Marijuana and Academics (research paper)

[Conquer]

Someone mentioned in another topic that people might appreciate it if I post this, it's my final research paper for my anthropology/sociology/psychology class. (I've only included the secondary research report and references - in APA citation) For the record, this is the largest research paper I've written so please take it easy on the comments. Abstract The research project examines the topic of marijuana and academics, including the effects of marijuana, the definition of a marijuana user, frequency of use, as well as positive and negative aspects of marijuana and marijuana education on society. Many myths about the substance are widely thought to be true, throughout this writing several myths are mentioned and supported or argued against with historical or research evidence. Many references of statistics and studies are used in this paper to show more reliable claims. Included in the appendix is an interesting graph showing the relation between education, and marijuana use and support. Introduction The topic of marijuana use is a very controversial topic, because of its legal medical use, and its illegal recreational use. Through the years of debate, there have been many studies on the substance to determine its possible medical uses, as well as its positive and negative effects on a user. The purpose of my research is to study the effect of Marijuana use on academics. In this writing I will be studying the physical effects of marijuana, the definition of a marijuana user, frequency of marijuana use and the positive and negative effect of its use on post secondary academics. Effects Marijuana has different effects on a user based on body weight, personal tolerance, and method of use. When smoked, the duration is around one to four hours. When ingested, the duration is around four to ten hours. (Erowid, 2008) The effects of Marijuana vary from person to person and change depending on the type of cannabis as well as the method of use. Delta-9-Tetrahydracanabinol (THC), the active component in marijuana, is a psychoactive and works by stimulating certain brain receptors. However it does not wear out the receptors unlike other drugs (Shaffer Library, 2008). Marijuana can have varying effects on the body, including both positive and negative effects. Positive effects of Marijuana include mood lifting, relaxation, deep thinking, increased awareness of senses, increased body and mind connection, increased interest, reduced nausea and increased appetite. Negative effects of Marijuana may include headaches, dizziness, difficulty with short term memory (mainly for inexperienced users), paranoia, and anxiety. In high doses it can also cause clumsiness, panic attacks and nausea. The after affects of marijuana can include loss of appetite, anxiety, anhedonia, difficulty sleeping, and desire to use marijuana. These symptoms last from six to twelve hours (Erowid, 2008). The Marijuana Smoker and Society “Who is the Marijuana smoker? The question might seem obvious and unnecessary: the Marijuana smoker is one who smokes Marijuana. But the question cannot be answered so facilely. How much Marijuana? How often?” (Erich, 1970). There really is not a definition for a Marijuana user, but for convenience in studies and reports, cannabis users can be placed into four categories: the experimenter, the occasional user, the regular user, and the frequent user (Erich, 1970). Marijuana has been culturally used in China, Central Asia, India, Africa, Brazil, and Jamaica in history for several different reasons including medical and spiritual use. Other uses included clothing and paper. Hemp is still used today for rope material (Spicer, 2002). Marijuana in society is usually considered connected to crime; most people assume that marijuana users are more likely to commit crimes. Users are not more likely to commit other crimes than smoking marijuana, but merely more likely to get caught if they do (Atlantic Monthly, 2004). Use According to survey statistics from around 2006, roughly 4% of college students used marijuana daily, around 16% had used it in the last month, and about 30% had used it any time during the last 12 months (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2008). Statistics on high school senior students show that roughly 32% of students had used marijuana in the last 12 months, and around 19% had used it in the last 30 days (Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2008). Positive and Negative Effects In order to understand the effect of marijuana on academics, we must first examine the claims from both sides of the argument. This includes programs like D.A.R.E. (Drug abuse resistance education), PDFA (Partnership for a Drug-Free America), and Reefer Dumbness, who often use scare tactics on students and even parents during school presentations, telling them false negative aspects of the drug. These claims have included myths that marijuana flattens brain waves, marijuana damages brain cells, and that marijuana leads to harder drugs. These claims either have no physical evidence, or can be proven false with actual evidence. A television commercial in 1987 sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) showed that marijuana "flattened" brain waves. On screen, normal human brain waves were compared to the supposed brain wave of a 14-year-old high on marijuana. Sadly enough, it was actually the brain wave of a coma patient. The PDFA lied about the data and the commercial was removed from the air when researchers complained to the television network (Shaffer Library, 2008). This is one of many scare tactics used on society in order to frighten marijuana users and prevent marijuana use from occurring. Discussion The “gateway drug” effect