I would say 'yes' even though I don't think I would ever use marijuana. It's not a dangerous substance from what I've seen. Personally I think it's use indicates childishness on some level, but that's not illegal. It's not the government's business to control what people put in their bodies if it does not result in direct harm to others.
It should be controlled the same way alcohol is controlled.
If it were legalized I don't think it would be any different than it is now. For about six months it would be a huge deal, then the honeymooon would wear off.
You know, they would show Snoop Dog puffing on a blunt, then some other celeb asif I would care.
I don't think it is dangerous either, but I also don't see it as some miracle drug it is claimed to be. If it is, then take the THC out of it and let's see who thinks it's a mircale drug then.
As I have stated in a blog last year, I have smoked it when I was a teen, but I grew up , unlike most Peter Pans in the world who think they're still a teen.
You know, when I was younger I use to think marijuana was a seriously bad thing to use. I had gotten the whole indoctrination from so many various sources from the time I was little that my temperament towards it was that its use was akin to a spiritual curse. Everything from my Saturday morning cartoons to repeated messages throughout my schooling told me the horrors of weed use (and drug use in general). Looking back now, the least amount of information I got on it was from my parents!
Then in high school it all changed. I never have smoke weed before, but I've met so many functional people who have that I discovered it's not the death plant I once thought. The smartest girl in my school, effortlessly achieved a 4.0, accumulated dozens of scholarships, incredible writer and drop dead gorgeous, smoked weed perhaps more than anyone else- sometimes showing up in our 8 AM class high. Our class president also smoked, sometimes *I heard* in preparation for a speech. Many people I've worked with through various jobs would get high, and I never knew it until they offered me a hit. I have a lot of experience with customer service jobs, I feel confident saying I can understand the utility of a quick hit on a break. Again, from observation, not from experience.
But remember everyone, only losers use drugs. Except for Olympic gold medal winners, presidents of the United States, beautiful 4.0 students, and numerous wealthy celebrities, only losers do drugs!
But remember everyone, only losers use drugs. Except for Olympic gold medal winners, presidents of the United States, beautiful 4.0 students, and numerous wealthy celebrities, only losers do drugs!
I agree. When it comes to marijuana, I don't recall meeting any violent, dangerous potheads. It's like any other thing in life -- avoid excess and it's probably fine. But then, I imagine how I would feel if my child were using it, and my position suddenly changes. I wouldn't want my kids to use it. Some of the people I've known who have used pot had exactly zero ambition. I think marijuana had something to do with their zest for doing nothing.
Sam, I completely agree with your assessment -- there are a lot of people who use weed who aren't basketcases. But would you want your kids to experiment and/or use marijuana? How would you feel about it? Because for me it's a weird juxtaposition: I have no problem with other people using it, but when I imagine someone in my own family using it, I start to worry.
I would probably feel the same way about alcohol, too, or smoking.
I could see it being legal, with restraints. I.e. some penalty for DWH that ought to be as severe as DWI is now. It is far closer to alcohol than tobacco. The latter doesn't really cause any impairment, while alcohol does.
All that said, i voted no. Largely because the chances of our politicians getting it right the first time out of the gate is slim. I suspect those arguing for legalization view it more akin to Tobacco than Alcohol, and would not be on the forefront for the public safety concerns.
It would be far easier to have the restrictions on from the beginning, than to go and add them later. Look at the difficulty it was in making the legal drinking age 21 in the early 1980s. That was a state-by-state fight (pushed along by federal funds dangle) - should marijuana be a state by state decision, or a federal one?
I haven't put too much thought into it, but I suspect I would land on the side of a state decision, much like the blood alcohol standards are state by state.
Rel, I agree with your assessment of implementation. A lot of the people who make the most noise for legalization are exactly the kind of people who would argue for a legalization without any restrictions. And yes, I would put marijuana under the same category as alcohol. Some will argue that it doesn't actually impair reaction time, but I'd still feel better knowing it was not abused.
I also agree that the restrictions placed on marijuana use should be decided on a state-by-state basis.
It always amazes me just how many conservatives tend to favor marijuana legalization.
Have any of you ever smoked Marijuana? And by smoked it, I don't mean took a puff of it and that was it, have any of you ever used it normally or on occasion for recreational purposes? Because if not, while I'd hate to be a total dick, your apprehension to it being legalized, or outright stance against it is based on nothing more than fear and the many many lies the dominate culture has made up about marijuana.
