Why I Changed My Mind On Weed • Hacker News Board

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#51

Post by gregpilling » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:08 PM UTC

I am a medical marijuana user. I have fibromyalgia (a catch all label for constant pain), and it helps some with neuropathic pain. My doctor is kept informed about how much I am using, and I have to get my card renewed each year. MJ works, but at best it dulls the pain, and also helps to make the pain less 'front and center' and instead kind of makes it more something that is in the background.

I was never a stoner, and did not use it until I was 38 years old. I am happy it exists, because I was being treated with Vicodin for pain and was on a schedule of 6 pills a day. Enough that liver damage and addiction started to be a concern. I am allergic to pills in the Percoset family (hives and skin lesions) and I consume about 5 joints a day worth of weed. I don't even get high anymore, but it does help with the pain. It is costing me about $100 per week, compared to the $3 per month the Vicodin cost on my medical insurance. I could buy a new car with the weed money, but couldn't buy a coffee at Starbucks with the Vicodin money.

I hope the government gets around to reclassifying the drug soon. In the current situation, Child Protective Services would take my kids away if I was to consume the drug in front of them. A reclassification would enable more research, more research would lead to easier ways to ingest it. I find food products make me stomach sick, vaporizing doesn't work as well as smoking, and smoking is unappealing and difficult to do with any discretion.

I am fortunate that I can afford it, and can fit it into my schedule (I own my business). Many people need something like MMJ and can neither afford it, nor can they keep their employment with it because of widespread drug testing. While the state I live in says that card holders can't be fired for holding a card, it is a state that has 'right-to-work' laws and you can fire someone for no specified reason at all. (source- I employ ten people).

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#52

Post by piokoch » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:08 PM UTC

DamnYuppie wrote: post #3

tptacek wrote: post #2

This is a surprisingly thoughtful article for CNN.

I too am surprised to see such an article on CNN. The one thing it doesn't touch on is the cost we have incurred as a nation by making it illegal. We have seen this before with prohibition, it didn't stop people from drinking it just made better criminals. Once we legalize it we can stop spending money fighting it and start taxing it! Of course the funny thing will be watching all the farmers in Illinois plow down th…

I am not that surprised. Dog biting man is not an interesting news. Man biting a dog - that's something. So, anti-cannabies doctor is a common creature, the opposite - that's catching subject.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#53

Post by fnordfnordfnord » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:09 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #8

nakedrobot2 wrote: post #4

the headline should read "over-credulous member of establishment is finally swayed by overwhelming evidence to the contrary, although he has to travel to the ends of the earth to be convinced"

Or, "it's not enough that he agrees with me, agrees publicly with me, and apologized for disagreeing with me; the manner in which he arrived at his agreement with me is offensive, so let's make that a topic of conversation."

Maybe some people feel insulted after having been maligned for so many years. Gupta, as a member of the establishment that advocated against medical use of marijuana deserves some ire for his part in that. He faithfully preached the party line uncritically, and in absence of credible evidence, he now admits. Maybe you can forgive those who may remain skeptical of Gupta's motives (since none of us can know what they are anyway). I'm glad he's changed his stance. I think it is great. But, I understand why some people are annoyed at a subject-matter expert who admits that he had based his professional opinion on government propaganda.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#54

Post by jnbiche » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:10 PM UTC

madaxe wrote: post #40

rickdale wrote: post #5

One of the biggest issues with marijuana in this country is the lack of research behind it. Here in Michigan where over 60% of the people voted for medical marijuana, they just outlawed medibles. Meaning no pot brownies for patients. Which makes no sense when applying medical marijuana. Caregivers and patients are outraged because they feel like they know more than the judges or politician do, and I have to agree. On…

I lost 70lbs smoking pot. Health is better than it has been in years. Munchies go both ways, you just have to learn to "flip the switch". I'm a filthy criminal.

Can you expand on that thought? How do you "flip the switch"?

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#55

Post by oinksoft » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:10 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #35

oinksoft wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

History shows that the major pharmaceutical companies will try every dirty trick in the book to position themselves as the exclusive producers of medical cannabis if and when the plant is descheduled at the federal level.

Could you please point me to the part of history that shows that?

http://www.clear-uk.org/gw-pharmaceuticals-and-the-uk-home-o...

They won't necessarily call it cannabis, it will be a "cannabis product" flying under some other name. Also, does the history of generic meds policy not tell you something? These companies are fiercely anti-competitive. Another case study in a separate market is how alcohol distillation, for instance, is kept illegal.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#56

Post by freehunter » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:10 PM UTC

rorrr2 wrote: post #27

Just a hype for his movie. This all reminds me of how some famous supposed atheists convert to a religion X and then write books about it selling millions of copies. Same shit. You're being manipulated. We don't need a mediocre surgeon to tell us weed is OK. Any idiot with internet access knew that for the last 15 years.

>We don't need a mediocre surgeon to tell us weed is OK.

We don't. The US government does. Who do you think they listen to more: the people or the rich and famous? I've certainly never been asked into Congress to testify for anything.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#57

Post by gadders » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:11 PM UTC

"Much in the same way I wouldn't let my own children drink alcohol, I wouldn't permit marijuana until they are adults. If they are adamant about trying marijuana, I will urge them to wait until they're in their mid-20s when their brains are fully developed."

Good luck with that.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#58

Post by madaxe » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:11 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #35

oinksoft wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

History shows that the major pharmaceutical companies will try every dirty trick in the book to position themselves as the exclusive producers of medical cannabis if and when the plant is descheduled at the federal level.

Could you please point me to the part of history that shows that?

Aspirin. Bayer. People used to chew willow.

That said they did isolate it, so it's not parity, but at least peripheral.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#59

Post by mpyne » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:11 PM UTC

jgrahamc wrote: post #12

After I saw Gupta in Japan talking about protection against gamma radiation ( http://blog.jgc.org/2011/03/cnn-sounding-authorative-while-t... ) I stopped listening to him at all.

I was much happier before I found out today that ridiculous piece was ever widely published. Ugh.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#60

Post by gadders » Thu, Aug 08, 2013, 4:13 PM UTC

gregpilling wrote: post #51

I am a medical marijuana user. I have fibromyalgia (a catch all label for constant pain), and it helps some with neuropathic pain. My doctor is kept informed about how much I am using, and I have to get my card renewed each year. MJ works, but at best it dulls the pain, and also helps to make the pain less 'front and center' and instead kind of makes it more something that is in the background. I was never a stoner,…

Interesting that you don't get high any more. I wondered whether MMJ would fall into the category of "do not drive or operate machinery" whilst using.