Tis a sad world when herbal medicine is illegal

[The_Dover]

Do you REALLY know what's in the grass you buy??

nah, but the stuff I grow is fuckin knockout

[Grahameeboy]

nah, but the stuff I grow is fuckin knockout

Yep you get puffed just mowing the grass??

[Ixion]

Let's do both.

Herbal "remedies" should be regulated. And they should have to undergo the same scientific rigour in their registration that pharmaceuticals currently do. Most of them are bullshit: in the same category as iridology, homoeopathy, colour therapy, aroma therapy and "organics". But, as they generally do no harm (apart from deluding the gullible and the ever-present bitter anaemic non-religious vegetarians) they generally slide under the radar. However given that Sue Kedgley is hot-to-trot on full disclosure of ingredients in foods, why should quack pills be any different?

And, as for inhaling carcinogenic smoke...

You don't know many witches , do you?

As for herbals being "bullshit": ever hear of penicillin? Or morphine? or Quinine? Ever wondered where they come from ?

A quick scan through the Medicines Regs, under the Prescription Medicine listings show 17 different herbal "quack pills" that the Health Department thought worthy of listing - and paying for. Pharmacy only and restricted medicines add another 18 "quack pills" . I'd very confidently say that if I bothered to read through the British Pharmacopoia I could add another 100.
I'd stick to spin doctoring if I were you.

Oh, and if you think there is any "scientific rigour" in the process by which drugs are registered , you are living in a world of your own. I worked in the industry for years, there is nothing at all scientific about it. Some pseudo science mumbo jumbo, and nobody actually dead (yet) , and a "big corporate" letterhead is all it takes.

(BTW , any plant with a name xxxxx officinalis is a recognised therapeutic, been listed in the BP. Of course not all therapeutics have the officinalis name, a lot were named so long ago) . And almost all herbal remedies disclose all their ingredients. Why would they not ? If someone wants Tinct Arnicae, they're hardly going to buy a product that doesn't say it contains arnica , are they?

(EDIT: Remembered another 5 to add to the Pharmacy only listing. )

[T.W.R]

Marijuana doesn`t really lessen the pain as such, it numbs it a little but what it does is it allows me to distance myself from the intensity of it. It`s still there, but I can kind of step back from it. I would dearly love for the pain to be no more, but in a way I know I`d miss it. It has become my companion, it knows me well and I know it.

Exactly

Almost 12yrs ago this weekend I was left with an injury that is currently; 30% impaired ROM, permanent non-union of the ulna shaft, permnently dislocated radius, & a consistant pain. Had plenty of operations (even been examined by a surgical team prior to one op), Had more prescription drugs thrown at me than I care to remember (At one point I was having to have blood tests every 2weeks to check liver function because the drugs were so agressive). Technically I've worked the last 10yrs with a broken arm (once worked whilst a broken plate worked it's way out of my elbow (made a guy I was working with when I showed him ) ) and I don't do light work either. And it isn't going to get better till technology catches up.

All through that time pot has just allowed that release from the ever present pain without having to dine-out on a cocktail of meds consistantly.

[SixPackBack]

I have experienced chronic pain from a severe neck injury for the best part of 3 years, just over a year ago I had two discs fused in my neck and at some stage in the not to distance future another 2 more will need fusing, recently migraines have started to cripple me.

I have taken pethadine, tramol, synflex, nortriptelen, paratriptelene, morphine, paradex......the list goes on. Some of these drugs I had to have at the height of my injury.

once my surgery was complete and the pain levelled of by far the best medication was.....









Shit loads of exercise, particularly weight training. Its hard at first but give it a whirl it makes a difference.

[Matt Bleck]

The only problem I have with the shit is it's tendancy to bring out psychotic episodes and or schizophrenia in people who might not have become so had they not partaken...

[Beemer]

I'll just stick to coffee thanks. I like my brain in one piece.

Been helping a friend get over a drug addiction - pot.... she now has her memory back and feels a great deal more alert. Maybe something to think about guys.