is a hypothesis based on the fact that people who use harder drugs are more likely to have used marijuana. However, this theory is often argued against and can even be proven false using historical and physical evidence. Marijuana also does not cause physical-dependency (DASIS, 2002) unlike alcohol, tobacco and other legal products today. “Prohibition is where marijuana gets its ‘gateway drug’ label from. If marijuana use was not prohibited, there wouldn’t be dealers asking if you want to buy or try something stronger.” (Quinte Secondary student, 2008) If we think about the relation between prohibition and the gateway theory, we can understand that without prohibition, marijuana can not be a gateway drug. Historical evidence can disprove the stepping-stone or gateway-drug theory. When the Dutch partially legalized marijuana use in the 70’s, use of cocaine and heroin declined significantly, after a slight increase in marijuana use (Richard, 1990). If the gateway drug theory was correct, use of drugs like heroin and cocaine should have increased, rather than decreased. (Shaffer Library, 2008) It appears that the majority of people with the opinion that the gateway theory is true often use evidence that people who have used harder drugs are more likely to have used marijuana. I believe this does not prove that marijuana has lead to the harder drug use; all it proves is that substance users are more likely to have used more drugs like alcohol, marijuana and tobacco in the past. According to results of a study conducted by the Journal of School Health, “Frequent smokers, binge drinkers, and current marijuana users were more likely than other students to report poor academic performance” (Cox et al., 2003, p. 6). Because of this common relation, Marijuana is generally associated in society with less successful academic performance. However, the connection between low academics and marijuana use could start from either source. A student’s marks might drop because of his or her marijuana use, or because of the fact that low academic achievers are also more likely to have behavioral problems, and because people with behavioral problems are more likely to use drugs, we cannot make the connection that marijuana is the cause of a marijuana user’s academic failure. According to statistics, fathers with a higher education level are more likely to accept that marijuana use is beneficial or harmless, and more likely to have used it at least once (Erich, 1970). When considering the claim about marijuana causing brain damage, one must consider multiple studies proving that marijuana does not produce toxins that damage brain cells (Westlake et al., 1991, Goodwin et al., 1977, Kuehnle et al., 1977) unlike alcohol, or cause any irreversible harm to them (Schaffer Library, 2008). The myth of marijuana damaging brain cells originates from a monkey experiment performed during the second Reefer Madness Movement (Harper J. W., Heath R. G., & Myers W. A., 1977). The study analyzed the brain structures of monkeys in order to try to show brain damage caused from THC. The study did show brain damage, however it was severely criticized by the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences for several things including its labeling of a normal monkey’s brain structure as “damaged” (Shaffer Library, 2008). No other studies to date have shown the same conclusion as this study. In a more superior study performed by the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), 64 rhesus monkeys were exposed to marijuana smoke on a daily or weekly basis. After a year, no evidence of neurochemical or structural changes in the brains of the monkeys was found (Slikker et al., 1992). Further studies performed on human populations confirmed the results; even chronic marijuana users who smoked up to 18 joints per day showed the same results after several years of use (Goodwin et al., 1977, Kuehnle et al., 1977, Lancaster et al., 1944, Freedman & Rockmore, 1946, Siler et al., 1933, Schaffer Library, 2008). One study even showed that chronic marijuana smokers actually had higher WAIS IQ scores (average of 113.08) then both moderate users (average of 102.15) and nonusers (average of 103.26) (Schaffer Library, 2008). Not only does this evidence disprove the myth about marijuana damaging brain cells, but it is also positive because it shows that marijuana does not affect academics by damaging student’s brain cells. Overall, general research has shown that marijuana does not damage brain cells, permanently affect them, promote laziness, decrease motivation, or lead the user to harder drugs which may affect academics. Theoretical Analysis When considering this topic from a sociologist point of view, this false education is very closely related to academics, because of the negative impact it might have on students. Students may lose respect for their education and government if they find out they are lied to, and if students find out marijuana is not as harmful as they are taught in education, they may wrongly believe that harmful drugs including cocaine, alcohol, tobacco, heroin, and ecstasy are also harmless. Having students not understand the real damage of more dangerous drugs could have a much more severe effect on academics then marijuana use. Overall, false education can lead to individuals losing respect for their own society. From a psychological point of view, students might beneficially use marijuana to experience boring tasks becoming more interesting, as well as a mood lifting and non-addictive positive feeling (DASIS, 2002) (Erowid, 2008). It may help students become more interested in work, despite the stereotypical assumption that Marijuana promotes laziness. The active component in marijuana also causes thoughts (including creative thoughts) to flow more easily (Erowid, 2008) therefore students who have trouble with concentration or thinking might benefit from its use. From an anthropological perspective, one must think about the cultural use of marijuana, as well as one’s own cultural view on marijuana use and legalization. In Canadian culture, marijuana is reserved only in cases of severe medical condition, but in places like Amsterdam, many people likely go about their schooling while still being frequent marijuana users. Positive academic related effects of marijuana include the promotion of creative thinking, concentration and stress relief (Erowid, 2008). Marijuana has no relation to average IQ score, because chronic marijuana users have a higher average IQ score than non users, however non-users have a higher average than moderate-users (Schaffer Library, 2008). Conclusion In conclusion, marijuana is a very widely used substance with lots of controversial debate on legalization. It’s active component, THC, is used today for both medical and recreational values. Some people also use marijuana for self-medication, because of the positive effects that last after the “peak” or “high” effect of the plant (see figure 2 in appendix). (Erowid, 2008). In research I’ve found that lower academic achievers are more likely to be substance users, but marijuana alone has no effect on IQ rates. There is no proof that marijuana leads to academic failure, and several hard working achievers in society are marijuana users. I’ve also found that marijuana can have both positive and negative effects on people, varying from person to person. References Alison, L. B. , John E. A., Patrick M. O., Jerald G. B. & Lloyd D. J.(2003). How academic achievement, attitudes, and behaviors relate to the course of substance use during adolescence: A 6 year, multiwave national longitudinal study. Journal of Research on adolescence 13(3), 361-397. Cox R.G, Zhang L., Johnson W.D., & Bender D.R. (2007) Academic performance and substance use: findings from a state survey of public high school students. Journal of school health 77, (109-115) Reefer Dumbness (2004). Atlantic Monthly p50-50. Erich G. (1970). The marijuana smokers. Basic Books: Schaffer Library. Erowid (2008). Cannabis (marijuana) vault: Effects Retrieved December 15, 2008 from http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabi..._effects.shtml Bureau of Justice (2008). Drug and crime facts: Drug use in the general population. Retrieved December 15, 2008, from http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/dcf/du.htm Overall, illicit drug use by American teens continues gradual decline in 2007. (2007, December 11). University of Michigan News and Information Services Matsuda, L. A., Lolait, S. J., Brownstein, M. J., Young, A. C., & Bonner, T. I. (1990). Structure of a cannabinoid receptor and functional expression of the cloned cdna. Nature, 346(6284): 561-564. Westlake, Tracey M., Howlett A.C., Ali S. F., Paule M. G., Scallet A. C. & Slikker W. Jr. (1991) Chronic Exposure to Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol fails to irreversibly alter brain cannabinoid receptors, Brain Research, 544: 145-149. Goodwin C. B. W., Gado M., Mikhael M., & Hill S.Y. (1977). Absence of cerebral atrophy in chronic cannabis users, Journal of the American Medical Association, 237: 1229-1230 Kuehnle, J., J.H. Mendelson, K.R. Davis, & New P.F.J. (1977). Computed topographic examination of heavy Marijuana smokers, Journal of the American Medical Association, 237: 1231-1232 Lancaster & Cattell. (1944). Mayor's Committee on Marijuana. The marijuana problem in the city of New York. Freedman & Rockmore. (1946). Marihuana: A factor in personality evaluation, 7: 765-781. The Military Surgeon (1933) Marihuana Smoking in Panama, 73: 269-280. Slikker, W. Jr. (1992). Behavioral, neurochemical, and neurohistological effects of chronic marijuana smoke exposure in the nonhuman primate in Marijuana cannabinoids neurobiology and neurophysiology. CRC Press Boca Raton. Ali, S. F., Newport G. D., Scallet A. C., Paule M. G., Bailey J. R., & Slikker W. Jr. (1991) "Chronic marijuana smoke exposure in the rhesus monkey IV neurochemical effects and comparison to acute and chronic exposure to Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in rats" Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior, 40: 677-682. Richard, D. J. (1990) The Economics of Legalizing Drugs. The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 266, No. 5, p130. Answers to frequently asked questions about marijuana use. Retrieved December 15, 2008 from http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/library/mjfaq1.htm Singer, J. L. (no date) Ongoing thought: The normative baseline for alternate states of consciousness. Alternate states of consciousness: Multiple perspectives on the study of consciousness. Free Press, 1977: 89-120. Spicer, L. (2002). Historical and cultural uses of cannabis and the Canadian marijuana clash Law and Government Division. Retrieved January 6, 2009 from http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/c...e/Spicer-e.htm DASIS report series (2002) Differences in marijuana admissions based on source of referral. Department of health and human services. Harper J. W., Heath R. G., & Myers W. A. (1977). Effects of cannabis sativa on ultrastructure of the synapse in monkey brain. Journal of Neuroscience Research. Vol. 3 pp. 87-93. Thank you very much for reading! (or more likely, very briefly and quickly scanning over it then speeding towards reading the comments which are likely to be argumentative) xD If you have any comments or questions or want a full copy of the original with appendix and brief interview comments (~16 pages total) feel free to send me a PM.

