Policy makers ignore alcohol in drug combat

The Daily Herald (UT) ^ | January 31, 2003 | Rick Soulier

[MrLeRoy]

"Provide evidence that alcohol plays a significant role in health."

First of all, I said alcohol plays and has played a significant role in health, so already you're mis-quoting me.

No I'm not; when you say "alcohol plays and has played a significant role in health" you make two claims: alcohol plays a significant role in health, and alcohol has played a significant role in health. I questioned the first claim. Get it now?

It is used today as a disinfectant and in medicines such a cough syrups and sleep aids.

Are you using "significant" as a synonym for "any"? If not, you have not yet supported your claim that alcohol plays a significant role in health.

What's the first thing you think of when you hear medical disinfectant?

That orange-y stuff they put on my arm when I give blood.

And all this leaves my other two points in post #7 completely unaddressed.

[kinghorse]

MrLeRoy your pissing into the wind. All you'll end up with is a wet pant leg. It's obvious to this reader that lobbyists associated with the stock tickers BUD and MO have the ear of the current roster of our most pious defenders of justice.

This is the part of the Republican party I simply loath. The disingenuous social policy part. Sickening. Stick to tax cuts and defense please. Don't try to convince kids they'll end up pregnant smoking mj when we all know they maintain some basic inhibition whilst the alcohol drinkers throw caution to the wind.

ALCOHOL IS THE NUMBER ONE GATEWAY DRUG, dagnabbit. It's a GATEWAY TO ALL FORMS OF WEAK CHARACTER BEHAVIOR!

[FreeTally]

RP,

Now you are comparing different compounds of "alcohol" claiming that rubbing alcohol is equivalent to grain alcohol? Good grief.

I guess we have one of two conclusions here: Morphine and other opiate derivatives should be illegal because those substances are similar compounds as opium and heroine, or opium and heroine should be legal because of the medical history of related compounds such as morphine and codeine.

[tacticalogic]

First of all, I said alcohol plays and has played a significant role in health, so already you're mis-quoting me. Alcohol has played a significant role as a disinfectant and the making of tinctures and elixers. It is used today as a disinfectant and in medicines such a cough syrups and sleep aids.

All of that can be rendered moot by a simple declaration by the DEA that there is no recognized medical use for alcohol, and that any potential benefit can be had by substituting other substances.

[robertpaulsen]

Contrary to what the author would like us to do, I'm arguing that alcohol has a significant history in the medical area, yet you're not interested in that history? Of course not, because you're not after the truth, you're after an agenda.

That's why I say I'm wasting my time explaining myself. It falls on deaf, orange-y ears.

[FreeTally]

I'm arguing that alcohol has a significant history in the medical area,

Show us any proof that Jack Daniels whiskey or Budweiser beer have been used in the area of medicine.

[robertpaulsen]

You're the first to argue for smoking a substance containing over 400 chemicals, of which one or many of them (and which one and how many) may have an effect on an illness.

When I see you pushing for medical THC (or one of 399 other chemicals) instead of medical marijuana, I'll make the alcohol distinction.

[MrLeRoy]

I'm arguing that alcohol has a significant history in the medical area, yet you're not interested in that history?

Should I be? If so, why?

(And have you abandoned your claims about the current medical significance of alcohol?)

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[kinghorse]

I don't think anyone is arguing for someone else doing something against their own free will. People freely take of the habit of cigarette smoking with the full knowledge it will probably be the single most powerful factor leading to premature death.

What was you point again?

[radioman]

MrLeRoy
Are you stoned or something? That makes one post out of fifty you made that is not about drugs. You are one strange critter.

Why the personal attack on MrLeRoy?
He obviously feels very strongly about the War On Drugs. Trying to stop him from speaking his mind is a tyrants way of dealing with a serious issue.

I too feel that the War On Drugs is wrong. Americans attacking Americans, whether it's Drugs, Waco or Kent State is wrong!

[MrLeRoy]

When I see you pushing for medical THC (or one of 399 other chemicals) instead of medical marijuana, I'll make the alcohol distinction.

So FreeTally argues for the medical availability of a single plant that contains 400 active chemicals, and you think that justifies your treating as identical two chemicals that do not naturally occur together? Seldom have I seen a more dishonest argument.

[kinghorse]

Yup.

My point is simply that there must be some reason why cannabis is illegal other than because it is harmful to one's health or it is a socially destructive substance.

It must be something else because if the measure is health and social harm, cigarettes and alcohol trump cannabis. So what else could it be?

Could it be a financial consideration?

Is that why people are rotting in prison or paying through the nose to the Government? A financial consideration???

[robertpaulsen]

See my post #4. Alcohol has a history of use in the US (add cooking, an area I forgot), whereas marijuana doesn't.

The author is attempting to ignore that by placing alcohol and marijuana on equal historical footings with his sentence, "Pretend for a minute that humankind had not discovered alcohol until Drexel distilled it in 2000".

Not the same.

[mabelkitty]

*rolling eyes*

Great! Let's get John Edward to go after Big Booze!

[kinghorse]

I am father to kids approaching the dangerous (read teen)years. I wish it was nearly imposible for them to obtain tobacco products, products that are pumped up to insure addiction. I wish tobacco was illegal because once most people taste of it, they are hooked in one capacity or another FOR LIFE.

One actually crosses the rubicon of healthfulness or abusiveness the day a cigarette is first pressed to their lips. You would think that would be important enough to want to stamp out. Why isn't addictive behavior the subject attacked in these ads?

I think kids would buy into it a helluva lot better if all these substances (legal and otherwise) were attacked concurrently.

[MrLeRoy]

See my post #4.

I did---see my post #7.

Alcohol has a history of use in the US (add cooking, an area I forgot), whereas marijuana doesn't.

So what?

[kinghorse]

Speaking of *rolling eyes*, wouldn't it be funny if alcohol was illegal and groups formed to press for it's legalization because it was so important in cooking recipes. LOL.

[MrLeRoy]

I think kids would buy into it a helluva lot better if all these substances (legal and otherwise) were attacked concurrently.

But they can't be attacked concurrently while some are legal and some are otherwise. I prefer legalizing it all for adults, and giving kids straight information (not Reefer Madness horror stories).

[robertpaulsen]

"treating as identical two chemicals that do not naturally occur together?"

What the heck are you babbling about? Taking someone else's post and running with it? Do some research on your own before making a fool of yourself.

In the past, ethanol, with added iso-propyl alcohol, was used as rubbing alcohol. Ethanol (grain alcohol) is what you drink.

Rubbing alcohol, these days, is synthetically produced isopropyl alcohol diluted with water to 70% strength. Not fit for consumption.