Marijuana
Posted by ledzepfan12 on Aug 26, 2009 · Member since Jan 2007 · 675 posts
What do you all think about it? I mean in general, your stance on drugs, if you smoke/ reasons you don't, etc. I really don't know what made me think of it, I just would like to know other peoples opinons of it. I was thinking of making it a pole, but I don't know how that would have worked out.
uhhhhhhhhhhh............I think this belongs on the News and Debate board
Does this need to become a debate or can people express how they feel about something without having to challenge someone else's opinion?
That is exactly what the debate board is for....for people to safely express how they feel on 'hot topics' and not be attacked/challenged....simply trying to prevent a fire here.
I don't want to get caught up in an argument or anything but I was under the impression that this is the board for general conversation and the debate forum is for people who feel like because its in the debate thread that there should be attacks on other peoples opinions/ statements and a pile on if their belief isn't the majority.
I think the main thing is that we aren't supposed to talk about illegal substances, so people may shy away from this subject.
The debate forum is for potentially controversial topics, which this is, since some people feel strongly about this subject. This forum is for general conversation such as " I got a new job" or "hey hanashi, how'd that pie turn out".
I think the main thing is that we aren't supposed to talk about illegal substances, so people may shy away from this subject.
Which is why I would like to hear peoples opinions. I think having an open dialogue about drugs is better than just demonizing them and their users flat out and achieving a conversation, not a debate about who's wrong and who's right
EDIT: Wow, this was moved into the debate thread.....obviously it was stupid to even try to say why it SHOULDN'T be in this thread. I know people won't know how to behave so thanks for totally defeating my purpose of posting this.
you didn't have to quote me twice!!! I wasn't saying I'm against it or trying to be the drug police, just saying that may be why people aren't saying much.
I didn't mean to do that, my reply thing was messed up and I didn't notice until it posted.
:/ I think it should be legal, but I don't do it nor do I want to. It smells like herbal BO!
Never tried it...never will....anything that messes with your mind cannot be a good thing...this includes booze....I've been drunk once in my life, and I didn't like it...I want total control of my mind at all times....no it should not be legal, its bad enough we have drunk drivers on the road...we don't need potheads too
I think Marijuana is at the top of the platform, even above tobacco. I think it's a lot like that because it isn't regulated by the government, and so if you truly know where yours is coming from and it doesn't have additives, it's better for you. And you're not buying it from people who are testing on animals.
I like it better than alcohol in these respects, as well.
I don't smoke or drink, but I think it should be legal if alcohol is legal.
I also don't believe it's the governments business to tell us we can't do something like that, but hey..
As far as "high-driving" goes, there are tests you can use to detect marijuana... but because it stays in the system so long (THC is fat soluble and can be stored in your fatty tissue), a test might come out positive even if you're not high *now* but were 2 days ago. In fact, apparently THC can stay in your system for a month if you smoke marijuana often enough (which seems to be less often than all the pot smokers I know...). So, if THC impacts driving skills, would it ever be safe for a marijuana user to operate a vehicle? Only when they're not feeling high? I'm not sure if there's a test specific enough to not just detect THC in the system vs. the recentness.
On the other hand, I think it should be legal because I think it will be safer if it can be regulated. Marijuana can be and does get contaminated. Also, there's a huge variation in THC content (so if it were sold, the crop could be properly tested and labelled based on its level). There's also the marijuana vs. tobacco or alcohol thing. I'm not about to say that marijuana doesn't cause lung problems - it does - but to my knowledge it plays no role in lung cancer ("just" emphysema and other problems associated with breathing in any smoke). Also, it is apparently not as nearly as physiologically addictive as nicotine or alcohol (not a whole lot beats nicotine...).
One issue, if it were legalized, is where one could smoke marijuana. In California, we have a lot of regulations about where one can smoke tobacco - would the same apply to marijuana? To be honest, marijuana to me is WAY smellier (in terms of potency and distance). But, if it were legalized, California would be able to tax it (like they want to), with fewer issues about it being a "pharmaceutical". (one of the objections to taxing it now is that it's medical marijuana, and like other prescriptions should not be given a "luxury tax")
Okay, since I started it I might as well put my two cents in: I smoke pot. Not a lot, but I do have chronic pain that goes away when I smoke that Tylenol or Aleve just can't get rid of. I'm broke and don't have insurance and I don't even know why the pain is there, but I can't afford treatment...blah blah blah. I think it should be legal for people to grow their own and just make it illegal to have an outrageous amount of weed, more than someone would obviously use for personal use. Of course it would be regulated in some way, maybe if they set controls so that theres records of how often people buy seeds... I don't know.
All the pot I've smoked has never made me do something I wouldn't normally do like when your drunk. High from marijuana and drunk is not the same. I have never noticed a difference in driving after I've smoked at all, if anything I'm more relaxed as I tend to have driving anxiety and weed just calms me down and helps me get over stuff thats bothering me so I can focus on something constructive.
