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The Presidential Emergency board's recommendations are out

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, August 22, 2022 7:32 AM

tree68
 
charlie hebdo
You think tobacco smoking is harmless?  You can show real studies showing MJ is more harmful physically than tobacco? 

From my point of view, it's the lack of objective information on the effects of MJ that is the problem.  We know pretty well what alcohol does to the senses, reaction time, etc.  Although the "legal intoxication" levels vary, the effects are basically known.

Not so much for MJ.  So the question is "how high is too high?"  Right now it's pretty much an all or nothing proposition.

Add to that the fact that MJ tends to hang in the body longer.

I've read that the making of MJ into an illegal substance was politically motivated.  The folks who used tended to fall into a group the powers that be didn't like very well, so making their choice to partake an illegal activity was one way to remove them from the voting pool.

The War on Drugs, was also the War on Learning anything about drugs and many other things.

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Posted by Overmod on Monday, August 22, 2022 8:17 AM

Well, there are methods to administer cannabis that don't involve smoke in the lungs -- methods that would cause poisoning when tobacco/nicotine are the active agents in comparable quantity, and discomfort when in lower quantity.  CBD oil is touted as a tonic; nicotine oil is a potent and dangerous insecticide.

When I was in my early teens, my grandfather closed his EENT office in Kingston, and all the contents were shipped down to be stored in our basement.  In the '20s and '30s, ethical drug houses like Parke Davis 'advertised' by putting out informative color brochures about physiological problems, with a page on the back cover touting whatever it was they produced that was effective on the conditions described.  Thus I came across a gaudily-covered booklet called "Dramatic Episodes of the Heart" -- which I took to be some sort of strange religious tract or pulp magazine until I started reading it.  This was all about various kinds of problems with heart action.  When I got to the back I was surprised to find that the touted nostrum was something called 'Neurosine" which I had never heard of.  It was strange that this miracle potion was effective on a great many of the conditions described in the booklet... conditions that were difficult to treat in the early '70s, let alone with minimal side effects.

Now, there was a cut of a Neurosine bottle on that back panel, done as a line illustration, but if you squinted, you could almost make out the ingredients.  In fact if you squinted enough at just the right distance you could make out the active ingredient.  Extract of cannabis sativa.

Now what you may find amusing was that, in a comparatively short time, the Reefer Madness crowd was prominently claiming that marihoochie had no legitimate medical applications.  And I suspect that in order to fabricate the necessary 'truth', Neurosine had to go, and  its memory be stuffed as far down the memory hole as possible.

Now, on the other hand, researchers have, or claim to have, scientific evidence that cannabis deleteriously affects the developing brain, and that it should be restricted or forbidden until users are well into their 20s.  I have no reason to dispute their findings.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, August 22, 2022 9:22 AM

Meanwhile up in New Jersey cannabis products are legal (sort of, they're still working out the nuances) but the plastic bags to take those products home with are illegal!  

Maybe that's why NJ has such a dynamic model railroading culture.  Everything else is illegal as well!  Whistling

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Monday, August 22, 2022 12:14 PM

Overmod
Now, on the other hand, researchers have, or claim to have, scientific evidence that cannabis deleteriously affects the developing brain, and that it should be restricted or forbidden until users are well into their 20s.  I have no reason to dispute their findings.

Likely under age 15 is neurologically unwise. The product sold legally here has a much higher THC potency than the stuff back in the 60s. More like hashish.

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Posted by Ulrich on Monday, August 22, 2022 2:05 PM

My mom was a heavy smoker who died of lung cancer.. a slow drawn out death over months where her muscles atrophied until she eventually suffocated. My dad died the same way last year, although fortunately he remained of sound mind and could thus opt for a medical assisted death, at least avoiding the hell my mom went through in her last weeks.. I'm no medical doctor or expert in that field, but I'm not going to put anythng into my body that may cause it harm or which may inhibit my ability to think or earn a living...I don't want my kids to go through what I did with respect to end of life care. If one can do so.. avoid alcohol, tobacco and any kind of drug.. they're just not worth it. 

 

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Posted by Backshop on Monday, August 22, 2022 4:33 PM

You don't even have to be a smoker to get lung cancer.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, August 22, 2022 5:47 PM

charlie hebdo

 

 
n012944

 

 
zugmann

 

 
n012944
Railroads will struggle to fill jobs as long as there is not some sort of drug testing that only checks if you are currently impaired approved.  The desire to toke up is just to important to the current generation.   

 

Sure.  That must be it.

Even if they got rid of the Mary Jane testing, the loss of many regular jobs and draconian attendance policies will keep people from staying, even if they can hire on without the Marijuana testing.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

It will keep new hires from replacing those choose to move on. We, as a county, has spent the last 30 years saying that smoking one leaf (tobacco) is bad, however another leaf is okay. 

