Table of Contents
* Please look up the various links to Internet sites as you are reading. These references provide essential documentation of the facts contained in this publication.
The Massachusetts District Attorneys Association (MDAA) has kindly provided me a copy of their 2008 statement:
"The Massachusetts District Attorneys Association
Unanimously Oppose Ballot Question 2 Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession"
which I have posted onto my web site. It contains a wealth of information on marijuana:
Click Here To View
1. False Ads Used to Decriminalize?
Myth - In 2008 voters in Massachusetts understood the existing legal penalties. TV ads by the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy had former police officers Tom Nolan and Howard Donaghue state that they didn’t feel a person should be burdened with a lifelong criminal record for a mistake.
Fact - Existing law prior to the 2008 Proposal made it mandatory for Massachusetts judges put first-time marijuana possession offenders on probation. And if the person stayed clean for their probationary period, their CORI record was expunged. Voters were deliberately misled by the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy on the harshness of existing penalties to fool them into righting a wrong that didn’t exist. Actual jail time for small possession offenses with no other offense were virtually nonexistent.
MDAA - section 1
Myth - That the campaign to decriminalize marijuana was a grass roots campaign funded by the people of Massachusetts.
Fact - An overwhelming majority for funding of operations for the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy and their TV ads came from billionaire George Soros of New York.
Myth - Boston television stations tried to report accurately on the issue of Marijuana Decriminalization.
Fact - Various television stations were paid large sums of money to run ads for the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy and not its opponents. So those TV stations starting using the words "a small amount of marijuana" in their news stories. Several of these TV stations were informed by me in writing as well as over the phone that to refer to 2008 Question 2 as decriminalizing "a small amount of marijuana" was a gross error and not factual. I of course informed them of the following:
That the legal wording of the proposal never used the words "small amount of marijuana".
The Proposal defines the amount to be decriminalized as one ounce of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The average potency of marijuana in 2008 was 8.5% THC. This means that 2008 Question 2 would decriminalize a whopping 12 ounces of marijuana "grass", enough to make a bag full of 60 powerful joints of marijuana!
Only Channel 7 suspended using the term "small amount of marijuana" a few days before the 2008 election but they did not give any further clarification. All Boston TV stations shirked their duty to report accurately on comparison of existing and proposed legal penalties or amount of THC being decriminalized.
The Big Lie is that voters knew what they were voting for in the referendum for Marijuana Decriminalization.
The Truth contained above is still unknown by nearly 100% of the people of Massachusetts.
2. Little Girl Lost?
I need to tell you about a situation involving people whom I know personally. Please let me refer to them as Grandmother A, Mother B, and Little Girl C to protect their identities. Prior to Marijuana Decriminalization in Massachusetts in early 2009, Grandmother A would occasionally smoke marijuana, nothing steady and always away from the apartment where she lived. Since Decriminalization, Grandmother A has escalated to smoking marijuana daily in her household forcing Little Girl C, her granddaughter to breathe her secondhand marijuana smoke. Grandmother A has also used cocaine and heroin. Mother B also went to smoking marijuana regularly, then developed a heroin addiction which has had her at death’s door many times. She steals to support her addictions.
So at the age of 2 ½ years old in 2009, Little Girl C was intelligent, good-natured and full of hope. By age 5 1/2, Little Girl C was under the influence of marijuana daily. Fortunately, she got to leave to go to school Monday through Friday. And her great-grandmother, a normal person, got to take her away from that household as much as possible on evenings and weekends. I personally care a great deal about Little Girl C having known her since she was a baby. It broke my heart to see her in that situation. Though she may be scarred for life by those experiences, fortunately at age 9 she was adopted by a normal family. Normal families don’t use any drugs, including marijuana.
I tell you this story because that damn Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy who got Massachusetts voters to implement Marijuana Decriminalization acted before the election like usage doesn’t go up due to Decriminalization and no one really gets hurt as a result.
The Truth is that not only marijuana abuse, but drug abuse in general has gone up significantly since Marijuana Decriminalization in Massachusetts.
The Big Lie is that real people are not harmed in the process.