Used to go out with a guy who was a heavy dope smoker. Met up with him again years later and he couldn't remember half of the things he'd done years earlier, even when you showed him the photos! He used to get a bit aggressive too. He ended up marrying a woman half his age who cheated on him, so he told his family he was going to commit suicide. Despite his family members staying with him on and off for three months, the day the last one went home, he gassed himself in the garage. I honestly believe the dope fucked with his brain to an extent where he was stuffed.

I know you will argue that not everyone is like that and some people can have a smoke now and then without any problems. Tough, I've seen what it did to someone I knew and I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

[The_Dover]

cone anyone?

[onearmedbandit]

I know you will argue that not everyone is like that and some people can have a smoke now and then without any problems. Tough, I've seen what it did to someone I knew and I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

Do you drink?

cone anyone?

Yes please, be damned if I can find anything over here in Japan.

[Shadows]

The only reason I'd support legalising pot is to tax the ever loving snot out of it and cut the cash crop for the gangs.

Better the devil you know, dude.

[Beemer]

Do you drink?

Yes. This is not an argument about the evils of all other legalised substances, it is about cannabis. I have seen alcoholics and the damage they cause to themselves and others, but the average person who drinks is not going to kill off their brain cells or become paranoid after drinking. However, the vast majority of people I have met who smoke dope have significant memory loss over the years and some have become quite paranoid.

Every mind-altering substance affects people in different ways, but the thing I hate about dope is what it does to people. Plus, if you sit in a room with someone drinking like there is no tomorrow, you can remain sober. Try that in a room where people are smoking dope - you have to leave to avoid becoming stoned yourself. I do not find it a social drug and choose not to associate with those who smoke it. My choice.

[Mr. Peanut]

Every mind-altering substance affects people in different ways, but the thing I hate about dope is what it does to people.

You've seen drunk people right? Someone strung out on caffeine?

People that want to fuck themselves up will do so.

You cannot blame the substance that was convenient to them at the time. Be it caffeine, weed, alcohol, heroin, food (obesity), rat poison, nicotine so on and so forth.

[Beemer]

Unfortunately the effect I was talking of is what I term the 'stupidity factor' - the inane grinning, silly giggling and childish behaviour. Yes, people who choose to self-destruct will do so with whatever 'poison' they wish, but I personally choose to avoid associating with those who do illegal drugs - of any sort. I would also avoid associating with those who drink to excess or diet/eat to excess.

[onearmedbandit]

Yes. This is not an argument about the evils of all other legalised substances, it is about cannabis. I have seen alcoholics and the damage they cause to themselves and others, but the average person who drinks is not going to kill off their brain cells or become paranoid after drinking. However, the vast majority of people I have met who smoke dope have significant memory loss over the years and some have become quite paranoid.

Every mind-altering substance affects people in different ways, but the thing I hate about dope is what it does to people. Plus, if you sit in a room with someone drinking like there is no tomorrow, you can remain sober. Try that in a room where people are smoking dope - you have to leave to avoid becoming stoned yourself. I do not find it a social drug and choose not to associate with those who smoke it. My choice.

I had written out a response to your post, but decided it was not worth it. I understand there will be no changing your opinion, and it`s not worth me taxing my poor doped out brain trying to do so. Anyway, I think someone is watching me as I write this....

And please note, I do not force my habits on others, if I want a smoke I will do it far enough away from others that it has no consequences on their health. And when I am stoned I`m perfectly happy to rejoin my group of friends and carry on enjoying the nighht, watching drunk people get upset, angry, violent, emotional, loud and obnoxious, and then listen to them the next morning moaning about their sore heads. (actually no I don`t, as I don`t associate with self destructive people like that. I`ve nothing against those that drink, but I do get to laugh at them.)

[onearmedbandit]

Unfortunately the effect I was talking of is what I term the 'stupidity factor' - the inane grinning, silly giggling and childish behaviour. Yes, people who choose to self-destruct will do so with whatever 'poison' they wish, but I personally choose to avoid associating with those who do illegal drugs - of any sort. I would also avoid associating with those who drink to excess or diet/eat to excess.

I remember those days, when I first smoked, was a laugh to us but probably looked stupid to others. Now when we smoke, my friends and I like to be prductive, discussing things, working on our bikes, doing stuff that makes us happy. Sitting around giggling is not one of those.

I`d like to meet you sometime, so you can see both sides of the story a bit clearer.