and they have turned toward Pete on this issue. Great answer.

Smoking anything is terrible for the lungs. BUT...brownies should be okay.

but the pursuit of charges for minor possession of marijuana has done much more harm than good. How any politician couldn't see that as plain as day is mystifying.

...marijuana has been proven many times to NOT be addictive. Habit-forming? Perhaps, but there is an important difference.

The physiological effects may be far less than drugs and while quitting cold Turkey is unlikely to kill you, to say it isn't addictive is certainly not true. I not have personal experience as a user but as a therapist. There are absolutely psychological withdrawal symptoms.

Not even counting opioids ... there's Benzos (xanax, klonopin), Pseudo-Benzos (Ambien, others), ADHD Speed-Like meds (ritalin, dexedrine, adderall), SSRI's (Paxil, Serzone, Prozac), and a few others like Gabapentin and Lyrica that I know of offhand.

All have very notable physical w/d's, esp if abruptly discontinued without weeks or months of weaning.

In fact, after long term use, Caffeine, Nicotine, and Alcohol, all legal, also have physical withdrawal symptoms.

And all can also by 'psychologically addictive', because it's basically unthinkable that anything that has physical w/d's would not also have psychological ones. ANYTHING that anyone enjoys ... food, sex, gambling, literally anything ... can have psychological dependency symptoms.

But having 'psychological dependence' it is NOT necessarily the same as being 'addictive'. Nothing that has no physical withdrawals should be called 'addictive' ... well, unless you're going to call food and sex 'addictive'.

Quitting THC absolutely WILL NOT KILL YOU, the term 'unlikely' is not appropriate here. That literally WILL NOT HAPPEN. Alcohol and Barbiturates are actually the only drugs where withdrawals kill people w/any regularity. That's part of why barbiturates are damn near banned entirely in the USA.

When it comes to THC, 'Habit-Forming' is definitely a fair description. 'Addictive'? I really think not.

I quite clearly stated that marijuana withdrawal does not cause death so either you couldn't bother to read my post or you got so upset because I dared to challenge the notion of marijuana addiction that you just had to go on to your rant.

I have posted more than once that I am an addict. More than that I am an RN and a licensed clinical social worker specializing in substance abuse. Do not presume to tell me that marijuana is not addictive. I have observed it and I have helped patients work through their addiction AND dependance.

As for your classification of addiction. I am quite frankly disinterested. Your theories are your own and are not shared by the gross majority of the medical community. And before you start spare me the conspiracy. Psychologically and physical dependence on substances lead to addiction when one is incapable of managing their life responsibly without the constant introduction of their substance of choice. I have treated many patients who lied and stole to feed their marijuana habit.

Now, does this mean I support prohibition? No. If alcohol remains legal then so should marijuana. To claim however that marijuana is somehow benign, that's ridiculous . I speak from the trenches.

Do not.expect a response after this. I have stated my piece.

You did NOT clearly state ... what you're now saying you said, or I'd have not taken issue on that matter in the first place. You said 'unlikely to kill you'. This implies there's a non-zero chance it MIGHT ... but we both know it actually will not, ever. Which you now seem to be admitting, ex-post-facto.

I simply believe you're throwing around the word 'addictive' in what I would consider an irresponsible way. It's addictive in the way that sex, food, and gambling are. If a chemical does not have any appreciable physical withdrawal effects, I think it's unfair to use the word 'addictive'.

Sounds like you disagree, and that's fine. I dispute your assertion that my 'theory' is 'not shared by the gross majority of the medical community', but I'm not going to sit here and argue that point. Many, many millions of people are exposed to chemicals far more legitimately addictive than THC in the USA alone every day. Not even counting opioids. As I outlined in my post.

As someone who's been through withdrawals of BOTH KINDS, more times than I care to discuss, I'm here to tell ya ... physical dependency produces psychological dependency ... damn near always. When your body is telling you 'you need this chemical otherwise you feel like shit', your mind cannot help but react.

Which means that dependency without physical withdrawals, i.e. psychological dependency ALONE ... is much easier to get past/through.

Which is why I say that chemicals that don't produce physical withdrawals, like THC ... are really not much different from food, sex, and gambling. A person can become psychologically dependent on damn near anything.

THC is no more addictive than Sex. And not in the same category as opioids, alcohol, nicotine, Benzos, ADHD meds, etc. Things where you get SICK when you quit them ... are properly labeled 'addictive chemicals'.

