Teen Depression Worsened by Marijuana, Government Says

Take with a grain of salt

Ever notice how are policy on the evil weed is being set by people who've never done marijuna

marijuana

maryjane is lyk so awesome wen i feel depressed it makes me feel better and it calms me down ive been smokin it 4 like a year nd a half nd its da bezt!!!!!!!!!!! =)

marijuana

i think mary jane is awsome! ive been smoking for two years and it helps me deal with my problems....i relax and its very calming...

buddddd

Yeah next week the "Experts" will say that weed is good for you....Just let us smoke and shut your mouth about depression. i guess if you sat around by yourself and smoked all day you would be depressed, hold on while i hit this bong.....

Let us examine the source of the study

Lets not forget that the Federal Government sponsored study that showed that cannabis causes brain damage. They obtained this proof by asphyxiating Rhesus monkeys by strapping them a chair and giving them the equivalent of 63 Colombian strength joints in "five minutes, thru the gas masks" losing no smoke. They are also the ones who "accidentally" substituted amphetamines for ecstasy to show that substance caused brain damage.

The other point of view

First off, if Mary Jane was not bad for you, why would DOCTORS care if you used it? Secondly the study says that pot use INCREASES the risks of getting those side effects. It doesn't say that you will get them.

Exceptional Human Being

I think when most people see me they probably don’t see much, I’m 44 years old, I’m still married to my first wife, we have 2 kids, nice house, car, good job & my own personal business that keeps me pretty busy. When I’m not working I like to play with my kids, run, workout, snowboard/ski& mountain bike.I must be exceptional. I never thought I was all that exceptional in the past but the more I read these reports, especially from John Walters, I can only assume that I must be an exceptional human being. How can I possibly live this well if I’m , for the most part, a daily cannabis user. After 30 years of cannabis smoking I should be horribly depressed, suicidal no less, drained of energy, constantly sick & hating life in general. Instead, for me, I enjoy life more & more as I get older! So I must conclude from the reports that come from the Office of National Drug Control Policy that some how God has empowered me & my friends with some kind of exceptional resistance to problems associated with cannabis use. Oh well, Momma always said I was special;)

And the capitalist enviroment makes them happy...

They're worried about a weed making kids more depressed but having them go into debt trying to pay for college only to make less money than they need to survive in this country is making them happy?

Oh wait they have to spend more money on drugs to make them normal (stoned) and stay in debt so that capitalism can continue to "work".

A weed used for over 2000 years in various cultures is destroying our youth, not the government, right.

Marijuana = cure all

Let's see...

Need for massive amounts of renewable energy...

Turnaround for Starbucks - new brownies...

Oh, and alcohol, the "state endorsed" drug, well now...

Perhaps those folks in D.C. oughtta start taking medication for their schizophrenia problems.

Nothing ever changes does it.

John Walters

I love John Walters movies ... especially Pink Flamingos and Polyester ... party on dude!

Responce

For one this report is about teens. Secondly, its all percentages. This study does not say smoking pot will make you depressed, just that you are more likely to become depressed. Its just like cigarette smoking and cancer. Everyone knows that cigarette smoking greatly increases your chances of getting lung and throat cancer. My grandma has smoked almost two packs a day for 50 years and she doesn't have the smokers cough. These are percentages. Do A, B is more likely.

Also in responce to the first poster. Researchers don't have to smoke weed to study it and say its effects. By your logic people can't study cancer unless they have it. Its totally untrue. And there are tons of X addicts who now research drugs and alcohol. Lots of the people who work at rehabs are X addicts.

Disinfo All The Way!

I've been a heavy smoker for 7 years, not only did the herb cure my depression but it helped me cope with a number of problems throughout my adolesence. It doesn't help you escape, it forces an introspective look at life so you can make positive changes in your life. *hits bong* *smiles*

And what about the 24 yr old I know

who is paranoid, chronically antisocial, a pathological liar and cannot remember what he said to you two days prior AND SMOKES POT EVERYDAY? You are saying that pot has NOTHING to do with this behavior? He says it *calms him* also, but at what cost?

Then stop GIVING it to kids!

So why do they have policies that make marijuana so easy for kids to get a hold of? Does anybody still believe a single word these people say?

Correct Info!

Just because it doesn't happen to you doesn't mean it doesn't happen, or that marijuana isn't the cause. People die in car accidents everyday from alcohol abuse. Just because you have been drinking and driving all your life and nothing has ever happened does not mean the rest, or maybe even just some of those drinking and driving accidents were caused by drinking and driving.

