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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPot Scientists Brace for Marijuana Meltdown as Laws Ease
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-19/pot-scientists-brace-for-marijuana-meltdown-as-laws-ease.htmlThree out of every four dollars spent this year on pot studies funded by the government.
The only marijuana available for research in the U.S. is locked down by federal regulators who are more focused on studies to keep people off the drug than helping researchers learn how it might be beneficial.
Marijuana is a trend that will peak like tobacco then people will see their error, said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which serves as the gatekeeper for U.S. marijuana research through its oversight of a pot farm that grows the only plants that can be used in clinical trials.
Meanwhile, marijuana advocates say NIDAs control over research has made almost impossible their ability to test the drug against ailments such as pain, cancer-related nausea and epilepsy.
The federal researchers arent set up to study potential medical benefits, so its inappropriate for NIDA to have a monopoly on supply, said Dan Riffle, director of federal policies at the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington-based group that lobbies to change marijuana laws.
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)with a smaller peak around 1998
http://www.samhsa.gov/data/mjinitiation/chapter3.htm
Tobacco use has been in decline since the late 60s:
Comparing tobacco and MJ is popular but seems to be based only on the fact that both are usually smoked. It ignores large differences between the two. For example, THC is psychoactive and not addictive while nicotine is serious stimulant and one of the most physically addictive drugs ever studied. MJ is smoked in very small amounts, a few grams per day, while tobacco is generally used every 30 minutes or so during waking hours, around 2 to 4 ounces per day.
Meanwhile, the number of overdoses from marijuana use remains steady for the last 10,000 years at zero while the number of deaths from prescription medications looks like this...
Are_grits_groceries
(17,111 posts)They're probably remaking 'Reefer Madness' as we post.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)Since it does share some of the same problems with the damage to the cells lining the throat and lungs that smoking anything burning does. But you can bet your booties THC in non-smokable forms is going to skyrocket as it goes legal.
I'm going to guess candy bar forms will become the predominant vehicle commercially among populations who don't currently smoke.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)who wouldn't want thc gummy bears?
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)They'll start showing up in walgreens and CVS's, next to the gummy vitamins, heh.
Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)A pack of 8 cookies, one of which is laced.
klook
(12,152 posts)"Elf Roulette" will become a popular party game. Which Keebler makes you extra crunchy?
Javaman
(62,504 posts)Pot Doritos. get high and munch as the same time.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)So not cool.
Javaman
(62,504 posts)jtuck004
(15,882 posts)Javaman
(62,504 posts)jtuck004
(15,882 posts)medical edible - that could be it:
IronLionZion
(45,380 posts)and get findings from the research in Canada and other countries.
I recently voted in the Dem primaries for a governor candidate who will legalize, tax, and regulate it as an economic stimulus for Maryland. I hope she wins.
jtuck004
(15,882 posts)that would pay for the research.
But spending on wasteful, basic research that doesn't turn a quick profit on questionable pharmaceuticals has been dropping dramatically in recent years, and on top of that it is still illegal ignorant at a federal level.
Until those two things are changed, we won't be seeing the quantity of research that should be happening.
raven mad
(4,940 posts)I hope so. Meanwhile, back at the cop funding fight: http://www.adn.com/2014/06/18/3523383/alaska-police-chiefs-say-legalizing.html
Doncha know, legalizing the evil weed will cause us all to need more cops, more training and more jails, cuz pot smokers are so MEAN.