GOOD DRUGS BAD DRUGS

Image from HERE

When are "bad" drugs "good"? When Big Pharma pushes them rather than illegal cartel drug barons or the legal tobacco industry.

We know that the Pharmaceutical industry is corrupt and doesn't give a flying fig about health. It's primary and only concern is profit and if children in the Third World are too poor to pay for life saving drugs then Big P simply won't provide them.

That's why every single anti-smoker organisation in the UK that is snuggled up in bed with Big P - including ASH - and several UK universities are not in it for health reasons but for cash and jobs.


Early medical "researchers"

Even the hallowed and saintly Stirling University admits it is dependent on Big P because most of its students now have careers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agricultural industries.

I don't see how they are much better than those who work in the tobacco industry myself and certainly their morals at taking this dirty money are questionable.

Of course tobacco is a natural medicinal herb but Big P and its academic lackeys malign it as a drug to slander tobacco consumers as addicts and push custom towards Big P. They cover the lie with Frankenstein science because they cannot openly admit after years of untruths that tobacco does indeed contain therapeutic qualities.

I know that I'd rather rely on nature than an unnatural manipulation of nature but each to his or her own - if only we were allowed to make our lifestyle choices without fear or favour.

It does suit Big P and its servants scientists to create a nation of hypochondriacs and phobics to keep the huge profits rolling in but I honestly and sincerely doubt that their motives are altruistic or based on any real concern about health - just as they were not in the days when snake oil salesmen pushed their useles wares.

I'd like to think that Govt is finally waking up to the con bearing in mind that Nanny Milton is trying hard to distance herself from ASH but I simply don't believe her.

ASH is not a grass roots organisation and never has been. It was set up by Govt and is a Govt quango in reality that masquerades as a "charity" so we are really not that easily fooled Ms Milton.

The only way that you can prove to us that you are not smokerphobic or biased in running the DoH is to stop all funding to the anti-smoker industry and lay off the Tobacco Industry, its law abiding consumers, and all the associated businesses with it - including the small vending machine salesmen, paid less than researchers at Stirling, now out of work and on the dole thanks to your Govt's stupidity in following the damaging economic policies of your predecessors in Labour.

Tobacco should be regulated and is. Over regulation in favour of its direct competitors at Big Pharma is obscene and would be unlawful if such methods of putting legal industry out of business was directed at any other lawful product.

UPDATE : I just saw this and wonder how on earth the author expects us to believe it and how he can state, with a straight face, that :

R.W. undertakes research and consultancy for, and has received travel funds and hospitality from, companies that develop and manufacture smoking cessation medications. He has a share in a patent for a novel nicotine delivery device.

Sorry, but here is direct evidence of an alleged "scientist" who depends on his own personal fortune by harassing smokers and propagating untruths.

If this man really "cared" about smokers damaging their health then he would be active in his cause for free like just about every single pro-choice warrior. He's obviously in it for the money. Don't believe a word.

THE IMMORTALS

I had a few thoughts on the tragic Amy Winehouse but Simon Cooke over at the View from Cullingworth said pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

Obnoxio The Clown wrote a really poignant piece. I don't think he's suicidal but showing how any one of us could find ourselves taking that wrong turning, standing in the same shoes, but no one but ourselves can change our course. Sometimes it takes the courage we haven't got or the will we can't summon but we are all masters of our own destiny and sometimes we must.

I've heard others say that Winehouse wasted her life. I think she did far more with the time she had than many of us will achieve in a lifetime. She might even become a member of the 27 club.

RIP Amy. Thanks for your music and your individuality.

GIGGLE DON'T FIGHT

Was this test really done and if so what could have been it's purpose?

I saw a TV programme ages ago about the Zulus in the Boer War and the fact they were such a fearsome enemy because they never felt pain or fear.

Apparently, they were drugged up and it was because they were under the influence of hallucinogenics that they could continue fighting even when mortally injured.

Perhaps that's why the British Army tested the effects of LSD on troops. Maybe they wanted to see if the drug would create war machines instead of soldiers.

As the video shows, it had the opposite effect. The test revealed that if the world was on LSD, there would be no war.

Has anyone thought of slipping it into the watering holes in the Middle East?

H/T My son

* UPDATE : I just received this. Seems military history is not my area of expertise :)

The Zulu wars were in 1879 and the boer war was in 1900, the documentary you saw was about the battle of islandwana which was January 21st 1879. Involving the 24th foot and the Zulus. They believe that the Zulus had been taking drugs before the battle and many warriors said they felt invulnerable to the British martini Henry rifles.

HEROIN v ALCOHOL

There's a great debate on heroin addiction v alcohol addiction over at Taking Liberties.

I do know a bit about both as one of my friends is a heroin addict and another is a clinical alcoholic. Both depend on the their drug of choice physically. Both are violently ill when they stop.

