Decriminalization article

[Cleatus]

This article isn't new, but I found it interesting. What would we as a community really need to do to open people's eyes to the truth about steroids? It is an overwhelming venture for one person to try to come up with a direction to head in to change this country's opinion on steroids, but we can focus on the people we deal with on a daily basis and go from there. Nobody wants to be outed as a steroid user because of legal issues, but we're a smart enough group - we can quote articles and blend our experience in there and be subtle about it. This country needs education, so fuck it - here's to the first ripple...

"Imagine, for a moment, that you were approached by a friend, colleague or co-worker, and asked for your position stand on the current legal status of anabolic steroids. How would you reply? Would you say that the possession, use or distribution of anabolic steroids should be illegal without a doctors prescription? Would you say that they should be de-criminalized, and that current laws are in need of reform? Or, would you even have a position stand?

It is important to not mistake a position stand for an opinion, as there is a great difference between the two. A position stand is a stance based on evidence derived from both common sense observations and research. An opinion, on the other hand, is a belief based often on simple desire. Many people who hold opinions do so even when conclusive and convincing evidence is presented to refute their belief. This should not be surprising, as psychology knows this phenomenon well. It is called belief perseverance.

Imagine also that as a bodybuilder who lives and promotes the lifestyle, you have been given the opportunity to not only inform an audience about anabolic steroids, but to also refute common beliefs, and then persuade them that de-criminalization of anabolic steroids is a necessity. To add to this difficulty, the setting you would be speaking in would be one of the top Universities in the country, and the time to speak would be limited to 6 minutes. What would you say?

Regardless of the situation in which you find yourself [the first, the second, or any other], the important facts on the issue remain the same and, if you are a bodybuilder, it is inevitable that at some time during your career the issue of anabolic steroids will arise. When the discussion of steroids arises and you are talking with other less knowledgeable bodybuilders or members of the public, you need to be informed.

If you lack the knowledge to support your views, or worse, lack the ability to organize and communicate that knowledge in a way that is understandable to your audience, you will have lost an opportunity to promote the lifestyle to members of the public. Even worse, you will have missed an opportunity to challenge the pre-conceptions and misknowledge many have about anabolic steroids.

On March 13, 2003 I had the opportunity to speak to my fellow colleagues at one of the top Universities in the country. I seized the opportunity to challenge their beliefs about anabolic steroids, and to refute many of the myths surrounding these drugs. I present for your consideration the full text of my speech. Consider how you may use these ideas when speaking to someone about steroids.

The Speech

[ " Pill poppers. Needle users. Drug abusers. Addicts. What image comes to your mind when you hear these phrases? If you are like many people, you probably think of someone who struggles with addiction, a law-breaker, someone who lives on the edges of society, conducting their deeds in secret back-alley deals, wanting to escape the public eye.

Steroid user. What image are you seeing now? If it is an image of a pill-popper, a needle user, a drug abuser or an addict, you are not alone in thinking this.

Many believe steroids are "street drugs" comparable to the likes of cocaine, heroine, or crack, and many people think they are just as addictive and deadly. Has it ever occurred to you that if this is your idea of a steroid user, you may be mistaken?

From my 5 years of bodybuilding, my 5 years of studying the human body, my 2 years of personal training, and my time writing for *****************, the world's #1 bodybuilding website, I have come to understand a lot about muscle building steroids, and also to realize that current laws are in need of change.

I will be talking about why anabolic steroids should de-criminalized and three issues that should bear foremost on your mind when you consider this subject. These issues are:


1. Steroid facts, what anabolic steroids are and the benefits and drawbacks of use.
2. The difference between street drugs and muscle building steroids.
3. Why you should care whether or not they are available to you without penalty under the law and what you can do to help the de-criminalization effort.
Despite the fact that many people use the phrase "anabolic steroids" many, in actuality, have no idea what anabolic steroids are. Simply, steroids are natural substances made and used by the body's hormone system. Some precursors of steroids are found in the needles of pine trees; so if any of you come in smelling like pine trees after this, the secret will be out!

Currently under Canadian and American law, the possession, use and distribution of anabolic steroids without a doctors prescription. In Canada anabolic steroids are illegal under the Controlled Foods and Substances Act, Schedule VI.

