Bmorg Bans Alcohol and Tobacco Permits Marijuana & X!

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:32 pm

In the desire to make Burning Man a safer more enjoyable experience for all Larry has concluded:

Pot, Ecstasy Safer Than Alcohol, Tobacco?
By Maria Cheng
AP Medical Writer
March 23, 2007

CBNNews.com -- LONDON (AP) -- New "landmark" research finds that alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than some illegal drugs like marijuana or Ecstasy and should be classified as such in legal systems, according to a new British study.

In research published Friday in The Lancet magazine, Professor David Nutt of Britain's Bristol University and colleagues proposed a new framework for the classification of harmful substances, based on the actual risks posed to society. Their ranking listed alcohol and tobacco among the top 10 most dangerous substances.

Nutt and colleagues used three factors to determine the harm associated with any drug: the physical harm to the user, the drug's potential for addiction, and the impact on society of drug use. The researchers asked two groups of experts - psychiatrists specializing in addiction and legal or police officials with scientific or medical expertise - to assign scores to 20 different drugs, including heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy, amphetamines, and LSD.

Nutt and his colleagues then calculated the drugs' overall rankings. In the end, the experts agreed with each other - but not with the existing British classification of dangerous substances.

Heroin and cocaine were ranked most dangerous, followed by barbiturates and street methadone. Alcohol was the fifth-most harmful drug and tobacco the ninth most harmful. Cannabis came in 11th, and near the bottom of the list was ECSTASY.

According to existing British and U.S. drug policy, alcohol and tobacco are legal, while cannabis and Ecstasy are both illegal. Previous reports, including a study from a parliamentary committee last year, have questioned the scientific rationale for Britain's drug classification system.

"The current drug system is ill thought-out and arbitrary," said Nutt, referring to the United Kingdom's practice of assigning drugs to three distinct divisions, ostensibly based on the drugs' potential for harm. "The exclusion of alcohol and tobacco from the Misuse of Drugs Act is, from a scientific perspective, arbitrary," write Nutt and his colleagues in The Lancet.

Tobacco causes 40 percent of all hospital illnesses, while alcohol is blamed for more than half of all visits to hospital emergency rooms. The substances also harm society in other ways, damaging families and occupying police services.

Nutt hopes that the research will provoke debate within the UK and beyond about how drugs - including socially acceptable drugs such as alcohol - should be regulated. While different countries use different markers to classify dangerous drugs, none use a system like the one proposed by Nutt's study, which he hopes could serve as a framework for international authorities.

"This is a landmark paper," said Dr. Leslie Iversen, professor of pharmacology at Oxford University. Iversen was not connected to the research. "It is the first real step towards an evidence-based classification of drugs." He added that based on the paper's results, alcohol and tobacco could not reasonably be excluded.

"The rankings also suggest the need for better regulation of the more harmful drugs that are currently legal, i.e. tobacco and alcohol," wrote Wayne Hall, of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, in an accompanying Lancet commentary. Hall was not involved with Nutt's paper.

While experts agreed that criminalizing alcohol and tobacco would be challenging, they said that governments should review the penalties imposed for drug abuse and try to make them more reflective of the actual risks and damages involved.

Nutt called for more education so that people were aware of the risks of various drugs. "All drugs are dangerous," he said. "Even the ones people know and love and use every day."

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Could it be that "The Noble Experiment" of Prohibition is rearing its ugly head once again. Or will we see marijuana and Ecstasy legalized.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:21 am

I refuse to elaborate on my vote about the author being off the meds. I will however say that I have never been too fond of alcohol. The occasional ale, glass of wine, and mixed drink suit me fine. Ever since I got into my mid 20s getting sloshed just hasn't done it for me. I still smoke tobacco, I have a preference for American Spirit or Drum mixed with mugwort. I hope someday to quit but the willpower just isn't there. Its basically my only regular vice. I have no problem with the de-criminalization of cannabis but extasy is a more perplexing question. I have lost alot of good friends to ODs and try and deter folks from the heavy stuff in favor of natural substitutes. I do recall having played with meow meow when I was a club kid but that was too strange for me to appreciate on any sort of regular basis.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:06 am

I vote for the "nobility" of Man....

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:09 am

Toolmaker wrote: I have lost alot of good friends to ODs and try and deter folks from the heavy stuff in favor of natural substitutes.

could you elaborate please on what kind of drugs did your friends OD on?

Which Natural Substitutes would you recomend?

In my futuristic world, I had always thought that our drug companies would produce a drug that is relatively safe sold with a antidote. You go to a bar or party, have a good time and say about a half an hour before you leave you take the antidote. If someone has a negative reaction to the high producing drug then there is antidote to negate the drug.

I vote for the mobility of man...

