[Vision2020] Soda vs. Marijuana

Tue Jun 11 20:08:13 PDT 2013

Mr. Keim -

You have suggested, without substantiation, that marijuana severely impacts the health of its users.  I, along with the states of Washington and Colorado, disagree.

I introduced same-sex marriage into our discussion for no other reason than to reflect the differences in the two state governments.

Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still 
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill 
If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon

On Jun 11, 2013, at 7:47 PM, Darrell Keim <keim152 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I fail to see your point.
> 
> 
> On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
> > You realize, of course, that a mere eight (8) miles to the west of Moscow two men (or two women) may legally marry each other . . . and legally toke up a bong at their wedding reception.
> > Do you realize that UI's branch of NORML shut down shortly after their website was removed? (http://idahonorml.webs.com/) was frozen.
> > Yet, I heard rumors that WSU NORML sponsors wedding receptions and is considering opening a booth at Seattle's farmers market.
> > http://norml.org/chapters/item/washington-state-university-norml?category_id=726
> > Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
> > "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> > http://www.MoscowCares.com
> >   
> > Tom Hansen
> > Moscow, Idaho
> > "There's room at the top they are telling you still 
> > But first you must learn how to smile as you kill 
> > If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
> > - John Lennon
> >  
> >
> > On Jun 11, 2013, at 6:58 PM, Darrell Keim <keim153 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Tom:
> >  
> > You're right-I don't want to get into a "war of experts."  That wasn't my purpose.  My purpose was to point out that your graphic was overlooking some fairly major issues caused and/or related to marijuana use.
> >  
> > I do appreciate your link to the organization.  Hadn't seen that one.  For my job I work with the Regional Advisory Committee on Substance Use Disorders.  This puts me into regular contact with local recovery counselors, psychologists, etc.  I also serve on the boards and/or regularly interact with the Latah County Youth Advocacy Council, Kamiah Community Partners Coalition, and Clearwater Substance Abuse Workgroup.  I'm afraid my mind is pretty well made-up RE marijuana.
> >  
> > I do tend to favor treating it as a public health issue, like smoking and drinking; rather than as a legal issue.  Public Health campaigns against those substances have been reasonably successful.
> >
> > On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 4:42 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Mr. Keim -
> >> Instead of listing inifinite sources that tend to support legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana, I invite you to start your browsing at an organization of which I have been a member for quite some time . . .
> >> The National Organization for the Reduction of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
> >> <image.jpeg>
> >> http://www.norml.org
> >> A couple other things . . . 
> >> 1 - As far as that illogical claim that 95% of those currently addicted to heroin got their start on marijuana . . . I would be more concerned about the 5% who jumped right in to heroin.
> >> 2 - My "indulgences" led more to increased sales revenue at the neighborhood KFC versus any increased liquor consumption.
> >> Ah, the memories:  While stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco (1977 - 1979), my two favorite haunts were Baker Beach (about a quarter mile south of the Golden Gate Bridge and a two-block stagger from the government quarters in which Rodna and I resided) and a tavern at the corner of Fifth Street and Clement Avenue called the Moonshiner (whose customer base consisted of everything from lawyers to opera singers to Hells Angels . . . and yours truly).
> >> To make a long (and rather interesting) story short, marijuana was easily procurable at each location.  In fact, I recall several occasions where people would sit on the curb, outsde the Moonshiner (that had no entry door, just a slider that would open the entire front end), openly smoking a joint, watching cars (including SFPD) go by.
> >> Those were the days, my friend . . .
> >>
> >> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
> >> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> >> http://www.MoscowCares.com
> >>   
> >> Tom Hansen
> >> Moscow, Idaho
> >> "There's room at the top they are telling you still 
> >> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill 
> >> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
> >> - John Lennon
> >>  
> >>
> >> On Jun 11, 2013, at 3:24 PM, Darrell Keim <keim153 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Interesting graphic, though a poor logical argument.  Sure soda is bad, does that mean we should A.  Ban all bad things?  B.  Legalize all bad things?  Isn't there room for a third option?  I won't attempt to defend soda. 
> >>  
> >> The graphic goes very light on marijuana's harms.
> >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_effects_of_cannabis
> >> The above page mentions positive correlations to:  female infertility, dependency, acute psychosis (but only when tied to an underlying mental disorder), chronic psychosis (in adolescence), increased suicide rate, gateway drug (my personal anecdotal experience backs this-most of the folks I meet in treatment started with either booze or pot), and loss of IQ.    Curiously, it doesn't seem to cause lung cancer (though other cancers show a positive correlation), though it does have some of the other health issues usually correlated with smoking. 
> >>  
> >> The above are correlated with marijuana.  I won't argue that correlation equals causation.  I also won't argue that it also correlates with some positives:  pain relief, slows cognitive decline, The Eagles famous "Peaceful, Easy Feeling."
> >>  
> >> Sounds to me like neither is a net societal positive...
> >>
> >> On Tue, Jun 11, 2013 at 3:00 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> <1010437_10151481021971275_1141633502_n.jpg>
> >> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
> >> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> >> http://www.MoscowCares.com
> >>   
> >> Tom Hansen
> >> Moscow, Idaho
> >> "There's room at the top they are telling you still 
> >> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill 
> >
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