Look this is just information so that people may know how to live the healthiest. This is not doctors trying to dictate your lives (well maybe it is im not 100% through the video yet) BUT there is science backing up their clames. Please just listen to it, examine the other side of the fence just as the DOCTORS examine your side of the fence.

yup

What he was trying to say is people who have never used a certain drug tend to view it differntly and push misinformation. Like lawmakers and salvia who seem to think its the "new" weed. Even going as far as saying it looks like marijuana and has similar effects lol. Now they want to make it illegal and ensure that every kid will want to try it. Leave it as it is, most people who do salvia once will not do it again. Anyways, marijuana use is not a problem, making it illegal is. Look at the netherlands. Relax restrictions and usage drops.

Anti Depressants are worse

Depression has been blown out of proportion for the last 18 years. We do not even have real scientific proof of what can and does cause it. What is it really? Is it an illness? Maybe it's just a state of mind. But what I know for sure is that Anti Depressants to not help. Being doped up by some perscription drugs for the rest of your life is not healthy and most of these "legal drugs" cause suicidal behavior.

Marijuana isn't worsening depression, people themselves are worsening their depression. Honestly, the term depression has been thrown around like every mood that isn't "happy" is depression.

Killer Weed

These are the same sort of people who in the propaganda film Reefer Madness told people that if you smoke weed you will kill someone. I have smoked many times and never had the thought of killing someone; the only thing close to murder while under the influence of weed was what I did to a bag of chips I guess that was murder in one way or another. Who knows what the story will be tomorrow. I personally think it helped me with my depression because it helped me relax and forget the things that bothered me.

I don’t think it is for everyone but let people make their own choices not scare them into them.

Big Drug Companies

If you want to see who is really behind these assinine reports, just follow the money. The bid drug companies are scared to death of marijuana because they don't have anything that works as well. I am not a user, haven't been for 27 years. But I know a lot of people who have faired so much better with weed than Prescription Drugs and Alcohol. Our government needs to stop protecting big money and tell the truth for once.

Another Lie

These are the same sort of people who in the propaganda film Reefer Madness told people that if you smoke weed you will kill someone. I have smoked many times and never had the thought of killing someone; the only thing close to murder while under the influence of weed was what I did to a bag of chips I guess that was murder in one way or another. Who knows what the story will be tomorrow. I personally think it helped me with my depression because it helped me relax and forget the things that bothered me.

I don’t think it is for everyone but let people make their own choices not scare them into them.

i'll tell you what is depressing...

I found it an extremely sad flag of our society, that these kids dug up a baby's skull and made a bong out of it.

What also is upsetting is to think about all those kids at UCLA (70 some) who were on a great start to a great life and now are facing felony drug charges that they will have to put on their job application, also noting that they were suspended from school. Some will not recover from this event ever.

I think it goes without saying that people who are depressed are more likely to use drugs of any kind because if you feel great, why would you want to mess with that? It would be difficult to prove conclusively the "chicken came before the egg" and that youngsters were not depressed prior.

I think another significant thing I have learned is that drugs/alcohol affect different people differently. It has to do with brain chemistry. Certain folks will take a toke and never want to feel that way again. For others, it seems as if they have found something that makes them cope. My own experience is that the more intelligent the individual, the more likely that pot, alcohol or other drugs may induce a schizophrenic state-and I have seen many such individuals being diagnosed as bipolar and put on medications for schizophrenia, which subsidizes their drug use. If they would quit the substance abuse, they would not need the meds in other words. I have SEEN this MANY TIMES.

In any case, if there are seemingly no apparent downside effects on the user themselves from pot, the harder people party the more selfish, hedonistic, and immature they become. Of course, this is another case of which came first? Maybe selfish, hedonistic, immature people are just more likely to be hard partiers.

On the other hand, marijuana has some medical benefits, but then so does heroin, and I wouldn't deny a cigarrette or a shot of whiskey to anyone standing before a firing squad. That said, researchers can gather all the information and distribute it, but even if people know there are consequences some will still persist, some even when the consequences are mounting, and that may start a cycle of needing to self medicate more and more. Maybe that is why these kids are more depressed, but not half as depressed as they will be as adults when they consequences become more severe. (i.e. a first-time juvenile offender will be let go easy with no record; not so after 18, or job consequences, etc).

marijuana

marijuana is bad!!jk!

