If anyone needs a reminder on the absurdity of the U.S. approach to drugs, consider the fact that cannabis is classified as a Schedule 1 drug with “no currently accepted medical use” and a “high potential for abuse,” while alcohol is not even included in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Of course, alcohol is a drug, as any psychologist will tell you, with a high potential for abuse; and it’s not used as a treatment for medical conditions. Moderate alcohol use may have some health benefits, but heavy use can bring a host of negative health impacts.
Still, alcohol is left to the states to regulate, untouched by the fateful 1970 CSA that began Nixon’s War on Drugs and spawned the DEA. As we have reported, this war against freedom was targeted at blacks and “hippies” who drove the counter-culture force demanding an end to militarism.
That 60s mindset of peace and love was a threat to the establishment, as the movement was growing for a principle of non-aggression, in contrast to the rise of U.S. hegemony underscored by the Vietnam War tragedy.
Psychedelics and cannabis were integral to this understanding of non-aggression, and they were targeted for elimination–while alcohol was ignored.
This was the perfect setup, and science shows us why.
In a new study that appeared in Psychopharmacology, researchers investigated “the acute effects of alcohol and cannabis on subjective aggression in alcohol and cannabis users.”
The results confirmed what has long been suspected—alcohol facilitates aggressive feelings in heavy alcohol users, while aggressive feelings are diminished in regular cannabis users.
After abstaining from alcohol and cannabis for one week, subjects “received single doses of alcohol and placebo or cannabis and placebo, respectively.”
Subjective aggression was measured before and after exposure using established testing methods and, secondarily, by looking at testosterone and cortisol levels.
“Subjective aggression significantly increased following aggression exposure in all groups while being sober. Alcohol intoxication increased subjective aggression whereas cannabis decreased the subjective aggression following aggression exposure. Aggressive responses during the PSAP increased following alcohol and decreased following cannabis relative to placebo.”
Interestingly, the “cannabis group” also used psychedelic mushrooms much more frequently in their “lifetime use of other drugs” than did the “alcohol group.” We have reported on the amazing ways in which magic mushrooms can benefit the consciousness.
The study is a grim reminder that the war on drugs is rife with negative consequences, as in this case where it arguably stifled the tendency for non-aggression in society as militarism became embedded in the American psyche.
#1: ConservingFreedom To: Deckard (#0)
This would have fallen under the heading of science proving the obvious - except for all the people who deny the obvious.
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-08-01 13:45:56 Reply Private Reply
#2: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
Just as our traffic laws are targeted at drivers -- they're the ones violating the laws.
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-01 14:56:27 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: Deckard (#0)
Well, unless the cannabis triggers a psychotic break. Then all bets are off.
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-01 14:59:43 Reply Private Reply
#4: misterwhite To: ConservingFreedom (#1)
If the study showed that users would switch from alcohol to cannabis (thereby reducing the overall subjective aggression) it might have some value.
As it stands, we'll have the same number of increased subjective aggressions caused by alcohol, and we'll simply be adding lazy-assed cannabis users.
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-01 15:06:40 Reply Private Reply
#5: ConservingFreedom To: misterwhite (#4)
Only under the assumption that no alcohol users would switch; have any evidence for that?
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-08-01 15:31:41 Reply Private Reply
#6: misterwhite To: ConservingFreedom (#5)
The article presented no evidence they would switch.
Are you assuming they would? Have any evidence for that?
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-01 15:39:54 Reply Private Reply
#7: ConservingFreedom To: misterwhite (#6)
Nor about the migratory patterns of the heron. Go figure.
It seems hard to believe that none would.
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-08-01 16:08:58 Reply Private Reply
#8: misterwhite To: ConservingFreedom (#7)
The article presented no evidence they would. Meaning that pot smokers do nothing to reduce overall subjective aggression.
Claiming pot smokers wouldn't add to overall subjective aggression is a solution in search of a problem.
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-01 16:19:43 Reply Private Reply
#9: ConservingFreedom To: misterwhite (#8)
It seems even harder to believe that everything not proven true by this one article is therefore false.
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-08-01 16:52:12 Reply Private Reply
#10: misterwhite To: ConservingFreedom (#9)
I don't believe that. If it's not proven true, it's simply not proven true. It doesn't make it false.
If I say 2+2 equals 4 and haven't proved it, that doesn't mean 2+2 does not equal 4.
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-01 19:57:03 Reply Private Reply
#11: ConservingFreedom To: misterwhite (#10)
Then why do you keep harping on, "The article presented no evidence they would switch"?
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-08-01 20:26:43 Reply Private Reply
#12: misterwhite To: ConservingFreedom (#11)
Because they didn't. And without that evidence, nothing changes. People will continue to drink alcohol and experience a higher subjective aggression.
The article might as well conclude that people who drink water experience lower subjective aggression. OK. So?
Their next report? The migratory patterns of the heron.
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-02 09:05:53 Reply Private Reply
#13: Stoner To: Deckard (#0)
My simple, unscientific observation.
I used to work with a young fellow, in his mid 20's. Very nice guy, very pleasant to be around. When he was drinking, he would always get aggressive, belligerent, want to fight, etc. However, when he smoked his weed, he stayed very mellow, and you could not make him mad. I used to tell him that if he wanted to live, he should quit drinking, or someone would just shoot him.
I do not know if everyone is like that, but he sure was.
Stoner posted on 2016-08-03 12:33:15 Reply Private Reply
#14: ConservingFreedom To: misterwhite (#12)
You're conflating reality with evidence for that reality. Don't.
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-08-03 13:24:05 Reply Private Reply
#15: misterwhite To: ConservingFreedom (#14)
You're making assumptions about this article without any support from this article. Worse, you call your assumptions "reality".
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-04 09:51:59 Reply Private Reply
#16: ConservingFreedom To: misterwhite (#15)
What assumptions have I made and where did I make them?
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-08-04 12:42:03 Reply Private Reply
#17: misterwhite To: ConservingFreedom (#16)
Your post #7 - that if marijuana were legal, people would switch from alcohol to marijuana.
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-04 13:11:45 Reply Private Reply
#18: ConservingFreedom To: misterwhite (#17)
"It seems hard to believe that none would" is not an assumption by any sane definition.
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-08-04 13:50:45 Reply Private Reply
#19: misterwhite To: ConservingFreedom (#18)
It is when used as a response to the question, "Are you assuming they would?"
misterwhite posted on 2016-08-04 14:40:25 Reply Private Reply
#20: ConservingFreedom To: misterwhite (#19)
ConservingFreedom posted on 2016-08-04 15:30:10 Reply Private Reply
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BorisY posted on 2016-08-04 16:03:03 Reply Private Reply