Top Anti-Drug Researcher Changes His Mind, Says Legalize Marijuana

Top Anti-Drug Researcher Changes His Mind, Says Legalize Marijuana
by Scott Morgan on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 9:52pm

For 30 years, Donald Tashkin has studied the effects of marijuana on lung function. His work has been funded by the vehemently anti-marijuana National Institute on Drug Abuse, which has long sought to demonstrate that marijuana causes lung cancer. After 3 decades of anti-drug research, here's what Tashkin has to say about marijuana laws:

"Early on, when our research appeared as if there would be a negative impact on lung health, I was opposed to legalization because I thought it would lead to increased use and that would lead to increased health effects," Tashkin says. "But at this point, I'd be in favor of legalization. I wouldn't encourage anybody to smoke any substances. But I don't think it should be stigmatized as an illegal substance. Tobacco smoking causes far more harm. And in terms of an intoxicant, alcohol causes far more harm." [McClatchy]

We've been told a thousand times that marijuana destroys your lungs, that it's 5 times worse than cigarettes, and on and on. Yet here is Donald Tashkin, literally the top expert in the world when it comes to marijuana and lung health, telling us it's time to legalize marijuana. His views are shaped not by ideology, but rather by the 30 years he spent studying the issue. He didn't expect the science to come out in favor of marijuana, but that's what happened and he's willing to admit it.

Here's the study that really turned things around:

UCLA's Tashkin studied heavy marijuana smokers to determine whether the use led to increased risk of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. He hypothesized that there would be a definitive link between cancer and marijuana smoking, but the results proved otherwise.

"What we found instead was no association and even a suggestion of some protective effect," says Tashkin, whose research was the largest case-control study ever conducted.

Prejudice against marijuana and smoking in general runs so deep for many people that it just seems inconceivable that marijuana could actually reduce the risk of lung cancer. But that's what the data shows and it not only demolishes a major tenet of popular anti-pot propaganda, but also points towards a potentially groundbreaking opportunity to develop cancer cures through marijuana research.

Over and over again, all the bad things we've been told about marijuana are revealed to be not only false, but often the precise opposite of the truth. So the next time someone tells you that marijuana is worse for your lungs than cigarettes, you might want to mention that the world's leading expert on that subject happens to be a supporter of legalization.

We are just getting closer and closer than ever.

Legalization by 2011.

The bad guys turn good, classic story!

:stoned:

Slowly the old lies are being proven false. Junk pseudoscience has been rampant for decades. I still don't think tobacco causes cancer. I think its all the added nicotene and formaldehyde and other junk that has poisoned millions of lives.

Changing one mind at a time. :thumbsup:



Granny :hippy:

this is all good and its a wonderful sign that the science has done a complete turn around. but i really dont look to see decriminalization soon, definatly not 2011. the sad fact is we dont have the money yet to overcome the chemical, timber, or oil industrys. we may however beable to get by the auto industry now. our only ally in this for the very begining will be the pharmicutical industry but once they get all their studying and synthisizing done theyll push for recriminalization. any big industry that will stand to loose millions will always push the politicians to vote no. and how do they push? campaign contibutions, vacations, "favors", and lets not forget a couple mill in an off shore acount. and a team of lawyers to make sure it all looks ligit.

i really hope im wrong about this but it just seems to me that this will be the hardest obstacle to overcome.