Moderation is the key

Just like anything, if you abuse it to escape your problems, whether it is video games, alcohol, or pot, it is going to worsen your depression. However, playing a video game, drinking a beer, or smoking a joint *every once in awhile* is a good way to relieving stress and have a good time. It's moderation that's the key, and this study is trying to pin "marijuana use" only as the cause of depression yet they fail to mention all the suicides while people are on prescription anti-depressants. I think kids get more depressed when they smoke pot because they realize how much their government has been screwing them over and lying to them.

Another example of some government cretin that thinks he has to justify his existance and does not have a useful clue about what works and what does not.

Weed most benefit - least risk

I was clinicly depressed as a teen. I tried doctor perscribed anti-depressants. They didn't work. One day I took the whole bottle and almost died.

After that I started smoking cannibus. That was over 20 years ago.

I am now the CEO of a rapidly growing production company, graduated from business school with Honors (2nd in my class), have a wonderful family, and most importantly I am in touch with my spirit and am no longer clinically depressed. None of this would of happened with out Marijuana.

The government is wrong. PERIOD. I just returned from a conference on Medical Cannibus where doctors from all over the world talked about the different medical properties of marijuana. Not one had any thing negative to say about this plant. Not one doctor. It heals. Don't believe the propaganda. It is a lie.

How about a little honesty...

I smoked as a teenager and it did bring me into a bit of a depression. I didnt have any more issues that the average teenager, but it triggered a lot and pulled me in deeper. It depends upon your makeup and they type of person you are and how sensitive you are to certain things. If you are into being a burnout pothead, then you probably wont care much about what I am saying because the druggy lifestyle are more of an identity for you. Look at kids and music. Drugs are marketed to kids. Then the government says its bad so that makes it more attractive. Most people grow out of this phase but pot is clearly a gateway drug that gets you into a druggy mindset and the scene associated with it, so definitely use caution. I have seen a lot of people levels of maturity and depth frozen in time from chonic pot use. 12-15 year olds in 30+ year old bodies. From what I see now most people that recreationaly smoke and seem to have it under control are much older and know themselves better and aren't trying to fit into some social scene or stereotype and smoke very rarely. Everyone is different and people should have some awareness of how they are effected by things like this. Kids should be careful and focus on their lives and not partying because in excess you can seriously mess up your life. You don't need the governments war on drugs and phony Reefer Madness films to sway you the opposite direction and deter you from using common sense. Weed is a plant...as is the poppy...as is poison ivy. Everything has its purpose and its use...and its abuse. All of the people I know that became heroin addicts started somewhere. Anyone that denies this is a flat out lier. Let your brain develop and if you want to try something safer later in life than do it with caution and common sense. Otherwise learn how to meditate and bring yourself to similar states without the side effects.

Of course

When kids smoke marijuana, see how benign it is, and realize that they live in a screwed-up society where the innocent thing they are doing is a crime, naturally they get depressed...

When children act like children, they are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. When teenagers’ hormones are raging, they are diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder. These same scientists (who most likely are paid by pharmaceutical companies) tell us marijuana is bad and then want to drug our kids with prescription medicines that are 100 times worse. I dare them to run a trial that compares the results of marijuana for depression against their prescriptions for depression….or even look just look at the news and the blogs. You will find numerous cases of people committing suicide or becoming violent on Prozac , Paxil and similar medications….but I swear I have never read an article that said somebody smoking pot harmed themselves or somebody else. Let’s get real people.

Smoke Screen Issue

Excuse me, but the government always seems to bring out this so-called "data" whenever there's a bill introduced in Congress to legalize marijuana.

You know, if you visit Amsterdam you'll see what happens when marijuana and hash is legalized giving the police time to focus on the really bad stuff--the heroin, the crack cocaine, the ecstasy, the meth. The streets there are safer at 4 a.m. than the streets of New York city in broad daylight.

Furthermore, why don't some of you anti-weed people have a talk with your law enforcement, off the record of course. Those who use weed are not even a minor problem compared to those who are using alcohol, heroin, crack cocaine, etc and so forth.

This country is going to hell, and it's the ignorant fears of a few keeping the many from enjoying what little freedom we have left. If you've never tried marijuana, you don't know what you're talking about, and no amount of government studies or falsified data to support an erroneous and narrow-minded opinion is going to give you the education that experience does.