[tommo]

Well I was going to read a little bit then come back later. But I just ended up reading it all. I only picked out one mistake, plus a comma missing which sort of changes the whole sentence. even parents during school presentations, telling them false>,< negative aspects of the drug Coz' false negative means positive or wrongly negative, but with the comma it means false and negative, obviously lol. But yeah that's nothing really. The “gateway drug” effect is a hypothesis based on the fact that people who use harder drugs are more likely to have used marijuana. However, this theory Should be "based on the idea". But other than that it was really great. What did your teacher think about it? Or have you not gotten a reply yet? It seems to me that more and more people are alright with the idea of it being legal. Maybe that's just the type of people I talk to. I would like to see the full one if you wouldn't mind. I'll PM you.

[Brandon Heat]

16 pages total? Jeebus. I liked your article though it was a well done essay. You didn't focus on simply the pros, or simply the cons. You tackled both points of the arguements and had actual scientific data to back up what you were saying. I hope you got a good grade on this it's a fantastic piece of writing.

[tommo]

Woops, should have emphasissed that in my first post but, since I didn't.... Second what Brandon Heat said lol

[DuB]

Just to clarify, are you looking for proofreading and/or suggestions, or are you just sharing this with anyone who is interested? (But either way, thanks for posting this.)

[tommo]

I think it was both. But I only figured that from when he said For the record, this is the largest research paper I've written so please take it easy on the comments. So if not, I retract my first comment entirely.

[Conquer]

I just posted it because someone said people might appreciate it. No I haven't gotten a reply for a mark yet but I'm hoping I do alright. (its worth 15% of my final mark) I decided to just upload the .doc for anyone interested in viewing. (personal information removed, hopefully) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=J6NNIUB8

[tommo]

Awesome. You know with that brain damage trial.... I heard that they also just put masks on the monkeys and pumped them full of Cannabis smoke for 4 minutes. It was something like, because they were going to do the test over a year or so, the experimenter thought to speed it up by changing the amount of time it was on. Therefore this caused the monkeys to get brain damage from simple oxygen deprivation. Is this a myth or another study?

[DuB]

People use gas masks filled with pot smoke to get high all the time. No harm done. Smells like a myth to me.

[tommo]

No no, but these were masks like they use in hospitals for oxygen except they pumped them full of smoke. For 4 minutes straight. You start to get brain damage after 3 minutes of no oxygen.

