As I pointed out in my previous response, their statement does not contradict my position. Depending by what they mean by it, it may very well reinforce my point. In China addiction rose to the point that by 1900 about half of China's male population was addicted to Opium. If the "genetic factor" mentioned works out to about 50% of any given population, then that would correspond to what history tells us happened in China.
A substance can have medical value without being "approved" - and the Institute of Medicine has reported that marijuana does.
The point here is that you cannot hold up an organization as an "expert" only when you think they are supporting your position, and then dismiss their expertise when their position goes clearly against you.
humans are humans no matter where on the globe they exist, and they are susceptible to the same afflictions wherever they reside.
Occidentals are just as susceptible to opium addiction as are Orientals.
The text I posted from the American Society of Addiction Medicine rebuts your "humans are humans" reductionism.
their statement does not contradict my position. Depending by what they mean by it, it may very well reinforce my point.
The importance of environmental factors, life experiences, and culture clearly do contradict your "humans are humans" reductionism.
If the "genetic factor" mentioned works out to about 50% of any given population
It doesn't - the "account for" means that half of the variation in addictedness among persons corresponds to variations in genetic factors. And since the Chinese clearly have genetic differences from the non-Chinese majority in America, there are no grounds in genetics for supposing that the Chinese experience with opiate addiction would be replicated in America.
They are considerably less authoritative on the subject of medicines in general:
there is no "Medical marijuana" because the plant parts in question fails to meet the standard requirements for approved medicines,
A substance can have medical value without being "approved" - and the Institute of Medicine has reported that marijuana does.
Marijuana has many serious, negative health effects.
So does chemotherapy - but it's appropriate when the disease being treated is even worse.
The point here is that you cannot hold up an organization as an "expert" only when you think they are supporting your position, and then dismiss their expertise when their position goes clearly against you.
The point here is that the American Society of Addiction Medicine has little if any expertise in non-addiction medical matters - as is confirmed by their silly arguments against medical marijuana.