Max, if pot isn't such a dangerous, vile substance, why would the great Beneficent Government of the US punish its users so harshly? You're really on the wrong side of it this time, friendo. Pot is Satan's way into your bronchi and thus, your soul.

"Smaller government!" "Drug war!" The hypocrisy is too real.

Do you know...MARIJUANA...is a fat soluble, mind altering, highly toxic drug that remains in the body for up to one month, building up with each additional joint. The two organs most affected are the brain and sexual organs. The potency of the most active chemical, delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is 10-20 times stronger than 30 years ago. [b]MARIJUANA IS NOT MEDICINE.[/b] The FDA, which must approve all medicines, has reviewed scientific studies of marijuana for over 50 years and concludes it is not a safe or effective medicine, has the potential for harm and is addictive. It cannot be legally prescribed by any doctor. National medical associations for cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and others oppose using marijuana as a medicine, other than synthetic marijuana called Marinol, which is FDA approved and available in pill form. [b]MARIJUANA CAN CAUSE PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE[/b] by disrupting development of the brain. It reduces the amount of white matter by as much as 80%, and shrinks the hippocampus, the learning, cognition and memory center of the brain. This can create a loss of 8 points of IQ by age 38.1 Marijuana is a major factor in the one-third high school dropout rate in America, and why America is 26th in the world academically. The brain isn’t fully developed until the midtwenties, so adolescent use is particularly damaging. [b]MARIJUANA CAUSES HEALTH PROBLEMS INCLUDING CANCER[/b] of the head, nose and throat, and is a major cause of testicular cancer in young males. It causes chronic bronchitis and respiratory problems, and elevates the risk of heart attack 4 times 1 hour after smoking. [b]MARIJUANA CAUSES MENTAL ILLNESS, CRIME AND VIOLENCE.[/b] Marijuana use exacerbates mental illness. In addition to observed links between marijuana use and mental illness, marijuana affects brain systems that are still maturing through young adulthood, its use by teens has been associated with schizophrenia, paranoia and other psychosis leading to depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Jared Loughner, the Tucson shooter, is one of many examples. ONDCP’s ADAM II report indicates 52-87% of male arrests test positive for drugs. 33% of prisoners are mentally ill. Research in Canada showed 72.2% of all individuals who used cannabis and 81.8% of those with CUDs (Cannabis Use Disorders) had a mental illness. Young people are 6 times more likely to develop psychosis, 3 times more likely to have hallucinations, and 4 times more likely to have delusions. Teens who smoke marijuana at least once a month are three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than are non-users. Side effects can appear years after smokers quit. To prevent crime, one must prevent the onset of alcohol and drug use before it begins, on average at age 12 or 13. [b]MARIJUANA CAN KILL OR PERMANENTLY HARM A FETUS[/b]. Today’s high potency pot (20% plus) can cause fatal brain damage to a fetus only 2 weeks after conception, before the mother even knows she is pregnant. She can quit using pot, but it’s too late for the baby. Research from forty years ago showed that marijuana with 1/2 to 2% THC caused a rise in still births from 12% normal to 44%. Many babies that survived child birth had physical deformities and brain damage that altered their behavior well into the teens. Babies of mothers who smoked pot during pregnancy had an 11 fold increase in nonlumphobiastic leukemia. Behavioral problems exist in babies who were exposed to THC, including deficits in attention. [b]MARIJUANA CAUSES DNA DAMAGE.[/b] Marijuana causes more cellular damage than even heroin. It also causes mutations to sperm and chromosomal abnormalities that can carry forward and affect future generations. It affects the pituitary gland, a pea size structure at the base of the brain, that is the control center for sex and reproductive hormones and in turn, sexual dysfunction. [b]MARIJUANA IS ADDICTIVE[/b]. Research tells us that 1 in 6 people who start using it (marijuana) as adolescents become addicted. Currently about 24% of high school seniors smoke pot regularly, impervious to the harms. According to ONDCP, 17% of those under 18 will become addicted to it, 9% who start after 18 will become addicted, and many will move on to the hard drugs that kill 3,200 Americans monthly by overdose (SAMHSA). 68-90% of those started their drug journey with marijuana. Teen ”Heavy” marijuana use is up 80% since 2008. [b]MARIJUANA DOUBLES THE RISK OF TRAFFIC DEATHS.[/b] Of drivers in a Maryland Trauma Center, 27% of injured drivers tested positive for marijuana, second only to alcohol at 33%. 50% of drivers under 21 tested positive for pot, compared to 33% for alcohol. Fat soluble THC marijuana will ”...accumulate and persist in the brain, at its receptors, at higher levels 17 than can be predicted from blood levels.” In California, driving deaths from marijuana impairment have doubled since 2004. Citation: 1. Seal, Dr. Marc, Melbourne University, APP article Marijuana Causes Brain Damage August 2012. 2. Marijuana, Cocaine and Testicular Tumors/Lacsson, et.al. (2012) 3. The Health Effects of Marijuana. About.com. September 30, 2002. 4. NIDA Research Report: Marijauna Abuse (2012) http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/rrmarijuana.pdf 5. Madras, Bertha, M.D., Harvard Medical School 6. Behind Bars II research project. The National Center of Substance Abuse and Addiction. (www.casacolumbia.org) 7. Cowen, Mark. Sr Report medwirenews, 4/12/2013. Compr Psychiatry 2013 Advance Online Publication. 8. ONDCP, 2008 Marijuana Sourcebook – July 2008 as reported by Dr. Robert DuPont 9. Pickett, Dr. Mary, Harvard Medical School. March 2010 10. Mann, Peggy. MARIJUANA. The Myth of Harmlessness goes up in smoke. (1987) 11. Sassenrath, Dr. Ehtel, U of Davis Primate Research Center. Reported by Peggy Mann (1987). 12. Miroshima, Dr. Akira. The Myth of Harmlessness Goes Up In Smoke. (1987) 13. Mann, Peggy. MARIJUANA. The Myth of Harmlessness Goes Up In Smoke. Pg 12 (1987) 14. National Institution of Drug Abuse. The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction. www.drugabuse.gov and/or NIDA Dr. Nora Volkow referencing 2010 Monitoring the Future Study http://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2010/12/teen-marijuanause-increases-especially-among-eighth-graders 15. Institute of Behavior and Health. Robert DuPont, M.D. Stopdruggeddriving.com. 16. MetLife Foundation 17. Madras, Dr. Bertha K, Professor of Psychobiology, Dept of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School postulating. 18. Crancer, Alan. Calif MJ study. (2012) 19. National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (2002)

