The Dangers of Pot…

‘Reefer madness’ has been the standard ploy of populist governments and prohibitionists to try and beef-up marijuana to be some demon drug of itself, as well as the gateway to more ‘powerful’ mind-altering substances (see link, below). The dangers of pot arguments have been around for decades. I note now that naughty research trick of including people who might have become psychotic regardless, and who smoke pot, to produce the obvious result: they go nuts. However, did they go nuts because of the pot or because they were going to go nuts anyway? Moreover, when we say ‘psychosis’, do we mean that old-fashioned, totally flipped-out kind of scene or that more catholic brand I see so much of nowadays, where the slightest off-key thought is likely to get you scheduled? Most people who smoke pot and go psychotic get over it in a few days or weeks, with rarely a hint of a recurring voice or interesting thought. I would argue that just as some people should never drink because when they do they hit people, I would also argue that some people should never smoke pot, lest they go nuts. Pushing the line that one puff and you’re close to the edge, I must say, really does seem like a bad public health education film from the 1960s…

Wake-Up Call for Teen Pot Smokers 2010