The drawbacks of excessive steroid abuse include but are not limited to:


Baldness in males
Facial hair growth in women
Shrinking of the gonads in males, enlargement of, and increased sensitivity of the clitoris of females
Buildup of fatty deposits behind the nipples in males
Toxicity to the liver
Psychological addiction possible
Contrasting these side effects of abuse are the effects noticed with moderate steroid usage. These include:


Positive affects on mood patterns
Positive affects on sleep patterns
Positive affects on muscular development
Prevention of symptoms of arthritis and depression
Strengthening of bones and prevention of thinning of bones, aka osteoporosis
Here I present to you 2 facts about steroids that may alter your definition of a "steroid user".

FACT: Steroids are hormones made by the body naturally.
IMPLICATION: Our bodies already use and make "steroids" We are steroid users.

FACT: If we eat fat we are eating the products needed to make steroids.
IMPLICATION: Our bodies already use and make "steroids" We are steroid users.

So when you look in the mirror, understand that the image staring back at you is of a person who makes, possesses and uses, anabolic steroids on a daily basis! If you have muscles your body has used muscle-building steroids to get them.

At this point you are probably surprised, and I was also when I first began to study this subject. You may be asking yourself "well what is the difference between street drugs and anabolic steroids?" There are many differences, and it is important that you do not mistake one drug for the other. Do not mistake anabolic steroids for street drugs!

It has been suggested that that steroids are as harmful and addictive as street drugs but no evidence exists that indicates that steroids stimulate the pleasure centers in brain as do alcohol, nicotine and cocaine or heroine. In fact, biological addiction to steroids is unlikely when they are used correctly, although it may be argued that psychological addictions are possible.

For your consideration here are some facts that you need to consider when trying to understand the difference between street drugs and anabolic steroids:


Small amounts of steroids do not cause addiction, small amounts of street drugs do
Small amounts of steroids cause no damage or permanent injury, small amounts of street drugs do
Large amounts of steroids cause damage, most of which is reversible; street drugs cause damage, all of which is not reversible
Anabolic steroids were given to concentration camp survivors after world war two as live saving medicine to help them use protein more efficiently because they were so starved; street drugs were never given to concentration camp survivors
Steroids are given to burn victims and victims of near-fatal accidents; street drugs are never given to burn victims or victims of near fatal accidents
Steroids are given to AIDS patients by doctors; street drugs are never given to aids patients by doctors
Street Drugs Devices of death that cause destruction
Steroids are given by doctors to near-death smokers to extend life; street drugs are not given to near-death smokers by doctors
Despite these points, I am aware that many would still contend that steroids are destructive. However according the Centers for Disease Control, between the years 1990-1994 an average of 430,700 people died annually from smoking. The same report, when speaking of anabolic steroids states, "There is little evidence to show that their use will cause long term detriment…"

 

[Cleatus]

"On a personal note, my uncle began smoking at the age of 10. Before his death at age 69 several years ago resulting from the collapse and failure of his liver, kidneys and heart, brought about by his years of excessive smoking, he was given anabolic steroids to extend, save, and contribute to the quality his life. The very drugs that are ridiculed, vilified and misrepresented in the media allowed me to have those final times with my uncle. Steroids kept him alive so we could go on fishing trips, and they gave us time to tell each other that we loved one another, before he died. In fact, the use of anabolic steroids added a full two years onto his life. That time may not seem like a lot of time to many of you, but to the people who loved and continue to love him, that was a gift and blessing that money cannot buy. That time was everything.

So why should you care? What does it matter to you if anabolic steroids are decriminalized? After all, you are not elderly and are not, presumably, suffering from a terminal or chronic illness. Why should you act to help the de-criminalization process?
"Steroids are not street drugs, because when used in moderate dosages they heal, and do not destroy lives."
The first reason that you should care is because this is an issue that is fundamentally about freedom. It is about the freedom to choose to use substances that will improve the length and quality of your life. Should you be denied substances that, when used correctly, are life improving substances, while others can have free access to products like cigarettes that that when used as intended, kill? Should you have to be on separate drugs to treat arthritis, depression and impotence? Why should you have to take Viagra or an arthritis medication that will eat away at your stomach lining, while moderate doses of testosterone would fix all three problems previously mentioned, with no side effects?