Again, you're free to disagree.

Cannabis, like all drugs, are neutral. The spin on them is provided by those who like to spin. It can be "addictive", or can lead to "emotional dependence", or it can be a social lubricant, or it can be a recreational enhancer, or it can be a compliment to a tray of cheese and crackers. Yes, tragedies occur on a regular basis, be it overuse of cannabis (quite rare, actually), or the ruination of the pancreas from a sugar-rich diet, or the growth of cancer tumors from tobacco usage. That's the human condition.

IMO, the real problem is the overuse of drugs that increase tolerance levels that approach, and can reach, a lethal dose. The physical effects of opioids do just that. Some stimulants do that. Some mood-altering pharmaceuticals do that. Opioids, stimulants, and mood-altering pharmaceuticals are all legitimately obtainable through prescriptions, or illegally obtainable through the black market. Cannabis is the tick on the drug abuse elephant.

your statement should be "marijuana CAN be addictive for SOME PEOPLE. " I don't think it is addictive for everyone. I know people I would say are addicted. I don't think it is addictive for everyone.

There are social Drinkers and social smokers and social tokers. Addiction is a result of genetic factors, environment and behavioral response.

His position is ridiculous in this day and age. That's old thinking. Our drug program has failed. Pot is simply not like other drugs, and I'd argue that it's not as harmful as booze.

I don't like that viewpoint at all.

I'm waiting to be able to buy pot before I die. There's no reason why I shouldn't be able to. I don't care for alcohol.

Biden needs to change his position on this.

And in no way is it as harmful as alcohol.

Folks evolve. Don't forget Biden changed Obama's mind on Gay marriage. Besides if you are over 60 you've been smoking pot illegally for decades.

There's no need to pass a law allowing something, when you can do it illegally. lol.

No, I don't do drugs illegally. I don't think hanging on street corners, getting arrested for trying to score, is something I want to go through at my age. I wouldn't smoke, either. Damage to the lungs.

"Gateway drug." Now there's a term I haven't heard in a while. Spoken by those who don't know anything about pot.

Auto accidents are down, I read, in states where rec. cannabis is legal.
Domestic violence is not a risk with cannabis use as it is with alcohol.
Studies suggest a drop in violent crime with legalization, as well. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/marijuana-legalization-violent-crime/

I smoked pot decades ago. We'd sit around and have barely enough energy to get up and go to the store to buy Honeybuns.

I wonder if part of the reason it's not legalized is Big Pharma. Sometimes I'm so stressed out with things, that I think it would be nice just to sit at home and watch a movie and eat a couple of pot brownies. I bet that would ease the stress. As it is, too many people drink alcohol or take pills. I don't like either of those things. I'm just talking about a little relaxation thing. I don't see the harm in that.

though more than one in the latter league are buying into the cannabis sector as a diversification tactic.

(honeybuns 😂
Also it’s way more of a chill vibe than alcohol, which can lead to over the top aggression.

I will never smoke pot, but that is just ME. If YOU want to do so, you should have the right. And for people to be in prison because of pot is just so fucking stupid.

I'm over 60 and a bit high strung. Sometimes when I'm really stressed out (from house issues or whatever), I remember the days decades ago when I would smoke pot sometimes, and the very relaxed state it put me in. I don't like taking pills (and there's no pressing reason for a doctor to prescribe me pills),and I don't care for alcohol. I don't see the harm in eating a couple of pot brownies every now and then at home, as a relaxation thing. I wouldn't smoke, because of the damage to lungs.

Number of people arrested for a marijuana law violation in 2017: 659,700

Number of those charged with marijuana law violations who were arrested for possession only: 599,282 (90.8 percent)

Percentage of people arrested for drug law violations who are Black or Latino: 46.9% (despite making up just 31.5% of the U.S. population)

Source: http://www.drugpolicy.org/issues/drug-war-statistics

....who are in favor of legalizing marijuana use today were against it or didn't have a public opinion either way..

Cannabis has been legal here since 2012. Cannabis use among teenagers here has DROPPED since it was legalized.

Not a gateway drug.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/washington-state-teens-are-toking-less-since-cannabis-was-legalized-new-study-says/

I had looked favorably on Biden before, but unless he gets with the times, I may well not feel that way come primary day.

I am a baby boomer (one if the first) but I know a number of millennials who use marijuana and look forward to its legalization for recreational use in my state.

The problem is that marijuana is not the only popular drug in my area. We have a real problem with meth in the rural area where I live.

