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Medical Cannabis Petition Kicks Off June 18 in Sioux Falls

We now get our first overlap between referendum and initiative petitioning. With the Attorney General’s (not the Surgeon General’s?) legally required explanation in hand, New Approach South Dakota is ready to start circulating its petition to put medical cannabis on the November 2016 ballot. Cannabis champion Melissa Mentele sends this invitation to a petition kick-off at the Sioux Falls downtown library on Thursday, June 18, at 6 p.m.:

Please join us in kicking off the SD’s Medical Cannabis petition drive. We will be enjoying refreshments, fellowship and signing the first of the petitions to be passed in South Dakota to put compassion on the 2016 Ballot. Please invite your friends and family to join us in this history making event. Children are welcome! Donations are welcome! Cookies, cake and punch will be provided along with handouts and door prizes [New Approach South Dakota, Facebook invitation, 2015.06.10].

For the moment, I’ve got my own referendum petitions to circulate, but once we submit our papers to refer the youth minimum wage and the Incumbent Protection Plan to a public vote, I’ll keep an eye out for initiative petitions to sign. I haven’t gotten my medical degree yet so I can weigh the merits of medical cannabis, but I support Mentele’s efforts and others’ to place matters of important public policy to a public vote.

And I always support cookies, cake, and punch.

Update 06:15 CDT: I also support and applaud knowing how to get good press. KSFY runs a story from an anonymous mom who says medical marijuana has saved her son’s life:

“My son was in a drunk-driving accident which resulted in severe head trauma and approximately two years after his accident, he started having severe seizures,” she said.

“I was jerking all over, my whole body was swinging, my arms and I was kicking my legs uncontrollably…that’s why I’m using this medical marijuana, not to abuse it, but to help myself medically,” her son, a medical marijuana user said.

His mom says medical marijuana was a last resort after other prescriptions failed.

“Since all of the other avenues, nothing was improving it; I felt we didn’t have anything to lose at this point,” his mom said.

…”My son has been seizure free for 21 months. So he has not needed to go to the ICU, he’s not having camera’s attached to his head at $19,000 a day, he’s not taking an ambulance ride which costs anywhere from $8,000 to $9,000 every time he has a seizure. So to me he’s saving the tax payers of South Dakota money as well as saving his own life by using the medical marijuana,” she said [Bridget Bennett, “South Dakota Mom Credits Illegal Marijuana Use for Son’s Health,” KSFY-TV, 2015.06.10].

Stories like that give medical cannabis will win medical cannabis the most votes. “Moms for Pot” would also fit really well on t-shirts.

Update 2015.06.12 14:25 CDT: New Approach South Dakota is hosting a West River petition kickoff event at the downtown Rapid City public library, 610 Quincy Street, on Tuesday, June 23, at 4 p.m.

240 Comments

  1. happy camper 2015-06-11 07:51

    If you’ve ever been around someone dying from AIDS marijuana was the only thing that really reduced the suffering. Both early on allowing them to eat and later to ease the pain. If you’ve actually seen it first hand you would never consider not allowing it. I’ve read it does similar good things for cancer patients. Let them light up!!!

  2. bearcreekbat 2015-06-11 17:03

    Come on Lynn, yet another story of someone’s life being saved by medical marijuana? I am sure you value the lives of children and folks like this unfortunate young South Dakotan severely injured in a car accident. Please support their families’ ability to get them the medical help they desperately need without further unnecessary delay!

  3. Bob Newland 2015-06-11 18:41

    Melissa Mentele is a force of nature. Do NOT stand between her and the goal. You will be roadkill.

  4. Emmett 2015-06-12 16:30

    Good luck Melissa!! You’re doing a great job. I really hope the biggest difference this year from our past efforts is getting Doctors to come out and speak in favor of compassionate use. We’ve always struggled to get them to speak publicly despite hearing privately that they voted for our measure.

  5. Bob Newland 2015-06-12 18:55

    Screw the chickenshit doctors. The moms’ll carry the day.

  6. grudznick 2015-06-12 19:19

    Seizures under control these days, Bob?

  7. larry kurtz 2015-06-24 12:00

    Unproven doesn’t mean nonexistent.

  8. larry kurtz 2015-06-24 12:03

    Cannabis has really helped me build a tolerance for idiots, that’s for sure.

  9. bearcreekbat 2015-06-24 13:34

    Lynn’s article also points out that “The strongest evidence [of conditions that marijuana can help] is for chronic pain and for muscle stiffness in multiple sclerosis, according to the review, which evaluated 79 studies involving more than 6,000 patients.”

    This “strongest evidence” alone seems sufficient to support legalization to help folks suffering from chronic pain and MS. Thanks for providing this additional pro-legalization evidence Lynn

  10. Bill Dithmer 2015-06-24 13:43

    Lynn, all you need to know as bout this study is who funded it.National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://tinyurl.com/axxzhrj.

    The good Drs know where their money comes from . I notice that they won t say th a t cannabis works, or doesn’t, but that they want more money before they can definitely decide. So would I.

    I see where Colorado is putting their money where their mouth is with $8,000,000 earmarked for research.

    I’m curious, we are still talking about addiction when the withdrawal symptoms are less then kicking caffeine. Why aren’t we having the addiction discussion about tobacco, alcohol, and even more importantly prescription drugs.

    This study is nothing but more of the same talk from years of prohibition propaganda with enough truth, “there might be s something there if we had more money we could know for sure,” to keep that money training. Moving.

    The Blindman

  11. mikeyc, that's me! 2015-06-24 14:02

    Being a Democrat in South Dakota has
    really helped me build a tolerance for
    idiots, that’s for sure.

  12. Lynn 2015-06-24 15:11

    “Study: Scant Evidence That Medical Pot Helps Many Illnesses”

    http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06/23/health/ap-us-med-medical-marijuana-research-5-things.html?ref=aponline&_r=0

    “The editorial by two Yale University psychiatrists suggests enthusiasm for medical marijuana has outpaced rigorous research and says widespread use should wait for better evidence”

    “Perhaps it is time to place the horse back in front of the cart,” Drs. Deepak Cyril D’Souza and Mohini Ranganathan wrote in the editorial.

    They note that repeated recreational marijuana use can be addictive and say unanswered questions include what are the long-term health effects of medical marijuana use and whether its use is justified in children whose developing brains may be more vulnerable to its effects.

  13. larry kurtz 2015-06-24 15:22

    Did you hear Roger Whittle and Jon Hunter today on Bill Janklow’s idea of public radio talking about the inevitability of legal cannabis in your stupid state, Lynn?

    It’s time for you guys to debate my proposal, South Dakota.

  14. larry kurtz 2015-06-24 16:12

    In my view edibles should only be available to patients suffering from debilitating conditions and be dispensed by a pharmacist.

  15. Lynn 2015-06-24 16:26

    Someone put together a fairly decent list of the most common recycled quotes by those advocating for any type of legalization.

    “Name your problem or medical issues and I’ll tell you how the use of Cannabis will fix it”
    “It’s a plant grown from the earth that’s been around for thousands of years so it must be good for you!”
    “It’s a miracle plant and gift from God!”
    “Drivers who consume Cannabis are safer because they are more careful”
    “No one has ever died from the use of Cannabis”
    “You lost a limb to war or an accident? Smoke Cannabis and it will grow back”
    “If all the leaders of the world smoked Cannabis there would be love not war”
    “Why are all these people against such a benign herb?”
    “Cannabis will improve your grades and IQ”
    “You can’t get addicted to Cannabis! I can stop anytime I want”
    “South Dakota will save all this money not putting non-violent offenders in jail”
    “Legalizing will make South Dakota rich in tax revenue”
    “This is just another study funded by Big Pharma, the police unions and the prison industrial complex to keep this medicine that cannot be patented away from the us”

    Any new quotes that you can think of? “High Times” used as a source must have a few more. :)

  16. larry kurtz 2015-06-24 16:32

    Do you safer from a drunk with a gun or a stoner with a gun?

  17. mike from iowa 2015-06-24 17:07

    After 50 years “THEY” think 2-4-D might be a human carcinogen and the active ingredient in Round-Up may well be,too.

  18. Lynn 2015-06-24 17:14

    “Do you safer from a drunk with a gun or a stoner with a gun?” Neither! I’ve dealt with both.

    Larry,

    Which medical study shows this? It sounds pretty cool or was this in someone’s pot induced vision? “You lost a limb to war or an accident? Smoke Cannabis and it will grow back”

  19. bearcreekbat 2015-06-24 17:17

    Lynn, you missed Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s pro-legalization quotes, which are often repeated:

    1. “I am here to apologize.”

    2. “For 3,000 years marijuana was a legitimate medication.”

    3. “The science is there. This isn’t anecdotal.”

    4. “We have been terribly and systematically misled for nearly 70 years in the United States.”

    5. “It doesn’t have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications.”

    6. “The United States government also owns a patent on marijuana as a medical application.”

    7. “It could potentially help people who really need it and it’s not being offered.”

    8. “I couldn’t find a single confirmed overdose death.”

    9. “It could compete with a lot of things.”

    10. “I cannot find the harm in it.”

    http://www.leafscience.com/2013/09/26/dr-sanjay-guptas-top-10-quotes-marijuana/

  20. Lynn 2015-06-24 17:27

    Larry,

    Which medical study shows this? It sounds pretty cool or was this in someone’s pot induced vision? “You lost a limb to war or an accident? Smoke Cannabis and it will grow back”

  21. bearcreekbat 2015-06-24 17:27

    Lynn, you also missed another quote from M. Joycelyn Elders, President Clinton’s U.S. Surgeon General:

    “The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS — or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. And it can do so with remarkable safety. Indeed, marijuana is less toxic than many of the drugs that physicians prescribe every day.”

    http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=133

  22. bearcreekbat 2015-06-24 17:32

    And lest you think that Dr. Elders and Dr. Gupta are an aberration, CBS News reports:

    “A majority of doctors would approve the use of medical marijuana, according to a new survey.

    “We were surprised by the outcome of polling and comments, with 76 percent of all votes in favor of the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes — even though marijuana use is illegal in most countries,” the survey’s authors wrote.

    The results appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 30. It included responses from 1,446 doctors from 72 different countries and 56 different states and provinces in North America. In addition, 118 doctors posted comments about their decision on the survey.”

    http://www.cbsnews.com/news/survey-76-percent-of-doctors-approve-of-medical-marijuana-use/

  23. bearcreekbat 2015-06-24 18:00

    Lynn, that is an interesting link for more than one reason. Here are some quotes from the article that I found very telling:

    “When Shelly Rapp of Chanhassen asked her neurologist to certify her 18-year-old son Scott, who uses a wheelchair because of epilepsy, she was told that while he was willing, his practice as a whole had opted out of the Health Department program.

    “He called me today, and was really nice, but said he was unable to help,” she said.

    Scott had tried medical cannabis while the family was living in California last year, and Rapp said a few drops of the oil a day not only cut his seizures from hundreds a day to just a handful, but allowed him to wean off his other seizure drugs.”

    This describes a young person who had been able to control seizures with cannabis oil, and a doctor who wanted to help, but was prevented by the practice group he belonged to.

    Here is another:

    “The highly negative response, from a small sample of all Minnesota doctors, caught MMA president-elect Dr. David Thorson off-guard. He thinks the results reflect doctors wary of a system that has largely sidelined physicians, while pharmacists dispense a drug that is still illegal at the federal level — and is backed by very little clinical research.”

    Imagine that, doctors who are afraid of getting in trouble with the law.

    And another:

    “Dr. Dean Gesme, president of Minnesota Oncology, a practice of 60 oncologists and 25 nurse practitioners and physician assistants, says he doesn’t know that any of his physicians are “militantly” against the law and the use of medical cannabis by patients.

    However, Gesme said that many are concerned about the unfunded mandate that will fall in their laps — the time it will take to counsel patients about an unfamiliar drug that state law bans them from prescribing.

    “The patient who wants marijuana would come in and we can fairly simply certify them,” he said. “But they will want us to tell them how to use it, when to use it, which type is better, where should they go to get it. … It’s just another issue that is kind of dumped in our lap.”

    Oh well . . . .

  24. Lynn 2015-06-24 18:15

    BCB,

    Tomorrow I’ll be visiting with my longtime physician in the Twin Cities. This will be one of the subjects I’ll be bringing up to gain his opinion and what he has heard from his colleagues.