The de-criminalization of anabolic steroids should happen! They improve quality of life. Steroids are not street drugs, because when used in moderate dosages they heal, and do not destroy lives. We should all care about and support the de-criminalization of anabolic steroids and stand up for the right to choose the best of what medicine has to offer, because one day we may find ourselves needing these drugs for legitimate purposes.

Lobby your political representatives to move toward de-criminalization. The quality and length of your life may one day depend on it! " ]

Afterword

My speech was very well received by the audience and many were persuaded to at least soften their opposition to free access to these drugs. At the beginning of the speech many people, when asked, voiced stiff opposition to the de-criminalization of these drugs. After the speech, no one did, and many moderately agreed or had moved from strong opposition to a position of not being sure how they felt. That is, at least, a start, and is progress for our lifestyle.

It is important to realize that the de-criminalization effort will not be won in miles, but in inches. Victory will not occur by trying to "prove" how great steroids are, but in refutation of misknowledge, and by replacing that misknowledge in a non-threatening way with genuine fact that speaks to the intellect of all who listen.

Next time that someone asks you about anabolic steroids, be a strong representative for our sport by preaching moderation; not abuse, tolerance to opposing viewpoints; not close-mindedness, and most importantly stick to your guns and base your position stand on fact, and do so in a passive but assertive and determined way. In doing THIS you will be doing yourself and all bodybuilders with whom you share a common humanity, a service. Happy lifting!" - author unknown

 

[Cleatus]

I had to do two posts because it was so long.

 

[jp4355]

That was a Very Heart Felt Post.
The way I look at this Issue, is that we may have to Attack this One State at a Time, like Marijuana.
At this Point in time, there is just Too much Lack of Knowledge and Understanding by the Average Person.
I've been a Very Vocal Advocate for Vitamin Supplementation since the early 1970's.
People would look at me then like I had 3 Heads.
Especially when I tried to Explain that our Food has had a Diminishing Return on Vitamins and Minerals since the 1950's.
It takes 10 Servings of Vegetables today to equal what was in 1 Serving in the 50's.

So what Happens is the Average Person starts to get that Glazed look in their Eyes, when you go into Details on these Types of Subjects.
Also Today, the Average Person Looks like they just Ate the Last 3 People they saw.
So when you start talking to them about Enhancing their Health.
They look at you like what are you talking about, I just had a Healthy Meal at McDonalds................... JP

 

[genomex]

Good post. Its true. Unfortunately, you only hear about the abuse and ridiculous BS, like it causing brain cancer and what not... Completely unsubstantiated claims. And the media is what spreads this shit to everyone. It will take a lot of effort from all of us to fight any of the current images and work towards it becoming legal. Not just a few.

 

[Lightning]

Good Speech a little long but good none the less

 

[Cleatus]

Good Speech a little long but good none the less

Yeah, it was damn long Hope that didn't come off like I wrote the article. I couldn't find the author of the article, so I just put "author unknown" at the end of the second post.

 

[Cleatus]

That was a Very Heart Felt Post.
The way I look at this Issue, is that we may have to Attack this One State at a Time, like Marijuana.
At this Point in time, there is just Too much Lack of Knowledge and Understanding by the Average Person.
I've been a Very Vocal Advocate for Vitamin Supplementation since the early 1970's.
People would look at me then like I had 3 Heads.
Especially when I tried to Explain that our Food has had a Diminishing Return on Vitamins and Minerals since the 1950's.
It takes 10 Servings of Vegetables today to equal what was in 1 Serving in the 50's.

So what Happens is the Average Person starts to get that Glazed look in their Eyes, when you go into Details on these Types of Subjects.
Also Today, the Average Person Looks like they just Ate the Last 3 People they saw.
So when you start talking to them about Enhancing their Health.
They look at you like what are you talking about, I just had a Healthy Meal at McDonalds................... JP

I needed a laugh - the line about the average person looking like they just ate the last 3 people they saw cracked me up. You're right about tackling it like marijuana though. Who's gonna be first is the question. Do they just squash that right away when it comes up? Or does it even come up. I'm in the dark on this one.

