Last week, I discussed Part I of the book “Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence” by New York Times writer Alex Berenson. Last week, was a lot of history. This week, we will delve into more present day information.

As I said in the first part of this “Tell Your Children” discussion, I have always been uneasy about marijuana. Haven’t we all seen people who were heavy pot smokers who were slow of speech and thought with a rather placid affect? Haven’t we all known heavy users who developed a psychosis. No correlation is not causation. But, for at least the last decade there has been a rebranding effort to call marijuana medicine. It is an ancient medicine we are told. And, of course, the ancients were wise. The ancients knew everything so who are we to question. Yes, like the ancient Chinese who noted some Cannabis users became violent.

Also, I like to kill a few brain cells regularly with Dewar’s Scotch so who am I to judge how you kill brain cells?

One of the researchers that Berenson mentions is Dr. Sven Andersson of Sweden. Sweden has mandatory military service and government healthcare. Service entrants are asked about marijuana use in an identified database. This database was able to track the medical lives of over 50,000 Swedish men. The study can be read here. This study tracked Cannabis use and the rates of schizophrenia. The study carefully checked for contributing factors. Genetics, background and every thing the researchers could think of. The results from the study:

RESULTS:
Subjects with a baseline history of heavy cannabis use had a significantly higher risk of death (hazard ratio=1.4, 95% CI=1.1, 1.8) than those without such a history. The authors found an excess mortality among subjects with psychotic disorders, but the level did not differ between those with a history of cannabis use (ever users: hazard ratio=3.8, 95% CI=2.8, 5.0; heavy users: hazard ratio=3.8, 95% CI=2.6, 6.2) and those without such a history (hazard ratio=3.7, 95% CI=3.1, 44). No interaction was observed between cannabis use and diagnosis of psychotic disorders with regard to mortality.

In a 2017 report, the non-profit, non-governmental National Academy of Medicine released a report on Cannabis and cannabinoids and found zero evidence that these plants help cancer. Actually, there is some evidence of testicular cancer in men and that the children of women who smoke may develop leukemia or brain cancer. I am willing to bet that testicular cancer note will stop a man or two from smoking pot. Plus, all those diseases that pot is supposed to help:

Just like the essential oils multi-level marketing schemes, marijuana or cbd oil will cure everything. And, a nurse told me last week that even gas stations are selling cbd oil, probably right next to the sushi.

In January, “Tell Your Children” author Alex Berenson was on Tucker Carlson’s Fox show and that is what made me want to read this book. Here Tucker Carlson interviews Berenson and then talks with former Clinton adviser Richard Goodstein:

I agree with Richard Goodstein on science. This issue must be studied and the data not be swept under the rug or ignored.

What worries me most is the rebranding and marketing of Cannabis as medicine. The United States marijuana industry is strong and well-financed. Former Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner and former Republican Massachusetts Governor William Weld (both Rino’s) have joined Acreage Holdings, a marijuana start up firm. The following is from Acreage’s website:

Founded in 2014, Acreage Holdings (formerly High Street Capital Partners) has among the most diverse portfolios of cultivation, processing and dispensing operations in the U.S.

Acreage has fostered strong partnerships with regulators, physicians and medical researchers with the aim of setting a new standard for the industry. As legislation and regulations evolve, Acreage is poised to build on its leadership position by expanding its footprint and capabilities in bringing safe, dosable and affordable cannabis to the market.

Our management team is among the most diverse and impressive in the industry, including veterans from Wall Street and finance as well as major players in the retail and food & beverage industries, and legal fields. We also bring many pioneers from within the cannabis cultivation space, including experts who have set many of the standards now broadly deployed within the industry.

We are aggressive, yet measured, in our strategy and believe our unique approach and team will continue to provide industry-leading returns and the best quality products and consumer experiences in the world.

Glad that changed the name from High Street to Acreage. Good public relations move.

Look, I don’t know anything. I am just old enough and cynical enough to not believe bullshit when it is being sold to me. For some reason, as I wrote this a quote from Sky Masterson from “Guys and Dolls” popped into my head:

One of these days in your travels, a guy is going to show you a brand-new deck of cards on which the seal is not yet broken. Then this guy is going to offer to bet you that he can make the jack of spades jump out of this brand-new deck of cards and squirt cider in your ear. But, son, do not accept this bet, because as sure as you stand there, you’re going to wind up with an ear full of cider.

But, if Berenson and his research is right, we aren’t going to end up with cider in our ears. No, we are going to end up with a lot of violent schizophrenics and worse. Please. Read this book and tell your children.

Photo Composite by Darleen Click for Victory Girls