Legalize marijuana, tax the sales, issue licenses for growing, and let law enforcement focus on the real killers of not only our teens, but our society as a whole--meth, ecstasy, heroin, and alcohol--don't forget the alcohol.

I am so sick of these archaic attitudes, the narrow-mindedness, the lack of toleration. This is supposed to be a free country, but it appears we must cater ever and always to the anal-retentive ignorant minority who spends every waking minute of their lives in fear.

JMNGFADJHGSDFIU;GFSD ......................LOVE WEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need to get real!

When children act like children, they are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. When teenagers’ hormones are raging, they are diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder. These same scientists (who most likely are paid by pharmaceutical companies) tell us marijuana is bad and then want to drug our kids with prescription medicines that are 100 times worse. I dare them to run a trial that compares the results of marijuana for depression against their prescriptions for depression….or even look just look at the news and the blogs. You will find numerous cases of people committing suicide or becoming violent on Prozac , Paxil and similar medications….but I swear I have never read an article that said somebody smoking pot harmed themselves or somebody else. Let’s get real people.

Nice try. But really, after all their screw-ups and "unbiased" reports what makes them think that we'll listen now? Another thing. Over half of U.S. have symptoms of depression. Um yeah, because being an teenager sucks. It would probably be a little better if there weren't paranoid parents leaning over our shoulders convinced that we're suicidal if we shut the door to our rooms.

We need to get real!

When children act like children, they are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. When teenagers’ hormones are raging, they are diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder. These same scientists (who most likely are paid by pharmaceutical companies) tell us marijuana is bad and then want to drug our kids with prescription medicines that are 100 times worse. I dare them to run a trial that compares the results of marijuana for depression against their prescriptions for depression….or even look just look at the news and the blogs. You will find numerous cases of people committing suicide or becoming violent on Prozac , Paxil and similar medications….but I swear I have never read an article that said somebody smoking pot harmed themselves or somebody else. Let’s get real people.

Could we be serious

Well marijuana is not a depressant.... booze is a depressant and is legal.

What is the real story??

Crappy journalism, in-accurate studies.

Wolf!!!

Note to Government: You are the boy who cried "WOLF!"

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20080509/white-house-warns-of-pot-depression-link

Michael Fendrich, a psychologist who directs the Center for Addiction and Behavioral Health Research at the University of Wisconsin, said the White House report "overreaches" in some of its conclusions.

"It's kind of sensationalist," Fendrich told WebMD. He said some studies have found a small increased risk of psychosis after heavy marijuana use.

But most long-term studies have been "very tentative" about linkages between marijuana and depression, Fendrich said. While the association between marijuana use and worsening depression makes "some theoretical sense", most studies have not been able to single out the drug as an independent risk factor, he said.

"Drug use is part of a whole menu of risks that kids are facing right now. And there are a lot of things kids can do to self-medicate, including drinking, which is legal and probably a lot easier to access," he said in an interview.

Teen Depression

I think the Government could show their concern about teen depression by outlawing ADHD medications like amphetamines and amphetamine like substances that can foster teen depression, and are probably at the root of much of it.

Smile

I have been smoking the fine herb, Marijuana, for quite some time now.

Why I do it? Several reasons

For me, Cannabis is an effective migraine treatment. It restores my vision, it subdues nausea, and stops the mind-splitting headache that usually follows.

Marijuana has also helped me lift myself from severe depression. Its up-lifting buzz continues to bring a smile to my face. I become more productive and focused, enabling me to concentrate on what I need to get done.

Although, I cannot say that every strain of marijuana has positive effects, and my opinion on a solution for this problem would be legalization. Because of its legal status, when purchased from a source, the quality of the marijuana cannot be determined until after the sale has occured. Poor quality marijuana can cause adverse effects, and often times, many cannibis smokers find this situation happening alot.

If marijuana were to be legalized, i believe either scenario would result:

-Higher quality strains would be more readily available

or

-Cannibis users can grow their own plants

To say that marijuana can increase ones chances from suffering depression can be true, but I would like to say that it can be heavily variable on the plants: strain, potency, and condition.

To wrap this up, I think if one were to experiment with marijuana, they should be well aware of their mental health and experiment at low doses to find out how their body reacts and metabolizes the plant.

legal drugs

It figures...

