Saturday, May 16, 2009

This Week at Baptist Press: Marijuana and "Gaiety"

New Marijuana Report Released

There's been a lot of discussion about the idea of legalizing marijuana these days. I've even seen polls on "FaceBook" regarding the subject. I don't know how much support there is for legalizing the drug but, "Baptist Press" (BP) published a story on how the potency of marijuana continues to grow.

The federal Office of National Drug Control Policy released a report May 14. The report stated THC levels in marijuana have reached the highest lever ever in the history of scientific analysis on the drug. Scientific analysis, according to the report, first began in the late 1970s. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

BP reported:

The federal agency also noted:

"According to the NIDA [National Institute for Drug Abuse], heavy marijuana use impairs a person's ability to form memories, recall events, and shift attention from one thing to another. THC also disrupts coordination and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, parts of the brain which regulate balance, posture, coordination of movement, and reaction time. Through its effects on the brain and body, marijuana intoxication can cause accidents. Studies show that approximately 6 to 11 percent of fatal accident victims test positive for THC. In many of these cases, alcohol is detected as well.

"Other recent studies show marijuana use can be a risk factor for the onset of schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals, and may be associated with other mental disorders, including depression and anxiety," the Office of National Drug Control Policy stated."


BP also cited a news report from the New York Daily News titled, "Debunking the myths about marijuana: Experts share the facts about today's stronger pot," in which myths about marijuana, such as it not being addictive, are debunked. Read all about the report's findings, including The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws' rebuttal in this BP article.

Harvey Milk Day?

Another BP article outlines concerns about a California house resolution which would create "Harvey Milk Day," a "day of special significance," in public schools, if passed. Parents would not be required to agree to their children's participation in the mandated, commemorative activities meant to recognize Milk's accomplishments and contributions to the state of California. Milk was an "openly homosexual San Francisco alderman whose murder in 1978 made him an icon of the "gay rights" movement," the BP report said.

"Lawmakers are pursuing the legislation despite the fact that a statewide poll conducted in March by Survey USA found 69 percent of Californians opposed establishing a "Harvey Milk Day" and only 19 percent favored the idea, [Pastor of East Clairemont Southern Baptist Church, Chris] Clark pointed out....

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a virtually identical Harvey Milk Day bill in 2008 because popular opinion was running against creating the holiday, Clark said. He and [President of the SaveCalifornia.com advocacy group, Randy] Thomasson both expressed hope that Schwarzenegger would veto this year's version once it passes the state Assembly." - BP, "'Harvey Milk Day' exposes children in schools to 'gay' activist agenda, critics say"


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