Category Archives: RS 1

Venosa, Ali. “The High Road: A Marijuana Breathalyzer May Soon Catch People Driving Under The Influence By Detecting THC.” medicaldaily.com, 15 Jul 2015 Web. 15 Jul 2015.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/high-road-marijuana-breathalyzer-may-soon-catch-people-driving-under-influence-343124

Majoring in Journalism and Science Writing, Ali Venosa, writer for Luxos Magazine and The Brown and White Newspaper, has set out to her next topic, marijuana breathalyzers. Confused, Ali questions its urgency since, much is still needed to learn about marijuana’s affect on humans. Comparing it to alcohol breathalyzers, she also challenges its accuracy in terms of marijuana’s long lasting effect within our bodies. Going forth, within her doubt, she tries to discern common sense amongst entrepreneurs who feel the urgency to come out with the first model.

Initially, the author talks about marijuana breathalyzers inevitability due to the rising popularities of smoking marijuana, and the concerns that come with it.  Humorously, Ali mentions the entrepreneurs that seek to be the first to patent the device. “ Other hopefuls in the race to create a THC breathalyzer include Lifeloc Technologies Inc …” Many companies seek the opportunity, however marijuana poses lots of complications that prolongs manufacturing and even doubt others,  like Ali. “… The science and reasoning behind how cannabis affects driving is far from being established.” Since marijuana can remain in our bodies systems for weeks, even months,  Ali questions the breathalyzers accuracy.

Later within the article, the author differentiates the differences of being under the influence with alcohol compared to marijuana. “The consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol have been publicized- and is well known to the populace…” This introduces her view on how marijuana isn’t recognized, and wonders “ what it means to be ‘under the influence…’” Many states have indeed already set different laws on driving while high, however they vary drastically depending on how intoxicated you are. Therefore, another concern of Ali’s is, if there was a marijuana breathalyzer, shouldn’t it be able to dictate how high a person is at that moment and not from two weeks ago.

At last, Ali sums up  her article with an analogy to alcohol. “ A breathalyzer that was unable to tell the difference between a driver that had one beer and a driver that had eight would be rather useless in law enforcement today…” Law enforcement dictates a driver’s sentence depending on how intoxicated one was at the time being. If alcohol breathalyzers read one and eight beers as the same, then law enforcement would have a difficult time during trial. With this said, the author finishes with the article convinced of her own belief. “…It remains to be seen how a THC breathalyzer will fit into the picture.”

This source is valuable in my research for I got to learn about the uprising marijuana breathalyzer, and got to read a contradicting view on it. This article has shown me how marijuana is going to become as broad and popular as beer is, and with that comes consequences that need to be resolved. My peers can find this article useful if they want to learn about the upcoming marijuana breathalyzer and the controversies it brings.

Boeri, Miriam. “Is Marijuana a Gateway Drug?” Newsweek.com. Newsweek, 4 April 2015 web, 15 July 2105

Society has evolved the idea of marijuana being the gateway to other addictive and dangerous narcotics. According to Miriam Boeri, a journalist for Newsweek,  argues that marijuana is not a gateway drug like we’ve come to believe with her article “Marijuana is not, I Repeat, not a Gateway Drug”. Boeri points out how marijuana is not the cause of gradual drug addiction when she writes “Research shows that the vast majority of marijuana users do not go on to hard drugs.” Boeri explains the different factors that do not make marijuana the portal to heroine, cocaine, and other drugs.

Boeri explains the biased research indicating how marijuana is the root of drug addiction. In a 2014 article by a neuroscientist named, Dr. Jodi Gilman, he explains how marijuana use can lead to drug addiction. Although, Boeri states how there have been many critics in the article writing “But other researchers were quick to point out the flaws of the Gilman study, such as a lack of careful controls for alcohol and other drug use by those whose brains were studied.” She also informs how researchers and authors don’t include users who have been doing cocaine at a young age and never tried marijuana. Boeri examines other factors that lead to drug addiction that don’t include marijuana such as poverty, poor social environment, bipolar disorder, antisocial personality, and so on.

