Medical Marijuana Cards

The attempt to legitimize its use under mmj for moat casual users was and is a thinly veiled excuse to use it. If we're being honest and it was truly being used for medical purposes, nit just to get high, then it should be prescribed and part for treatment just as any other medication.

That's because the laws are conflicting. They did not legalize it at the Federal level, so the states created a 'medical' workaround, which ultimately made it more palatable for the brainwashed masses and let the Feds off the hook for decades of knowingly false propaganda. "Look, we just discovered that it's actually good for you in some ways! Golly gee, what a lucky day!"

Let's also keep something in mind. Watch any television commercial about any pharmaceutical drug and they'll list an eternity of side effects, some of which can be deadly. Yet these drugs are not only legal, they're advertised and encouraged.

Also, the third leading cause of death in America is 'medical errors':

A New, Evidence-based Estimate of Patient Harms Associated with Hospital Care

Using a weighted average of the 4 studies, a lower limit of 210,000 deaths per year was associated with preventable harm in hospitals. Given limitations in the search capability of the Global Trigger Tool and the incompleteness of medical records on which the Tool depends, the true number of premature deaths associated with preventable harm to patients was estimated at more than 400,000 per year.

So medical staff accidentally injures or kills 400,000 people annually while putting out a never-ending stream of dangerous synthetic drugs, many of which are highly addictive. Yet, medical personnel are by far the most trusted people in our society. After the past three years, if you still don't see what's going on, keep digging.

Propaganda works on most people.

As always, when something makes no sense, it's because you haven't followed the money. Follow the money and everything will make sense.

I concur on the points for sure, as I said, big Pharma has kept it from being used for a variety of other purposes. It's been found to kill cancer cells among other things. Also, opiate based pain relievers drastically interfere with blood sugar levels in diabetics while pot doesn't. It's also far less addictive than opiates and nearly impossible to overdose on.

Nonetheless, and not that I agree on whether the stigma is justified or not, I think that's why there is a stigma there.

It’s basically a moot point, isn’t it? Marijuana is prohibited entirely for drivers. Alcohol use is very restricted. So, if anybody wants to drive a truck, they need to abide by these restrictions. It’s that simple.

I believe the stigma exists for a variety of reasons but largely because cannabis was illegal everywhere in the U.S. for a long period of time and anyone who was using it was breaking the law and some were heavy users of it and considered a pothead, such as my older brother. For many, once they ignored one law, they went onto other drugs, again like my older brother who is a meth addict at age 71. He is 5 years older than me and talked me into trying it once at about age 10 and my younger sister at age 5. He is a half brother and maybe his dad was an idiot also. But I suspect some of his stupidity is due to heavy use of cannabis starting in his teens. Some studies show a drop in IQ from long term use of cannabis and I believe I've seen that in old childhood friends.

Still, moderate controlled use is probably okay for most people. I believe the stigma will go away over time. But it's not legal for people in sensitive jobs such as truck drivers so it just needs to be avoided.

My older brother's son was a recreational user of cannabis. About 15 years ago he started working on a tugboat and eventually his employer began drug testing so he knew he just had to stop. He also saw the effects that drug use had on his father and that helped convince him to just stay away from such drugs. He enjoys fishing and hiking and finds that as a great outlet for stress and he is now a tug boat captain.

It was nailed in this thread. Again, my personal opinion.

Everyone that I know of, in person, who has had a "MJ card" has either had extreme emotional issues that they self medicated with alcohol and pot, instead of actually seeking modalities that would address the root causes of the issues, OR *wink wink nudge nudge* they have some dreamed up medical issue so they can "stick it to the cops" in their misguided delusions of grandeur.

Again, personal experience.

As for legit uses, I can't argue that it stopped nausea for my pregnant friend, that was vomiting hard enough to rupture blood vessels in her face and eyes. HyperEmesis in pregnancy is brutal, and I'm still traumatized from my experiences with it. I can't argue that my friend was harmed more by pot, than she was by literally starving.

I can't argue that my friend Layla wasn't able to ease bone pain, once her breast cancer metastisized.

I can't argue that children haven't shown a marked decrease in seizure activity by oral consumption.

What I CAN argue, right now, is that it is illegal on the federal level. Anyone partaking, even with a medical card, is knowingly breaking federal law. What I CAN argue, right now, is that there is no existing test to quantify usage, and time from consumption.

Comparing it to alcohol, slightly relevant. However, alcohol has a relatively short life before your body metabolizes it, and its effects clear your system. There ARE tests where you can differentiate active impairment and usage, vs "I smoked three days ago."

Do I think that there was a push to outlaw it so other industries could make a buck? Absolutely. Do I think we need to remove the restrictions in certain ways? Yeah, that would be helpful.

With it's current scheduling, itis classified as having "no valid medical usage." With that classification, it's illegal to even academically do research on it. Ergo, perpetuating the cycle.

Bottom line, if you have a need for a medical card, the trucking industry can live without you.

Bottom line, if you have a need for a medical card, the trucking industry can live without you.

I agree with you about the "need" part. I'm glad people were able to share their opinions on this topic.

I also think we all agree that it can't be legal for drivers as long as it isn't possible to determine when the person smoked, or if the effect of the THC has worn off.

Davy brings up a good point about unknown long-term effects. But, as Brett mentioned, prescription drugs for other medications come with a whole host of side effects. I doubt many of the newer medication's long term effects-if any-have been determined since Pharma companies are always eager to release their new medications as quickly as possible.

I also agree with most people's guesses as to why the stigma still exists. Government campaigns and public service announcements over the last 75 years have painted Marijuana users as pothead slackers and deadbeats. They failed to differentiate between users and abusers. Imagine if alcohol users were similarly treated. PSA's would show all people who drank as stumbling, unemployed, abusive, rejects.

Bottom line, if you have a need for a medical card, the trucking industry can live without you.

Imagine if alcohol users were similarly treated. PSA's would show all people who drank as stumbling, unemployed, abusive, rejects.

But that won't be seen in the media. Why? As Brett points out earlier, follow the money.

I think a viable solution is to treat it like any prescription medication. You have a prescription, and it's perfectly legal, but operating a vehicle on many medications is prohibitive.

Solution: Treat marijuana the same as any other medication that shouldn't be in a driver's system when driving.