[SKA]

I am well aware of the many lies they present to the public as credible scientificly proven truths concerning Consciousness expanding drugs such as marijuana. Isn't it curious how people who claim to fight for public health are actually endangering public health by spreading a bunch of lies and uncertainty? They also did this ALOT with LSD. They published false, lied "test results" and came up with stories such as LSD does Chromosome damage: Bold Lie and that LSD kills braincells: Another Bold Lie. Ever heard of the Blue-Star tattoo myth? The lengths these people go to demonise drugs that, in reality, have no factual basis on which to bring them into discredit... Unbelievable.The ignorance. Maybe they should all take a huge hit of acid some time. And smoke a really fat bowl of Cannabis with that. To medicate their ignorance. Makes you question their true motives doesn't it? If something is REALLY that bad, why would you have to lie about it? No these people are not pro-public health, they are anti-expansion of consciousness. And you exposed this to the largely ignorant public to take away the ignorance surrounding cannabis and so improving public health. And to make them see what lying, untrustable weasels these anti-drug riot-people and the government that supports & funds them are. I think you did a great job making this research paper. If anyone with ignorant, indoctrinated views ever comes with such dumb arguments against marijuana will imediately link them here to smack the naked, sober truth unforgivingly hard in their face.

[Conquer]

I am well aware of the many lies they present to the public as credible scientificly proven truths concerning Consciousness expanding drugs such as marijuana. Isn't it curious how people who claim to fight for public health are actually endangering public health by spreading a bunch of lies and uncertainty? They also did this ALOT with LSD. They published false, lied "test results" and came up with stories such as LSD does Chromosome damage: Bold Lie and that LSD kills braincells: Another Bold Lie. Ever heard of the Blue-Star tattoo myth? The lengths these people go to demonise drugs that, in reality, have no factual basis on which to bring them into discredit... Unbelievable.The ignorance. Maybe they should all take a huge hit of acid some time. And smoke a really fat bowl of Cannabis with that. To medicate their ignorance. Makes you question their true motives doesn't it? If something is REALLY that bad, why would you have to lie about it? No these people are not pro-public health, they are anti-expansion of consciousness. And you exposed this to the largely ignorant public to take away the ignorance surrounding cannabis and so improving public health. And to make them see what lying, untrustable weasels these anti-drug riot-people and the government that supports & funds them are. I think you did a great job making this research paper. If anyone with ignorant, indoctrinated views ever comes with such dumb arguments against marijuana will imediately link them here to smack the naked, sober truth unforgivingly hard in their face. haha alright thanks. And I believe its all about how the government can make the most money; why else would tobacco (proven to be more addictive then cocaine and proven to cause cancer) be legal???

[Universal Mind]

What were we JUST talking about???????

[Conquer]

What were we JUST talking about??????? Are you lost?

[SKA]

That's what I said. Our governments see us as consumers and payed slaves and in order to keep low class hard working people in the illusion that they can climb up the Economical ladder they'd have to make and keep these people very dumb and ignorant to the fact they're being massively exploited. That's why drugs like Coffee, Alcohol, Tobacco and Prescribed opiates are accepted and legal. Coffee keeps the slaves awake and working fast, even if they have alot of sleepdeprivation. Alcohol makes the slaves forget how hard they're being screwed. And Tobacco gets slaves hooked and makes them feel weak and dependant and disempowered/helpless. Marijuana, LSD, Psilocybe Mushrooms, peyote, DMT, Salvia and Ayahuasca on the other hand are drugs which' effect are the opposite of Tobacco, Alcohol and opiates. They make you see into the essence of what things really are. They opress your Ego which leads you to see reality as it is: and to subsequently realise how hard you and all of mankind have been massively opressed, enslaved & exploited. Marijuana, peyote, DMT, LSD, Mushrooms..etc are the Remedy against Capitalism. They opress the Ego and thereby rip away it's veil of ignorance allowing you to see Reality as it is, undistorted. And it's not looking very good. What human being would still work and want to participate in this system, if they saw that Truth? They don't want you to see that! Off course not. And if Psychedelics have been endlessly reported to make people see exactly that , then they will ban it so their slaves remain alcohol drinking, coffee buzzing, sleepdeprived, opiate-mindblanked & nicotine addicted fools who's eyes are far to tightly shut to have any clue of what's really going on.

[Conquer]

Well I haven't done a lot of substances and don't plan on it. But I know what you mean about seeing reality as it is; whenever I'm using cannabis (after effect not during the peak) I recognize a lot of things about body language, and different perspectives in general (picturing situations from different perspectives before acting). I really should've waited before I posted this. Now if my teacher searches lines from my project (for plagiarism checking) this topic will come up and she'll think I'm some stoner. xD

[tommo]

Ask a mod to delete it for a while Or actually, go edit your post now. SKA - Looks like you're pissed off enough as it is, I see this as outstanding, since you live in Holland, one of the most tolerant countries in the world, yet you are still pissed off about all this. Either I've underestimated what it's like over there, or you're pissed because everywhere else is like what you're explaining. Anyway.... Imagine if there was a substance that could eliminate the ego without any other effects. Lace the water supply with that and you have some very angry people. (at the government of course.) Bah, can only hope.

