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.
I'd just like to poke my head back in and defend the whole quoting studies bit.
There are many, many flawed studies. Small sample sizes, inaccurate extrapolations, incorrect conclusions, confounding causes, etc. Hopefully, when one finds a study (and not through a biased website, whether pro/con any issue), it's not just the abstract, and you can go through and read what the authors state is the limitations of the study, variables that weren't controlled for, and other possible causes of the relationship than the one proposed. All "studies" should contain this information.
Furthermore, a meta-analysis or "research review" takes several studies (in this case 60) to draw conclusions from the entire group's data. Research reviews are generally the best area to get information, because the topic involves a long history of research, not just anyone can write one, and it takes into account the flaws of all studies (i.e., most studies show a particular trend, and the one that didn't had too small of a sample size, or whatever). Additionally, not all studies are funded by "pro" or "con" sides or big industries. Each study discloses where their funding came from. Often it's from the NIH. I suppose one could argue that, as a government-funded body, they have an anti-pot stance, but in my experience they've been pretty neutral on everything... like a good scientist.
That being said, what makes a scientist a scientist is not quoting a study and taking the conclusions as facts. News anchors do that.
Sincerely,
a rant-prone scientist
If I had no money to pay my bills I would probably not spend my money buying pot.
I have smoked before, and I am positive it would have been dangerous for me to drive after smoking it.
I don't really care if people smoke, as long as they are responsible about it-ie, not driving!
Isn't the argument about debate vs. discuss just a matter of semantics? So the OP wants to discuss different view points, but let's just not call it a "debate". Whatever.
Maybe the title should be "marijuana lovers unite" or something, so that people who are against it won't be that interested in posting. If you aren't interested in hearing others' viewpoints, why bother creating a thread?
I don't think I've read one person who is against in this thread anyway.
I just want to throw a question out: do you support legalization or decriminalization. And how do you think it would help the economy if legalized in terms of becoming a taxed/ regulated commodity if legalized?
I don't think it will ever happen, but I'm for legalization. I'm not sure how they could work out the laws about driving while under the influence since it stays in your system so much longer than alcohol.
The amount of THC lessens over time, thus when a test is performed, they can 'theoretically' determine whether or not you've partaken of it in the last 24/48hrs...whathaveyou
good point Hanashi
ok, I really just said that because I wanted 2000 posts!
I have a great idea to stop pot smokers from driving: have a pizza place at every corner. Problem solved.
What about setting age limits, licensing people as growers, determing how to sell it, or if people could still grow at home?
I have a great idea to stop pot smokers from driving: have a pizza place at every corner. Problem solved.
:-D :-D
In my senior economics class at my university, my professor discussed the benefits of decriminalization, but in a utopian sense. Yes, the legalization of pot would lower the cost, cut out the profiting middle man, and allow for a standardized product. It would also cut down on costs in court and prison system. It could potentially raise money for the state the way that taxes on tobacco have.
But, if young kids can get it legally now, what's to stop them when it's legal to buy, but they have to get it through a carryout?
Personally, I think pot ruined a great relationship with me. My ex picked smoking with his friends over me. Pot is definitely not something I would want to try. I know it would let down my family, friends, and coaches if I did. My argument for with my friends has always been, "I don't know anyone's life who is better because of it."
*NOTE* None of my friends have severe pain that they medicate with pot. They are just fat college dropouts now. And that's just my opinion, based off what I've seen.
So, I can understand regulating it for pain, which would of course be abused, but what isn't. But I am against everyday or recreational use.
Great (but sad) post! I like those "arguments," and I like your way of looking at it.
I agree with those sentiments entirely, Shea. I really don't think pot is an asset to anyone, on a personal or societal level (medical treatment excluded). Instead of sitting around and smoking, like many people I know do, why not be productive? Or at least, be present? Especially if you are spending all your earnings on pot. Like shea, I don't really know any regular pot smokers who are particularly....productive or active. Though I know that's not true across the board. Just my personal opinion and experience; I don't really have a well-informed opinion about legalization and how that would affect the big picture.
I'm not really a fan of numbing experiences like that. And I totally agree that legalization could have an adverse effect on kids, for sure.
Oh, fb, thanks for explaining the meta-analysis. I should have explained what that was.
Stole my thoughts! That's exactly what I was thinking about. I don't really have any answers.
*NOTE* None of my friends have severe pain that they medicate with pot. They are just fat college dropouts now. And that's just my opinion, based off what I've seen.
Shea, I love this. The people I know who still smoke after all these years are basically this.