 

[Cleatus]

Good post. Its true. Unfortunately, you only hear about the abuse and ridiculous BS, like it causing brain cancer and what not... Completely unsubstantiated claims. And the media is what spreads this shit to everyone. It will take a lot of effort from all of us to fight any of the current images and work towards it becoming legal. Not just a few.

Think of all the information that is censored just because it is illegal. It is amazing how many people still think that steroids shrink your penis - that we're all walkin' around with "innies" like a frightened turtle.

 

[liftflinn]

To be honest, I actually like the fact that steroids are illegal.

If any 18 year old kid could walk into a pharmacy and buy a cycle, well, I wouldn't be a monster in the gym anymore.

 

[Cleatus]

To be honest, I actually like the fact that steroids are illegal.

If any 18 year old kid could walk into a pharmacy and buy a cycle, well, I wouldn't be a monster in the gym anymore.

He might get big for a few months, but without diet and training knowledge, he's not going to keep much of it. You'll outlast him. We're talking more about lightening the sentences for possession. Even if they legalized them, you wouldn't be able to go pick up a bottle of anything without a prescription. They won't be over-the-counter.

 

[stretch512]

Great post Cleatus! This needs to be said and in the end mentoring and education can be very valuable tools to combat ignorance.

 

[wildrocker69]

I know that there is a site where you can create a petition to have the President address the issue (doesn't imply action, but it would create a public awareness of the issue) if enough people signed it. The problem is, how many people would be willing to sign in when given many don't want any scrutiny placed on them regarding possible personal use? It would be far too easy for the list of petition signers to be given to the DEA and search warrants being handed out like candy. Although unlikely, the USA is slowly becoming more and more of a police state. Plus, I would never forgive myself if I were imprisoned and my family were left to fend for themselves. Ugh. Just need to move somewhere that their use is legal...

 

[Cleatus]

Great post Cleatus! This needs to be said and in the end mentoring and education can be very valuable tools to combat ignorance.

Thanks Stretch. I have now been on both sides of the fence - growing up and starting my lifting journey all natural and believing steroids were terrible and starting trt and doing a cycle and seeing how wrong I was. Steroids can be used safely, but they aren't something to use without a lot of research and knowledge - knowledge that is being suppressed by keeping them so illegal. Since they are so illegal, we need to choose who we talk to carefully and phrase it in a way that we don't incriminate ourselves. I have an in because I just say I use test for testosterone therapy and tell them how much it has improved my life. I can talk about other steroids and they don't think much of it because I already made them ok with it talking about my trt. It's just such a waste of time to me to pursue guys so vigilantly for using steroids and it probably has more to do with not collecting taxes from UGL's and overseas pharmacies than it does with our health. It just bothers me that these laws were crafted in ignorance.

 

[liftflinn]

If steroids were legal though, they would only be able to be sold by approved vendors (pharmacists)

So the prices would go through the roof. UGLs keep the cost down, and I definitely prefer it that way.

 

[genomex]

I know that there is a site where you can create a petition to have the President address the issue (doesn't imply action, but it would create a public awareness of the issue) if enough people signed it. The problem is, how many people would be willing to sign in when given many don't want any scrutiny placed on them regarding possible personal use? It would be far too easy for the list of petition signers to be given to the DEA and search warrants being handed out like candy. Although unlikely, the USA is slowly becoming more and more of a police state. Plus, I would never forgive myself if I were imprisoned and my family were left to fend for themselves. Ugh. Just need to move somewhere that their use is legal...

Yeah... Seems like anyone that signed that petition would be tracked down and searched. I'm willing to bet they'd consider it "probable cause" for steroid searches and shit. So I don't think anyone that uses would be comfortable to sign that.

And I'm with you bro, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something were to happen to the people I love if I went to jail -- not to mention the disappointment and shit it was cause in general (going to jail).

Thanks Stretch. I have now been on both sides of the fence - growing up and starting my lifting journey all natural and believing steroids were terrible and starting trt and doing a cycle and seeing how wrong I was. Steroids can be used safely, but they aren't something to use without a lot of research and knowledge - knowledge that is being suppressed by keeping them so illegal. Since they are so illegal, we need to choose who we talk to carefully and phrase it in a way that we don't incriminate ourselves. I have an in because I just say I use test for testosterone therapy and tell them how much it has improved my life. I can talk about other steroids and they don't think much of it because I already made them ok with it talking about my trt. It's just such a waste of time to me to pursue guys so vigilantly for using steroids and it probably has more to do with not collecting taxes from UGL's and overseas pharmacies than it does with our health. It just bothers me that these laws were crafted in ignorance.

