Marijuana: Malignant Misinformation in The New York Times

Reporter David Brooks should ignore National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) propaganda.

(PORTLAND, OR) - The New York Times has published some excellent articles about marijuana as medicine, but Mr. Brooks' article is replete with "falsies" direct from NIDA.

His first error from NIDA is that is causes addiction in one of six teenagers. However, about nine percent of teenagers smoke. Nine percent of those become dependent. That is only one percent total.

Most users do not drive after using marijuana, but statistics show that marijuana users are less likely to have accidents!

He says it causes (minute) --- loss of IQ. Marijuana is a good tranquilizer or sedative. An IQ test is something they would rather not do. Many intelligent people with high IQ's use marijuana.

A few tokes is like a beer or maybe a small glass of wine. This may cause a smaller IQ.

More marijuana will cause sleepiness, a person can overdo it, as with alcohol, which is far more dangerous.

Marijuana is used successfully for very debilitating diseases including mental diseases requiring strong medications. Marijuana can be the best drug for this as well.

The huge popularity of marijuana is showing up in Colorado with thousands of users. There is no problem yet with many users, both old and new. Remember Michael Phelps, the 12 Gold Medalist, is/was a marijuana user.

Most people avoid being stoned! They consider it a waste of money and time. Brooks says the high prices and taxes on marijuana will reduce use. However according to report, the prices are remaining steady. The Mexican mafia will still sell their stuff cheaper.

When we compare marijuana use to alcohol, tobacco or meth, there is no contest. It is also much safer than coffee which is lethal, and killed 2,512 people in a recent year, usually from cardiovascular causes.

The U.S. government estimates that 30 million people use marijuana occasionally. Very few dire results have occurred.

Prescription drugs kill more than 100,000 people a year. Marijuana, 0. Another piece of information from the book, Marijuana: Teenage Killer, indicates that high school students were using marijuana in the 1960's. They are 60 or 70 years old now, where is this alleged damage?

Responses to David Brooks' NYT article had 1,637 comments disagreeing and discrediting him and his anti-marijuana philosophy.

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Comments Leave a comment on this story.

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Anonymous January 12, 2014 9:32 am (Pacific time)

Great article!!

Anonymous January 7, 2014 2:03 pm (Pacific time)

Many children became wards of the state because there parents used meth. Parents who fill their homes with MJ smoke are not causing harm to little kids.

Michael Greer January 7, 2014 2:03 pm (Pacific time)

Once again this writer nails it right on the head. As a reader, I feel incredibly fortunate that Dr. Leveque shares his knowledge of this critical subject with us. There are parallel stories of course; medical marijuana, as Dr. Leveque writes, has infinite good implications, endless treatments of different diseases and that includes cancer, it is also about the government and the old school that wants to punish people and yank children from the homes of wonderful families simply because they possess or grow this God-given herb. I strongly urge all readers to read everything from Dr. Leveque that you can.

Samuel January 7, 2014 2:02 pm (Pacific time)

I agree with medical use, and the legalization effort is going strong. Americans are proving that they are in control and in charge of their futures, it isn't always a fast process but it is a stead and sure one.

Piotr L. January 7, 2014 1:39 am (Pacific time)

It is what so many people have been saying for so many years, thank you Doctor Leveque for spreading the common sense!

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