[dajo]

SKA - Looks like you're pissed off enough as it is, I see this as outstanding, since you live in Holland, one of the most tolerant countries in the world, yet you are still pissed off about all this. Europe in general. The European Union is a big, agressive trade organisation and capitalism is well anchored in every western european government. It's a rather international phenomenon. Yet I feel there is more open criticism and doubt concerning our system over here. But that, of course, is a very subjective statement. OT: SKA, du you visit Festivals? 2007 I have been at the Pukkelpop, it's in Belgium, but close the the border of Holland - and I have been thinking about visiting Lowlands at some point. Any suggestions on any other good ones? (I'm not that far from the border)

[SKA]

Hey Dajo, Yeah I know about Pukkelpop. Never been there though. I've been to Lowlands 2 times. In 2005 and in 2006. I didn't like the band line up of 2007 and 2008 to pay the high ticket price that has been increasing every year. Just like the food and drink prices on the festival terrain. I'm affraid it's become a little too mainstream and commercial for my likings. I'll see about next year when I know the band line-up. Have you heard of Reggae Sundance though? it's a really great 3 day Reggae/Roots/Dub festival in Eersel, very close to the Belgian border. It's close to Eindhoven, but closer to the Belgian border. There's a Camping terrain around a nice lake surrounded by a small forrest. They have really good Reggae/Dub/Ska artists there. Check: http://www.reggaesundance.nl/eng-index.htm Ask a mod to delete it for a while Or actually, go edit your post now. SKA - Looks like you're pissed off enough as it is, I see this as outstanding, since you live in Holland, one of the most tolerant countries in the world, yet you are still pissed off about all this. Either I've underestimated what it's like over there, or you're pissed because everywhere else is like what you're explaining. Anyway.... Imagine if there was a substance that could eliminate the ego without any other effects. Lace the water supply with that and you have some very angry people. (at the government of course.) Bah, can only hope. I'm still pissed, because the authorities here are giving coffeeshops and Entheogen shops a REAL hard time. There were people who fought very long and very hard to get us all the civil liberties of expanding consciousness and then here are these ignorant dumbfart politicians and dominant nations and movements within the EU(most notably France, Germany, Italy and Spain) that are constantly trying to take these liberties away from us all. One french depressed girl eats mushrooms in crowded middle of Amsterdam and commits suicide and it's all they need to undo the freedom of taking magic mushrooms for us all. Even if 3 specialist organisations investigate the Mushroom's potential health risk to society and all 3 come to the conclusion that Magic mushrooms pose such a low risk to public health that a mushroom ban is a far too extreme measure that'll only lead to more unsafety, they just totally ignore all 3 of them and push on with the ban anyways. Right now these same politicians are doing their best trying to ban Coffeeshops and Growshops too. They already managed to close all coffeeshops within a 250 meter range of schools. Off course I am pissed.

[Conquer]

Dreamviews locks post editing after a certain time unfortunately, any mods I can PM to get my first post removed??

[tommo]