Depression drugs increases suicide in teens but their ok because they come from the doctor. Pot is a reason to get thru the day not a reason to end it all.

yea, most of you sound like you really have it together

I am so sick of the "pot's no big deal" "IT'S ALL THE GOVERNMENT'S FAULT"!

My lovely niece, now 22, got started on pot in the 9th grade. Her grades went down, she had lousy boyfriends, dropped out of all activities. She made it into a small college, but failed out. She spent every cent of her money from birthday/Christmas gifts ( she couldn't hold a job) on pot, and started making up fake reasons to get money from my sister (how many times can her car break down?). Once my sister realized what was going on, she couldn't stop her from smoking other than to cut off the funds. Now she is working at an $8.00 an hour job, can't drive because whoops, she got a DUI. Yea, pot is a really great thing. Everyone should do it!!

I find this another stretch of reality... down to the fact that its been this way since the twenties, time to grow up and mature.... Just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean it doesn't work for anyone!. the same proponents of keeping it off the legal circuit are getting paid by the drug companies to keep it considered IMMORAL... even though alcohol has much worse side effects. And Yes, too much smoking can make you depressed..... but its a ridiculous amount that has to be smoked, consistently of course..... hell i know for a FACT that marijuana can produce more fuel than corn or any other crop, and grow in less manicured conditions and faster!. Marijuana is just a damn plant..... America needs to grow up!

Anyone have an actual link to this "study"?

This "story" is everywhere. But I can't find one that gives a link to the actual study so I can read it for myself. First off, if it's like any other governmental study blasting the "evil weed" that I've seen - and there have been a half dozen this year alone - I am willing to bet that the number of controls was under 100. The last one had 79 controls. And where did they get the controls? Are they teens from gated neighborhoods or the ghetos? You can't make a very good scientific conclusion without at least several hundred controls ranging from all walks of life - and I can almost guarantee this study is nowhere close.

Anyhow, my point is - don't believe a word of it...I sure as hell don't! As mentioned in earlier posts, the forces behind the reefer madness mentallity are the pharmeceutical companies worrying how legalization would kill half of their business for meds ranging from pain klillers to mood enhancers to anti-nausea, etc. - Again, like an earlier poster pointed out - the medicinal use list goes on and on. The truth is, this administration has thrown more propoganda at the American public than any in history! They should be ashamed of themselves for spreading so many blatant untruths, exagerations, and outright lies - but if they aren't by now...

I'm just ranting to the wind.

The US government causes more depression than anything I've ever been exposed to.

read it

I started smoking pot at age 13. Smoked almost daily. Al also enjoyed LSD daily for many many of my walkabout years. I Graduated Magna Cum Laude in 3 1/2 years in Engineering. Income is now in the top 2% of all Americans.

Wife doesn't work ( doesn't HAVE to ). I have been told I am a bad example, but you decide for ourselves.

I had the benefit of good, honest drug education by my family and extended family.

My family culture with pot provided all the warnings and importance of moderation with all drugs, including sugar and coffee. Yes, my partents, grandparents, great great great grandparents knew of the herb, many more before them.

As I read this, I was a little concerned that this study actually is about combining opiods with marijuana. I haven't tried opiods. Those were identified as "trouble" drugs to me early on. I've seen the effect of opiods on people, inculding America's own OxyCotin, to know what a bad drug really is all about.

I agree with this on this thread that the pharmaceutical has much more dangerous, and untested drugs that "might" be more effeftive than marijuana.

There is a lot of money going down the drain if big pharma can't openly test new drugs on a unsuspecting public. I don't trust big pharma OR the governement's propogana.

I'll stick to what works for me.

Wait teenagers depressed???? I have never heard of such a thing. The government is right its pots fault, it has nothing to do with our society in whole. Somebody come tell me when pot kills someone, because nobody has ever died from smoking pot, end of the debate

a reason to incarcerate?

'fed up Aunt of NY',

Do you desire to incarcerate all of us who cherish the sacred herb, just because you blame cannabis for your niece's issues?

Fed up Aunt in New York...

You need to face the facts woman. Your neice had/has a much bigger problem than marijuana. I doubt her money problems were the result of marijuana alone - she was probably on much heavier drugs that you don't even want to think about.