    Many respected physicians don’t want to damage their reputation or lose credibility with the unfounded claims without proper and thorough long term research. Remember the pot doctor clinics they have in California that will write a script for $25.00 open 24/7?

    All these wild claims by addicts and those that just want to get high. Fiction vs reality.

    It is funny though reading the shallow claims that they just repeat over and over with someone originally pulling it out of their ass while stoned. Smoke pot and regrow a new lung or limbs. lol funny!

  25. Lynn 2015-06-24 18:17

    Grudz/Nicholas,

    Which of these do you find most entertaining?

    “Name your problem or medical issues and I’ll tell you how the use of Cannabis will fix it”
    “It’s a plant grown from the earth that’s been around for thousands of years so it must be good for you!”
    “It’s a miracle plant and gift from God!”
    “Drivers who consume Cannabis are safer because they are more careful”
    “No one has ever died from the use of Cannabis”
    “You lost a limb to war or an accident? Smoke Cannabis and it will grow back”
    “If all the leaders of the world smoked Cannabis there would be love not war”
    “Why are all these people against such a benign herb?”
    “Cannabis will improve your grades and IQ”
    “You can’t get addicted to Cannabis! I can stop anytime I want”
    “South Dakota will save all this money not putting non-violent offenders in jail”
    “Legalizing will make South Dakota rich in tax revenue”
    “This is just another study funded by Big Pharma, the police unions and the prison industrial complex to keep this medicine that cannot be patented away from the us”

  26. bearcreekbat 2015-06-24 18:23

    Lynn, I look forward to hearing your personal physician’s opinion on medical marijuana, especially those oils that are reported to have helped 6 year old Charlotte Figi, with Dravet Syndrome

    http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/health/charlotte-child-medical-marijuana/

    and 18 year Scott Rapp mentioned in the above article that you linked.

  27. larry kurtz 2015-06-24 18:24

    Lynn, my ophthalmologist has done research in glaucoma patients and is completely convinced that cannabis can prevent glaucoma by easing pressure on the optic nerve in some patients and gladly signed off on my New Mexico card.

  28. larry kurtz 2015-06-24 18:42

    In fact, my ObamaCare plan might cover the costs of this glaucoma therapy.

  29. Lynn 2015-07-01 13:41

    BCB,

    Sorry for the misunderstanding. This is what I intended. My physician whom I’ve seen for about 20 years is very thorough and many times has covered things that other physicians who were good missed in regards to treatment, check ups, meds and preventative care.

    Last week on a checkup he shared with me that he is signed up for the Minnesota Medical Marijuana program. He checks to see if what a patient has qualifies under the 9 categories and that is it. Only a pharmacist at one of the approved clinics is able to prescribe which Medical Marijuana medicine to take.

    I expressed my concern than many states including South Dakota have recreational pot users pushing it masquerading it as medical marijuana so the rec users can get it legally and quoted Colorado and especially California with the $25.00 24/7 pot doctors where there has been rampant abuse under the name of Medical Marijuana and he said those other states should of done it the way Minnesota has based off of sound science to use what works and tightly control it to minimize abuse. As more REAL studies develop with scientific evidence over time Minnesota’s offerings can expand.

    “Minnesota patients legally acquire marijuana for first time” July 1st 2015 Minneapolis Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/medical-marijuana-is-now-legal-in-minnesota/311143971/

    I have stated repeatedly on this blog that I would be open to consider voting for what is now legal in Minnesota using their exact version that is tightly controlled and based on REAL science but not what is being pushed as a medical marijuana ballot initiative here in SD based on High Times, Cheech & Chong, Beevis & Butthead science that can be abused by addicts and rec users. What 4 plants in your closet? Many problems with control and abuse.

  30. Lynn 2015-07-01 13:43

    Minnesota’s medical marijuana program is one of the most tightly regulated in the nation, and also the most clinical. Cannabis will be sold only in pills, oils or liquids, not as smokable plant material. The hope is that the manufacturers will be able to tailor doses, not only to different conditions, but to different patients and their needs.

  31. bearcreekbat 2015-07-01 16:48

    Thanks for your comment Lynn. It seems to me that you are evolving your ideas in a very positive direction.

    I would urge you not to continue to oppose medical marijuana that could help real people with real serious illnesses simply because some healthy folks might also obtain prescriptions and use the marijuana for non-medical purposes.

    For example, we know that prescriptions for narcotics can be necessary to relieve severe pain, and we know that these narcotics can be abused by someone not in pain, yet we don’t deny those who are in true pain these drugs merely because we think others might abuse them.

    I would think the same rational ought to apply to medical marijuana. If it can save a child like Charlotte Figi, then we should make it available even if there is a risk that some other person will use it for pleasure.

  32. Lynn 2015-07-01 17:07

    BCB,

    Nothing is really changing other than restating that I’d be open to vote for the exact law and policy Minnesota has in regards to Medical Marijuana that as mentioned above is very tightly controlled and minimizes the chance of abuse that has been seen in other states. Minnesota’s is based on REAL science and can be expanded in time with future studies.

    I can fill up this thread with studies that show many of the claims of medical marijuana have been proven false and were nothing more than a placebo affect or pot industry or potheads just throwing anything out there because it sounds good or the snake oil salesman affect to advance the cause for legalization.

    I have stated that I will not support the current medical marijuana ballot initiative that is in good part being pushed by recreational users, addicts and the pot industry. They purposely went this direction to build a larger coalition which opens it up to abuse and is far more profitable than going the Minnesota route which is more focused on true medical needs.

  33. Lynn 2015-07-01 17:18

    Who knows the medical marijuana advocates turned in petitions that sampled out to be a 40% error rate in 2010 which is incredibly bad and reminds me of my experience being stuck working with potheads. They may be disqualified from succeeding this time due to a high error rate.

  34. bearcreekbat 2015-07-01 17:38

    Lynn, I am pleased that you would support a medical marijuana law similar to the Minnesota law. It may be too late this year for an initiative advocating such a law in SD, but perhaps you could assist the petitioners in 2017 if the current petition doesn’t pass.

    With carefully thought out input from folks like you who have studied the subject in detail, maybe advocates in SD will be able to draft an initiated law for our state that will allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to help people like Charlotte Figi and others who have severe medical issues that cannabis could help.

  35. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 17:47

    yer a saint, bat.

  36. bearcreekbat 2015-07-01 17:49

    right back atcha larry!

  37. grudznick 2015-07-01 17:51

    What’s bad about having those kind of weed laws, bad I say, is that some people just use it for an excuse to have weed gardens and “toke up the joint” as they say for the fun of it. They ruin it for the sick people. The only weed drug allowed should be shots you have to get from your doctor in the gluteus or abdomen. Then I’m for it.

  38. Lynn 2015-07-01 17:59

    I’ll be joining a group to help defeat this 2016 Flawed Medical Marijuana Initiative if they succeed in getting enough qualified signatures to bring it to the ballot. That anti-pot legalization group will be officially forming soon and I will also work to help defeat the candidates that support it including those in the Democratic Party.

    Gaddy is pretty good about announcing who is supporting legalization. lol

  39. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 18:02

    PP has been expecting you, Lynn: zip on over there and give him a big kiss for me.

  40. grudznick 2015-07-01 18:05

    Lar’s a hugger, too, Lynn. Give Mr. PP a big greasy hug, too.

  41. bearcreekbat 2015-07-01 18:06

    Lynn, are you comfortable suggesting that sick people in SD need to join our teachers and go to Minnesota, or some other state, for a decent life?

  42. Lynn 2015-07-01 18:10

    Larry when the Dems lose again because they supported Colorado and California medical & recreational pot laws for some short term gain you can sit back in New Mexico, burn a few bowls and once again tell South Dakotans how screwed they are. Meanwhile South Dakotans that actually live here will have to deal with the consequences.

  43. Bill Dithmero 2015-07-01 18:13

    From the Star.”The hope is that the manufacturers will be able to tailor doses, not only to different conditions, but to different patients and their needs.”

    Is this some kind of joke? Every person reacts different to cannabis. What is right for some won’t even touch the pain for others.

    Just remember Lynn, those pill pushers that you and your doctor like so much prescribed a lot of life ending doses in those pills.

    Again, how many death certificates have cannabis as the cause of death?

    The Blindman

  44. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 18:13

    Few are wronger than you, Lynn.

  45. Lynn 2015-07-01 18:22

    BCB,

    Unfortunately yes. Their health system is far superior to ours with less chance of discrimination. taxes are more equitable, more competition in health insurance, far better investment in education. healthy competition in government with good checks in balances including the media unlike here, better transparency and better economic opportunities.

    Minnesota has it’s own challenges and is not perfect but it is light years ahead of South Dakota and is distancing itself from Wisconsin which is sad since Wisconsin has a rich history in political innovation. That state is going backwards.

  46. Lynn 2015-07-01 18:24

    “Bioengineers close to brewing opioid painkillers without using opium from poppies” A process that uses genetically engineering yeast cells to replicate the entire opioid production process, eliminating the need to grow poppies, is close to conclusion, one researcher reports. Her ultimate goal is to produce opioid medicines, from start to finish, in fermentation vats

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140824152343.htm

  47. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 18:24

    Is Wisconsin really going backwards, Lynn, or is her governor a loser like Denny Daugaard is? Anyone who says South Dakota’s medical practices are inferior hasn’t been the Black Hill Regional Eye Institute.

    Strike 4 or so, Lynn.

  48. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 18:26

    I sense a whiff of Bree in the air: anyone else?

  49. Lynn 2015-07-01 18:30

    Lets see Mayo Clinic and research at the U of M, Medtronic and other medical related companies and research

    Larry does cannabis now regrow heart valves and chambers? I’ll check SDAP’s site since it wouldn’t surprise me if they claim that it does. lol

  50. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 18:34

    it gives me a stiffy when i get push-back, good for a healthy blood pressure.

  51. Bill Dithmero 2015-07-01 19:01

    Larry, that’s bat shit

    The Blindman

  52. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 19:03

    Bill, remember the chat we had about glyphosate and amphibians back in the Mount Blogmore daze?

  53. caheidelberger Post author | 2015-07-01 19:36

    Come on, Larry: Lynn is no PP. Is it really inconceivable to you that a good ally on most of our progressive/liberal/Democratic/Lefty issues might differ with you on the merits of cannabis?

  54. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 19:41

    If South Dakota Democrats really want to energize her base and bring our people to the polls, Cory, then the answer to your question is likely yes.

  55. Lynn 2015-07-01 19:49

    Larry please remind us where you will be when the Democrats lose big time after putting all their marbles into legalizing pot here in South Dakota? New Mexico? Then what will you say after your misguided strategy fails? We are all screwed? The SDDP would lose whatever credibility they had after that strategic disaster.

  56. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 19:58

    20% turnout sucks regardless which state one loves. Yer either on the bus or yer off the bus.

    Those are my rules: it’s just that simple.

  57. Lynn 2015-07-01 20:06

    Remember you said you don’t give a shit what happens here so just move on. Your strategy is like a boat anchor here. Enjoy the Land of Enchantment. They need your help. :)

  58. grudznick 2015-07-01 20:10

    Mr. kurtz dreams about South Dakota every night, and he awakens enraged and drenched in a sour sweat 4 times a night to shuffle to the head. He blogs here incessantly because he loves the Great State of South Dakota the way a woman spurned still loves her old paramour.

  59. larry kurtz 2015-07-01 20:11

    Think about it, Cory: that I’m being trolled here should look like a tell, init?

  60. Lynn 2015-07-01 20:29

    Larry,

    No need to say your getting trolled just let me know next time you will be in Rapid or better yet I have an old friend working as a National park ranger in New Mexico not far from Santa Fe for the summer and I’ll say the same things to you in person. I have always wanted to check out New Mexico.

    I was in Rapid this past March for the fundraiser and was looking forward to having a spirited conversation with you but you were not able to come. lol

  61. Les 2015-07-01 20:45

    Well Lynn, you Dems haven’t done anything right to bring power to your party in SD for the last forty years anyway. What do you think you have to lose now?

  62. Lynn 2015-07-01 20:54

    Les,

    How is your man Larry Pressler doing? He has at least two projects he’s working on that sound interesting. Good for him!

  63. Les 2015-07-01 21:51

    I might actually start likin you again, Lynn! I think you’re keeping notes on me. I like that to. At the very least you aren’t so intuitively confident of words I’ve never said!

  64. leslie 2015-07-01 22:26

    gee, les, howz yer republican party doin’ this week? anything positive? at all?? in the whole nation???