Pretty much. Thank idiots like Biden!

And yeah, it does seem to be a lot more about taxes. But that's also why they track down home-distillers and shit. They say its for safety and what not, but that's total BS. Its just for money. The gov wants it money, and so long as you provide the money it wants, they let you do pretty much anything you want. You just have to be sure to have the money part covered lol.

I think we should be able to do whatever we want with our own bodies. I don't think the government should be able to micromanage such things. I can understand dangerous drugs to an extent, but still. I can see dealing being illegal -- because that puts others in harm's way (for shit like Heroin, Crack, etc). But steroids? Totally different. I just think we should be able to do what we want with our bodies. We're adults, we can make educated decisions on our own. We don't need Big Brother telling us what we can or can't do.

If steroids were legal though, they would only be able to be sold by approved vendors (pharmacists)

So the prices would go through the roof. UGLs keep the cost down, and I definitely prefer it that way.

Not necessarily. Look at what has been going on with weed dispensaries. It would actually probably SEVERELY drop the price. The material for making steroids is actually next to nothing in price. You realize that the 10ML vials that UGL's charge you ~$100 for costs them something like $5-10 to make right? The most expensive anything costs is Primo or Tren Hex (costs around $13-25/gram). Not just that, but there isn't a standard for how clean/sterile it is. If I were a betting man, I'd say that legalizing steroids would not only drop the price and make it easier for us to attain, but also make it so we don't have to worry so much about infections, bad ingredients being used (PIP would be at a minimum), and we KNOW we wouldn't have to worry about shit like heavy metals being in it and what not.

And concerning any 18 year old being able to get it if it was legal... I have a feeling there would be a legal age limit. And I'm sure it would also be prescribed too (like in Arnold's day). Just because its legal doesn't mean anyone can just walk into any Walmart and buy them. You'd probably have to have prescription, which I would be completely fine with.

But lets say you can buy them anywhere so long as you're 21 or older. You would still be bigger than those dudes that would just use them without any amount of knowledge and research. 99.99999% of the people that would use them (like the kids you mentioned), would do it because they're too lazy to put in the work with the diet and workouts. They'd use them expecting to make them massive and/or cut without having to put in any real work. They wouldn't really see much of a difference at all bro. And anything they did see, they'd lose immediately when done with the cycle.

Also, if it was legal it would make it so people were far better educated. Everything is so suppressed and hush hush now because of its legal status. But if it was legal, people would be able to freely discuss them without being worried about the law cracking down on them for some shit. The average person's knowledge towards steroids would be so much better than it is now. Which is far from a bad thing.

 

[Cleatus]

If steroids were legal though, they would only be able to be sold by approved vendors (pharmacists)

So the prices would go through the roof. UGLs keep the cost down, and I definitely prefer it that way.

UGL's would still be around. I think decriminalization for the end user would be the ultimate aim in a perfect world. Fine the UGL's just like you would a business that operates without a license or doesn't file taxes. I don't know what the answer is - that's why we need a lot of people talking about this.

 

[Anofuctus]

Cleatus, I have an idea. WHY don't you run for congressman or representative that "Steroids should be Decriminalized and made legal for those who actually need it and know how to use it properly"
CAN YOU IMAGINATION THE CONSTITUENTS FROM FELLOW BODYBUILDERS NATIONWIDE? WITH YOU RUNNING ON SUCH A PLATFORM IMAGINE THE MONIES THE WORLD OF BODYBUILDING WILL GIVE TO YOU FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Your only problem would be the steroid companies overseas and domestic that supply to many bodybuilders young and old worldwide and that's only one of the bullets you have to dodge, YET, the bullets you'll really have to dodge are this stodgy government and then its many duly-deputized hit-men where they are everywhere in these lands. GOOD LUCK!!!
Keeping steroids illegal may have saved some young kid's life today and we would not be on this forum nor a member of a gym in good standing.

