Response to Marcos blog

Taxing Marijuana like we have the past couple of years in Colorado seems to be a good idea like Marcos was saying considering that it made more revenue than projected and that money is also being used for education. Since the oil industry, one of the biggest industries in Texas seems to be going down this could be a perfect way to get more revenue. The problem I see with legalizing marijuana to get this revenue would be that it wouldn't only be for medical use but also for recreational use like it is in Colorado for example. Many people and even tax payers could benefit from this because of the $700,000,000 that we pay because of marijuana arrests. People in high and important places wouldn't really reap the benefits of this such as pharmaceuticals or government agencies that make a living in 'fighting' a so called war on drugs. Let's actually think about this and see if it is something that we would actually get accomplished in a border state where this ‘war’ on drugs continues with no result. If our elected leaders and unelected leaders would let this happen. Make it look like it benefits them and you will see immediate changes but don’t expect them to do anything about it if they don’t see benefits for themselves.  Good article overall but I would expand more on the possibilities of it happening and how you would tax it or decriminalize it. At the end of the day whoever wants to do it will might as well make some money out of it.

LSD and the brain

Many have read or heard recently about recent scans on your brain while on LSD and the results are interesting. The DEA has LSD classified as a schedule 1 drug along with Marijuana, Ecstasy, and Peyote. Having a drug on the Schedule 1 drug list means that it is one of the most dangerous and has NO currently accepted medical use. 

The recent scans on the brain show exactly how 'LSD increases or boosts connectivity between brain networks that it usually doesn't connect with. Your brain normally has independent networks that perform specialized functions like vision, however while using LSD you have more of a integrated and unified brain.' What exactly does this mean and how could this be useful? 

Having a more 'unified' brain means that your brain could be more flexible with thinking, have more vivid visions, and also it could enhance your creativity. This could be something that many people look at when doing LSD. Having a more creative mind and an openness to more things instead of the rigid way of thinking that we have right now. So should LSD be used medically? 

Well LSD assisted psychotherapy has a very strong promise to treat things like depression, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety. While it does sound like a strong reason to allow neuroscientists and psychologist to use LSD on patients it could also lead to many side effects that we have not yet found. Allowing neuroscientists to keep studying this drug could lead to possible health benefits in treating things like depression and even end-of-life anxiety in time.