  65. Les 2015-07-02 08:50

    Thank God for Jon, Bear. Good stuff.

  66. Lynn 2015-07-02 09:38

    “1st Patients For Medical Marijuana Get Their Meds In Minnesota” http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/07/01/1st-patients-for-medical-marijuana-receive-meds-wednesday/

    South Dakota should of gone the route of Minnesota instead we have the Flawed version getting petitions signed mainly pushed by a few for their selfish reasons to legally get high and others in the exploding pot industry that are chomping at the bit and see a gold mine opportunity reminiscent of Big Tobacco except it will be Big Marijuana industry seeing big profits and get ready for snake oil claims.

    “I’m on a lung transplant list.” Rep Hickey Madville Times 1/6/2015

    Response by Ryan Gaddy pot activist for SDAP ” Steve Hickey, vaporized cannabis oils could repair your lung damage. Recent studies show a reversal in COPD and chronic emphysema via this treatment” 1/06/2015

    If I told that to my physician in Minnesota who signed up for Minnesota’s Medical Marijuana program I can just see him rolling his eyes and thinking these idiot pot heads are causing more harm than good.

    If you go according to what many of these pot activists claim they have a cure for every malady known to mankind of you just smoke or legalize this gift from God being only a plant. It would be like going down to the city park on 4/20 and seeking medical advice rather than see a physician in Minnesota who signed up for the program.

  67. Les 2015-07-02 11:14

    Our Native American Indian brothers and sisters had more natural remedies than Carter had pills. You minimize the history of mankind with your all knowing statements on natural remedies and preventative care.

    Creating man from a test tube and morphine from yeast is damn sure no gift from God compared to a naturally occurring plant or animal of any kind.

  68. Lynn 2015-07-02 12:20

    Are you serious? Do you realize the overly simplistic false claims made by those pushing for pot legalization?

    I have a little background in the natural foods industry with natural healing and macrobiotics but they claims they make are lazy, irresponsible and misleading.

    So your saying anything that has been created by modern medicine such as vaccines like Penicillin, for Polio, inhalers for those with asthma, and the list goes on should not have been created and is bad?

    Just because it is a plant it is good for you? Shall I provide a list of plants that are poisonous? Animals that if consumed could put your health and well being at high risk?

  69. Les 2015-07-02 12:43

    Had there not been Echinacea and the poppy there would have been no starting board for either penicillin or morphine, Lynn. That is my point, don’t over literalize my words. Yes cannabis doesn’t cure everything and I don’t know what it does cure but as penicillin has never cured me of anything, do I take your stance and say it should be banned. I’d be dead without the cephalexin’s. Don’t minimize our intel by telling us of poisonous plants and animals. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

  70. Lynn 2015-07-02 12:59

    Shiitake Mushrooms have been known for a long time in Chinese and Japanese culture to help fight cancer and Maitake mushrooms are known to have even stronger cancer fighting abilities although more expensive and it would be more practical to make a tea out of it to stretch it out and save money. They both are known to have other healing properties but big difference is that you can not get high off them. There is no ulterior motive in promoting them.

    The vast majority of those promoting legalization of marijuana are to get high and by those businesses that will profit immensely from the recreational users and addicts. The medical side will be far less profitable. That is most likely why we are not seeing a ballot measure similar to Minnesota’s here in South Dakota

  71. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-02 13:37

    “Shall I provide a list of plants that are poisonous? Animals that if consumed could put your health and well being at high risk?”

    Na, thats not nessasary because we already know the toxicity of cannabis from thousands of years of hands on use.

    Every time you make a pill or liquid out of this plant you change the molecular structure of that plant through either extrusion or the materials used to compress and hold the pill form. Whenever you heat, you lose the use of several canibinoids that release at lower temps.

    Science doesnt know how these canibinoids work together to do all the things they do, but they do know that for some reason they do work, not singularly, but in combinations of what could be dozens of canibinoids reacting to each other.

    Why would anybody mess with a plant that has proven through thousands of years to be safe. Thats pretty simple, its called money. If big pharma can just keep up their talk about correct amounts and the importance of pills, you will get your wish for more control over a plant that is already safe in any amount you want to use.

    You stand more chance of being harmed by antibacterial soap then cannabis.

    The Blindman

  72. Lynn 2015-07-02 14:10

    “Why would anybody mess with a plant that has proven through thousands of years to be safe”

    “You stand more chance of being harmed by antibacterial soap then cannabis”

    ” Weed is good for you and you should smoke as much as you can”

    “It’s Big Pharma, the police unions and prison industrial complex are against it”

    Yes! Back to the old recycled claims which just send wonderful messages to our youth encouraging them to start smoking weed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noluXPLCyqE

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfrKH_pI6bA

    It’s all one big joke but those kids are at an even higher risk for addiction. The other kids called you a name? Don’t feel sad just get high. Yeah! That’s a great way to teach kids to cope.

  73. Lynn 2015-07-02 14:22

    July 4th the Tour de France starts and this discussion reminds me of a vintage photo in the 1920’s Tour de France showing the riders smoking before they started a mountain stage that day.
    http://www.sportsposterwarehouse.com/detail_BP-08__474__toursmokersart_htm.html

    During that period the riders believed that smoking would help them expand their lungs so they could ride stronger during the Tour which is probably the most difficult athletic event there is to this day. The Tobacco companies advertised that smoking was good for them and later advertised that smoking was cool and glamorous so if you want to be in the “in crowd” you should smoke their brand.

    It’s so ironic that the Marijuana industry and the addicts and rec users are promoting using Marijuana as

    “It’s just a plant that you can grow in your back yard and smoke”

    “It’s a benign herb”

    “Why would anybody mess with a plant that has proven through thousands of years to be safe”

    “You stand more chance of being harmed by antibacterial soap then cannabis”

    ” Weed is good for you and you should smoke as much as you can”

    ” Marijuana is not addictive! I can quit anytime I want with no negative effects”

    ” Name you health issue and I’ll tell you how Cannabis can cure it”

    on and on and on employing many of the same methods Big Tobacco has in the past.

  74. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-02 15:22

    “It’s a benign herb”
    Nope never said that.

    “Weed is good for you and you should smoke as much as you can”
    Ive never said that either.

    ” Name you health issue and I’ll tell you how Cannabis can cure it”
    Never said that either, your reading comprehension needs some fine tuning.

    If you look back I told you not to listen to the claims of magical cures. While some might be true, they still remain to be proven to work.
    “on and on and on employing many of the same methods Big Tobacco has in the past.”
    Your comparing tobacco to cannabis? Really? You want to say that pot in any form is as dangerous as tobacco?

    Again, how many deaths are due to the use of cannabis, and how many has tobacco taken? Remember all those tobacco related deaths occurred while that plant has been legal. Marjuana on the other hand has been illegal, and even in heavy use cant seem to kill anybody, unless you can come up with one of those death certificates.

    If you worked with impaired people that was your problem because you never called the cops. Nobody should have to work like that, but you yourself just continued to do both your job and theirs. You deserved what you got.

    The Blindman

  75. Les 2015-07-02 15:40

    I remember when Dru Sjodin died at the hands of a rapist, Lynn. I said why can’t they at least let us have our daughters back without killing them?

    “It’s all one big joke but those kids are at an even higher risk for addiction. The other kids called you a name? Don’t feel sad just get high. Yeah! That’s a great way to teach kids to cope.” It may not be the best way to cope but ask those mothers and fathers of suicide on the rez if they’d rather have their children back stoned or just leave them dead. I’m not fighting for kids to use cannabis, they already can. Pick a lane.

  76. larry kurtz 2015-07-02 16:03

    I’ve missed you, Les.

  77. larry kurtz 2015-07-02 16:08

    South Dakota will lose millions to growers bringing cannabis to the Sturgis Rally and the state whines it doesn’t have enough revenue to expand Medicaid.

  78. bearcreekbat 2015-07-02 16:19

    Lynn, do you realize that by stereotyping advocates for medical marijuana (such as “selfish addicts”), and impugning their motives (they don’t really want to help sick people, they just want to use them to get high) that you engage in the same type of hyperbole that you say weakens the pro-legalization argument?

  79. Lynn 2015-07-02 16:22

    Les, I’m sorry but I can’t even follow your reasoning today. both times they hardly made any sense. Perhaps after the Holiday you can try again to express the point your trying to make?

    Bill/Blindman, Those quotes are commonly thrown out in a lazy effort to influence others to support legalization. Death certificates due to marijuana? Not specifically but I’d definitely say it has been a contributing factor either with long term use.

    Come on if you smoke there will be that particulate matter including tar that will enter you lungs. You can’t tell me that does not have a negative effect on your body.

    Death from driving under the influence. We know that mixing marijuana and alcohol is deadly while driving and is common.

    Marijuana used as a gateway drug eventually not able to satisfy due to tolerance being built up and seeking something to satisfy the craving to get high with stronger drugs with some leading to death.

    Marijuana pushed as this innocent and harmless herb that gets these kids & young adults addicted and the addiction continues sometimes leading to death.

    Bill I did report my two co-workers who got stoned off their ass at work. It was a national/world wide mail order with a front retail showroom and just that co-worker and I on a Saturday. Early in the shift he got stoned with what must of been a Bruce Banner strain far stronger than the weed of the 60’s and 70’s and just stared into space. I could of wheeled him into a dark broom closet and he would not of known. Phones ringing, e-mails and customers in the showroom. My co-worker knew I was pissed and I reported him Monday morning.

    You know what the result was? Nothing happened as far as reprimand whatsoever! Because the owner himself had a history of major drug use, came from old money and viewed pot as harmless it was no big deal and it was business as usual. It’s a shame. Call the cops in St. Paul for this? Get real! They are not going to do anything. That company is out of business now.

  80. Lynn 2015-07-02 16:33

    BCB,

    There is a difference in accuracy though. Big difference. Troy made the same observation on the “Referred Laws 19 thread. It is just the way it is and not hard to see. lol

  81. larry kurtz 2015-07-02 16:39

    So, the law enforcement industry should leave no stone unturned in its quest to satisfy your crusade, Lynn?

  82. bearcreekbat 2015-07-02 16:57

    Lynn, you say there is a difference in accuracy, but how could you know this unless you personally know everyone who advocates legalization of medical marijuana. Since about 58% of people surveyed by gallup apparently advocate legalization, it seems impossible that you have any personal knowledge about these folks or their their motivations.

    http://www.gallup.com/poll/165539/first-time-americans-favor-legalizing-marijuana.aspx

    As I consider your arguments, as well as Troy’s arguments, I am beginning to suspect that you may share a fact with folks who oppose same sex marriage – you just might be on the wrong side of history.

  83. grudznick 2015-07-02 17:09

    Get your THC through a shot in the butt and you can do it all you want.

  84. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-02 18:09

    You needed to call the cops, not your supervisor. I’ll get back to that in a while.

    You were holding the longest lever that any private citizen could have, and the one thing that every business understands. If you worked for a mail order business that did that big of business they had to be bonded, and it wouldnt be a small one either. It should have either been a safe place to work or at least a threat to tell the cops what you were putting up with. There went the bond. There is nothing that moves things along any quicker then the threat of loss of a big old pile of greenbacks.

    By not calling the cops you are as guilty as the one smoking. You put others at risk by your non action.

    I would never let someone endanger me in the work place because they were high on anything to the point of not doing their jobs.

    Let me get this straight, you’d rather do your work, plus the work of the other people that were stoned and being paid to do that work, then loose your job. Ok I get that.

    Lynn, you are not alone. There are still many that refuse to see even in the face of logic. And thats also why cannabis education is so important in the legalization process.

    There are two ways pot will become legal in SD. The right people will make the right noise, have their fingers in the pot. Or when every reservation votes to legalize and they take 15 or 20 percent off the top of the tourism profits.

    The Blindman

  85. Lynn 2015-07-02 19:30

    BCB,

    Every single one of the potheads I have worked with at a number of workplaces that came in stoned at work, got stoned at work or did a side gig of dealing at work in which all of them affected productivity negatively were white/Anglo/European decent. It’s interesting that you quote a former government official that said pot is not addictive but these people can’t seem to ever come in sober and not stoned. One supervisor was later fired for dealing. Someone else reported him. I was pre-occupied with other things at work.

    I always look at people individually as persons. If someone acts like a jerk they are a jerk plain and simple. What does their skin color, race or whatever have anything to do with it? None!