And her DUI was for driving under the influence of pot???? I bet NOT! Why are you blaming her failures on marijuana when it sounds like alcohol (and probably other more costly drugs) is the real evil here? People who go off on self-desructive binges are going to use whatever means available to "escape" - take away the weed and it could have very well been something destructive like huffing some readilly available inhalants. For all you know, weed could be the drug that saved her from going over the edge? Open your mind and don't buy into the hype about something like weed - escpecially if you have never experimented with using it - and I can almost bet that you have not?

all governments are liars and murderers

http://www.jackherer.com/

http://www.normal.org/

http://www.smokedot.org/

It will be legal if you fight for it to be legal, times are changing people are learning, the government's lies about marijuana will not stand

"all governments are liars and murderers" - bill hicks

Does the government have no conception of 'correlation is not causation'?

As a neuroscience student, I find this report highly suspect, and I'm also ashamed that most of you have no grasp of that either. Yes, marijuana is stupid. It is the same as any other moderate drug of abuse, though - it belongs with alcohol and tobacco, not heroin and ecstasy.

Read the reports they cite!

Some of you need to gain more perspective

Many of you seem to be defending this drug, without knowing the harms that it has actually caused for some people.

First off, this article is not saying that the use of weed alone can cause depression, or that weed *gasp* is such a horrible thing. It is saying that it has the ABILITY to worsen the symptoms of depression .. when those who are depressed are using marijuana. Sure, this is not the case for everyone, but I know that this was the case for me.

I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago, and had started smoking up shortly before that. The weed was not the cause of the depression, but I noticed that the more I smoked, and the more often I smoked, the more depressed I had become. Days where I burned turned into days when I felt incredibly low (although at first I was high off my ass and would laugh at nothing.) Eventually I had become suicidal, even though there was nothing going on in my life that seemed worthy enough to cause such feelings. I wasn't aware at first that the marijuana had anything to do with these thoughts, but I realized that when I had stopped blazing for a while, I felt more motivated and happy. Afterwards, I made the poor decision to start smoking again for social reasons, and ofcourse.. I was brought back to my phase of feeling incredibly, helplessly sad.

Now I am sure that the weed was causing the worsening of my depression symptoms, so I try to avoid it at all costs. Now, I am able to focus on fighting the depression with a sober mind. Not to mention, I have a lot more money in my pockets than I did before.

Politics

Truthfully don't use anymore but the way our so called Political leaders and CEO's are ruining this counrty I've thought of startings again.!!

Propaganda

A citizen on stimulants is a productive citizen!

Last time I checked, smoking marijuana made me feel good.

Obama was pro-decriminalization

FYI, folks:

Until just a few months ago, Barack Obama supported the decriminalization of cannabis. He recently changed his tune, but hopefully this is mere posturing.

Yes We Can!

LOL, this thread didn't survive without a reference to one of the candidates!

And half of you aren't even cognizant of actual scientific reporting about it, just anecdotal experiences which may or may not be based on accurate perception!

Daaang, you people don't know how to argue .

Its Not for everyone

this is in response to "Fed up Aunt"

Marijuana is not for everyone and some people, especially younger ones can become "mentally addicted" to it. There is no "physical addiction" as with alcohol or harder drugs because there are no physical withdrawl symptoms.

None of the pro legalization movement are saying everyone should smoke pot. They understand that for some people it can make things worse but there are many people that are able to handle it responsibly and live productive lives. To lump everyone into the same category is wrong. Keep in mind that John Walters is the same guy who said marijuana is no different than crack cocaine.

The war on drugs is not working, it is in fact making things worse and if you think it's hard for young adults to find a job now imagine what it's like for those who get arrested for experimenting with pot and are now lumped in with the dregs of society.

Young people are not stupid, they know when they are being lied to and all it does is make the problems worse.

We don't want to see the youth of america walking around like the living dead doped up 24/7 any more than you do. What we want is a sensible drug policy that doesnt classify marijuana the same way as "hard drugs", and the decriminalization of possessing small amounts for personal, adult use.

what they meant to say was it makes you resistant to oppression

two words

schaffer commission

OMG

oh my green!

yeah. not everyone should do everything.

can we have our millions back for teachers, govt. idiots?

Our Government & Media are Out of Control

We are being programmed to think. Stop watching TV and learn to think for yourself. We are losing everything we have. Read the US Constitution. Understand what's happened before it's too late (it already may be).

I highly recommend you spend the time to watch and understand this:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173&q=freedom+to+facism&ei=FPEkSLGXEIyYrALq7cWICg&hl=en

(il)legal status

has probably caused more depression in society than the depressed who have been negatively affected by said herb.