AIIZ

K-mom · Post by **K-mom** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:25 pm

Meow Meow, would that be ketamine?
I rather enjoyed trying that back in the day as well, seemed like being physically drunk but still able to think clearly. Could never understand the desire to head into the hole though, and plus when I saw one of my best friends develop a physical dependence on the stuff I decided to steer clear of it. Still, an interesting experience.

Also thanx for the link AIIZ, even if it did come from Christian website.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:34 am

Apollonaris Zeus wrote:
Toolmaker wrote: I have lost alot of good friends to ODs and try and deter folks from the heavy stuff in favor of natural substitutes.
could you elaborate please on what kind of drugs did your friends OD on?

Which Natural Substitutes would you recomend?

In my futuristic world, I had always thought that our drug companies would produce a drug that is relatively safe sold with a antidote. You go to a bar or party, have a good time and say about a half an hour before you leave you take the antidote. If someone has a negative reaction to the high producing drug then there is antidote to negate the drug.

I vote for the mobility of man...

AIIZ

Sure..
ODs=X (mostly from "dirty" pills)
Natural Substitute=Shrooms

I don't really think the pharma companies need to cook any more junk up. But you can't patent something unless it has chemicals so it's doubtful we will ever have cures marketed that are cheap and efficient. There's a population problem anyway so it's probably for the best in the end.

K-mom wrote:Meow Meow, would that be ketamine?

Yes

dj_john69 · Post by **dj_john69** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:32 pm

lol @ meow meow

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:23 pm

Only for licensed shamans.

SunshineSuzy · Post by **SunshineSuzy** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:29 pm

Dude, If I smoked any pot at the Burn, I'd probably smoke on hthe 27th, and on the the 4th, finaly get my thoughts together, "Dude, I can't remember shit about Burning Man!"

Green Wood · Post by **Green Wood** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:52 pm

Toolmaker wrote:
Apollonaris Zeus wrote:
Toolmaker wrote: I have lost alot of good friends to ODs and try and deter folks from the heavy stuff in favor of natural substitutes.
could you elaborate please on what kind of drugs did your friends OD on?

Which Natural Substitutes would you recomend?

In my futuristic world, I had always thought that our drug companies would produce a drug that is relatively safe sold with a antidote. You go to a bar or party, have a good time and say about a half an hour before you leave you take the antidote. If someone has a negative reaction to the high producing drug then there is antidote to negate the drug.

I vote for the mobility of man...

AIIZ
Sure..
ODs=X (mostly from "dirty" pills)
Natural Substitute=Shrooms

I don't really think the pharma companies need to cook any more junk up. But you can't patent something unless it has chemicals so it's doubtful we will ever have cures marketed that are cheap and efficient. There's a population problem anyway so it's probably for the best in the end.

K-mom wrote:Meow Meow, would that be ketamine?
Yes

You know in all the OD's that have occured where the presumed drug was X, weren't never confirmed in a toxicology test.

See if you can find one. I can't!

Its just bullshit from the DEA like their test on X that turnout to be Meth

K-mom · Post by **K-mom** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 6:28 pm

Good point. What most people call Ecstasy is usually MDMA mixed with ____ . There's a lot of variables there. I think meth/speed is what it's most commonly combined with, but if the person ingesting doesn't directly know the original source they are putting themselves at risk everytime.

Green Wood · Post by **Green Wood** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:08 am

Toolmaker wrote: There's a population problem anyway so it's probably for the best in the end.

What a cold insensitive thought! My friend died because of bad drugs.

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:03 pm

It's all the mind man!

Glittering Clitoris · Post by **Glittering Clitoris** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:26 pm

Green Wood wrote:
Toolmaker wrote: There's a population problem anyway so it's probably for the best in the end.

What a cold insensitive thought! My friend died because of bad drugs.

I have had several friends die from drugs as well. This really offends me as well. Life isn't worth anything to this person.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:05 pm

Glittering Clitoris wrote:
Green Wood wrote:
Toolmaker wrote: There's a population problem anyway so it's probably for the best in the end.

What a cold insensitive thought! My friend died because of bad drugs.
I have had several friends die from drugs as well. This really offends me as well. Life isn't worth anything to this person.

Me too. Folks have to die.. its part of living. So you think there's no population problem? Try reading "The population bomb" written in 1968.

As far as bad drugs.. well.. maybe there is some truth to what some say about hard drugs like Extasy. Maybe it is bad for you. Never heard anyone overdosing off of a joint that was clean.

Life is worth everything to me. Thats why I choose not to risk it on something like Extasy.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:16 pm

Green Wood wrote:You know in all the OD's that have occured where the presumed drug was X, weren't never confirmed in a toxicology test.

See if you can find one. I can't!