The alcoholic beats herself up constantly because of her addiction. The help she gets from NHS funded services makes her feel worse about herself. She can and often does, on her own volition, go on the waggon and I've known her stay clean for months. Life circumstances and sheer bloody poverty tend to drag her back to her addiction because straight life achieves nothing. Drunken life numbs the pain.


My heroin addicted friend is the subject of the newspaper articles featured here that I wrote back in 2002. I knew him before he was an addict. Before smack came to my city. Rumour has it an ex-police officer set up the networks here. Certainly a former PC was jailed about five years ago for being a "big fish" dealer.

Like a lot of other people at the time my friend had no idea what he was messing with when he started taking heroin. He only found out when he didn't want to take it any more.

I've always lived, until recently, on council estates. Many of friends fell victim to hard drugs. Many did and still do use "softer" drugs with no desire to "move up". I think I'm lucky because I got a life. I've always believed that there but for the grace of God ...

One of our old crowd, and an ex-girlfriend of my other half - a beautiful young woman - died of an overdose in her late 30s. Another friend thought he was using speed. It's what he asked for. When he stopped buying it and got physically ill, his dealer told him it was because he was now addicted to heroin. My mate's girlfriend punched the dealer in the face. The dealer needed to sell it because he owed his dealer one step up.

I've rubbed my friend's name out of the features because in truth I don't know where he is now. He could have got free of his addiction and be living the life he wanted. The last I heard he got sent to prison about three years ago.

My alcoholic friend took five years of very heavy drinking to become physically addicted to alcohol. My heroin addicted friend took just a few hits before the smack took a grip. I know which in reality - not theory - is worse.

The other piece below is about the parents of drug addicts, an article about St Gillian of Merron, former MP and health minister, and the role she played in response to the parents' desperate cry for help.

Shame on her for wasting so many billions on anti-smoker money when that funding and effort could have saved real lives and made a real difference.






* Duh - obviously any figures and info in these newspaper features is out of date. The articles go back to May 2002.

COURT FILE

MAN GREW CANNABIS TO HELP WITH CASH CRISIS

Police who searched Mervyn Berridge’s Gainsborough home found two cannabis plants growing in an airing cupboard, a court heard.

Lincoln magistrates were told that he grew them under lights but he had no intention of using the plants which he had been given to grow to help him out of a financial tight-spot,

Berridge (46) of Pilham Court, Riseholme Road, Gainsborough, admitted cultivating cannabis on October 2.

Tony Freitas, repsenting, said Berridge was left with three grown up children after his wife left and he had a lot of things to cope with.

“He was being chased by debt recovery companies and was approached by someone who said this was a way he could make some money. He stupidly accepted and took two plants,” Mr Freitas said.

“He doesn’t use cannabis himself, and he is very anti-drug, but he took these on the basis of making a few easy pounds. It was an act of sheer desperation.”

Magistrates adjourned the case until November 5 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

FORMER JUNIOR CHEF OF THE YEAR IN COURT

Former young chef of the year Mark John Alsop narrowly escaped jail after he punched a man unconscious after a bar room brawl, a court heard.

Lincoln magistrates were told Alsop, who won the West Lindsey title in 2007, was seen on CCTV to pursue the victim and attack him three times.

Deborah Cartwright, prosecuting, said at one stage, the man was pursued by Alsop’s group and he crossed over the road several times to avoid them.

“The defendant had a disagreement with the victim in the Walkabout pub,” she said.

“Alsop punched the man outside on Silver Street. The man ran to the other side of the road.

“Alsop pursued him and punched him again.

“The victim crossed the road for the third time and got away again, and was followed by a group of males.

“The defendant then punched him again so hard, the victim fell to the floor unconscious. He lay there for several minutes until he was helped to his feet by passers by.”

Mrs Cartwright told the court that when arrested, Alsop told police that a male bumped into him on the dance floor in Walkabout and there was verbal argument.

“He says the victim pushed him so that the other male could punch him. The defendant then retaliated when he later saw the victim on Silver Street.”

Alsop (19) of Padmore Lane, Upton, Gainsborough, admitted assault on October 10.

Tony Freitas, representing, said there had been some pushing and shoving in the pub where Alsop’s group was outnumbered three to one.

“He does accept his actions were wrong. He was assaulted earlier and was angry but he accepts that retaliation is not self defence.”

Magistrates warned Alsop he could face jail but after reading pre-sentence reports, they imposed a community penalty of 250 hours of unpaid work. Alsop also has to pay £250 compensation and £85 costs.

MAN TOOK WEAPON TO CHIP SHOP AFTER ROW

An altercation in a chip shop led Darren Cook to go hom,e and fetch a baseball bat, a court heard.