  86. Lynn 2015-07-02 19:46

    Bill Dithmer,

    “By not calling the cops you are as guilty as the one smoking. You put others at risk by your non action”

    It was just that co-worker and I working that day and is a very small company. I was not a supervisor, no supervisor was on duty and I had no phone number or contact info to consult a supervisor. This stoned co-worker was a complete zombie looking into space not convulsing or showing signs of a medical emergency. He was simply useless. This was not a safety critical position.

    Bill have you ever lived in a metro area? Law enforcement priorities are a little different than rural areas. I had a drug dealer living down the hall from me in a Condo in Minneapolis. There would be traffic at all hours. I rented a unit and the condo association could not get ride of the family that this dealer lived with. There was a park across the street and I’d see regular drop offs all the time in some particular bushes and a customer or supplier would pick it up. One early morning a guy that was naked from the waste down in Feb with -20 below temps threw rocks against my window all drugged out looking for his dealer.

    I called Minneapolis police dept describing what was happening and they told me they had bigger fish to catch and were not interested. Nothing ever happened. I moved to a much quieter neighborhood not long afterwards.

  87. Lynn 2015-07-02 19:54

    Bill Dithmer,

    “Let me get this straight, you’d rather do your work, plus the work of the other people that were stoned and being paid to do that work, then loose your job. Ok I get that”

    I didn’t lose my job. lol I was highly valued and got along with everyone there. A few years after I resigned to move back to SD and they went out of business.

    The other place I worked at that had several potheads including our manager it was either turn your head the other way or he could make things very difficult for you to make any money or just quit. He and the other potheads covered for each other which is fairly common in workplaces. That manager was eventually fired along with the rest of those potheads that were always at work while stoned. I had nothing to do with their firing.

  88. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-02 20:39

    Words!

    Words?

    Words.

    And then excuses.

    The Blindman

  89. Lynn 2015-07-02 21:01

    Bill,

    You tone has changed and it doesn’t really matter what you think anymore. Besides remember you said meth was no big deal and then you have our friend Bob Newland that would like to legalize all drugs. lol I will do what I can to help motivate others to stop South Dakota from going the route Colorado has in regards to legalization of marijuana laws either or both recreational or medical.

    Tonight I met with a few people I’ve known a long time and they have voted Democrat, Republican and as Independents. They will not only vote no but will do what they can to stop this. If the Dems think they can win running on pot legalization than they will do it without some voters.

    Who knows! If they lose again after running on pot legalization they better not whine about how bad things are in South Dakota. If they win and pot is legalized than they will have permanently lost a segment of the population that will never support them again. Life goes on. :)

  90. Lynn 2015-07-02 21:38

    Bill Dithmer,

    Lastly “Words?” “Excuses?”

    Some people just can’t handle the truth and look beyond their addiction. Hopefully they are able to seek out and get the help they need someday.

  91. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-03 06:08

    “Besides remember you said meth was no big deal”

    That is a f—ing lie Lynn. I’ve never said that in my life.

    The Blindman

  92. Lynn 2015-07-03 08:24

    “How many death certificates that show Cannabis was the cause?”

    “Drivers that smoke Cannabis are safer”

    “Cannabis is a benign herb”

    Remember this fella? Kevin Ward Jr. that got mad at Tony Stewart while racing at a dirt track in upstate NY, stopped his car on the track, got out of it DURING A RACE, with other racecars going by at obviously high speed and walked in front of Tony Stewart’s car pointed and was hit and killed? His autopsy showed he was under the influence of marijuana. Definitely impaired judgment and why was he even racing while high off that crap?

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2014/09/24/kevin-ward-jr-marijuana-toxicology-report-tony-stewart-grand-jury-decision/16160043/

    Yeah I know! The autopsy must of been tampered with by Big Pharma, The police unions and the Prison Industrial complex! It’s always a conspiracy. Btw! Did I mention some of the well documented side effects of consuming Cannabis/Marijuana could be psychosis and paranoia? http://www.web4health.info/en/answers/add-cannabis-paranoia.htm

  93. mike from iowa 2015-07-03 09:44

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/marijuana-deaths/

    According to these articles-don’t appear as if anyone has died from whacky tobacky overdoses.

    I do recall some guy named Dan Tucker died from a toothache in his heel. Which sounds silly like a children’s song.(it is)

  94. Lynn 2015-07-03 09:53

    MFI,

    If we switch the parameters to the use of Marijuana contributed to the death directly or indirectly via impaired judgment or led to addiction the results will most likely change greatly. We could add crimes committed also. We could keep this thread going on a long time then. lol

    btw! What do you think was going thru Kevin Ward Jrs mind while high and stepping in front of Tony Stewarts car during a car race? He was invincible?

  95. bearcreekbat 2015-07-03 10:05

    Lynn, after some reflection about your comments asserting that you experienced problems with a coworker due to his marijuana use I have to conclude that you are either hallucinating or are fabricating this experience.

    First, you obviously are not a marijuana user so you have absolutely no way of personally knowing how marijuana might affect another person. You have a lot of beliefs about this but no real or meaningful experience.

    Second, you describe your co-worker with such disgust that it seems pretty clear this co-worker was not your friend and did not spend time with you socially. This suggests that you have no personal knowledge about whatever substances that coworker may have ingested. Since you obviously did not like your coworker and were not friends with him, it seems highly unlikely that the coworker would ingest anything in your presence or even talk to you about such a topic. Obviously you may have suspected some behavior based on your personal prejudices, but you really had no knowledge about what the coworker ingested, if any thing.

    Third, you claim to have reported the coworkers alleged misbehavior to your employer and law enforcement, but state they would do nothing about it. This suggests that both your employer and law enforcement recognized that you were making unsupportable allegations against your coworker. Your efforts to imply some sort of conspiracy between law enforcement, your employer, and the allegedly stoned coworker seems to be additional evidence of either an overactive imagination or intentional prevarication.

    I will give you the benefit of the doubt and attribute your story to an overactive imagination rather than an attempt to deceive. Nonetheless, your attempts to stereotype marijuana users, your constant denigration of these folks and their motives, and your very imaginative workplace story, all undermine your credibility, while helping others understand your refusal to even consider what experienced marijuana users, such as Blindman, can teach you about the effects of marijuana.

  96. Lynn 2015-07-03 10:21

    BCB, No fabrication at all. It was well known in the other work environments and the one in particular at the world/national mail order with front showroom he came in from being outside just reeked of pot, his eyes bloodshot and I confronted him and he admitted to me what he did. He knew I’d be pretty ticked and I was. I got along well with that co-worker and he knew exactly where I stood. He is the one who screwed up not me and has no one to blame but himself.

    You have cited numerous times challenging addiction without suffering the withdrawal symptoms of cocaine or whatever yet the question I ask you is why do these people need to continuously get high? Why do they need it as a crutch in that can’t seem to function without any claim to medical needs? The once you confront these addicts I suppose it would be easy to suddenly to justify their use because as we all know addicts don’t lie. lol

    Lastly you need to realize that for those of us that are responsible and consistently show up to work on time and ready to work without having our lives centering around alcohol or drugs our perspective is different.

    If your cool with recreational use of marijuana just say it. You don’t need to play the sympathy card for medical use. You do what you can for full legalization and I’ll do what I can to oppose it. We can agree to disagree and that’s cool!

  97. mike from iowa 2015-07-03 10:29

    Lynn,my best guess is road rage. Nascar drivers all seem to have short tempers,which I suppose would be normal when driving at ultra-high speeds on a crowded track. Daily commutes can be stressful enough without all the bumping and jostling for positions. Marijuana does not make anyone aggressive in my experiences with it. But,then I was never a regular,heavy toker. Just an occasional bowl in the privacy of my home.

  98. Lynn 2015-07-03 10:30

    BCB,

    Reread what I posted a few times if need be to comprehend accurately what I posted. Your reply is inaccurate in what happened at my place of work and police.

  99. mike from iowa 2015-07-03 10:40

    Forget expanding parameters-no one has died from marijuana overdose.

  100. Lynn 2015-07-03 10:42

    MFI,

    I could care less about the overdose aspect but the bad things that develop as a result of consuming this drug.

  101. bearcreekbat 2015-07-03 11:00

    Lynn, you say your co-worker came in from a place that reeked of pot – since you are not a marijuana user how would you know what is smells like? You say he “admitted” smoking even though he knew you would be upset with him – how do you know he was being truthful? How do you know whether he just told you he smoked because he knew it would upset you?

    Meanwhile, if I incorrectly described your earlier comments, I apologize and would ask you to clarify or point out my mistakes.

    I agree to disagree with you on your theory that I and others who advocate legal medical marijuana do so for ulterior motives. I agree to disagree with you on your theory that sick kids should be denied cannabis oil for seizure treatment because you fear some person might smoke marijuana for enjoyment.

    By the way, do you eat cake, bagels, fruits, or have a favorite beverage that you enjoy on a regular basis? If so, wouldn’t that make you just as much of an addict as someone who enjoys consuming marijuana on a regular basis?

  102. Lynn 2015-07-03 11:12

    BCB,

    Look! You were not there. It’s getting obvious it won’t matter how detailed I describe each situation. Then you will ask me to describe everything over and over again to waste my time.

    The other place of work where the manager and other employees had their little pot club and came in stoned or get stoned at work were all fired for that reason by the regional supervisor. They dug their own hole and I didn’t have to help nor was I involved.

    Have fun with your effort to fully legalize pot here in South Dakota! :)

  103. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 11:17

    Cannabis rights are guaranteed by the 1st and 9th Amendments.

    The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

    The Ninth Amendment clarifies that the specific individual rights stated in the Constitution, particularly in the Bill of Rights, does not constitute an explicit and exhaustive listing of all individual rights possessed by the people, and cannot be used by the federal government to increase its powers in areas not stated. It was rarely cited before the second half of the 20th century, when it was used as a positive affirmation of a right not stated but nonetheless protected by the Constitution,[95] the right to privacy. This right was, in turn, the foundation upon which the Supreme Court built decisions in several landmark cases: Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), which struck down a Connecticut law criminalizing the use of contraceptives; Roe v. Wade (1973), which overturned a Texas law making it a crime to assist a woman to get an abortion; and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), which invalidated a Pennsylvania law that required spousal awareness prior to obtaining an abortion.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

  104. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 11:20

    South Dakota denies me my right to bring cannabis, allowed by the State of New Mexico to treat my glaucoma, into my home state. That’s a chilling effect on my 1st and 9th Amendment rights.

  105. Les 2015-07-03 11:25

    How many times at a Christmas cocktail party or elsewhere the elite come to me visiting about cannabis use. Waving their arms with the Manhattan in their hand stating well, Les, what do you think about old Donald and his pot head buddies. To tell you the truth I don’t see much difference with intoxication.

    I was older than the ropers and the dopers which came in the 70’s. The ropers died in extreme driving situations in a high ratio over the dopers. I do know of one incident in my life I believe a stoned driver killed a biker and I’m sure intoxicated by cannabis driving is dangerous.

    My comment earlier to Lynn that she couldn’t comprehend was wanting our kids alive. She figures there are better ways than pot to build self esteem from bullying. Yes there are and where are they? I’d rather have my children alive smoking pot than dead from suicide as happens so frequently on the Rez. Hard for a hard head to understand.

  106. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 11:25

    The Tenth Amendment gives New Mexico the power to draft laws designed to ease pain and treat diseases that otherwise would go untreated.

    South Dakota loses tens of millions of dollars crucial to healing the wrongs created by the state’s regressive, oppressive and repressive Republican Party financed by Big Booze and Big Pharma.

  107. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 11:38

    One case, Lynn. Get over your obsession to deny my civil rights.

  108. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 11:47

    The Sturgis Rally has killed far many more people than that, Lynn. How many bikers are expendable so South Dakota can raise enough cash to keep from looking like bankrupt Kansas?

  109. bearcreekbat 2015-07-03 11:49

    Lynn, you are right that I wasn’t there. Your comments and descriptions and stories seem so contrary to common sense, however, it appears that such comments are likely based on your anti-marijuana views rather than reality.

    The reality is that South Dakota has many residents with illnesses and impairments that could be safely treated with medical marijuana. Please remember this as you continue your efforts to make sure these people cannot lawfully obtain the help that their doctors would be able to otherwise provide for them.