 

[-SD-]

If you cant casually mention to people you take steroids, just like people can with marijuana, aint no way roids are gonna be legal for a very long time. Because if were comparing it to MJ we are about around 1955 as far as the general public conversation is concerned

And if congress can haul half of the major league in for hearings a scant decade ago, does anyone think roids are magically going to be legalized anytime soon?

And the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 is only 24 years old. MJ was made illegal in the 1930's.
Do the math

Also as a nation we are much more comfortable with the act of smoking (cigs, cigars etc) then the act of sticking needles in our body

 

[forgedsteel20000]

Good article. Very lengthy and in depth

 

[Cleatus]

If you cant casually mention to people you take steroids, just like people can with marijuana, aint no way roids are gonna be legal for a very long time. Because if were comparing it to MJ we are about around 1955 as far as the general public conversation is concerned

And if congress can haul half of the major league in for hearings a scant decade ago, does anyone think roids are magically going to be legalized anytime soon?

And the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 is only 24 years old. MJ was made illegal in the 1930's.
Do the math

Also as a nation we are much more comfortable with the act of smoking (cigs, cigars etc) then the act of sticking needles in our body

I am hoping it will be faster than that now that the internet can be harnessed as a tool to spread information much quicker than anything history has ever seen before. It's nothing we can casually talk about and I don't think we should. Therein lies the biggest problem - disseminating the truth without attracting attention to ourselves.
This is where we do it - on the internet. Every chance we get, be it on health websites or anywhere, we pop in even for just one comment. We're like fuckin' Seal Team 6
- in and out without any tracks.

 

[-SD-]

I am hoping it will be faster than that now that the internet can be harnessed as a tool to spread information much quicker than anything history has ever seen before. It's nothing we can casually talk about and I don't think we should. Therein lies the biggest problem - disseminating the truth without attracting attention to ourselves.
This is where we do it - on the internet. Every chance we get, be it on health websites or anywhere, we pop in even for just one comment. We're like fuckin' Seal Team 6
- in and out without any tracks.

Still too many factors working against full legalization. Hell, theres probably congressman still around that voted for the Anabolic Steroid Control act in 1990. And all the congressman that were for the baseball hearings also. The media overall paints steroids in a very harsh light every chance they get. The media has to be on board for something like this before it becomes legal, just like they were behind MJ for many years. The internet has been around 20+ years and we are further away from legalization than we were before the internet thanks to pressure to drug test in sports and the baseball hearings.
People would have to start taking to the streets in large numbers to protest or rally or something for this to get any steam.
About the only thing roids has working for it is that its not a Schedule 1.

 

[Mattdogg]

lol @ seal team 6

 

[Cleatus]

Still too many factors working against full legalization. Hell, theres probably congressman still around that voted for the Anabolic Steroid Control act in 1990. And all the congressman that were for the baseball hearings also. The media overall paints steroids in a very harsh light every chance they get. The media has to be on board for something like this before it becomes legal, just like they were behind MJ for many years. The internet has been around 20+ years and we are further away from legalization than we were before the internet thanks to pressure to drug test in sports and the baseball hearings.
People would have to start taking to the streets in large numbers to protest or rally or something for this to get any steam.
About the only thing roids has working for it is that its not a Schedule 1.

I know you're right SD. I am just at the age where I am so tired of the government telling me what I can and can't do. We all know how ridiculous these laws are - especially with alcohol and tobacco available on every corner. I do feel fortunate though to have a forum like this that we can at least talk about this issue. I'd be left to kick this stuff around in my head all day and not have anyone to share it with. Plus I'd probably have tits by now without guys here dialing in my ai for me - much obliged, by the way

 

[Narko514]

It disgusts me so much. Do I think they should make it illegal in sports?, whatever, they all do it and its an equal playing field. But for the people that just do it personally to make you excel, it's fucking dumb that it is illegal. A couple people die because supposedly preworkouts with DMAA, and they ban it, where alcohol and tobacco kill how many fucking people a year? They tax it and make money off it.

The way I see it, if used responsibly, steroids, GH enhances your overall health. Dorian yates said it the best, as old as the guy is he is still a beast. Same can be said for Arnold, Sylvester and lots of others. It's seriously so hypocritical for governments to ban these hormones, when they will keep certain drugs and alcohol legal, and taxed.