'course, logic rarely finds the DC spotlight.

can't help but notice

The pro-marijuana replies are running about 10 to 1 to the head-in-the-sand believe-everything-daddy-government-tells-you idiots.

That should tell you something.

Stoners can read, articulate, debate, and are capable of more rational thought.

The heathen devil-weed will become LEGAL - as God intended for it to be.

Amen - and Yeah God!

You know...

Money, government, world issues, family matters, and an overall sense of everything causes depression. Stop blindly attacking something that is far less dangerous than a good percentage of perscription drugs going around, because like marijuana, (which is tough to abuse,) they can be abused too. Remember: anything can get into the wrong hands and taken or used the wrong way.

Now, I have to go outside to smoke my blunt because it's not too illegal. :)

Peace.

The government is dumb

Does anyone actually believe what the government says in defense of their failed drug policies? Their capacity to underestimate public intelligence is seemingly unlimited.

hahah there's nothin wrong with dope keep smokin kids!!

ever think of this....

more people have died from caffeine, cigarettes, pills, misc drugs, cancer, etc. can anyone tell me someone who has died from marijuana?!? no because the death rate caused by marijuana is 0.

Government-financed Reports

The U.S. is a capitalistic country. Money and commerce trump intelligent thought and rational discussion. Issues are settled by money. The anti-marijuana crowd and propaganda machine are financed by the pro-liquor crowd, and the very livelihood of the drug warriors depends on a bogus scientific and intellectually dishonest argument. It is said "you cannot make someone understand the truth when their salary depends on them MISunderstanding." There will never be unbiased information.

It is not a noble issue of deciding what is the truth medically and scientifically. It is a means to pay the light bill for propagandists and a competitive advantage to the alcohol industry for drug policy to be based in ignorance.

It depresses me....

I smoke, I live in Humboldt. Sometimes I don't smoke for long periods of time. I grew up getting depressed, what teen doesn't (those without any hormone flux)

I am not depressed in my adult hood 42 y/o. But I do totally note the tendency to get more moody, more internalized and stay in my head too much---It's these time when I stop smoking, there is no physical addiction to cannabis, it is a friendly herb. I am fortunate in that I can stop smoking when I get to lost in my own head, and then enjoy the smoking pleasures when all is well. Some teenagers don't have this practiced will power to stop. I spent most of my teens stoned and depressed, were I not to smoke then would I not be depressed? If my adult reaction to cannabis can be a indicator I would have to say yes. Pot brings ya down---beyond calm. I know many who went all through college stoned---great, I can not read and retain while stoned. Pot is not for everybody.

Depression and marijuana!

I wish I hadn't smoked pot all those years. I don't know why some fare better than others but I didn't. It was a big waste of my life those 15 years I smoked and the other 25 to clear out my head. Nothing happened and nothing got done and now I'm 58 playing catch-up while my peers are sitting fat and happy. Go ahead and smoke and make the weed dealer rich. But just because someone else gets away with it doesn't mean you won't end up in Looserville like me. It's your life and it'll be all gone before you know it.

YEA RIGHT!

No body is listening any more to the governments bull$#!T! It is obvious by all of the comments posted here and anywhere else!

John Walters Is Right!!!

I agree with John Walters. Marijuana is the cause of all the problems we're currently facing in the world. It's also the reason why we can't confirm or deny the existence of Bigfoot, or get a decent sonar reading on the Loch Ness Monster. The faster we rid the world of this evil weed, the faster we'll clear up these disturbing mysteries.

So please, I'm appealing to all you hard-core, sex-crazed bong-bangers out there, put down that spliff, flush that chronic, and jettison that skunk-weed before it's too late. You don't have to smoke that poison to get depressed, you can achieve it naturally. If everybody stops smoking weed for just a year, we'll all be just like John Walters, and if that doesn't lead you to chronic depression, nothing will.

Bush Lies, Again

Nobody is going to believe anything THIS administration puts out.

Where is science and truth?

Just in the last 3 months the Bush administrations "crusade" has killed more young Americans in a war than pot has made state side teenagers depressed. Get a grip every one!!... Alcohol and our own government is causeing suicides. Pot from the perspective of science is almost not on the radar as far as depressive influences. Much worse is the fear of a failed job or mortgage because Bush's people let the mortgage crisis get out of hand!!!!

