Denver Relief Blog

Binge drinking on the rise, consequences worse than cannabis

Christopher Meyer — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:00:31 +0000

Our culture condones and encourages alcohol consumption socially often to the point of inebriation as a recent Centers for Disease Control study shows. Binge alcohol consumption (more than 5 drinks per occasion) is on the rise with consequences for safety and health. Compared to alcohol those using marijuana are safer drivers, aren’t prone to violence or risky behavior, and suffer very few negative consequences, yet the double standard of criminalization of cannabis remains.

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Do doctors who recommend marijuana need extra training? Maryland reps. say ‘Yes’

Christopher Meyer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:54:00 +0000

There is a persistent sentiment that medical marijuana is only appropriate for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, or for geriatric care, but evidence suggests medicinal possibilities for marijuana extend far beyond this narrow-minded approach. Maryland legislators propose moving forward with the state’s medical marijuana program, but would require doctors wishing to recommend marijuana undergo special training and approval. This is an attempt to prevent a certain type of medical cannabis user from gaining access; by creating a short list of approved doctors with narrow views of who qualifies for medical marijuana treatment.

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Marijuana recreation has medical benefits; Cannabis is always medicine

Christopher Meyer — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 01:28:22 +0000

If the effects of cannabis being cheap mean they have little risk and few side effects, then that 'cheap high' is much more preferable than the expense of alcohol and tobacco. Such persistent opposition and making distinctions about cannabis users are the last remaining vestiges of the criminalization of cannabis use. Sentences uttered by advocates of legal marijuana lose credibility because of categorization with other ‘illicit’ drugs that do actually pose a danger.

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Drug cartels, police, and policy makers agree; Distorted truths of drug war failure

Christopher Meyer — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:05:38 +0000

Some lies become so loud and pervasive they hold more command than the truth. A little harmless make believe is well and good, but when delusion engenders violence, and when such imaginings destroy lives and economies those lies must be stopped. Not by accident do these ideas remain popular opinion. Mechanisms of our government, industry, and news media work to perpetuate these myths throughout the world. Supporters claim they operate for the good of the public, but in fact spread propaganda aimed at appealing to emotion and fear, rather than logic and rationality, and the result is a public that has formed their opinions while seeing a fearsome falsehood sold as reality.

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Medical Marijuana: Rep. Polis probes Holder in 3 questions, gets 1 canned answer

Christopher Meyer — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:54:50 +0000

Each of the 3 topics that Polis asked about receive essentially the same answer. The simple message is this. Given their limited resources, the Department of Justice will not make it an enforcement priority to go after medical marijuana providers that are acting in conformity with state law. You may be thinking that the medical marijuana community is breathing a sigh of relief, but this presents no drastic change in the official policy of the Department of Justice, and there is not sign that marijuana will fall from federal view any time soon.

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Killing with trust; Deadly danger in Big Pharma power

Christopher Meyer — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 01:07:53 +0000

Since the health of the american people is focused on profit rather than well-being, feedback loops associated with pharmaceuticals benefit the companies that produce them. “You have unfavorable side-effects from that drug? This one can help with that.”

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With medical marijuana, mum is the word; Publicity is the price of progress

Christopher Meyer — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:17:11 +0000

The crusade against drugs is largely about politics, funding law enforcement, and the penal system. Only in the wake of anti-drug campaigns and the criminalization of cannabis users do people form spurious negative opinions about cannabis and its users. Even those who have witnessed loved ones battle addiction do not hope for incarceration. Is winning votes worth sacrificing the ideals of the country they have been elected to serve?

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Publicity is the price of progress

Cannabisism | Systemic prejudice, rights infringement

Christopher Meyer — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:35:59 +0000

Cannabisism - A belief or doctrine that cannabis and its users are inherently inferior to those who do not choose to use cannabis and that cannabis and its users should not have the same rights other drugs (alcohol, tobacco, Vicodin) and their users have.

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Marijuana activism in the age of tomorrow; 2012 is crucial

Christopher Meyer — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:43:53 +0000

It is not a single voice that spurns on a movement. It is only in chorus that we can bring real change to this country, and so I must thank you all for your support, for speaking out with friends and family, for making it your business to bring cannabis medicine to the modern world. In a country where hope seems fleeting, my spirits are often renewed at the prospect of the de-prohibition of cannabis and its very valuable industrial cousin, hemp.

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A drug-free world not possible; Campaigns promote ignorance

Christopher Meyer — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:14:06 +0000

Last week people showed support for a drug-free world by pinning red ribbons to their clothing. Throughout this country there are fellow citizens who believe, each in their own way, that drugs (you know, like heroin) have no place in our society. An admirable, albeit misguided, cause. The term 'drugs' includes too much to bear the dream of indeed having a drug-free world, the battle cry of those with the red-ribbon. 'Drugs' can include anything from alcohol (not leaving anytime soon) to meth (probably should be done away with).

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