Any mods, yes. Hehe Ask DuB or Ninja I think is one too. I'm still pissed, because the authorities here are giving coffeeshops and Entheogen shops a REAL hard time. There were people who fought very long and very hard to get us all the civil liberties of expanding consciousness and then here are these ignorant dumbfart politicians and dominant nations and movements within the EU(most notably France, Germany, Italy and Spain) that are constantly trying to take these liberties away from us all. One french depressed girl eats mushrooms in crowded middle of Amsterdam and commits suicide and it's all they need to undo the freedom of taking magic mushrooms for us all. Even if 3 specialist organisations investigate the Mushroom's potential health risk to society and all 3 come to the conclusion that Magic mushrooms pose such a low risk to public health that a mushroom ban is a far too extreme measure that'll only lead to more unsafety, they just totally ignore all 3 of them and push on with the ban anyways. Right now these same politicians are doing their best trying to ban Coffeeshops and Growshops too. They already managed to close all coffeeshops within a 250 meter range of schools. Off course I am pissed. Yeah I heard about the coffee shops getting shut down. Man that all sucks. I suppose it'll be a long time before people have to stop fighting, even to keep these things legal. Do they not realise that 90% of tourism to Holland is for the weed? The other 10% is for the mushrooms. lol nah jk but the weed bit is probably true. To quote an Erowid experience I read once "I suddenly realised that this plane was like a stoner transport vehicle, I laughed my ass off". Something like that. Still, I would be grateful for what you guys do have. Here in Aus any attempt to get Cannabis legalised or even medical use is pushed away without thought. I just read something this morning where some politician said "I haven't read (The AMA (Australian Medical Association) presidents) claim but I don't support it". What the fuck is that? Clearly showing his bias before the claim was even looked at. The thing is, here pretty much all the medical profession is alright with using it to treat medical conditions, pretty much none of the police force or politicians are. The only one I can think of is Brendan Nelson, who supported decriminalisation and now he quit the position as President of the Liberal party. Not sure what the new guys stance is however. But it's basically the politicians and police who are stopping patients in need from using it. Ridiculous.

[Conquer]

If anyone's taken a look in the appendix, I made a small graph based on some data (I forget where but the file would have the link) There's a funny connection between the amount of a father's education and the % of fathers that support marijuana use. College graduates are just below 50% likely to believe marijuana is beneficial or harmless.

[dajo]

Hey Dajo, Yeah I know about Pukkelpop. Never been there though. I've been to Lowlands 2 times. In 2005 and in 2006. I didn't like the band line up of 2007 and 2008 to pay the high ticket price that has been increasing every year. Just like the food and drink prices on the festival terrain. I'm affraid it's become a little too mainstream and commercial for my likings. I'll see about next year when I know the band line-up. Yes, I also hate that about most (bigger) Festivals. I am looking out for the smaller, less commercialized Festivals with lesser restrictions now! The spirit of it kind of got lost, I think. For example the Fusion Festival, it is mostly electronical music, but very artsy, free-spirited and without any commerce or security. Works perfect! http://www.fusion-festival.de/en/2009/home/ (seriously, best week of my life) I have heard the name of the reggea sundance festival, but I don't really know anything about it. From the looks of it, it does sound good. Don't know if I can convince anybody to go there, tho :-) I'm still pissed, because the authorities here are giving coffeeshops and Entheogen shops a REAL hard time. There were people who fought very long and very hard to get us all the civil liberties of expanding consciousness and then here are these ignorant dumbfart politicians and dominant nations and movements within the EU(most notably France, Germany, Italy and Spain) that are constantly trying to take these liberties away from us all. One french depressed girl eats mushrooms in crowded middle of Amsterdam and commits suicide and it's all they need to undo the freedom of taking magic mushrooms for us all. Even if 3 specialist organisations investigate the Mushroom's potential health risk to society and all 3 come to the conclusion that Magic mushrooms pose such a low risk to public health that a mushroom ban is a far too extreme measure that'll only lead to more unsafety, they just totally ignore all 3 of them and push on with the ban anyways. I hear you. That is just insane. They keep banning anything they can get their stupid fingers on. Bah! That is a fucked up direction we are heading there...

[tommo]

If anyone's taken a look in the appendix, I made a small graph based on some data (I forget where but the file would have the link) There's a funny connection between the amount of a father's education and the % of fathers that support marijuana use. College graduates are just below 50% likely to believe marijuana is beneficial or harmless. I didn't see that before, that's astounding. Guess that kind of proves the point hey. Never though Use would go down after high school, it is only 1% but still. Could just be the flaw in most of these things, some people won't admit it. Specially when a college degree is on the line.

[Conquer]

I didn't see that before, that's astounding. Guess that kind of proves the point hey. Never though Use would go down after high school, it is only 1% but still. Could just be the flaw in most of these things, some people won't admit it. Specially when a college degree is on the line. Well the point isn't the 1% drop, its the fact that fathers with higher levels of education are more likely to believe that use is harmless or beneficial. I think that the longer a person is school, the more they come to realize everything their taught is either expanded on or not expanded on for reasons beyond our knowledge. But maybe that's only my opinion.