I don't think it is dangerous either, but I also don't see it as some miracle drug it is claimed to be. If it is, then take the THC out of it and let's see who thinks it's a mircale drug then.
You also do not smoke it recreationally, let alone have any sort of problems like arthritis, or cancer, or any sort of anxiety order, or any other ailment which Marijuana is known to alleviate the symptoms of. By the way...THC is the active chemical in Marijuana which gets you high, it's useless to smoke (or otherwise consume) if the THC is removed.
HOWEVER, the plant itself besides being incredibly relaxing (that's right that's really all it does is mellow you out...ALOT depending on the strand and potency of the plant), is also useful for creating over 200,000 different things which are NECESSARY in todays society, but because the American people are so dumbed down and have allowed our government to lielielie about the actual effects and use of the plant, currently we won't be seeing Marijuana being used for any of these things any time soon. And it's a damn shame, ya know why?
The plant can be harvested nearly ANYWHERE. It can grow to full maturity within 3 months time. An acre of marijuana is useful material equivalent of four acres of most trees. A single plant contains 4 times as much material useful for making paper and other things than a tree. Besides being a very robust plant which can grow everywhere and raises to maturity very quickly and would likely do incredible things for our environment due to the steady decline of trees.
It can be used for making more efficient and cleaner fuel than that derived from oil, materials for clothing and building houses, and furniture, and cars and computers and pretty much everything else under the sun (you could make most - if not possibly all of the materials needed to build and run a car from hemp - and subsequently for just about everything else that is "necessary" for life in todays society).
The plant can be used to make BIODEGRADEBLE PLASTIC, that's right you heard it BIODEGRADEABLE PLASTIC which is a huge thing because currently all plastic ever created is not biodegradeable and eventually breaks down into little microscopic pieces which are suffocating our oceans.
So yes Marijuana is a huge deal, and it is a great offense that to the American People that the lies about it continue to spread at the detrement of our society and the many many people who are just trying to enjoy their day.
A lot of the people who make the most noise for legalization are exactly the kind of people who would argue for a legalization without any restrictions.
Oh come on Krog, is that shocking to you? Is that a bad thing? You see the thing is, for the most part the debate is between two very distinct groups of people: those who smoke marijuana and those who have never even tried it.
Marijuana should be in about the same category as alcohol I suppose, although it is not nearly anywhere as harmful to your health, if harmful at all. Whatever restrictions should be placed upon it, it shouldn't be regulated any differently than we regulate alcohol, and if anything I'd argue we over-regulate that. And no marijuana does not adversely affect your reaction time, depth perception etc in the way that alcohol does. While it certainly does relax you, it also has an effect of making you much more aware of your surroundings. People tend to do things better while high on Marijuana, of course that's depending on how long/often they smoke.
There are also two distinct strands of the plant (with many variations derived from these strands) sativa (which basically makes you "high", makes you a feel a little bit peppy) and indica (which makes you stoned and gives you the desire to not want to move from your coach).
By the way, I don't smoke it anymore, it's just not my thing, neither is alcohol for that matter...but that's besides the issue. Bottom line is it should be legalized with certain restrictions, and it shouldn't be such a slow process doing so, along with so many other things in this country that need changing.
Why do I feel we've already had this discussion many times before?
You're wrong. I was an avid user. It is an immature drug, it's not a miracle drug. It's claimed its not addictive, yet people light up as soon as they wake up until go to bed. It's claimed it's not as bad a s drinking , yet a woman not long ago was under the influence of it and crashed and killed some people.
It's claimed it doesn't cause crime, yet it does every day. It's not a miracle drug, maybe in the minds of the smokers it is because they'll say anything to get it legalized. But as I said I don't care, let it happen just keep it out of my face, and make severe stipulations if you are under the influence while driving and other things just like drinking.
You're wrong. I was an avid user. It is an immature drug, it's not a miracle drug.
Using the drug itself is immature? Really? Not everyone who smokes pot sits around playing video games, eating junk food and otherwise being useless, not that I'm saying you were doing that, just giving examples. Tthere are plenty of people who use it and do so in a mature fashion, just as people do with alcohol.
It's claimed it's not as bad a s drinking , yet a woman not long ago was under the influence of it and crashed and killed some people.
Citation? Any proof that the woman didn't have any other problems? Her being under the influence of marijuana does not prove that the accident was caused because she was under the influence of marijuana. In fact I'd wager she was on other things as well or had never smoked pot before in her life. People who drive while high tend to drive fairly slow and carefully. Even if they might miss their turn or whatever.