  110. Lynn 2015-07-03 11:51

    But Larry Cannabis is a benign herb right? No more harmful than anti-bacterial soap? Here let’s see how many more I can find. :)

  111. Lynn 2015-07-03 11:57

    “Pot promoters continue to insist it’s harmless while marijuana deaths get more press”

    http://marijuana-policy.org/pot-promoters-continue-to-insist-its-harmless-while-marijuana-deaths-get-more-press/#print

    Teen Suicide: This time is was an 18 year-old who stabbed himself 20 times while high. His marijuana blood level was many times greater than the threshold amount for impaired driving. Although it was initially thought that meth or some other drug was involved, the autopsy revealed that no other drugs were present and that “marijuana intoxication” was a “significant condition” in his death

  112. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 12:09

    Lynn, you are one anonymous commenter at a South Dakota blog using specious drivel to advance an extremist view. If you want support for your crusade you are truly in at the wrong place.

  113. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 12:11

    Cannabis is one symptom presented by any number of troubled people.

    I’m trying to finish a bathroom remodel.

  114. Lynn 2015-07-03 12:13

    Larry remember “Cannabis is good for you and harmless!”

  115. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 12:13

    Colorado’s edible cannabis law will go away next session but will be sustained for patients who can’t tolerate opioids.

  116. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 12:15

    Cannabis is better for most than alcohol and far less harmful.

  117. Lynn 2015-07-03 12:17

    CBS4 found another Colorado death with strong ties to recreational marijuana. On May 18, 2012, Tron Dohse was returning to his Thornton apartment after attending a Rockies game. When he arrived home he had apparently lost his keys so he attempted to climb the outside of the apartment building to get to his balcony and gain access to his apartment. He fell to his death, which was ruled an accident.
    According to his autopsy report obtained by CBS4, Dohse’s THC level was 27.3 nanograms, more than five times the Colorado limit for impaired driving.

    http://marijuana-policy.org/pot-promoters-continue-to-insist-its-harmless-while-marijuana-deaths-get-more-press/#print

  118. bearcreekbat 2015-07-03 12:49

    Lynn, although it seems somewhat macabre to see you looking for support in your position by focusing on reports about the deaths of individuals who have used marijuana, you are making the common mistake of equating correlation with causation. Perhaps this link might help you see the difference:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation

  119. Lynn 2015-07-03 12:55

    “I couldn’t believe how high the (THC) level was,” said Castagna. “I think it had a very strong impact on what he did that night. I think his judgment was completely skewed. I really believe that was the main contributor.”

    An autopsy on the 26-year-old restaurant worker showed no other drugs or alcohol in his system. His older sister, Tori Castagna, told CBS4 she now believes marijuana impairment led her brother to make poor decisions the night of his death

    http://marijuana-policy.org/pot-promoters-continue-to-insist-its-harmless-while-marijuana-deaths-get-more-press/#print

  120. bearcreekbat 2015-07-03 13:05

    Lynn, you do realize that the link you put up comes directly from an anti-marijuana organization? You might consider information from more neutral links. In our discussions I have intentionally tried to avoid posting links from any pro-marijuana websites.

    When the stated goal of a website is explicitly stated: “Don’t Legalize. We Change Minds About Marijuana Legalization . . . .” you might take what they post with a grain of salt, just as you would from a pro-marijuana website.

  121. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-03 13:36

    Thats pretty cool reading Lynn. Did ya happen to look at the very last artical posted by this group of ” We are ordinary citizens who happen to be volunteers, educators, scientists, CEO’s, salespersons, doctors, lawyers, psychologists, construction professionals, authors, counselors, nurses, substance use prevention professionals, coaches, faith leaders, law enforcement officers. In other words, we come from all walks of life but share a common concern:  legalization is the wrong direction to go with marijuana and we must reverse course while we still can.   More importantly, we are all parents or grandparents, brothers or sisters, sons or daughters, cousins or friends. Most of us have seen the underside and negative consequences of the pot trade first hand.”

    It is dated 2005. From what little I can find your elite organization was two people trying to change the world. It isnt even in existence now! 10 years, thats how long their the irrelevance of this group has littered the net with their half baked ideas.

    My advice to you is to stay completely away from cannabis, you are one of the unstable ones that would panic from the use and have to hit the emergency room.

    Here are two question for the day.

    If you smoke a lb of pot as fast as you can, now that would be fun to watch, would you die from smoking? By the way I’d give $5 to watch that on time lapse.

    The person rolls a bowl, drinks about 12 oz of liquid, then rolls another bowl, and drinks some more. There will come a time in the persons chore of smoking that lb of pot, depending on the quality, at about the 1/8th oz mark that his or her body will tell them no more pot right now. At that point, they are through until they eat enough and drink enough to cut into that high. Maybe after that first round they might try another after they eat but more then likely it will be a nap, not more pot. From my experience you can only get so high. When you reach that place in time you cant drive, you cant carry on a conversation, and there is no way in hell you could fight.

    We once watched a young man who claimed that he could set down an never leave his seat and finish a 1/4 oz pile of average grade pot. He made it to 8 grams before his body said no more. Then he slept where he set on the couch for three hrs. When he woke up he was asked if he wanted more pot to which he answered “not now but maybe tomorrow.”

    How about if you took 20 Tylenol as fast as you can stuff em down your throat? If you were just setting there without help, all you would feel before you die would be pain from your liver shutting down.

    This is my last post on cannabis today. “You can’t fix stupid.”

    The Blindman

  122. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 13:48

    Ultimately, the recreational market in the United States could dwarf the medical marijuana market, and it’s possible that if marijuana were decriminalized on a federal level it would become a substantial income source via tax revenue for both state and federal government. Let’s be realistic here: marijuana isn’t going to single-handedly close any major budget deficits. However, it could go a long way to helping fund schools or creating and securing jobs.
    http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/07/03/this-presidential-candidate-just-took-a-staunch-st.aspx

    I have a good plan, South Dakota: hear me.

  123. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 13:50

    typing too fast because i have drywall mud setting up and forgot the quotes in last comment.

  124. Lynn 2015-07-03 16:02

    Wow! This is sad! Not one mention about those people that died. Were they considered “unstable ones” and just couldn’t handle their Cannabis? It’s all about you guys and your drug!

    Bill your description of a contest of who can smoke the most pot (Cannabis Cup?) doesn’t look like anything close serving any medical needs which just reinforces who is really driving this flawed medical legalization effort.

    Larry remember your friend’s neighbor that pissed you off so much after his dog bit you in the calf you had to go into the house and quickly smoke two bowls? That method is a great example for our kids in learning how to cope! I fail to see a medical reason to smoke two bowls after getting pissed off so much.

    Perhaps going over those marijuana related deaths again from a different source would gain more impact just what a loss it was rather than so focused on your own selfish needs and dismissing their deaths that they just couldn’t handle it and bragging about how you can handle your Cannabis which reads like a bunch of addicts.

  125. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 16:42

    Take a Xanax, Lynn.

  126. Lynn 2015-07-03 16:53

    Larry were those people that died marijuana deaths considered the “unstable ones” and just couldn’t handle their Cannabis like you guys can? I ask a question and you tell me to take a drug I have no need for? Is that just how you handle challenges just burn bowls and tell others to find comfort in mind altering chemicals?

  127. Lynn 2015-07-03 16:54

    *marijuana related deaths

  128. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 17:00

    Fact is: I spend far, far more money on supermarket Pinot Noir and at the tobacconist for my other pipes than I do for cannabis.

  129. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 17:05

    Just walked two miles into the Pecos Wilderness and back and can out sail anybody in either New Mexico or South Dakota.

  130. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-03 17:30

    Ok that did it lets set the record straight here before we go any farther.

    ” Wow! This is sad! Not one mention about those people that died.”

    Why in the world would I do that? I didnt know them personally, and I didnt even know them by association. They mean no more to me then the death of anyone that dose stupid things while they are inebriated on “take your pick.” I just dont care!

    ” Bill your description of a contest of who can smoke the most pot (Cannabis Cup?) doesn’t look like anything close serving any medical needs which just reinforces who is really driving this flawed medical legalization effort.”

    Its called “word comprehension.” There was no contest, none, zero. There was one man, one pile of pot, and one bong. This happened in 1985, and we were curious how much one man could smoke and still be able to smoke. Again there was no contest.

    You people have to remember something. Back when I started to use pot to treat my headaches, there was no talk of medical marijuana.

    If you wanted to buy pot you had to associate with a certain type of people in order to get good pot. That meant at times you knew when not to open up about your feelings and medical marijuana. The fastest way to make someone stop selling you pot, is to start acting strange, and believe me that would have been starnge at that time.You had to fit in.

    Lynn what I have told you is my firsthand experience in a scientific experiment. Granted, we really should have had 100,000 more people, but knowbody had that kind of money. Yes it was crude, but at that time it was enough for us.

    Meanwhile what we hear from you is second and third hand directly from anti pot advocates. Other then your run in with the potheads at work, what ya got for experience?

    It would seem that I have more hands on experience with the science end of it then you do.

    Hell there might be a book in there somewhere. I’d better stop.

    The Blindman

  131. bearcreekbat 2015-07-03 17:44

    Lynn, I am sorry but your repeated statements asserting that proponents of medical marijuana are nothing more than duplicitous, selfish addicts, shuts down any meaningful dialog with you. If that is what you truly believe about your fellow liberals merely because they support medical marijuana then you have a sad view of your fellow human beings.

    Perhaps that view of your fellow liberals makes your opposition to allowing people that might benefit from using marijuana more understandable, but it shows no compassion or empathy for those sick folks who could be helped if medical marijuana was available.

  132. Lynn 2015-07-03 17:45

    oh so your saying each and every one of us should smoke pot to really know what we are talking about? Would that work for meth? heroin? crack cocaine? and any other drug out there?

    You don’t need to experience this crap first hand in order to see the damage it causes and the social costs which outweigh the costs associated with the “war on drugs”.

  133. Paula 2015-07-03 17:59

    HUGE difference between legalizing medical marijuana vs recreational marijuana. And I am not talking about losers who get the illegitimate medical cards from fake/dishonest doctors in CA I hear about often. I agree with you Lynn, and am only responding so you’re not standing out in the wind by yourself. You probably will never change most of these people’s minds about the dangers of recreational marijuana use (leads to other drug use, illegal activity, impaired drivers, etc). Maybe once a loved one/acquaintance is killed or injured by someone driving while high, that’s what it will take to change opinions.

  134. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 18:13

    Anyone else smell PP?

  135. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-03 18:15

    How many ti e I gotta telll you Kurtz, thats bat shit.

    The Blindman

  136. Lynn 2015-07-03 18:23

    Paula,

    Thank you! These so called experts, connoisseurs and know how to “handle” their Cannabis keep telling everyone that “Cannabis is as harmful as anti-bacterial soap” “It’s just a harmless plant” BS and never killed anyone yet when they are confronted with tragedies or stats that don’t go according to the “High Times” script they say they “didn’t know them” The Police Unions or Big Pharma was behind it” or “Lynn take a Xanax.”

    I have stated numerous times on this blog that I would be open to support a Medical Marijuana law that is exactly the same as Minnesota’s. It is very tightly controlled with minimal chance of abuse and based on REAL science and can be expanded with further REAL studies not the type Ryan Gaddy over at SDAP and Beevis & Butthead University.

    The problem is that the current Medical Marijuana initiative introduced by Melissa Mentele is flawed and has too many holes in it for abuse and it was designed that way. A broader coalition is formed to help this version pass with real legitimate medical needs that would fall under the 9 categories that Minnesota requires but unfortunately the rec users and addicts will get theirs too! Then we have the cash rich pot industry/legal drug dealers in Colorado that is just chomping at the bit to see to this market once legalized.

    It’s a no brainer that the pot industry will profit far more off of a broad based group of customers from Melissa Mentele version of Flawed Medical Marijuana proposal than Minnesota’s Medical Marijuana Law.

  137. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 18:24

    Powers is infamous for using software that hides his identity. Androgynous names like ‘Lynn’ are typical. ‘Paula’ is a sock puppet.

  138. Paula 2015-07-03 18:27

    What’s a sock puppet? I must not be in the know…

  139. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 18:38

    That this space has been assigned as a target is a tell, Bill.

  140. Lynn 2015-07-03 18:44

    Paula,

    If you post anything that could counter their pro-pot agenda they will do what they can to attack and discredit you.

    Usually the most vocal here are heavy recreational users/addicts with some talking about using pot and psychedelic mushrooms for spiritual journeys, burning numerous bowls after having a bad day or a run in with a neighbor, moving beyond pot to legalizing all drugs but quickly go back to push for medical needs just to advance this 2016 initiative because it’s less threatening and helps open the door.