Clinton?...yeah
bush jr?...yeah
Obama?...yeah

The quote by Biden is accurate, but it’s also nine years old. Biden said that about marijuana in 2010 when he was vice president. The tweet from Marijuana Moment placed the quote in the present tense, indicating that the quote was of more recent vintage.

i do hope he will clarify his position soon.

When kids can't go to college bc of student loan denial bc of a MJ charge, it's gone way too far, for way too long. Drivers license sanctions that lead to a loss of a license for life, also has to be assessed.

But by January 2019, as Biden was gearing up for a presidential run, he seemed less bullish about defending his role in shaping the criminal justice world that emerged out of the 1990s.

“I haven’t always been right,” he said. “I know we haven’t always gotten things right, but I’ve always tried.”

Thanks for trying.

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/where-presidential-candidate-joe-biden-stands-on-marijuana/

Ran on it in 06.

"Thanks for trying," as you say mobeau, now THAT is right.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

I am eager to know whether Joe's thinking on this issue has evolved.

-Laelth

have also found and linked to.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

is that he can be open minded and convinced of a different stance when faced with reality and we already know this about him.

progressive politics... prefer those who set the agenda and brought them along!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

Or are incapable of believing they have anything to learn?

The article doesn't ID the timeline.

Obama administration was opposed to legalization.

Biden might flip on this if Big Pharma wants legalization. Idf so, this is the best time for him to break with his stand as vp

http://time.com/5330/marijuana-legalization-joe-biden-pot/

Quote from 2014 Time mag interview: “the idea of focusing significant resources on interdicting or convicting people for smoking marijuana is a waste of our resources.”

And fighting to support a 1.5 trillion dollar military/private sector failure. There is your so.

If so, please show us where to find that information.

Thanks.

Perhaps he feels this isn’t the driving issue in 2020. I certainly don’t.

Feel free to show me where. Thanks.


Anyway, if he hasn't changed his position then what's quoted in the OP is his official position. Was the point.

Even if it's from 2010

That's a good one!!

Joe doesn't drink alcohol in any form. One may speculate as to why, and he gives vague answers when asked, but he takes a dim view of intoxicants of any kind, once referring to others in his family as "drunks".

But, based on your knowledge of his personality and thinking, I'm curious to know why you believe his view of marijuana is likely to have changed.

I think he's looking at his third primary loss.

Do you know whether his current stance has changed?

This is a huge issue.

If not then the OP is not dishonest.

Biden has been consistently anti-legalization for his entire career, condemned Bush for not being harsh enough, and even during eight years as VP remained anti-legalization.

Realizing that a good chunk of the Democratic base is favorable toward legalization, his campaign has essentially decided to try to hide the ball on this one, as not a word on the subject appears at his campaign website despite it being a key current issue.

You can kid yourself all you want on this one, but Joe "People who drink alcohol are 'drunks'" Biden has a consistent record here.

The lowest he ever got on the subject of intoxicants was when, years after the fact, he attempted to blame his wife's death on the truck driver being drunk in order to make a rhetorical point, despite the fact that the crash was her fault, and the truck driver had not been drinking. She ran a stop sign from a side road onto a much busier through route that had no stop sign, but he figured that lying about his own wife's death was worth a rhetorical point or two.

Did you forget about that already?

Learn your history... If a candidate doesn't WIN a primary election and, thus, become the nominee for President representing the Democratic Party in the general election, that means he or she LOST the primary election. Withdrawing at any point in the primary election process is still a loss... Joe has lost twice, since he has never been the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the general.

Sorry, I can't help you if you seriously think Joe didnt lose his last two primary elections and that somehow he won and became the Democratic Party's presidential nominee... that never happened!! But, I'm sure you already knew that!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

I don't see how you avoid whiplash with all the reversals!

But, go ahead, change the subject, I would too... can't wait to hear what else you got!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

It must be a comfort for you, especially after that enormous gaffe at the She the People conference, then sending Turner out and making it worse...

My condolences. I know that you were so convinced that he would win this time around.

This push for Marijuana legalization is ridiculous and stupid. He will probably be forced to change his mind for the nomination but if he wins the hope is he will SLOW WALK this issue --- Slow Walk on a long pier preferred.

believe legalization is long past due.

Not legalization.

but i am in favor of legalization.

i should have added as well, people in pain or with epilepsy don't have time. we've forced these people to suffer long enough.