 

 

 

You think tobacco smoking is harmless?  You can show real studies showing MJ is more harmful physically than tobacco?

 

I gotta be honest. I don't see where anyone suggested that tobacco smoking is harmless. 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, August 22, 2022 6:44 PM

Murphy Siding
I gotta be honest. I don't see where anyone suggested that tobacco smoking is harmless. 

I didn't infer the poster was saying tobacco smoking is harmless.  What I did  get from his comment was the basic illogic of how the fanatical crusade against tobacco products just doesn't square with the almost evangelic promotion of cannabis products.  

You've got to smoke 'em both, right?  (For the most part.)

Mary Jane's got just as many nasty's in it as tobbaco does, if not more, right?

So why is one so bad, and the other so "good?"  It makes no sense, not to me anyway. 

Legalizing weed seems like more of a tax gimmick than anything else.

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Posted by Ulrich on Monday, August 22, 2022 6:46 PM

Backshop

You don't even have to be a smoker to get lung cancer.

 

 

That's true, but the odds go way up if you are. May as well put the odds in your favor if you can. Suffocating to death slowly as your lungs fail is less fun than it sounds. 

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Posted by jeffhergert on Monday, August 22, 2022 8:07 PM

SD70Dude

How did Prohibition work out?  How many people would support resurrecting that law?  

 

Recent studies suggest that consumption of alcohol in the beginning fell to 30% of pre-prohibition levels.  Consumption later rose back to about 70% of pre-prohibition levels.

Some suggest, that despite headlines of major crime events-St. Valentine's Day Massacre etc., it may not have led to an overall increase in organized crime.  Just another line of "business" to get involved in.

And no, most people would not like to see prohibition reinstated.  

Jeff

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, August 22, 2022 9:03 PM

jeffhergert
 
SD70Dude

How did Prohibition work out?  How many people would support resurrecting that law?   

Recent studies suggest that consumption of alcohol in the beginning fell to 30% of pre-prohibition levels.  Consumption later rose back to about 70% of pre-prohibition levels.

Some suggest, that despite headlines of major crime events-St. Valentine's Day Massacre etc., it may not have led to an overall increase in organized crime.  Just another line of "business" to get involved in.

And no, most people would not like to see prohibition reinstated.  

Jeff

Whenever you make illegal something that a sizable portion of the population is willing to pay for - you have opened up the business opportunity for organized crime.  Prohibition was the vehicle that highlighted the potential of 'big business' to the organized crime element.  Once prohibition was repealed the criminal element floated toward gambling and for the most part created Las Vegas; once gambling became socially acceptable organized crime bowed out of the enterprise as there were too many governmental agencies involved in policing the action.  When the 'War on Drugs' was announced, is made the illegal drug trade a worldwide affair.  The Columbian cartels, the Mexican cartels, the Taliban and many other organizations are in the enterprise today and the totally dwarf anything the US 'organized crime' elements could even dream of.

Business opportunity and ruthless market share enforcement - that's the ticket!

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Monday, August 22, 2022 10:21 PM

n01***
We, as a county, has spent the last 30 years saying that smoking one leaf (tobacco) is bad,

Murphy: Certainly strongly implied. Or is he thinking the Surgeon General should have ignored the evidence? 

Flintlock: Tobacco contains carcinogenic tars that are not found in MJ. And tobacco often leads to COPD, a major debilitating and frequently fatal condition. MJ is not to be taken lightly, but I don't know anyone who only used MJ who suffered from lung cancer. Not so with cigarettes.

It's more about not having drivers of vehicles or rail locomotives intoxicated on drugs or alcohol.

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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 9:21 AM

Flintlock76
I didn't infer the poster was saying tobacco smoking is harmless.  What I did  get from his comment was the basic illogic of how the fanatical crusade against tobacco products just doesn't square with the almost evangelic promotion of cannabis products.

And he'd be right.  I suspect there are, indeed, as many tars, and of course the same or worse CO and other products of incomplete combustion, in typical marijuana, even sinsemilla.  I think the premise was that evil nicotine was the major thing that was wrong with cigarette smoking -- and it was, in terms of addiction and dependence, which is a frighteningly real issue for a great many people -- but the carcinogenic action was largely an issue of combustion products, not alkaloids.

There's also the issue that cannabis is being touted for healthy benefits as well as "getting high".  And as I noted there actually are some prospective advantages, although I susped nowhere near what some of the claims are.

The amusing thing is that it's still a scheduled-drug Federal crime... just that enforcement is selective (e.g. through banking-system prohibitions).  You'd think fixing this would have been a priority for the current House.  Perhaps it is and they just haven't worked the legislation through for approval yet.

You've got to smoke 'em both, right?  (For the most part.)