  141. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 18:48

    Imagine some republican using Paula Hawk’s imagined position as a trial balloon.

  142. Paula Froehlich 2015-07-03 18:53

    Well, I looked up “sockpuppet” (it’s one word, btw) and I can assure you I didn’t make up my identity. I’m using my full name this time, as everyone should (btw) and I have no idea who Lynn is and do not know PP. If you’d like to look me up on Facebook Larry Kurtz (names are capitalized, btw) you will see I am a legitimate person.

    Also a proud “wingnut” as you say. I think you are as nuts and you think I am! Once Cory moderates and approves my comments with links to reputable university hospitals’ and facilities’ studies, hopefully you will take the time to read and educate yourself to the downfalls of recreational marijuana use. The Mayo Clinic one is particularly good because it explains the organs that are affected by use.

  143. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 18:57

    Powers is out of material and needs this space to air his bile. Lynn fits that bill to a Tea.

  144. Lynn 2015-07-03 19:06

    Larry so now you are back talking about conspiracy theories that someone else is posting from SDWC or wherever because you can’t believe someone would disagree with you feel threatened there are more speaking up against your idea of legalizing drugs in South Dakota? Again a few of the well documented risks from consuming pot are schizophrenia, paranoia and psychosis.

  145. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 19:16

    I use my real name but PP never will here.

  146. Lynn 2015-07-03 19:20

    Larry what name or names are being used on this blog by PP or whomever else?

  147. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 19:20

    Pat is coward using other personas to mask his hypocritical food addiction.

  148. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 19:22

    Lynn is his bitch.

  149. larry kurtz 2015-07-03 19:27

    ‘Lynn’ could be Andy Shiers trolling Cory’s blog just for the hell of it: we don’t know.

  150. Lynn 2015-07-03 19:38

    Larry,

    ” Lynn is his bitch ” Now this is the type of response I have noticed with those that have been heavy long term users of marijuana. Your vile behavior in which the anger seems to control you and have a well earned online reputation with it.

    Our friend Bob’s violent threats against Grudz displaying his deep rooted anger.

    The Masters endurance athlete over in Minnesota widely known for his crazy outbursts at officials to the shock of everyone and he always with a cavalier attitude is always showing everyone he gets away from smoking pot and taking hits everywhere. Nearly everyone within that community has the widely held opinion that it is from his heavy long term pot use.

    Someone close to me that has smoked pot every night for years and everyone around her has noticed a gradual negative personality change and she is withdrawn. She has a smokers cough and barrel chest now from all that smoking.

  151. Lynn 2015-07-03 19:42

    Larry ask Cory if he has met Lynn ok?

    With all these conspiracies do you put tape over nail holes at your residence to keep those out to get you from constantly trying to look in?

  152. Les 2015-07-03 21:30

    My last word on this subject. I have a close friend, officer in a not far Wy county. Some of the street pot at that time two years back had meth laced in it according to her. It was a way to hook smokers. Meth users do some really stupid stuff…ya and so do some pot users. Lots harder to lace it if it comes from the control zone, Lynn.!

  153. Jenny 2015-07-03 21:33

    Mind your manners, Larry. Lynn, I know what you mean about chronic cannabis users. Man, SD has nothing on MN when it comes to cannabis (and alcohol for that matter). It is everywhere! It gives me an uneasy feeling also. We are a nation of addictions of every kind and it is indeed disturbing (to me anyway).
    I could go down any street here and score a bag easily. This would be good quality stuff also, not the SD stuff. Having said that, I am not a user.

  154. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-03 22:45

    ” oh so your saying each and every one of us should smoke pot to really know what we are talking about? 

    Well da. If you dont, you have no right to give advice on the subject.

    ” Would that work for meth? heroin? crack cocaine? and any other drug out there?”

    Nope, wouldnt work. While those drugs need to be processed, just like every pharmaceutical,” pot needs no processing, only heat. While every one of those drugs carries the threat of death every single time someone does it, cannabis does not. And finally, your own body produces cannabonoids almost identical to what is in pot. Your body also has cannabonoid receptors that help in both healing and pleasure. If your body isnt making enough cannabonoids, you feel more pain, the more pain you feel, the worse mood you get in. The easiest way to replace those cannabonoids is through the use of cannabis.

    Those drugs you are talking about work on the body in a completely different way. If you want to see real addiction check on the people that have used those drugs, then tell me that there is no difference.

    ” Your vile behavior in which the anger seems to control you and have a well earned online reputation with it.”

    God Larry we better never get together, we must be angry about the same thing.

    Lynn and now Paula, the reason I’m mad is because the one and only treatment that works on my condition is still illegal. Some of us have waited 35 years not to feel like a damned criminal, only to butt heads with people that are still living in 1935.

    Where I am now we will have medical a year from now, and the rec users will not be far behind.

    Ive been lucky enough to do a lot of things in my life. I rodeoed, I wasnt great but I did ride broncs and bulls, roped both ends of the steer, and trained a pretty good cutting horse that took three different kids to state high school rodeo. Ive flown hang gliders, rode dirtbike, and water skied the hell out of a few reservoirs. I trained dogs for the public and ran a successful dog breeding business. I drove for over 45 years without a single ticket, and most of it was done at night. Except for rodeo, every other thing I did was under the influence of pot, and all the while seeing 20 over 200 or 10 percent of 20 20. Ive written and performed my music many times with many different people, and now I write stories. All while I was under the influence of cannabis.

    I did those things because I could, and the only reason that I could was because of the pot. As I’ve told everyone I wouldnt be here now if it werent for pot.

    Ive had two stress related heart attacks, both times when they did lung expansion test they said I had the lungs of a twenty year old, and every doctor I’ve had was told that I used pot to treat my headaches. I have never had a doctor tell me to stop using it.

    Ive got over 35 years of pot knowledge from actual experience. And you think I’m gonna listen to someone that doesnt have any idea of what their talking about, let alone give advice to me about my lifes choices.

    Ya I know I’m not the brightest bulb in the box, but I do ok.

    Now, how in the hell did I not die if this is such a dangerous drug. Remember I did this for 35 years blind and technology stoned, how.

    I dont get mad at stupid people, they cant help it. I dont get mad at ignorant people because they can be educated by giving them the knowledge to understand.

    What does make me mad is people that try to take us back to the devil weed time in the Us. People that would rather talk then take action, because they dont want to admit their wrong. And I’m mad because I’m running out of time in this lifes battle.

    Now, I’ve shown you my creds, lets see yours. I will bow to your knowledge if you show some signs of knowing anything, anything at all.

    The Blindman

  155. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-03 22:52

    ” The Masters endurance athlete over in Minnesota widely known for his crazy outbursts at officials to the shock of everyone and he always with a cavalier attitude is always showing everyone he gets away from smoking pot and taking hits everywhere. Nearly everyone within that community has the widely held opinion that it is from his heavy long term pot use.”

    Nice piece of writing there Lynn.

    The Blindman

  156. Lynn 2015-07-04 07:42

    Bill,

    Lungs of a 20 year old? higher IQ? all those activities and years of driving on the road all while under the influence of pot? If your really that good with the aid of Pot the 2015 Tour de France starts today and I’m sure one of those teams would happily sign you on though I’m not sure you would pass their drug test. :)

    Reading all of your long post was like reading Gaddy’s SDAP posts and pot porn/snake oil claims that smoking weed will solve every problem we have ever had and turn us all into super humans with x-ray vision!

    You seem to be the exception and NO the rest of us don’t need to smoke that crap to see the negative affects up close and with people we know and love, how it lessens productivity in the workplace and the what the broader social costs are.

    We have too many chronic pot smokers and addicts out there and the “this is good for you” BS out there and legalization efforts will add more of our youth to the addiction pipeline.

  157. larry kurtz 2015-07-04 07:48

    ‘Lynn’ your idiocy is only surpassed by your ability to deny other people their civil rights.

  158. larry kurtz 2015-07-04 07:49

    Legalizing cannabis in South Dakota would end jailing people for expressing their civil rights and create necessary revenue to fix bridges and pay teachers living wages

  159. larry kurtz 2015-07-04 07:53

    There would be negligible increases in the number of people enjoying cannabis for the first time while the millions of dollars raised each year could help keep South Dakota from dying from old age.

  160. Lynn 2015-07-04 08:16

    Bill,

    That masters endurance athlete in Minnesota is well known within that particular community for a number of reason. Outside of competing in a certain discipline he is a nice and funny guy though he always feels the need to let everyone know he is always high with his weed by making sure we all see him taking hits if we are in a coffee shop, café or outside which will determines whether it is a one hitter or larger so he doesn’t get caught and is asked to leave.

    When the gun goes off and he is competing in a particular discipline he has a reputation for displaying bizarre, violent and in your face yelling at officials sometimes in their face of this sanctioned event. This sport is not known for having such behavior. The first time I witnessed this behavior others from that community came up to me and said it is normal for him to act so bizarre and attributed it to all the years he has smoked his weed it’s screwed him up. They brought it up not me. His reputation for going off the deep end because of smoking all that weed for years goes far beyond within that community.

    “Weed makes people happy and calm” Not this guy! He is a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

    Whether you believe me or not I don’t care out here in South Dakota but if you just happen to be a spectator or a competitor at an event in Minnesota there is a good chance you will witness this bizarre transformation.

  161. Lynn 2015-07-04 08:38

    Larry,

    “Lynn is his bitch.” “Lynn take a Xanax” “Lynn keep your vaginal ultra-sound out of my stash” “‘Lynn’ your idiocy is only surpassed by your ability to deny other people their civil rights.”

    Have you asked Cory if he has met me and that I’m not some pot induced schizophrenia, paranoia, psychosis and conspiracy led PP, SDWC or whomever plant?

  162. happy camper 2015-07-04 08:48

    As we watched a friend wither away with arms the size of broomsticks marijuana was the only thing that eased his pain, relieved nausea and allowed him to enjoy some time at the very end at home around friends and family. After experiencing it firsthand a reasonable person would not prevent someone from having it as a comfort aid.

    Sure, people use it for many reasons, but everyone seeks out distractions of some kind. Right now I’m hooked on Drop Dead Diva. What about all this blogger commenting? Seems like addiction for some. People escape through work, buying and selling cars, gambling, shopping, reading. An endless list of what people do to relax, cause let’s face, our brains never shut off. Could be a lion around the corner. Put it in perspective. Anything can throw a person off balance. Religion. Adherence to political ideology maybe?

  163. happy camper 2015-07-04 09:22

    And Lynn this one person you cite as an example sounds like he has a mental condition. Usually you seem more fair in how you frame your arguments, but everyone is a little bit crazy you know. Sometimes a person seems totally well adjusted but if you get to know them intimately, it may take some time, but then you see their bit of crazy. That’s been my experience anyway with solid, accomplished people just like your average person.

  164. Lynn 2015-07-04 09:49

    Happy,

    There are a number of people I’ve witnessed above that are heavy long term pot smokers that definitely display mental health issues and for something that is supposed to be this miracle plant from God that is so calming and peaceful they show a great deal of irrational vile anger. The mental illness could of been there for years prior or brought out by the chemical changes in brain chemistry as a result of long term drug use.

    Again one that is close to me and have known for 40 plus years and smokes pot heavy every single night at the very least has been observed by those that are close and love her and around her that her personality is changing gradually for the negative. She never used to be this way and not even close and is becoming more withdrawn. Smoking her pot has become more important than being around the people that love her and have reached out to help.

    With years of heavy smoking of pot she now has a smokers cough and you can tell when she laughs and is getting more barrel chested the same that you would see from a chain smoker of tobacco.

    I’m not some person that just fell off the turnip truck and was home schooled in some sheltered environment. Others and myself have seen over the years some really bad things happen as a result of what starts out as something so isolated and innocent and develop into something that is very destructive and painful.

    Reality vs complete BS claims that are out there.

    Again Ad nauseam I’m open to consider a law exactly written as Minnesota’s Medical Marijuana Law that is very tightly controlled and can be expanded in time as a result of REAL science and studies but not what is going on in SD now.

    In addition I’d be very open to tweaking our state Marijuana laws to what Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender proposed which sounds very practical, gets people the help they need and just makes financial sense.

  165. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-04 10:02

    Happy camper, if it will help I’ll admit I’m crazy. On the other hand, after examining the mind expanding narrative that come from either parties leadership in SD, I feel much better about my own mental condition.