I like your quote too, about no one's life being any better.
I was actually quite a heavy smoker in high school.
My manager (a grown man) at a restaurant I worked at introduced me to it. I think that is so wrong....to expose young kids to it. I was like 15 or 16. It really messed me up. I guess I'm glad I got it out of my system early. I'd rather have done that than to be an adult pot smoker.
smoking weed is lame... i see how it changes people in a bad way... better off not making it legal because more people will smoke the junk... i dunno that's my opinion i think it makes u un-motivated
while I'm not a regular pot smoker by any means, it does have a nice calming affect/effect? (never can remember which one is correct!), so I don't think everyone that smokes it is the typical burnt out lazy person eating potato chips on the couch. I have alot of nervous energy, and would rather calm down this way than with pills such as xanax or valium. Prescription pills is a whole other topic, but imo a far worse problem in our country.
so I don't think everyone that smokes it is the typical burnt out lazy person eating potato chips on the couch.
Two of my best friends are heavy smokers and are both very motivated and not lazy.
Just sayin'.
It pissed me off when one of them decided to smoke after picking me up from the airport. I mean, thanks for picking me up, but couldn't that wait for a little while? Seriously?
In my experience and observations (it wasn't until I was 23 that I started using, I was around others since 14/15 who would smoke around me so I'd observe) marijuana is less noxious compared to alcohol in many ways.....Alcohol is physically addictive. In detox centers, Alcohol detox is given more medical attention than Heroin....Let me just say these are my observations from seeing many addicts go through this and my own when weening myself off the heroin combination....When it comes to societal effects....I have yet to see/hear about an angry/violent marijuana induced episode/incident (paranoia, panic attacks, manic episodes....yes).
To paraphrase what my High school Gov't teacher said concerning this exact topic is "When someone is stoned, they're not going to beat their wife, buyout/clear out a store of all their snack foods, yes. But calling the cops due to a brawl/fight...no."
When it comes to someone detoxing from marijuana, they'll be bitchy and irritable for a few days to a week, with the possibility of a smaller appetite during those times, but they're not going to get the shakes or chills or fever or diarrhea or nausea that is involved with other intoxicants.
In these ways marijuana and alcohol are the same: they are both intoxicants/drugs, viewed as depressants, can slow cognitive and motor skills/reflexes. The above are how I view them as different.
Having lived in Humboldt, I've known a lot of pot smokers. They were smart, engaged people who were involved in the community. But that was Humboldt, where pot was a ubiquitous non-issue. I didn't see it get in the way of anyone's goals. That said, I'm sure there were burnout pot smokers, I just didn't know them.
I typed that before I read ck's comment. You may be happy to hear, ck, that people walk or ride bikes in Arcata.
In my experience and observations (it wasn't until I was 23 that I started using, I was around others since 14/15 who would smoke around me so I'd observe) marijuana is less noxious compared to alcohol in many ways.....Alcohol is physically addictive. In detox centers, Alcohol detox is given more medical attention than Heroin....Let me just say these are my observations from seeing many addicts go through this and my own when weening myself off the heroin combination....When it comes to societal effects....I have yet to see/hear about an angry/violent marijuana induced episode/incident (paranoia, panic attacks, manic episodes....yes).
To paraphrase what my High school Gov't teacher said concerning this exact topic is "When someone is stoned, they're not going to beat their wife, buyout/clear out a store of all their snack foods, yes. But calling the cops due to a brawl/fight...no."
When it comes to someone detoxing from marijuana, they'll be bitchy and irritable for a few days to a week, with the possibility of a smaller appetite during those times, but they're not going to get the shakes or chills or fever or diarrhea or nausea that is involved with other intoxicants.
In these ways marijuana and alcohol are the same: they are both intoxicants/drugs, viewed as depressants, can slow cognitive and motor skills/reflexes. The above are how I view them as different.
Very awesome points! Yes smoking weed definitely makes u less dangerous than someone drinking... I totally agree with that... I just feel like we shouldn't legalize weed because that would just be another thing that people would have very easy access to and want to intoxicate themselves with... i just think it would be better to not do that
Who says its not very easy to get pot? One thing, I notice is that if someone is lazy and sits around the house and not do anything with their life when they're stoned, they would be lazy sit around the house and not do anything with their life if they weren't.
I guess what I'm trying to say is there's only so much you can blame a drug like cannabis for someone not wanting to fulfill their potential and I think some people who smoke and people around them like to blame the pot instead of the person who can't seem able to live their life. I don't know if that came out the way I'm trying to describe.
Pages