Smoking by lighting up is a stupid excuse for atomizing 'psychogenic substances' for inhalation.  Freebasing involves a source of clean combustion for this purpose; nobody pours 7% solution on wacky tobaccy to stack the high.  The 'correct' answer is that you use the oil or extract in vape form if you want to toke, or put it in brownies or use that pathetic CBD oil otherwise.

I suspect some of the reason for smoking was that it was convenient to package the covert stuff in nickel bags, and consume it on the sly or in private by simple rolling.  When provided via "legal" business, THC-containing material does not have to be smoked.

Mary Jane's got just as many nasties in it as tobacco does, if not more, right?

I don't think anyone has objectively tested that.  All the 'studies' I remember reading were the kind of junk science that you get from the government-sponsored research that is intended to confirm policy rather than inform or advance objective knowledge.

It would be pathetically easy to run the necessary lab tests.  It would be slightly less easy -- but now that it's legal, perhaps less secretly -- to look at long-term incidence of lung cancer or other complications in various levels of tokers compared with their coffin-nail counterparts.  I won't hold my breath for the results, though.

Legalizing weed seems like more of a tax gimmick than anything else.

The thing I haven't figured out is why the government hasn't applied the ol' time-tested model (taken, I always thought, from tariff practice) of imposing huge taxes on things they want to dissuade use of (or make into a cash cow for revenue, but I won't go there as it's political)  I think I've told the story of something else I found in my grandfather's effects: a LEGAL ounce bottle of cocaine with the tax label still intact.  The exploits of 'revenooers' with respect to alcohol have entered the realm of stories and legends in this country.  I predicted in the '70s that the end of the 'cigarette problem' would be the government declaring tobacco a prescription-only drug, so buying a pack of cigarettes would involve showing the clerk a doctor's prescription registered with the company and state (as is currently done for amphetamine precursors like Wal-Act, for example) and would cost a prohibitive amount -- I used ten dollars at the time, as shocking as the prediction in one of the financial books of the era that a Volkswagen would cost EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS by the end of the decade...

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 9:34 AM

Overmod
Smoking by lighting up is a stupid excuse for atomizing 'psychogenic substances' for inhalation.  Freebasing involves a source of clean combustion for this purpose; nobody pours 7% solution on wacky tobaccy to stack the high.  The 'correct' answer is that you use the oil or extract in vape form if you want to toke, or put it in brownies or use that pathetic CBD oil otherwise

I get the impression that few on this post have much if any first-hand knowledge. 

CBD oil Is a silly nostrum no better than snake oil for medicinal use and it lacks the euphoria and muscle relaxant effects of THC. THC can be used more safely in gummies.

 

 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 11:55 AM

charlie hebdo
I get the impression that few on this post have much if any first-hand knowledge. 

"Don't ask, don't tell!"  Wink

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Posted by azrail on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 12:16 PM

The problem with today's marijuana is there is no control on THC levels (unlike "proof" of alcohol and tar/nicotine levels in cigs) The higher THC level, the higher chance of mental issues like schizoprenia. 

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 1:08 PM

The THC levels in gummies are clearly provided.

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Posted by Backshop on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 1:40 PM

Another thing to consider is how many cigarettes does a moderate user smoke compared to how many joints are toked. There's a lot more volume of cigarette smoke going into the lungs than marijuana.

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Posted by adkrr64 on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 2:03 PM

(Throws switch in what will likely be a vain attempt to get the train off the MJ/ CBD siding and and back onto the PEB recommendation mainline.......)

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Posted by n012944 on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 4:24 PM

charlie hebdo

 

 
n012944

 

 
zugmann

 

 
n012944
Railroads will struggle to fill jobs as long as there is not some sort of drug testing that only checks if you are currently impaired approved.  The desire to toke up is just to important to the current generation.   

 

Sure.  That must be it.

Even if they got rid of the Mary Jane testing, the loss of many regular jobs and draconian attendance policies will keep people from staying, even if they can hire on without the Marijuana testing.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

It will keep new hires from replacing those choose to move on. We, as a county, has spent the last 30 years saying that smoking one leaf (tobacco) is bad, however another leaf is okay. 

 

 

 

You think tobacco smoking is harmless?  You can show real studies showing MJ is more harmful physically than tobacco?

 

What are you talking about?  Where did I say anything about smoking tobacco being harmless?  I didn't "imply" anything else.  I was pointing out the irony of our current situation on smoking.

 

BTW, it doesn't have to be "more harmful physically" to be bad for someone to consume.....

 

https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/health-effects/marijuana-and-lung-health

https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/31/2/280

 

 

An "expensive model collector"

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 4:34 PM

n012944
 I was pointing out the irony of our current situation on smoking.

Irony oh irony!  Wherefore art thou irony?

As I said, if one doesn't care for "smoking" they can use edibles.

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Posted by n012944 on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 4:37 PM

charlie hebdo

 

 
n012944
 I was pointing out the irony of our current situation on smoking.