Its just bullshit from the DEA like their test on X that turnout to be Meth

I don't have to find any. I have personally witnessed it. I watched a close pal OD in Limelight in NYC while everyone continued dancing. The security was nice enough to remove his bosy quickly and quietly so the party could continue. I watched another close bussy who was dying of AIDs who wanted to pass with some dignity before dementia set in completely choose an OD on Extasy to what was facing him. I have also almost died myself while under the influence of this drug when I was younger. The only thing that saved me was fast recognition of my condition and the ability to get to someone. I was iced down alot and brought from the hotel courtyeard up to the hotel room and put in an ice cold shower while being monitored and watched by my mates. Took some "downers" to slow my heart and spent an hour sitting on the hotel air conditioning vent till I cooled down. Incidentally this is why I no longer do things that are not consistant. At least if I smoke a joint or sniff some SpecialK I know I won't die. I know if I drink a few beers have some shots I won't die. With shrooms there is a risk but it is nowhere near as risky as X.

I hate to rain on your parade but people do DIE from drug use. It happens all too often. Hopefully you will see the truth of this lest you wind up an etard or dead. Recreation is one thing but abuse and inconsistant supply is a whole other issue.

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:57 pm

[quote="Toolmaker"] Incidentally this is why I no longer do things that are not consistant. [quote]

So that is why I posted this: "In my futuristic world, I had always thought that our drug companies would produce a drug that is relatively safe sold with a antidote. You go to a bar or party, have a good time and say about a half an hour before you leave you take the antidote. If someone has a negative reaction to the high producing drug then there is antidote to negate the drug."

of which you replied: "I don't really think the pharma companies need to cook any more junk up. But you can't patent something unless it has chemicals so it's doubtful we will ever have cures marketed that are cheap and efficient. There's a population problem anyway so it's probably for the best in the end."

Are you glad that one of them was one of your friends?

AIIZ

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:09 am

Apollonaris Zeus wrote:Are you glad that one of them was one of your friends?

AIIZ

Only one, that was my friend dying of AIDs. I fully supported his personal decision to self euthanate. I would probably make a similar decision if faced with the same outlook medically.

The older I get it seems I want to spend less time intoxicated and more time experiencing everything sober. Now that I live on the beach I like to watch the sunrise and sunsets without any "assistance". Though I still use the occasional "helper" I find that I can remember more the next day when I stay in control of my mind.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:53 am

What's the difference between "drugs" and "medications"?
Answer: Stigma.
Just because a chemical is legal doesn't mean it's safe.
I work in a mental hospital and I have seen some of the medications, such as Mellaril, produce life long side effects.

K-mom · Post by **K-mom** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:23 pm

I would say "addiction".

K-mom · Post by **K-mom** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:08 am

More British Studies:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6606931.stm
'Cannabis Disrupts Brain Centers'

EspressoDude · Post by **EspressoDude** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:04 am

Just as long as BMORG doesn't ban Espresso!!!! and/or caffiene

But then they sell it at Center Camp, so it must be OK to give it away at 3:00 plaza

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 3:13 pm

dont worry if its banned they will sell it to you.

Apollonaris Zeus · Post by **Apollonaris Zeus** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:22 pm

Toolmaker wrote: The older I get it seems I want to spend less time intoxicated and more time experiencing everything sober. Now that I live on the beach I like to watch the sunrise and sunsets without any "assistance". Though I still use the occasional "helper" I find that I can remember more the next day when I stay in control of my mind.

I too have slowed down on my consumption of illegal drugs. But I have increased my consumption of wine. wine has many new found benefits.

But I still believe that the individual should be allowed to consume the drugs that are mainly safe and within reason. After a day of work, with food or just to enjoy a simple medication of the mind. I never appreciated getting stone at school, work or on dates, but I did my time.

A week of fun without going over the edge, of which many at bm don't heed and want to be one with the burning man, should be within reason.

K-Mom,

More British Studies:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6606931.stm

this study was more confusing then enlightening.

The efffect on the frontal lobe is what allows you to think about things you would have never thought about and may have an effect on new creativity!?!?

aIIz

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Sat May 12, 2007 5:22 pm

K-mom wrote:More British Studies:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6606931.stm
'Cannabis Disrupts Brain Centers'

BBC wrote: They then carried out brain scans, and a battery of tests, and found that those who took THC showed reduced activity in an area of the brain called the inferior frontal cortex, which keeps inappropriate thoughts and behaviour, such as swearing and paranoia in check.

I like inappropriate thoughts, swearing, and paranoia. Often those things break up an otherwise boring day.

Bmorg Bans Alcohol and Tobacco Permits Marijuana & X!

Drugs at BM

Bmorg Bans Alcohol and Tobacco Permits Marijuana & X!