?' because that argument hold absolutely zero legal weight.

Well said NYhawk808. I have been watching this debate more intently as of late. Watching for me is fact finding. I want to know the truth, the real truth, and the rest that is true. The simple fact of a person putting his keyboard to work will almost convince marijuana should be legalized. From my account, there is at least a higher volume of factual logical arguments against prohibition then there are for it. Stories like yours sure should push even more good points to the side for marijuana. Let’s keep up the debate.

FREE THE WEED

Bastional

“Fix the problems not the remedy!”
-NYhawl808

Love the show Anderson but felt pretty strongly about this topic.

To be honest, the fact that we have to have this debate is ridiculous. In Rockland County New York, where I grew up, everyone smoked pot in high school. Anyone who thinks that this policy is good or that it is working is dead wrong. Please get them in touch with kids who are growing up in our society right now. I went to college in Iowa (much lower drug use, across the state). There I found that many of those people who didn't smoke pot clung to controversial points, like it being a gateway drug.

People who don't smoke pot should be doing it for the right reasons. I don't smoke much myself, never have, but I've never experienced that actually being the case (referring to it being a gateway drug) except when people had problems they went to marijuana for in the first place. Fix the problems not the remedy.

Its medical benefits aside, our government's current policy is awful. I personally know several very close friends who have gotten in serious legal trouble because they possessed marijuana. I'm not referring to people who grew or dealt pot; just people who smoked it. And I am not talking about people who got pulled over while high or got arrested for some other miscellaneous reason and THEN got in trouble. They were home. They got into good colleges (one of them ivy league), they were not burnouts with no hopes or aspirations as some would like you to believe.

I was asked on Monday morning to find a patient for his medical marijuana series. They filmed my friend going through the process of becoming a new patient...

They wanted me to do an interview but after talking to and experiencing how snide and uneducated his corresponding producer and journalist were on the piece they were producing, I walked out.
I interviewed The Farmacy this weekend at the THC Expo, and they confirmed Anderson had little knowledge about Medical Cannabis prior to this piece. If Anderson Cooper has no idea about medical cannabis, and is producing a piece on the topic, his credibility should seriously be questioned. Aren't journalists supposed to conduct thorough research?

Spinning the Bi-Polar patient was hogwash. There are many patients suffering from Bi-Polar disorder that find tremendous relief from Medical Cannabis. I can personally attest to it. They happened to choose an extreme scenario without providing any background information on the patient. If primary physicians were less afraid and more educated on recommending medical cannabis, then that Bi-Polar patient would have received proper monitoring after being administered the herb.

CNN and the other corporate media outlets are the direct reason why cannabis still has a stigma. Thank you Current for Keeping it Real!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE.

I wondered about CNN covering both sides of cannabis. Today I see why. Their daily programming is spinning the woman who had problems, because she had an addictive personality.

They aren't showing Melissa Etheridge who had positive effects from cannabis. They are using the negatives and ignoring the positives. Figures! I knew there was a hidden agenda. Sad!

Anderson Cooper did discuss both sides of the issue. But the person who had problems with cannabis, had mental problems before cannabis. Apparently she had an addictive personality. She went on on Lithium after stopping cannabis. I don't know that she was the best example for negative cannabis conversation.

Melissa Etheridge did a good job discussing cannabis and cancer. But, when they discussed her wife, my husband said, oh well, that will discredit her comments. Melissa Etheridge added gay marriage to the equation and gay marriage in America is a hot button issue by its self.

I look forward to seeing how he will continue the week of 'for and against cannabis'. Day one was not bad. It's a step in the right direction. I found it interesting that the show was sponsored by an anti-drug advertiser. Will he end up spinning anti-drug rhetoric more than information? Will it be bait and switch?

I think education is the key to your problem also. If doctors were allowed to discuss cannabis, they would have been able to help prior to your cannabis induced psychotic disorder. I also read, some people with certain heart problems should not smoke cannabis.

Someone borrowed my book, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herer and didn't give it back, or I would look it up. The book is available to read on the internet. It's really informative and backed up with documentation to reference his facts.

Cannabis induced psychotic disorder must be rare. I have been around cannabis since the early 70's and you're the first person I have heard, who has actually experienced it. I would say you should refrain from cannabis in the future. Some people must stay out of the sun, because it causes them problems. One must do what one must do. Just say no.

Dear Mr. Cooper,

Please ask these questions…

• What proof did the government have to make marijuana illegal in the first place?
• Can you die from marijuana?
• What are the monetary costs to police, prosecute, and jail citizens for the possession and distribution of marijuana?
• What are the human costs?
• What would the for-fathers of this country think?

Just to name a few…

FREE THE WEED

I'm waiting to see if he acts as though he doesn't know anything about cannabis. I'm so tired of everything being spun as though the truth could go either way.

Someone states fact and someone else states opinion, leaving the viewer to believe fact and opinion are equal. My hope is he questions both fact and opinion. Opinion should not legislate in America. Our legal system should be based on facts, not spin and opinion.

In my humble opinion, President Obama should right the wrongs of Richard Nixon and reclassify cannabis hemp. Richard Nixon left office in shame, but left a shameful policy behind. Our politicians have chosen to follow the path of 'Reefer Madness', while ignoring a government documentary, 'Hemp for Victory'. That's just madness!

Free the weed!