3. Health Risks?
Detailed Study in California reported by truecompassion.org shows that Marijuana smoke causes cancer:
EVIDENCE ON THE CARCINOGENICITY of Marijuana Smoke
"Many of the chemical constituents that have been identified in marijuana smoke are carcinogens."
More dangerous than tobacco smoke according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
MDAA section 3 on marijuana use and public health
"Other research has shown marijuana smoke to contain carcinogens and to be an irritant to the lungs. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke."
Office of National Drug Control Policy - page 2 Health Effects
Marijuana Linked with Testicular Cancer
"(an extensive study conducted in 2015) have concluded that weekly marijuana use not only increases the risk of testicular cancer by 250 percent but will likely trigger more aggressive forms of the disease."
Causes of Testicular Camcer - Lifestyle Risk Factors - Marijuana
Heart Attack Risk:
National Institute of Health
Stroke Risk Doubled:
View the Study Results
Withdrawal and Treatment:
Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms - Symptoms of withdrawing from marijuana vary according to an individual’s level of dependency. For example, a person with a mild dependence on marijuana may experience minor physical and psychological discomfort, such as headaches or restlessness. On the other hand, those with severe forms of marijuana addiction may endure more intense withdrawal symptoms, including sweating, fever, chills and hallucinations.
The most common symptoms include:
Anxiety
Depression
Mood changes
Irritability
Stomach pains
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Insomnia
Addiction Center under Marijuana Withdrawal Symptoms November 19, 2018
"Long-term marijuana users who are trying to stop using the drug report symptoms such as irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit. In 2008, nearly 68 percent of primary treatment admissions for youth between the ages of 12 and 17 were for marijuana."
Office of National Drug Control Policy - page 3 Treatment
The Big Lie is that smoking marijuana is relatively harmless.
The Truth is that if you care at all about someone’s well-being, you definitely don’t want them smoking pot.
4. Depression, Mental Illness?
All steady weed users get brain damage. "Even an untrained eye can see differences between the MRI brain images of those who habitually use marijuana and those who don’t."
Governor Charlie Baker - 2016 Statement, 3rd paragraph
"Marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and schizophrenia."
Office of National Drug Control Policy - page 2 Health Effects
Young people who use marijuana permanently lower their IQ’s:
Report of the Study
Watch a video of people telling of their experience with marijuana and its negative impact on their lives:
drugfreeworld.org and click on Real People, Real Stories and the second box at bottom shows video of marijuana users.
Why fill the void in your life with drugs? Watch The Way To Happiness Movie:
Video
The Big Lie is that smoking marijuana somehow improves your mental state or contributes to your happiness.
The Truth is that good behavior and pursuing worthwhile accomplishments in your life are essential to a healthy mental state and bring you happiness.
5. Dangerous to Drive?
"Marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory."
Office of National Drug Control Policy - page 2 Health Effects
"The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that marijuana significantly impairs the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle."
"The driving problems included: decreased handling performance, inability to maintain headway, impaired time and distance estimation, increased reaction times, sleepiness, impaired sustained vigilance and lack of motor coordination."
Driving under the influence is on the increase:
Much greater potency is present in today’s marijuana than the 1960’s and 1970’s:
"In recent decades, marijuana growers have been genetically altering their plants to increase the percentage of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active ingredient in marijuana. The average potency of tested marijuana from Federal seizures more than doubled from 1998 to 2008"
Office of National Drug Control Policy - page 2 Health Effects
Marijuana (THC) stays in the body long after initial consumption.
section 3 - How Long Can Marijuana Be Detected?
"Marijuana users are 10 times more likely to be injured, or to injure others, in automobile crashes. A marijuana user's risk of an auto crash is increased whether or not they use marijuana immediately preceding the crash." A variety of impairment symptoms are described and documented at:
MDAA - section 3 on marijuana use and motor vehicle crashes
Actual marijuana users tell of serious car crashes in video:
drugfreeworld.org and click on Real People, Real Stories and the second box at bottom shows video of marijuana users.
