painkills2
New Member
Bad Info Down in Las Cruces
Over a week ago, an article about cannabis was published on the Las Cruces Sun-News website, and its been bothering me ever since.
There are a lot of misconceptions about cannabis still floating around, and it would be very time consuming to cruise the internet attempting to correct each one. While I disagree with some of the opinions highlighted in this article, there are a few glaring errors I think people living in Las Cruces should be made aware of.
First of all, as with any kind of information, there are negative side effects when you only look at (and believe) one source. It is important to seek out information that addresses all sides of the issue, especially when it comes to cannabis. Case in point:
"Some of the short-term side effects include like dizziness, drowsiness and short-term memory loss, according to WebMD. More serious side effects include severe anxiety and psychosis, stemming predominately from the plant's THC level."
Considering the long list of side effects on the side of any drug label, prescription or over-the-counter, this short list seems to be more about scare tactics than offering relevant information. "Severe anxiety and psychosis" happen so infrequently that the risk is almost non-existent. Can you say the same about prescription medications, and the frequency of their usual side effects?
You really have to wonder what kind of motivations would cause someone to over-emphasize the side effects of cannabis. It is widely-known for its relatively few side effects -- especially compared to all other drugs, legal or illegal. (And also when compared to ubiquitous over-the-counter medications like Tylenol.)
"These effects are reduced after three or four hours, WebMD says, but marijuana can remain in your system for as long a month after use. Lingering affects can mean impairment for several days or weeks."
This information is misleading, as the chemicals that stay in your system from marijuana have not proven to show any kind of lasting "impairment," let alone "for several days or weeks." And the chemical parts of cannabis that do stay in your system are actually still performing work, like as a neuroprotectant or anti-anxiety agent.
"Medical marijuana is also not monitored like Federal Drug Administration-approved medicines, according to WebMD."
The WebMD article referenced doesn't even have an author's name attached to it; is full of inaccuracies; and does not constitute a reputable source for medical information. Further, the FDA is not some government agency that can be put on a pedestal, as if the job they do "monitoring" and "approving" so-called legal drugs can even be called adequate -- in some cases, it could even be called disastrous.
"According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, heavy marijuana use can lower men's testosterone levels and sperm count and quality. It could also decrease libido and fertility in some men who are heavy users."
The NIDA is a source that has been discredited time and time again. Their studies are only focused on harm (even though many of those studies, if anything, have shown just the opposite). And notice the term "heavy" use to describe where this alleged harm occurs, which would only pertain to a small portion of the cannabis-loving population.
"Epidemiological data suggest that about 42 percent of the U.S. population has tried marijuana and about 9 percent met criteria for dependence on marijuana at some point in their lifetime, while 15 percent met criteria for dependence on alcohol and 32 percent for tobacco." (emphasis mine) October | 2010 | Britannica Blog ... ret-haney/
However, I have heard this misconception before, about marijuana lowering testosterone levels, which it is then assumed lowers sperm count and quality. Let's look at other sources of information about this issue, shall we?
"In Western countries, average testosterone levels are receding in men of all ages. Several theories, from increases in obesity, to exposure to endocrine disruptors have been proposed as an explanation for this reduction." Wikipedia
"Besides being really hard to spell, phthalates may make it hard for men to successfully reproduce." ... 30514.html
"Medications. The use of certain drugs, such as opiate pain medications and some hormones, can affect testosterone production." Male hypogonadism Causes - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic
"The most potent ingredient in cannabis, also known as marijuana, is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). When you smoke, vaporize or otherwise ingest it, there's an immediate increase in testosterone levels, says Dr. [Ariel] Ostad." HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News ... 14041.html
"The opposite is true for men; those newly in love have lower testosterone than men flying solo or with a long-term partner." Latest News, Diets, Workouts, Healthy Recipes | MSN Health & Fitness ... osterone-1
Let's talk about the "Cannabis, kids and pets" part of this article.
"A recent veterinary study in Colorado and data gathered by Pet Poison Helpline indicate that marijuana poisoning in pets is on the rise, especially following the legalization of marijuana in New Mexico's neighbor to the north."
"Marijuana poisoning" is a misleading term, when what we're really talking about here is toxicity. We could do a comparison in the toxicity levels of cannabis to other kinds of household products, or we can instead look at this view:
"In most cases, the drug's effects alone are relatively harmless. But when coupled with chocolate, butter, oil or the various other THC products available, Hackett worries about the combined effects of intoxication and the gastrointestinal issues that 'people food' can give pets.' If you give a dog a stick of butter or a bowl of cooking oil – marijuana or not – it's going to get sick,' he said. 'If you called me up and said your dog ate a whole tray of regular brownies, I'd be concerned enough to tell you to bring him in and induce vomiting. It's nothing against marijuana.'" ... -your-dog-"
Over a week ago, an article about cannabis was published on the Las Cruces Sun-News website, and its been bothering me ever since.
