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Rob Giunta's avatar

We don't need to criminalize it to discourage its use. Same thing with alcohol. It is not harmless. Many hard core drug addicts start off with cannabis and move on from there. It should not be touted as having no ill effects, because it does have an effect on a lot of people. Same as alcohol. Same as tobacco. Not illegal, but not harmless.

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GBM's avatar

Thanks, Gideon. I am a retired physician and people need to understand the two different definitions of addiction. Opiates are addictive in that one inevitably accommodates to a regular dose of opiate and real, physical withdrawal symptoms occur when weaning off after weeks of regular administration. Marijuana is more of a psychological and cultural addiction without the physical symptoms of withdrawal when stopped or weaned. The many liberals and conservatives who embrace the "truth" that use of marijuana is benign are entirely wrong. Physicians need to speak out more.

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