John Walters was appointed by the Bush administration to implement the government's anti-drug policies. What do you expect him to say? So, in fact, an accurate headline for this article would be "Bush administration opposes illegal drug use." Surprise!

Freedoms let us chose whats best for us each

Teri,,, I would say that marijuana has helped me for 40 years to calm down. There are people that ere naturally too hyped up and there are those that are naturally too depressed.. Pot is not good for those that are naturally too depressed...but it helps those who are naturally to hyped up become more focused and norma;l...PLEASE accept that fact and the difference between humans and know.." one mans poisen is another mans medicine".. the laws of the land should not be biased one way or another.

Marijuana made me do it

re: "Up in smoke. of OH"

Your blaming marijuana for your problems, heh?

r-i-g-h-t

re: "Katharine of WI"

You exude brilliance that reigns over these other loathsome comments, leaving them awash in fat droplets of your razor-sharp wit.

for anyone interested in the topic: eric schlosser, author of fast food nation, wrote a great book about the US black market and a good bit of it is on the incongruities between our supposed love of the free market system and the harshness with which we prosecute first time non violent marijuana offenders. Theres an mp3 of a speech he gave on the subject on wikipedia. Its very enlightening and reasonable.

Ultimately, marijuana is only as dangerous a substance as the person using it. As a drug which has been tried by roughly half our population it would be grossly incorrect to blame it for any destructive behavior that likely would have happened anyway. Personally, I really enjoy it but i also respect it (not as a "sacred herb" or any kum baya nonsense but as a substance). If there are any ills with chronic use its that it does carry a small risk of minor psychological dependance. People owe it to themselves to understand the substances they put in their bodies. If we were all armed with a bit more factual knowledge on the subject, I think marijuana use wouldn't be as controversial as it is today.

Why is the government issuing a medical report?

I doubt that the government personnel involved in releasing this report are reputable medical scientists or medical researchers. This is just Government personnel attempting to blend separate medical reports / statistics to match the headline. Here we have nothing more than a weak attempt at pushing through a pre-defined agenda and nothing to do with actual science.

Let’s not pretend that the government knows anything about medicine or recreational drugs because it does not. That is not their role. The knowledge gained from proper science and the interpretation of that science must remain in the hands of medical researchers. Any public pronouncements based on these reports must come from those same medical researchers and definitely not from government bureaucrats.

This headline and what can only loosely be called a report (it definitely is not a study) is completely bogus and would be (will be) laughed at by the science communities at large.

In my opinion marijuana should be a medical option but until that decision is left up to the medical community based on science I don't see it happening. Since it won't happen in my lifetime this report was just a waste of taxpayer’s money and more importantly demonstrates why nationalized health care must never happen.

Can you imagine this same group of government personnel issuing reports on Cancer, Cardiopulmonary disease and Diabetes based on mashing together discrete and often times conflicting medical reports by non-scientific personnel? Nationalizing health care based on these mash ups will kill people unnecessarily and it will cause a significant reduction in quality of life for people that suffer from chronic disease.

JRD of MN

I'm not old enough to remember it personally but im pretty sure that it was the government that warned us about the link between ciggs and lung cancer. The bit about nationalized health care is a bit of a non sequitur. Overall government medical research is, a vast vast majority of the time, a good thing for the american public. Ever heard of the NIH?

I agree the report was bogus but dont throw the baby out with the bath water...

Marijuana is bad...

it makes you depressed. But it's ok, we have some totally healthy prescription pills for that! Hmm, lets see, you wanna try some effexor? Perhaps some Prozac? Hey, if the govt and drug company lobbyists say its better for me, it must be! So try this, go to your doctor, pay hundreds for some pills, and watch the world get better, thanks to the government!

in response to jason from ohio

I think its funny that you try to draw distinctions between the side that doesnt think pot is that bad and "doctors". Of all the professions in the US, doctors are some of the biggest smokers ( knowledge of the lack of harmfull effects and stress from their work i imagine). Marijuana is essentially non toxic, its smoke is lmuch ess carcenogenic than tobacco, and it has at least a dozen proven MEDICAL applications.

Find better sources.

The U.S. government and certainly John Walters are not longer reputable source on any thing remotely related to drug use. The whole ONDCP is a huge bureacracy that spews lies on a more or less constant basis. It's amazing (and disgusting) how the media just takes their press releases and runs with them. It will be a happy day when the last drug war dinosaur dies off, and we can actually implement sensible drug policy without worrying about any more no-knock raids.