There are a lot of misconceptions about cannabis still floating around, and it would be very time consuming to cruise the internet attempting to correct each one. While I disagree with some of the opinions highlighted in this article, there are a few glaring errors I think people living in Las Cruces should be made aware of.
First of all, as with any kind of information, there are negative side effects when you only look at (and believe) one source. It is important to seek out information that addresses all sides of the issue, especially when it comes to cannabis. Case in point:
"Some of the short-term side effects include like dizziness, drowsiness and short-term memory loss, according to WebMD. More serious side effects include severe anxiety and psychosis, stemming predominately from the plant's THC level."
Considering the long list of side effects on the side of any drug label, prescription or over-the-counter, this short list seems to be more about scare tactics than offering relevant information. "Severe anxiety and psychosis" happen so infrequently that the risk is almost non-existent. Can you say the same about prescription medications, and the frequency of their usual side effects?
You really have to wonder what kind of motivations would cause someone to over-emphasize the side effects of cannabis. It is widely-known for its relatively few side effects -- especially compared to all other drugs, legal or illegal. (And also when compared to ubiquitous over-the-counter medications like Tylenol.)
"These effects are reduced after three or four hours, WebMD says, but marijuana can remain in your system for as long a month after use. Lingering affects can mean impairment for several days or weeks."
This information is misleading, as the chemicals that stay in your system from marijuana have not proven to show any kind of lasting "impairment," let alone "for several days or weeks." And the chemical parts of cannabis that do stay in your system are actually still performing work, like as a neuroprotectant or anti-anxiety agent.
"Medical marijuana is also not monitored like Federal Drug Administration-approved medicines, according to WebMD."
The WebMD article referenced doesn't even have an author's name attached to it; is full of inaccuracies; and does not constitute a reputable source for medical information. Further, the FDA is not some government agency that can be put on a pedestal, as if the job they do "monitoring" and "approving" so-called legal drugs can even be called adequate -- in some cases, it could even be called disastrous.
"According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, heavy marijuana use can lower men's testosterone levels and sperm count and quality. It could also decrease libido and fertility in some men who are heavy users."
The NIDA is a source that has been discredited time and time again. Their studies are only focused on harm (even though many of those studies, if anything, have shown just the opposite). And notice the term "heavy" use to describe where this alleged harm occurs, which would only pertain to a small portion of the cannabis-loving population.
"Epidemiological data suggest that about 42 percent of the U.S. population has tried marijuana and about 9 percent met criteria for dependence on marijuana at some point in their lifetime, while 15 percent met criteria for dependence on alcohol and 32 percent for tobacco." (emphasis mine) October | 2010 | Britannica Blog ... ret-haney/
However, I have heard this misconception before, about marijuana lowering testosterone levels, which it is then assumed lowers sperm count and quality. Let's look at other sources of information about this issue, shall we?
"In Western countries, average testosterone levels are receding in men of all ages. Several theories, from increases in obesity, to exposure to endocrine disruptors have been proposed as an explanation for this reduction." Wikipedia
"Besides being really hard to spell, phthalates may make it hard for men to successfully reproduce." ... 30514.html
"Medications. The use of certain drugs, such as opiate pain medications and some hormones, can affect testosterone production." Male hypogonadism Causes - Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic
"The most potent ingredient in cannabis, also known as marijuana, is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). When you smoke, vaporize or otherwise ingest it, there's an immediate increase in testosterone levels, says Dr. [Ariel] Ostad." HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News ... 14041.html
"The opposite is true for men; those newly in love have lower testosterone than men flying solo or with a long-term partner." Latest News, Diets, Workouts, Healthy Recipes | MSN Health & Fitness ... osterone-1
Let's talk about the "Cannabis, kids and pets" part of this article.
"A recent veterinary study in Colorado and data gathered by Pet Poison Helpline indicate that marijuana poisoning in pets is on the rise, especially following the legalization of marijuana in New Mexico's neighbor to the north."
"Marijuana poisoning" is a misleading term, when what we're really talking about here is toxicity. We could do a comparison in the toxicity levels of cannabis to other kinds of household products, or we can instead look at this view:
"In most cases, the drug's effects alone are relatively harmless. But when coupled with chocolate, butter, oil or the various other THC products available, Hackett worries about the combined effects of intoxication and the gastrointestinal issues that 'people food' can give pets.' If you give a dog a stick of butter or a bowl of cooking oil – marijuana or not – it's going to get sick,' he said. 'If you called me up and said your dog ate a whole tray of regular brownies, I'd be concerned enough to tell you to bring him in and induce vomiting. It's nothing against marijuana.'" ... -your-dog-"