I think it shows a lot that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug and there is no report of anyone every dying from smoking weed, its not physically addictive, the possibility of someone overdosing is extremely rare and I just have not heard one good argumen to not make it legal.
The fact that you drive after smoking really makes me angry.
I equate that to driving drunk and it can be just as bad.
Well its fine and dandy if you do equate it to drinking but the fact is that its not the same. Of course with any study though, there will be a negative slant to it if its funded/ published by ant-drug people and a more neutral tone if it were say from a decriminalization organization. Here are some examples:
http://www.fcda.org/driving.htm
http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5450#Summaries
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Misc/driving/s1p2.htm
The point I'm trying to make is that if you know how marijuana effects you, you have total control over yourself, its not like in the movies or those commercials. And yes, some people react badly to being high, but I think that has to do with the mindset and envrionment you were in when you smoked pot.
Many people believe drinking helps them drive. I've heard people say snorting drugs helps them drive better. I don't buy it.
I think if someone is going to take the job of driving (which people get hurt sober ALL the time doing) on, then they need to do so sober. It's endangering to other people, not just one's self.
Okay....now that it is in the right forum....I feel more comfortable with giving my story....
When I was 12, I was diagnosed with numerous congenital knee conditions chronic and severe enough to cause me to use a wheelchair a few weeks to months out of a year since then. I was told the only way to kinda fix my knees is knee complete replacement surgery (which isn't a guaranteed 'cure', only good for 20, MAYBE 30 yrs TOPS (generally, it needs to be redone after 15yrs) and you have to be AT LEAST 40 y/o to be seriously considered for this procedure) for both knees. To control the pain and smooth my rough cartilage, I was told to take two full strength aspirin twice a day, then added ibuprofen and acetaminophen, then hydrocodone on top of all that to simply help keep me sane with the overwhelming pain....it didn't necessarily keep me out of the wheel chair (I'm surprised my innards are still functioning). Add that to the psuedophedrine containing prescription anti-histamines to keep my sinuses from burning uncontrollably AND the inhaler to keep me breathing....I couldn't stop shaking.
Age 20, I suffered a neurological anomaly that left me with a migraine debilitating me for over three months, swelling at the base of my skull and loss of mobility on my left side. I was on heavy narcotics to no effect of controlling the pain. It was after this, that I started having issues with maintaining/keeping weight on.
Add that to the multi-vehicle car wreck I was in a year later....I was put on a drug combination, when taken together is metabolized into heroin by your body. I took this at least daily, sometimes multiple times a day.....I took this combination for years!
It wasn't until three years ago I was able to wean myself off it all together. If it wasn't for the occasional/periodic 'hit' I KNOW I wouldn't be able to attempt to function like a 'normal' human being without otherwise HEAVY narcotics.
Just like any other intoxicant, I do not drive or go to work while under the influence (cooking at home, or at a friend's however....is a completely DIFFERENT situation! ;))
You need to know your limit, and when to say no more.
I do kinda disagree about the whole idea of what causes 'bad trips'....it can also depend on the strain you get, and not really knowing how that one will affect you, thus taking more/less than you intended.
Ugh, I have no respect for anyone who drives under the influence of marijuana. That is sickening and enraging. I don't give a fuuuuuck what you put in your body, but please leave the rest of us out of your line of fire. Good god. I'm so infuriated by that.
Of course with any study though, there will be a negative slant to it if its funded/ published by ant-drug people and a more neutral tone if it were say from a decriminalization organization.
That is just false. A study published by a decriminalization organization will be biased exactly opposite of the way that a study by an anti-drug group is. That's like saying that a study from the soy industry is neutral. It is no more neutral than a study from the dairy industry. Please use some common sense.
Are you reading this garbage?
From http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5450#Summaries:
“In conclusion, marijuana impairs driving behavior. However, this impairment is mitigated in that subjects under marijuana treatment appear to perceive that they are indeed impaired. Where they can compensate, they do, for example by not overtaking, by slowing down and by focusing their attention when they know a response will be required. … Effects on driving behavior are present up to an hour after smoking but do not continue for extended periods.
With respect to comparisons between alcohol and marijuana effects, these substances tend to differ in their effects. In contrast to the compensatory behavior exhibited by subjects under marijuana treatment, subjects who have received alcohol tend to drive in a more risky manner. Both substances impair performance; however, the more cautious behavior of subjects who have received marijuana decreases the impact of the drug on performance, whereas the opposite holds true for alcohol.”
Cliff notes: Marijuana impairs driving behavior. But at least drivers know they are impaired! But it's not quite as bad as alcohol, so we're alright! (eta: published on a marijuana legislation reform website)
Seriously. FUCK THAT. This is so upsetting. You're risking the lives of other people's families and friends every time you do that. Please don't.
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