Lincoln magistrates were told that police were called to reports of two men fighting on Scotter High Street but then they arrived, they found the defendant in possession of a baseball bat which was found in his jacket.

Deborah Cartwright, prosecuting, said Cook told police he had been drinking at home with a friend when they decided to go to the chippy for some food.

“His friend was involved in some sort of altercation. Cook said the chip shop owner believed he was also involved,” she said.

“He maintained that the owner took off his belt and swung it around. Cook said he was struck on the leg and he showed officers a bruise. He also said he had a bump on his head but there was no sign of this.

“He managed to get away and thereafter he went home and armed himself with the baseball bat. He didn’t intend to use it but took it as protection because he thought the chip shop owner was intimidating.”

Cook (23) of Polar Grove, Scotter, admitted possession of an offensive weapon on October 2.

Jennifer Musgrove, representing, said this offence pre-dated another matter which resulted in a suspended sentence for Cook.

“He does have a lot of personal issues and he suffers from depression. A community order would benefit him greatly,” she said.

“He felt intimidated by the people he was up against and so he carried the weapon for his own security.”

Magistrates adjourned the case until Monday afternoon for the preparation of reports before sentencing.

POLISH WORKER OVER THE LIMIT

Polish factory worker Marcin Zajac was stopped by police because his car was weaving across the road, a court heard.

Lincoln magistrates were told that officers saw his car on Trent Bridge and followed as it turned onto Bridge Street in Gainsborough.

Deborah Cartwright, prosecuting, said when police spoke to Zajac he smelled of intoxicants and analysis of his breath revealed he had 59mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Zajac (26) of Ashcroft Road, Gainsborough, admitted drink driving on October 2.

Tony Freitas, representing, said the defendant had been drinking with a friend as they worked on a car in a garage. He had three beers.

“He didn’t realise how much he had drunk and that it would put him over the limit,” Mr Freitas said.

Magistrates banned Zajac from driving for 12 months with a three month reduction if he competes a rehabilitation course. He was fined £220, orderd to pay costs of £85 and a £15 Government surcharge.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN TOBACCOLAND

William Cooke over at the Tobaccoland blog puts forward a good argument on the use of medical marijuana or rather one bigot's attempt to stop people from using it for medical reasons because he personally doesn't believe it does any good.

As part of the light blogging rule I promised myself, I thought I'd link to some great stories in cyberspace and bloggers who are far more articulate on some issues than I am.

I do, actually, believe that it is time we began to take a mature look at drug use in this country. The current status quo doesn't solve anything, doesn't lead to reduced drug use, causes more harm to both drug users and victims of drug related crime, and it stands from a hysterical viewpoint. I do think it is time we had a serious debate about the future of drugs and the pros and cons of decriminalisation and even possibly, in some instances, legalisation. However, in health obsessed Britain, I doubt very much that it's going to happen.

Anyway, have a read of Tobaccoland. A great blog.

http://tobaccoland.blogspot.com/2009/10/mike-gimbel-dangerous-recovering-addict.html

CANNABIS USER ESCAPES SUPPLY CHARGE

A cannabis user escaped a drug supply charge after handing a bush grinder to his girlfriend as his car was searched by police, a court heard.
Lincoln magistrates were told the 20 year old’s car was stopped and he was found in possession of £10 worth of the class B drug.
Mark Holmes, prosecuting, said he could have got his girlfriend into a lot of trouble by handing her the grinder and himself a charge of supply but because of his lack of previous convictions, and full co-operation with the police, the charge would not be pursued this time.
“If he were to do this in future, then it would be a serious crown court matter,” Mr Holmes said.
The 20 year-old from Newark, admitted possession of cannabis on July 3.
Justin Atkinson, representing, said the defendant volunteered that he had the drug when he was stopped.
“This is his first appearance in court and he has been very worried about it,” Mr Atkinson said.
The young man told the court he had learned his lesson.
Magistrates fined him £65, ordered him to pay costs of £30 and a victim surcharge of £15.

MAN CAUGHT WITH DRUGS HE FOUND

A man caught with a class B drug in his possession claimed he found it after overhearing two homeless men say they had lost it in the railway station car park, a court heard.
Lincoln magistrates were told that CCTV operators informed police that the defendant was in the car park and police wanted to talk to him about other matters.
Jim Clare, prosecuting, said he was searched and officers found a white putty substance which was later analysed and found to be amphetamine with an estimated street value of £60.
The 30 year-old from Lincoln admitted possession of a class B drug on June 25.
Justin Atkinson, representing, said the defendant was in the Cornhill when he overheard the men talking about the drugs they lost so he thought he would go and have a look.
“He had just found it when police arrived and he says the CCTV will show this to be true,” Mr Atkinson said.
Magistrates fined Frow £75 and ordered the drug to be forfeited and destroyed.