Most of the research Beori relies on has to be from resources outside of the United States or grassroots within the U.S. She argues that it is difficult to research on the plant,because it is still a Schedule 1 drug, and it is difficult to get research for it approved by the Federal government. On the other hand, when the research is approved politics usually has the say in where the research leans toward when Boeri writes “For decades, scientists who study addiction have received millions of dollars in government and pharmaceutical funding to perpetuate the gateway hypothesis.” Most research for marijuana in the U.S is toward the gateway theory.

The scare method has a huge effect on the gateway theory. In Beori’s view, she states that the scare tactics for marijuana has been modernized used mainly by politicians. Their “drugs scares” are aimed at the youth, saying drug use will increase among them. Beori states “But fears of decriminalization resulting in increased use among youth haven’t been supported by research from countries where drugs were decriminalized.” making their statements invalid. She points out the use of marijuana among the young did not increase in states that had legalized medical marijuana.

This article made me realize that marijuana isn’t the cause for all drug addictions. I always had that in the back of my mind, if marijuana was the “gateway drug” and the main portal to drug addiction. There are many causes which lead to higher norcatic addiction, and the research behind it is very complicated. My opinion for marijuana has shifted a bit since reading this article, because marijuana is not the root of all evil. Like this article stated, there are people who have smoked, but stop after they reach adulthood. Although, marijuana will always be a very opinionated subject no matter what side of the debate I am with.

Roffman, Roger. “Marijuana’s addictive risk shouldn’t be ignored.” washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post, 24. Oct. 2014. Web. 15 July 2015.

Roger Roffman, the author of “Marijuana Nation: One Man’s Chronicle of America Getting High -From Vietnam to Legislation” and a professor emeritus of social work at the University of Washington.  In the mid-1980’s he was the founding director of the Innovative Programs Research Group, retiring in 2009 from the faculty he continues working with the school part-time as a co-investigator at the IPRG.  Roffman agreeing with the world-wide debate on legalizing marijuana, however makes clear, along with the legalizing he also believes there should be an investment in educating the public and preventing and treating those who are addicted.

On October 24, 2014, Roffman shares his thoughts on the legalization while incorporating a personal experience with the substance.  “It’s not as if I’m stoned every day,” he would say, “is it different from having a drink or two?”  Roffman points out how he slowly began losing himself and distancing himself from his wife.  That was when he realized that he was one of the many Americans today that become addicted to marijuana.

After years of successfully quitting, he along with some colleagues, who had also struggled with addiction to marijuana, began a research.  “Today, about 2.7 million Americans over age 12 are dependent on marijuana…the risk of becoming addicted is roughly 9 percent… 17 percent for those who begin in adolescence, and for those who get high daily, the addiction risk is 25 percent to 50 percent.”  Despite the statistics Roffman believes that legalizing marijuana still makes more sense than prohibition.  Prohibiting marijuana would only result in violence and more competition between drug cartels nationally.  While legalizing and taking actions in providing aid to those who are addicted or those who just need to be more educated on the substance would result in a better outcome.

He points out how many people have tended to exaggerate the truth about marijuana and its risks, explaining how others on the flip side of the issue over analyze the situation.  “Those arguing against legalization often exaggerate marijuana’s risks, rarely acknowledging most occasional users are not harmed,” he states, followed by mentioning how legalizing marijuana is the result to a healthier and safer nation.  Taking the right actions in providing for marijuana users will ultimately be much better than completely denying the use of it.

This article helped me in realizing that there is not just one side to this debate.  Some may see it as either “yes legalize it, and everybody can get high” and others might see it as “no, prohibit the use of marijuana, it’s a drug, and it’s dangerous” but what I haven’t seen a lot of is how Roffman sees it.  He sees it in a way that compromises both aspects.  He’s demonstrating how someone could use marijuana however there will be an aid available if it were to get out of hand.  I believe that this article could be useful for those who are in the middle of this debate as I am.  It will allow a slightly different point of view.