Craig Ferguson 7/8/9A Late Late Show WHITE LINES

Proof that cocaine does NOT rot the brain.

Actually, let's go one better - read this information from the Transnational Institute:

# In 1995 the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) announced in a press release the publication of the results of the largest global study on cocaine use ever undertaken. The most important recommendation holds that: "WHO/PSA should investigate the therapeutic benefits of coca leaf" and a broader statement on researching the impact on health at individual and population levels of different legislation and drug control measures. However, a decision in the World Health Assembly banned the publication of the study. The US representative threatened that "if WHO activities relating to drugs failed to reinforce proven drug control approaches, funds for the relevant programmes should be curtailed". This led to the decision to discontinue publication. In the short article WHO: 'Six Horsemen ride out' there is more information on this case.
A part of the study has been recuperated and is now available on the TNI's Drugs & Democracy website. We feel this information is valid, important and needs to be available in the public domain:
# The Cocaine Project Briefing Kit, March 3, 1995 [PDF]
# The Natural History of Cocaine Abuse: A case study endeavour Programe on Substance Abuse - World Health Organisation, September 1995 [PDF] (Press releases)
# Fragment from the minutes of World Health Assembly Committee B meeting where the formerly mentioned threats were made. [PDF]

The Vancouver Sun reported on the non-release of the report:

The report notes, for instance, that health problems from "the use of legal substances, particularly alcohol and tobacco, are greater than health problems from cocaine use."

If that weren't enough, it states that "few experts describe cocaine as invariably harmful to health," and that problems "are mainly limited to high-dosage users." Indeed, "occasional cocaine use does not typically lead to severe or even minor physical or social problems . . . a minority of people start using cocaine or related products, use casually for a short or long period, and suffer little or no negative consequences, even after years of use."

To top it off, the report states that the "use of coca leaves . . . has positive therapeutic, sacred and social functions for indigenous Andean populations" -- a reference to South American aboriginals who have used coca leaves for thousands of years.

There is NO LOGICAL EXPLANATION for the illegality of cocaine, other than to create a black market and jack up the price beyond any reasonable means, and making it against the law to demonize those that do indulge. Unless you're Tony Montana, you simply won't experience the detrimental effects of unlimited cocaine usage.

Now, if you want to see the effects of pharmaceuticals upon someone...unless you've been in a well for the last couple of weeks, Michael Jackson was a victim of pharmaceutical abuse...and it was prescribed by DOCTORS. Of course, if you read this posting at Xymphora, this may have been the design of the pharmaceuticals, to weaken, destabilize and eventually, kill, its mark.

Of course, thanks goes to Unknown News for the link that started this whole brouhaha.