 

Irony oh irony!  Wherefore art thou irony?

As I said, if one doesn't care for "smoking" they can use edibles.

 

 

Cool story.  Judging from the smells on my many walks down the Las Vegas strip, many people are not making that choice.

 

 

However, my point still stands, regardless of your failed attempt to say I was "implying" anything else.

The railroads will struggle to find people who are both willing to work an unconventional schedule, and be unable to enjoy the wacky tabacky in their off time.  As i said, if a test comes out that is like an alcohol test, only showing if they are currently under the influence, that will make a huge difference.

An "expensive model collector"

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Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 5:17 PM

Railroads in 5 years :  "Good news candidate, you can now enjoy Marijuana when you have a few days off!"

 

Candidate:  "Yay!"

 

Railroad:  "But about you having a few days off....."

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 10:09 PM

n012944
Cool story.  Judging from the smells on my many walks down the Las Vegas strip, many people are not making that choice.

I wouldn't know about Vegas. Not a place I would be caught dead hanging out unless I were a gambling addict or lover of entertainment by has beens.

Looking back I wonder what your initial point was?

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 10:59 PM

charlie hebdo

 

 
n012944
Cool story.  Judging from the smells on my many walks down the Las Vegas strip, many people are not making that choice.

 

I wouldn't know about Vegas. Not a place I would be caught dead hanging out unless I were a gambling addict or lover of entertainment by has beens.

Looking back I wonder what your initial point was?

 

If I can offer an opinion, and please correct me if I get his wrong- I thought his point was that we, as a society have put a lot of effort into trying to eliminate smoking of tobacco leaves. Now, all of a sudden, the majority seems to be promoting the smoking of a different leaf- marijuana. And that's odd.

My question about marijuana is, if it's a good medicine for treating some things- which it seems to be- why can't it be administered in a pill or shot form, like other drugs? It seems like anyone who has ever tried to justify the need to smoke the product in order to get the correct benefits was someone who was smoking it recreationaly. 

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by daveklepper on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 3:21 AM

I believe it can be.  Is not the drug CBD a duistillation of the weed's mdicinal properties?

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 7:16 AM

Murphy Siding
My question about marijuana is, if it's a good medicine for treating some things- which it seems to be- why can't it be administered in a pill or shot form, like other drugs?

I would offer that more people are interested in the recreational aspect of MJ than in the medicinal aspect.

The demonization of MJ has resulted in a dearth of research into actual beneficial uses.  Eventually, hopefully, such uses will become more apparent as research does occur.  It appears there may be many, and perhaps the appropriate extracts will be made.

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 7:58 AM

tree68
The demonization of MJ has resulted in a dearth of research into actual beneficial uses.

I think the cautionary tale of Neurosine demonstrates part of this: if the demon weed had 'no redeeming values' (or however it was that material like 'Reefer Madness' had it) then actual medical research would only undermine the official pravda, let alone research that actually demonstrated actual effectiveness.  The funny thing is that actual positive medical research at any organization that accepts Federal funds is STILL contraindicated; I wonder when that will change.

Personally, I can't stand marijuana, smoked or otherwise -- not from 'not inhaling' in college years, but just because I dislike it and what it does to people who overindulge in it.  I'm told that once you get past the tunnel vision and the microamnesia the high can be interesting.  Never cared to do that.

I concur that CBD is 'snake oil', of a particularly irritatingly-promoted kind.  Whether it contains the demonstrably-active components of the extract that was in Neurosine remains to be established, at least to me.  I don't propose to become an expert in cannabinoid pharmacology, so most of what I know will be what I read.

[/diversion], now we should respect the attempt to get back to PEB-related matters in this thread...

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 8:46 AM

charlie hebdo
I wouldn't know about Vegas. Not a place I would be caught dead hanging out unless I were a gambling addict or lover of entertainment by has beens.

Same here.  A friend of mine who went there and wasn't impressed said "Vegas is a good place if you're a drinker, gambler, or womanizer.  If you're not in those categories do yourself a favor and stay home." 

OK, back to the original topic.  Just my My 2 Cents

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Posted by n012944 on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 10:15 AM

charlie hebdo

 

 
n012944
Cool story.  Judging from the smells on my many walks down the Las Vegas strip, many people are not making that choice.

 

I wouldn't know about Vegas. Not a place I would be caught dead hanging out unless I were a gambling addict or lover of entertainment by has beens.

So you are boring, got it.  I saw The Weekend at Allegiant stadium on Saturday.  If you think he is a "has been", you might want to crawl back into your hole, as the  world has passed you by.

 

charlie hebdo

Looking back I wonder what your initial point was?

 

 

It was spelled out quite clearly in the post that you cut off the last quote from.  However, since you somehow thought I implied that tobacco was "harmless", I am not surprised that you missed it.

An "expensive model collector"

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