Weed is literally alcohol and tobacco combined. No, even worse, considering the shady sources it comes from and the dangers of hemp and smoking. Weed isn't a "cool, fun" drug and it isn't "as safe as alcohol". It's much worse than it.

It's nowhere near as bad as heroin, but it's not the "wonder drug" everyone is saying it is. Apparently some actually believe it cures cancer.

Lmao. Let's wreck people's lives to prevent them from wrecking their lives. Good call. :/

This is where I dissagree with alot of Republicans and Democrats. Yes this isn't a partisan issue max so stop. All drugs are fine

All drugs should be legal. You want to take a drug that can kill you? Go ahead. That's your choice. Natural selection will take care of the rest.

What the -blam!-. Heroine KILLS people. Weed doesn't and never has.

It is a gateway drug. Alcohol is far more destructive, though. Sessions is foolish and hypocritical when it comes to weed.

Leave it to a liberal to f-ck up winning their own argument... Take it from me, an independent, hyperlibertarian-> Say it with me: MARIJUANA IS NOT A DRUG, ITS A PLANT. YOU DUMBF-CK CONSERVATIVES THAT WORSHIP THE FOUNDING FATHERS... GUESS WHAT? THEY ALL GREW MARIJUANA. KEEPING MARIJUANA OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE IS JUST SUCKING BIG PHARMA'S C-CK.