The Big Lie is that a person can be a regular user of marijuana and be safe to drive.
The Truth is that a regular user should surrender their driver’s license and not operate dangerous machinery.
6. Medical Use, Is There a Need?
We already have medical "marijuana" in pill form. The FDA has approved Marinol (registered trademark) available in 49 states (excluding Oklahoma) for compassionate treatment of chemotherapy and AIDS patients to restore appetite.
Rescheduling of Drug
Technical Specifications and Warnings
Massachusetts Medical Society (representing 24,000 doctors in the state) approved a resolution during the weekend of May 19, 2012 to oppose legalizing medicinal marijuana without scientific proof that it would be safe and effective on patients.
Their Statement
Medical Use of marijuana is opposed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) making it illegal under federal law. It is defined as a Schedule 1 narcotic, meaning that it is unsuited for medical use because it is unsafe and has a high potential for abuse.
Schedule 1 classification of marijuana
"Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States."
Office of National Drug Control Policy - page 2 Health Effects
Criminal at Federal Level under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (Controlled Substances Act):
Marijuana and its cannabinoids. Pure delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is also listed in Schedule III for limited uses, under the trademark Marinol. Ballot measures in several states such as Colorado, Washington, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon and others have made allowances for recreational and medical use of marijuana and/or have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana – such measures operate only on state laws, and have no effect on Federal law.[38][43] Whether such users would actually be prosecuted under federal law is a separate question.
Controlled Substances Act under Schedule 1 controlled substances
Criminal Penalties under Federal Law:
Drug Offenses: Maximum Fines and Terms of
Imprisonment for Violation of the Federal
Controlled Substances Act and Related Laws
U.S. Constitution, "Federal law reigns supreme!" Explanation of Article 6 Clause 2 of the United States Constitution (The Supremacy Clause):
Article 6 for Dummies - Keith "Hip" Hughes from the History Channel
Even in states that have supposedly made medical marijuana legal, it is unregulated in the way that normal prescriptions are. Fraudulent use is rampant:
Multiple Sclerosis patients:
"Given that MS is associated with cognitive deterioration, the aim of this study was to determine the cognitive effects of inhaled or ingested cannabis in this population."
"This study provides evidence that prolonged cannabis use in MS patients is associated with poorer performance on cognitive domains commonly affected in this population."
The Study
Glaucoma Patients Beware - American Glaucoma Society recommends against marijuana after all.
"Since marijuana given systemically is known to lower blood pressure, it is possible that such an effect could lead to optic nerve damage."
The Glaucoma Foundation Newsletter
"There are no medicines that are smoked" The book Reefer Sanity by Dr. Kevin Sabet on page 56 where he distinguishes between smoked and pill form.
It is understandable that politicians want to respect the wishes of the voters. But shouldn't the voters have a chance to base their decisions on the true facts of an issue rather than rumor and deception? We can't have voters arriving at conclusions based on something they saw in a TV drama series or erroneous media reports about medical benefits of smoking marijuana. Let's all arrive at our final stand on this issue based on fact rather than fiction. The following is true:
Organizations Who Reject Smoked Marijuana:
- American Medical Association
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- American Glaucoma Society
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- American Cancer Society
Some doctors advocate use of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana) but only in capsule form such as Marinol (registered trademark) and by a prescription. This is the only safe way to regulate dosage. And they never advocate smoking it because it is far more carcinogenic than tobacco smoking. Please don't be fooled by people advocating the legalization of medical use of smoked marijuana. It would make a nightmare for law enforcement being unable to distinguish medical users from recreational users on the street.
The Truth is there is no sound medical basis for smoking a joint.
The Big Lie is that the people pushing proposals for legalizing medical use of smoked marijuana are sincere. They are not. They are only trying to fool the police to get away with more drug abuse. If they were sincere, they would not advocate smoking pot which can cause cancer, but instead THC capsules which are safer and can be more carefully regulated.
7. Constitutional Rights?
Amongst other rights afforded to U.S. citizens by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, is the right to not "be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law". This has long been interpreted to give a person authority to decide what goes into their own body and what is done to their body. No person has a right to force another person to breathe secondhand marijuana smoke against their will, under no circumstance, never!
