Of drug vaccines and weedmachines

Researchers of the Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, USA) claim to have developed a vaccine for drug addiction. Thomas Kosten, the lead scientist explains that this new product is actually a modified version of the drug. "The vaccines stimulate the body to produce antibodies which then attack the drug while it is in the blood stream. This prevents the drug from reaching the brain and creating the reactions that contribute to dependency." There have been promising results with cocaine. The product decreases slowly the amount of coke that reaches the brain. Since it consists of a gradual process, withdrawal symptoms should be minimal. Although results have been favorable, more tests need to be done in order to get an FDA (American Food and Drug Administration) approval. European researchers have been working on a (similar) tobacco vaccine, but they lag behind Kosten's work.

Recently, in Los Angeles, medical marihuana has been made available to patients thru vendor machines. Only registered patients with a prescription are allowed to use the dispensers. "The specialized machine installed Monday at Herbal Nutrition Center - a medical-marijuana dispensary on La Cienega Boulevard - requires fingerprint identification as well as a special prepaid card. ... The black, armored box is bolted to the floor at the entrance to the dispensary. It has a card swiper, a video camera that also takes a snapshot of any user and adds it to a database, and is protected by armed security guards." Even so, you can imagine that not everybody is happy with the pot machines.

The funny thing is that in the same country people are working on a "vaccine" against drugs and others are putting weedmachines on the streets. As Dr. Kosten states as well, addiction is not a case of physically getting it out of your system. People who like taking dope, will probably look for a replacement if one doesn't work anymore. Perhaps this anti-drug drug might easy the initial problem of a cold turkey, but let's not forget that that's only the beginning.

And putting weedmachines on the corner? It takes the inherent coziness away that can be found in a good old-fashioned coffeeshop. Besides if you're sick, you might like the social contact when buying it from a real person. But what do I know? It's easy to judge from across the Atlantic. In my opinion, a more honest - legal - approach to the marihuana "issue" would probably do society more good than hard repression. We know by now the "war on drugs" is - and always has been - a lost cause. Intelligent and honest information usually works better than acting like a bully.