Only things I really question about Mary Jiwana is that it apparently unbalances many hormones, and is a "gateway drug", which could lead to other drugs.

Well if it was 20 years ago I would agree with you that his remarks are laughable, but there is a point to it being close to heroine now. Now its mixed with so many chemicals and substances that it has been known to kill. Just smoking the plant barely does anything and only excess gets people high. Thats why there are so many varieties now because they are all mixed with something to achieve a high that true marijuana just doesnt do. Look at K2 for example. Its synthetic marijuana that literally turns people into mindless zombies, causes seizures, blackouts, and insanity to the point where people try to eat each other. It has the same effects as flakka and bath salts. Kids in New York are suffering very badly because its "just weed" so they automatically assume its harmless due to pro weed propaganda. https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/nyregion/k2-overdose-spike-in-new-york-at-least-130-cases-this-week-alone.html A single hit can cause one to be sent to the emergency room. And since weed is "benign" people are willing to try it without knowing whats mixed in it especially kids. So yeah i would agree with the article simply on that information alone that it is slightly less worse than heroine. Edit: Since i dared to speak out against the current market people seem to be under the impression that i hate weed and therefor want it illegal. No i am describing what has happened to the "industry" and how weed is often laced with other substances and because there is no way to regulate the production or sale anything could be in it and no one can tell what they are smoking. Because of the massive propaganda of "its all harmless" no one has any qualms about using it when they have no clue whats in it. Weed by itself is fine. I am for the legalization but this myth that there is nothing wrong when it is so actively being used to put harder drugs in needs to be put to rest.

Is this the same -blam!- that asserts smoking cigarettes [i]does not[/i] cause cancer? [spoiler]Rhetorical question[/spoiler] [spoiler]Kids, never go full R Tard or you might get burned at the stake.[/spoiler]

Everyone here should watch the "adam ruins everything" episode on why weeds illegal. *i do NOT smoke weed but I support those who do.

This is what will happen as the Theocrats continue to take control in the cabinet.

Short term effects Short-term memory problems Severe anxiety, including fear that one is being watched or followed (paranoia) Very strange behavior, seeing, hearing or smelling things that aren’t there, not being able to tell imagination from reality (psychosis) Panic Hallucinations Loss of sense of personal identity Lowered reaction time Increased heart rate (risk of heart attack) Increased risk of stroke Problems with coordination (impairing safe driving or playing sports) Sexual problems (for males) Up to seven times more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections than non-users (for females) Long term effects Decline in IQ (up to 8 points if prolonged use started in adolescent age) Poor school performance and higher chance of dropping out Impaired thinking and ability to learn and perform complex tasks Lower life satisfaction Addiction (about 9% of adults and 17% of people who started smoking as teens) Potential development of opiate abuse Relationship problems, intimate partner violence Antisocial behavior including stealing money or lying Financial difficulties Increased welfare dependence Greater chances of being unemployed or not getting good jobs.

Considering we have alcohol and cigarettes/cigars/vaping available nation wide I don't think legalizing weed is a big deal. Weed is addictive? (I know it's not proven but hypothetically if it is) So are alcohol and cigarettes. Think weed causes organ damage? Cigarettes, alcohol. It impairs cognitive abilities? (driving etc.) Alcohol. Basically, it's a cigarette that makes you intoxicated. I don't have much experience with either and I'm sure being drunk and high are different. But they both have the same basic symptoms and various degrees of intoxication. Ie: BAC for alcohol (not sure how they measure how high you are). Overall, there's really not a reason to restrict the public from using weed when substances like alcohol and cigarettes are readily available at age 21.

Well, here's hoping he gets caught in some allegation / scandal and forced to step down.