For many, it is also against their religion to use drugs. So being forced to breathe secondhand marijuana smoke against their will is also a violation of their freedom of religion guaranteed under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Apartment dwellers in states with criminal penalties for marijuana can call the police if they are assaulted with secondhand marijuana smoke. Where Decriminalization has taken place, such victims must suffer in silence. They no longer have any recourse. So-called advocate groups who claim to fight violations of Civil Rights such as the American Civil Liberties Union could care less about good people being forced to breathe secondhand marijuana smoke against their will. The ACLU in their warped comprehension of the United States Constitution is more concerned with the rights of the drug addict who wants to harm himself and others.
Furthermore, we innocent citizens have a right to go about in our day-to-day lives without being put in unnecessary danger. Therefore it is also a violation of our rights to have anyone who is consuming marijuana or its active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), to be driving or operating machinery. Because THC is flesh-accumulative and its effect can flare up at any time, surrender of the user’s driver’s license is a must. Avoiding operating dangerous machinery is a must. Which one of us wants to undergo personal injury or damage to our property because our government is lax in enforcing safety precautions on marijuana users?
My recommendation is to continue efforts to get your state or local governments to ban public usage with criminal penalties. Insist that any prescriptions for marijuana or THC be accompanied by a surrender of one’s driver’s license. And feel free to take to court and sue any pot smoker who is violating your rights by imposing their marijuana smoke upon you.
The Truth is that the rights of the innocent are more important than the rights of drug abusers.
The Big Lie is that anyone has an inherent right to get high in a circumstance which infringes upon other people’s bodies or creates a danger.
8. Social and Economic Damage?
Where there is decriminalization and medical marijuana, a false notion is spread that marijuana isn’t harmful.
MDAA - section 2
And the economic costs to businesses is significant and can make the difference between solvency and bankruptcy:
MDAA - section 3 on marijuana use and workplace safety
Office of National Drug Control Policy - Health Care Costs would rise with increased marijuana usage:
"What is rarely discussed, however, is that the likely increase in marijuana prevalence resulting from legalization would probably increase the already high costs of marijuana use in society. Accidents would increase, healthcare costs would rise and productivity would suffer. Legal alcohol serves as a good example: The $8 billion in tax revenue generated from that widely used drug does little to offset the nearly $200 billion in social costs attributed to its use." Just the increases in treatment costs for mental illness caused by marijuana use is ten times or more than the income from new tax revenue, minus administrative costs.
The Article
Marijuana abuse can be quite costly on a personal basis. If you didn’t look at the video yet, check out:
drugfreeworld.org and click on Real People, Real Stories and the second box at bottom shows video of marijuana users.
The Big Lie is that it costs less to just let people do what they want with marijuana.
9. Drug Education and Rehabilitation
Try to become knowledgeable of the facts concerning marijuana so that you can make responsible decisions about your own life and at the voting booth. You can help make a better world where smoking marijuana is virtually unheard of.
Watch a Video Documentary of People Who Used Drugs - drug education at
drugfreeworld.org and click on Real People, Real Stories and the second box at bottom shows video of marijuana users. Feel free to watch the categories for other drugs also.
Vote No On Question 3 Web Site
Organization which leads the efforts to educate on marijuana and why we shouldn't legalize it for medical use.
Massachusetts Prevention Alliance
Accurate legal and statistical data - Massachusetts District Attorneys Association
Their Statement
Really Understand how and why to Stay Off Drugs
Answers to Drugs
Movie: The Way To Happiness - Be Fulfilled Without Drugs
thewaytohappiness.org
Drug Rehabilitation - Get off Drugs for good. Contact Narconon.
narconon.org
The Truth is that no one needs to use harmful drugs.
The Big Lie is that drug abuse is inevitable and that nothing can be done about it.
Contact Us
Thomas Purdy
E mail to purdythomas@charter.net
Other Links and Essays
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MarijuanaTheBigLie.com
E mail to purdythomas@charter.net