    We are starting to fix dinner here. Grain fed ribeyes and some thick filets on the grill, baked potatoes, sautéed onions and mushrooms, green beans, and a nice salid. We would of had fresh matters a week from now.

    Everyone be safe in your travels this weekend. And if you choose to inebriat, do it at home or where you be out of harms way.

    Happy fourth.

    The Blindman

  166. bearcreekbat 2015-07-04 10:31

    Lynn, your claims about knowing all these regular marijuana smokers personally for years simply do not ring true. You present yourself as a rabid anti-marijuana person, yet you claim to be close friends with all these poor troubled regular marijuana smokers. Right . . . . .

  167. Lynn 2015-07-04 10:44

    BCB,

    Again read and take your time to take a break and come back to read again if need be to comprehend accurately what I posted.

    Happy 4th, be safe and have fun with your efforts to make South Dakota like Colorado in legalizing recreational use of pot!

  168. bearcreekbat 2015-07-04 11:40

    Lynn, here are some of the comments you posted, from the more recent to earlier statements:

    “There are a number of people I’ve witnessed above that are heavy long term pot smokers . . . .”

    “. . . one that is close to me and have known for 40 plus years and smokes pot heavy every single night . . . .”

    A “masters endurance athlete in Minnesota . . . . he is always high with his weed by making sure we all see him taking hits if we are in a coffee shop, café or outside. . . .”

    “Someone close to me that has smoked pot every night for years . . . .”

    “. . . one in particular at the world/national mail order with front showroom he came in from being outside just reeked of pot, his eyes bloodshot and I confronted him and he admitted to me what he did. He knew I’d be pretty ticked and I was. I got along well with that co-worker and he knew exactly where I stood.”

    “The other place I worked at that had several potheads including our manager . . . .”

    “I had a drug dealer living down the hall from me in a Condo in Minneapolis. . . .”

    “Every single one of the potheads I have worked with at a number of workplaces that came in stoned at work, got stoned at work. . . .”

    For a rabid anti-marijuana person you sure seem to have had a lot of relationships and friendships with marijuana smokers. That seems a bit odd, wouldn’t you think?

  169. leslie 2015-07-04 12:27

    23 million addicted now in usa*-90% don’t get treated, 40-60% relapse w/i year after treatment.

    criminal justice system contains 7.3 million adults (2007). NIH

    $212 billion spent annually on criminal justice system (2013). 2.4 million employed by criminal justice system.

    6% of adult population has serious mental heaith issues which cost $300+ billion (2002) annually. NIMH

    *canada’s population is 30 million, in comparison.

    science and legalization proponents swirl in debate whether addiction is illness. NIH says it is.

  170. jerry 2015-07-04 13:20

    Good point bearcreekbat, Lynn sounds like those closeted gay politicos that speak loudly and forcefully against the gay movement, while they are soliciting dates on gay websites. Go ahead Lynn, spark one of those fatties up, we know you are just fooling yourself.

  171. mike from iowa 2015-07-05 18:07

    Better outlaw recreational booze. Some idjit in Maine took home the Darwin Award yesterday fro getting drunk and placing a mortar on his head to shoot fireworks. His mind expanded alright,just not in a way that will improve his looks-if they can find what’s left of his head. No pot involved.

  172. bearcreekbat 2015-07-05 18:37

    mfi – just like a conservative’s view on guns, fireworks and recreational booze don’t kill people, stupid acts involving fireworks or stupid acts after imbibing in recreational booze kill people. In the case of sugar, it seems the long term effects kill people rather than short term stupid acts,making that substance much more dangerous in the long term.

    I wonder if a compromise position prohibiting stupid acts under the influence of any substance might satisfy concerns of folks like Lynn? Or will Lynn cling to the argument that it is marijuana, not the behavior of particular users,that is the danger?

  173. Lynn 2015-07-05 18:51

    “The Other Side of Cannabis: Negative Effectives of Marijuana on Our Youth A Documentary”

    http://www.oscdoc.com/

    Pretty sad! Lets just add to the pipeline of those suffering from addiction and mental illness brought on by “Big Marijuana” industry that is cash rich, the addicts and recreational users who push the marketing campaign deflecting about the high social costs, and emerging stats from this drug alone and push the “harmless herb” and it will solve every problem known to man snake oil pitch in an effort to legalize.

  174. Lynn 2015-07-05 18:52

    Cannabis:Negative Effects*

  175. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 18:57

    ‘Big Marijuana’ hides under Pat’s Lynn’s bed waiting to strike!

  176. Lynn 2015-07-05 19:26

    Looks like this “The Other Side of Cannabis: Negative Effects of Marijuana on Our Youth A Documentary” DVD will be another valuable tool along with the disturbing emerging stats from Colorado and soon to be released here in SD to help inform voters prior to the 2016 election.

    http://www.oscdoc.com/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4RedjlPzR8

  177. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 19:26

    Going on 200 comments when SDWC can barely cobble anything together. Pat still your stallion, Lynn?

  178. Lynn 2015-07-05 19:28

    Larry you started at 16? How many times do you get high per day?

  179. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 19:29

    Backing the Curd for something, Lynn?

  180. Lynn 2015-07-05 19:31

    Your life revolves around this so be proud and please let us know how many times you need to get high per day?

  181. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 19:35

    Ever been around Blake Curd or Jason Ravnsborg? Both present with symptoms of anabolic steroid abuse. Curd’s phallic hairdo is particularly fetching, dontcha think, Lynn?

  182. grudznick 2015-07-05 19:36

    Lar, your leathered face and yellow bottom teeth give you away.

  183. Lynn 2015-07-05 19:36

    Come on now! Don’t be shy or deflect. Just answer the question. lol :)

  184. Lynn 2015-07-05 19:40

    Grudz someone’s obsession with South Dakota is like a person getting dumped in a relationship and just can’t move on. Every waking moment is spent posting about this state from afar and how screwed we are. How many sleepless nights?

  185. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 19:40

    202 and counting.

  186. grudznick 2015-07-05 19:49

    And that’s just since last summer when Lar’s trigeminal nerve forced him to return to Belle once again.

  187. Lynn 2015-07-05 20:38

    “Myth #7. Marijuana is good for the symptoms of PTSD and by keeping this drug from our veterans, we are depriving them of an important alternative treatment”

    Veterans Affairs Administration studies have shown that those with PTSD who smoke marijuana make significantly less progress in overcoming their condition.11 PTSD victims are already more vulnerable to psychosis and it comes as no surprise that clinicians have witnessed psychotic breaks in PTSD patients who begin marijuana12 because of the abundant literature showing an association between marijuana use and the subsequent development of psychosis. While the symptoms that afflict PTSD patients (anxiety, depression, panic) may be temporarily relieved while the subjects are “high”, these very same symptoms are exacerbated in the long run.13 Even in the context of polydrug use, it is the degree of marijuana use that correlates most significantly with anxiety and depression.14

  188. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 20:40

    206.

  189. Lynn 2015-07-05 20:43

    Larry still afraid to answer the question I’ve asked you several times yet think it’s great for everyone else to use without concern for the negative consequences?

  190. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 20:44

    208.

  191. Lynn 2015-07-05 20:47

    Larry thank you! Once again your behavior and not being able to answer a simple question related to your obsession just re-enforces why South Dakota should never go the route Colorado, Oregon and Washington have in their legalization of pot laws.

  192. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 20:49

    210.

  193. grudznick 2015-07-05 20:58

    Lar, tonight when you fall asleep in that chair of yours with the organic cotton fabric upholstery with a floral print, a joint smoldering on the rim of your mostly empty beer can and your shot glass tipped over dribbling its final dregs onto the coffee table, you will dream about the Great State of South Dakota, indeed.

  194. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 20:59

    Democrats, if we let Rand Paul lead on legal cannabis we lose.

  195. jerry 2015-07-05 21:18

    The Veterans Administration has done no tests or studies, you are making that up. The latest report comes from March of 2015 and indicates no research. You are pulling that from some dark place Lynn. You may have to go down the hallway to your research center with the gang for further reports.

  196. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 21:21

    y’all notice that sdwc filters my name from comments? that’s because i am a threat to the sdgop.

  197. Lynn 2015-07-05 21:48

    Myth #7. Marijuana is good for the symptoms of PTSD and by keeping this drug from our veterans, we are depriving them of an important alternative treatment

    11. Bonn-Miller, Marcel O.; Boden, Matthew Tyler; Vujanovic, Anka A.; Drescher, Kent D. : Prospective investigation of the impact of cannabis use disorders on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among veterans in residential treatment. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, Vol 5(2), Mar 2013, 193-200………. ↩

    12. Pierre JM. Psychosis associated with medical marijuana: risk vs. benefits of medicinal cannabis use. Am J Psychiatry. 2010 May;167(5):598-9. ……… ↩

    13. Kuepper R, van Os J, Lieb R, Wittchen HU, Höfler M, Henquet C. Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study.BMJ. 2011 Mar 1;342: d738. Moore TH, Zammit S, Lingford-Hughes A, et al. Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: a systematic review. Lancet. 2007;370:319–328. Zuardi AW, Shirakawa I, Finkelfarb E, Karniol IG. Action of cannabidiol on the anxiety and other effects produced by delta 9-THC in normal subjects. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1982;76(3):245-50. Patton GC, Coffey C, Carlin JB, Degenhardt L, Lynskey M, Hall W. Cannabis use and mental health in young people: cohort study. BMJ. 2002;325(7374):1195-8. Hayatbakhsh MR, Najman JM, Jamrozik K, Mamun AA, Alati R, Bor W. Cannabis and anxiety and depression in young adults: a large prospective study.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007;46(3):408-17. Hasin DS, Keyes KM, Alderson D, Wang S, Aharonovich E, Grant BF. Cannabis withdrawal in the United States: results from NESARC. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(9):1354-63. Buckner JD, Leen-Feldner EW, Zvolensky MJ, Schmidt NB. The interactive effect of anxiety sensitivity and frequency of marijuana use in terms of anxious responding to bodily sensations among youth. Psychiatry Res. 2009;166(2-3):238-46. Zvolensky MJ, Cougle JR, Johnson KA, Bonn-Miller MO, Bernstein A. Marijuana use and panic psychopathology among a representative sample of adults. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010 Apr;18(2):129-34……………. ↩

    14. Medina KL, Shear PK. Anxiety, depression, and behavioral symptoms of executive dysfunction in ecstasy users: contributions of polydrug use. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2007 Mar 16;87(2-3):303-11……… ↩

  198. larry kurtz 2015-07-05 21:52

    Therapeutic cannabis is an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress.

  199. jerry 2015-07-05 22:04

    The Veterans Administration’s report says what it says. For you Lynn, it may not work and just makes you want a ho ho or a twinkie, for me it works.

  200. Lynn 2015-07-05 22:16

    yes meth, cocaine, heroin and whatever else for drugs help others put offer a false sense of relief for those suffering from PTSD with that type of reasoning.

  201. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-05 22:46

    Congratulations, everyones gone full circle a couple of times.

    I see that for some reason Lynn in concerned about the way Larry determines how much to do. Thats kinda personal. Remind me later to return the favor.

    “let us know how many times you need to get high per day?” Funny it looks like a statement.

    The correct answer in my case would be once when I get up in the morning, and then sometime during the evening. Sometimes more and sometimes less.

    The correct answer to your question is whatever it takes.

    ” Grudz someone’s obsession with South Dakota is like a person getting dumped in a relationship and just can’t move on. Every waking moment is spent posting about this state from afar and how screwed we are.” 

    Did something happen up in SD that unscrewed it? Like Lewis Black has said many times, he doesnt have to write his material anymore, he just looks at the news.

    Low pay

    A record of suppressing minorities

    A record of lusting after control of a womans body

    A record of elite behind close doors business transactions, EB5

    South Dakota, the new super state, able to absorb $100s of millions in losses because nobody was paying attention. And then the law suites will come.

    A record of promoting the subcontracting of bigotry at the top of the legal chain

    And just for yall, A record of comming close to voting human on cannabis but still are scared that a black man with a joint in his hand is going to jump out, play the blues, then rape ya.

    Like it or not SD has a big old red dot marking it. Its not that tough to find something to talk nagativity about it. And I still have a big interest in what happens there. So I still come here to get my jollies.

    A man from Mississippi and I were talking on FB the other day. When he found out where I came from he said thanks. When I asked him what for he typed “for taking the pressure off of Mississippi.

    Now that we is getting along so good, I guess you wont mind a personal question. Do you shave everything below the waist?

    There, now were even.

    The Blindman

  202. jerry 2015-07-05 23:57

    The Veterans Administration’s white paper speaks of the fact that there is no research answers on this matter. In fact, the writers of the report are listed as contributors to the report. We veterans see this all the time when it comes to a variety of things. PTSD and atrial fibrillation is one we see, there is no denying there is a link, it just means that there have not been enough studies and research done yet. Say what you will Lynn, but the facts are stubborn and they indicate that there has not been enough research done to form a consensus regarding ptsd and medical marijuana. As you read further, it indicates that it is basically a case by case situation. It works for me and it works for a lot of my bro’s that deal with our ghosts as best we can, why punish us for the good it does for us? Have we not done enough?

  203. Lynn 2015-07-06 07:23

    Why would we give our vets or anyone else suffering from PTSD something that puts them at risk of addiction and developing more mental health issues? Lets get them the help they need which is focused on the long term and not add to their challenges.

    Two reminders. #1 The main reason people use Marijuana is to get high.

    #2 Here are the 9 categories Minnesota has for their Medical Marijuana Law this based off of REAL science and by far reduces the chance of abuse. It’s more focused on true medical needs which obviously cuts out the recreational users and addicts and is far less profitable for out of state “Big Marijuana Profiteers” unlike the Ballot initiative being pushed here in South Dakota now proposed for the 2016 election.

    Qualifying Conditions:

    Cancer associated with severe/chronic pain, nausea
    or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting.

    Glaucoma.

    HIV/AIDS.

    Tourette Syndrome.

    Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

    Seizures, including those characteristic of Epilepsy.

    Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including
    those characteristic of Multiple Sclerosis.

    Crohn’s Disease.

    Terminal illness, with a life expectancy of less
    than one year, if the illness or treatment produces
    severe/chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting,
    Cachexia or severe wasting

  204. larry kurtz 2015-07-06 07:28

    New Mexico was the first state to list post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a condition for the use of medical cannabis. Greater than 75% reduction in CAPS symptom scores were reported when patients were using cannabis compared to when they were not.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24830188

  205. Lynn 2015-07-06 07:54

    Myth #1. It is rare for marijuana users to experience psychotic symptoms like paranoia.
    In fact, about 15% of all users and a much higher percentage of heavy users will experience psychotic symptoms.1 Half of those individuals will become chronically schizophrenic if they don’t stop using.2 Fortunately, some do stop using because psychosis is not pleasant and they wisely recognize that pot caused their problems.

    1. Thomas H. A community survey of adverse effects of cannabis use. Drug Alcohol Depend. 1996 Nov;42(3):201-7. Smith MJ, Thirthalli J, Abdallah AB, Murray RM, Cottler LB. Prevalence of psychotic symptoms in substance users: a comparison across substances. Compr Psychiatry. 2009 May-Jun;50(3):245-50. Barkus EJ, Stirling J, Hopkins RS, Lewis S. Psychopathology. Cannabis-induced psychosis-like experiences are associated with high schizotypy 2006;39(4):175-8…………….. ↩

    2. Arendt M, Mortensen PB, Rosenberg R, Pedersen CB, Waltoft BL. Familial predisposition for psychiatric disorder: comparison of subjects treated for cannabis-induced psychosis and schizophrenia. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008;65(11):1269-74. Niemi-Pynttäri JA, Sund R, Putkonen H, Vorma H, Wahlbeck K, Pirkola SP. Substance-induced psychoses converting into schizophrenia: a register-based study of 18,478 Finnish inpatient cases. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013 74(1):e94-9…………….. ↩

  206. jerry 2015-07-06 07:57

    Lynn, any drug is not a miracle drug cure all for everything, we all can react differently as we are all different. Medical marijuana works for some with ptsd and maybe not so good on others with ptsd. PTSD is not a Vietnam Veteran only issue, and not only limited to males. Many who deal with this are old vets from World War II and Korea or any other shithole we have been sent to. You made a blanket statement that was incorrect according to the Veterans Administrations own reports that I posted. In my own tests, it works wonders for me. I would feel much better about its use if it were legal. PTSD is a very serious issue that comes and goes as you are never sure when you will see something or smell something that just takes you back to those events.

    In medical marijuana’s case, the good far outweighs the bad and it should be made available if it helps to alleviate people’s suffering. How can society be so cruel as to know there is something that works to eliminate suffering and to allow life to be lived with dignity, but denying it for selfish reasons? Medical Marijuana should be legalized in South Dakota.

  207. Lynn 2015-07-06 07:59

    Myth #2. Marijuana-induced psychosis must be due to other contaminating drugs.
    Clinical studies under controlled laboratory conditions have shown that administering the pure, active ingredient of pot, ∆9-THC, elicits psychotic symptoms in normal volunteers.3 In addition, epidemiological research of nearly 19,000 drug abusing Finnish subjects showed that it was not LSD, amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, PCP or opiates that most consistently led to a diagnosis of long term schizophrenia, it was marijuana.4 Thus, if you lace your LSD with marijuana, you are more likely to go psychotic.

    3. D’Souza DC, Perry E, MacDougall L, Ammerman Y, Cooper T, Wu YT, Braley G, Gueorguieva R, Krystal JH. The psychotomimetic effects of intravenous delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy individuals: implications for psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004 Aug;29(8):1558-72. Morrison PD, Nottage J, Stone JM, Bhattacharyya S, Tunstall N, Brenneisen R, Holt D, Wilson D, Sumich A, McGuire P, Murray RM, Kapur S, Ffytche DH. Disruption of frontal θ coherence by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol is associated with positive psychotic symptoms. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011;;36(4):827-36. Bhattacharyya S, Crippa JA, Allen P, Martin-Santos R, Borgwardt S, Fusar-Poli P, Rubia K, Kambeitz J, O’Carroll C, Seal ML, Giampietro V, Brammer M, Zuardi AW, Atakan Z, McGuire PK. Induction of psychosis by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol reflects modulation of prefrontal and striatal function during attentional salience processing. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012 Jan;69(1):27-36……………. ↩

    4. Niemi-Pynttäri JA, Sund R, Putkonen H, Vorma H, Wahlbeck K, Pirkola SP. Substance-induced psychoses converting into schizophrenia: a register-based study of 18,478 Finnish inpatient cases. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013 74(1):e94-9……………… ↩

  208. jerry 2015-07-06 08:00

    Alcohol is a drug that is used to get high, so what?

  209. larry kurtz 2015-07-06 08:01

    The paranoia generated in some people is created by the stigma of ingesting an illegal drug not by the drug itself. Denying effective therapies is cruel and inhuman punishment.

  210. Lynn 2015-07-06 08:04

    Myth #3. If marijuana is associated with the development of chronic psychosis (schizophrenia), it is only because the patients are self-medicating. Correlation does not equal causation.
    Actually, four studies have been carried out in Europe to ask the question which comes first, the marijuana use or the schizophrenia. The research was designed to follow thousands of young teen subjects through a course of several years of their lives, and to ask if those who were showing symptoms of psychosis at study onset were more likely to begin smoking pot, or were those who were normal but began smoking pot during the course of the study more likely to become psychotic. Three of the studies5 convincingly showed that the evidence for marijuana triggering schizophrenia was strong, whereas the evidence for self-medication was weak. The fourth concluded that both were happening — marijuana was triggering psychosis and psychotic individuals were self-medicating.6

    5. Arseneault L, Cannon M, Poulton R, Murray R, Caspi A, Moffitt TE, 2002, Cannabis use in adolescence and risk for adult psychosis: longitudinal prospective study.BMJ. 2002 Nov 23;325(7374):1212-3. Henquet C, Krabbendam L, Spauwen J, et al. Prospective cohort study of cannabis use, predisposition for psychosis, and psychotic symptoms in young people. BMJ. 2005;330:11–15. Kuepper R, van Os J, Lieb R, Wittchen HU, Höfler M, Henquet C. Continued cannabis use and risk of incidence and persistence of psychotic symptoms: 10 year follow-up cohort study.BMJ. 2011 Mar 1;342: d738……………. ↩

    6. Griffith-Lendering MF, Wigman JT, Prince van Leeuwen A, Huijbregts SC, Huizink AC, Ormel J, Verhulst FC, van Os J, Swaab H, Vollebergh WA. Cannabis use and vulnerability for psychosis in early adolescence–a TRAILS study. Addiction. 2013 Apr;108(4):733-40…………….. ↩

  211. larry kurtz 2015-07-06 08:13

    That ‘Lynn’ has chosen to support Mexican drug cartels is frightening, even treasonous.

  212. Lynn 2015-07-06 08:16

    Myth #4. Those who become schizophrenic from marijuana use were destined to become so anyway because of their genes.
    The truth of the matter is that no one is destined to become schizophrenic. Even in the case where one member of an identical pair of twins has schizophrenia, only about half the time does the other twin become schizophrenic as well.7 Thus, there is ample room for environmental factors like marijuana to make a difference between leading a normal life and not.

    7. Gottesman, I.I., Shields, J.,1967. A polygenic theory of schizophrenia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 58,199-205…………… ↩

  213. larry kurtz 2015-07-06 08:25

    1967? gmafb.

  214. larry kurtz 2015-07-06 08:27

    Toxoplasmosis is a leading cause of schizophrenia, not cannabis.

  215. Lynn 2015-07-06 08:29

    Myth #5. Studies showing links between marijuana and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia are “cherry picked” to exclude negative studies.
    A very large review of all relevant published papers was conducted by a group of researchers from around the world and published in the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet. No attempt was made to exclude results that were negative. The results they obtained by merging all the studies was that marijuana use approximately doubles the risk for schizophrenia.8 Later research has shown that the risk goes up to 6-fold if the use is heavy or if the pot is strong 9 (similar to the strength of marijuana that is coming out of Colorado now).

    8. Moore TH, Zammit S, Lingford-Hughes A, et al. Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: a systematic review. Lancet. 2007;370:319–328…..… ↩

    9. Zammit S, Allebeck P, Andreasson S, Lundberg I, Lewis G, 2002, Self reported cannabis use as a risk factor for schizophrenia in Swedish conscripts of 1969: historical cohort study. BMJ. 2002 Nov 23;325(7374):1199. DiForti M, Morgan C, Dazzan P, Pariante C, Mondelli V, Marques TR, Handley R, Luzi S, Russo M, Paparelli A, Butt A, Stilo SA, Wiffen B, Powell J, Murray RM. High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis. Br J Psychiatry. 2009,195(6):488-91..……… ↩

  216. Porter Lansing 2015-07-06 08:29

    Mr. Kurtz,
    I had to refer to the Urban Dictionary to get it. 232 comments, Mr. Heidelberger? Is that a record?

  217. larry kurtz 2015-07-06 08:30

    Any study that uses the malapropism ‘pot’ is junk science.

  218. caheidelberger Post author | 2015-07-06 08:41

    You guys really want to talk about pot all day? Are you getting anywhere?

  219. Lynn 2015-07-06 08:46

    Cory,

    I have things to do & places to go rather than sit home and get high all day. Be back in a few days.

  220. larry kurtz 2015-07-06 08:48

    bye, hun.

  221. Bill Dithmer 2015-07-06 09:16

    ” I have things to do & places to go rather than sit home and get high all day. Be back in a few days.”

    I wish I wasnt so shiftless and no account. I’d build a business. I forgot, I am.

    I wish I’d tried to make a difference, both in the environment, and in peoples lives. Hey wait, I’m doing that as we speak.

    And I’m proud to be a cannabis educator. I try to give references that tell both the good and the bad from sources that arent funded by the DEA. And I try to read as many case studies as I can, although its getting harder to do all the time. There is so much to learn and so little time to obsorb the words.

    This is the latest that I’ve found that was an actual study.

    ” Since the early 1990s, researchers have been telling us that smoking marijuana can lead to schizophrenia. But a new study published in the Journal of Molecular Psychiatry has found that the association between cannabis and psychosis may be a result of overlapping genes, rather than cannabis being a direct cause of psychosis.”

    https://news.vice.com/article/pot-might-not-cause-schizophrenia-but-schizophrenics-are-more-likely-to-smoke-it

    From that study. ” Dr. Large says the risk pot poses to young teenagers actually bolsters the cause to legalize cannabis.”

    I can c&p to.

    The Blindman

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