It's claimed it doesn't cause crime, yet it does every day.
That's because it's illegal.
It's not a miracle drug, maybe in the minds of the smokers it is because they'll say anything to get it legalized.
I'm not saying it's a miracle drug, but there's well documented evidence that marijuana alleviates the symptoms of many horrible illnesses, and recent research is showing that THC may help prevent heart attacks. That's not information coming from just a bunch of pot-smoking hippies, that's real science, and it has very little to do with why people want it legalized. They want it legalized because it was illegalized for completely false reasons in the first place and it is for the most part completely harmless used as a recreational drug, much much less so than alcohol.
There is simply no argument that the plant itself, used for smoking or especially for other purposes is one of the most useful natural substances on the planet.
Let me ask you this, what about alcohol makes you think it should be legal?
Let me ask you this, what about alcohol makes you think it should be legal?
It's recreational and It can be used as medicine too. Let's say I was camping, maybe got a snake bite and just happen to be carrying a pint of Jim Beam. I could use it to sterlize until I got to the hospital.
And SCIENCE studies say that a glass of wine a day has been shown to improve liver function, lower cholesterol and lessen the chance of heart disease. In moderation fo course, so it has it's uses.
Pot has it's bad points too. Just because it is illegal doesn't mean if it is legal there won't be crime. Happens on a daily basis whether you deny it or not. People owe someone money, that person kills him over pot money. Happens all the time. All for some good 'ol weed.
Make pot legal...tax the living crap out of it. Make stipulations just like alcohol. Drive under the influence, go to jail period. No more drug tests before you get a job. But work while under the influence and do something stupid, you get fired.
Smoke it in public, go to jail. I don't want second hand pot smoke, sorry.
Pot has it's bad points too. Just because it is illegal doesn't mean if it is legal there won't be crime. Happens on a daily basis whether you deny it or not. People owe someone money, that person kills him over pot money. Happens all the time. All for some good 'ol weed.
The idea of pot dealers killing people for a bit of money is pure fantasy. If anything like that happens, it's producers killing dealers or vice versa, and rarely do things of that nature involve marijuana. I would imagine your idea of the kind of people who sell pot is pretty skewed. When I was living in LA I mainly bought from a nice elderly Jewish woman who was the mother of one of my college professors, other than that I'd buy from enighbours and friends from school trying to make a buck. Hardly the kind of people who would kill anyone.
Whatever the case is it HAS to be stressed that the crime happening around this drug is nearly completely due to it being an illegal substance. If it were legalized, it would also have to taxed and become government regulated and there wouldn't be such an issue of dealing with "drug dealers".
Smoke it in public, go to jail. I don't want second hand pot smoke, sorry.
Outside of locations that are designated for doing so (such as bars and so forth), I doubt you'd get many people complaining about that.
Outside of locations that are designated for doing so (such as bars and so forth), I doubt you'd get many people complaining about that.
Weed has such a bitter smell to it though!
Well, I guess if it were leagalized they could engineer it so that it had a much nicer smell, or no smell at all. But then at that point you'd probably have the left railing against 'Big Marajuana' and how they're altering weed to entice children to smoke it! At that point I suppose it will be a good economic force, enticing conservatives to defend it... At that point I'll be either middle aged or older, and I'll either shake my fists in frustration at the world or will have finally learned to laugh at it. ;p
I would say 'yes' even though I don't think I would ever use marijuana. It's not a dangerous substance from what I've seen. Personally I think it's use indicates childishness on some level, but that's not illegal. It's not the government's business to control what people put in their bodies if it does not result in direct harm to others.
It should be controlled the same way alcohol is controlled.
-Krogenar
If it were legalized I don't think it would be any different than it is now. For about six months it would be a huge deal, then the honeymooon would wear off.
You know, they would show Snoop Dog puffing on a blunt, then some other celeb asif I would care.
I don't think it is dangerous either, but I also don't see it as some miracle drug it is claimed to be. If it is, then take the THC out of it and let's see who thinks it's a mircale drug then.
As I have stated in a blog last year, I have smoked it when I was a teen, but I grew up , unlike most Peter Pans in the world who think they're still a teen.
You know, when I was younger I use to think marijuana was a seriously bad thing to use. I had gotten the whole indoctrination from so many various sources from the time I was little that my temperament towards it was that its use was akin to a spiritual curse. Everything from my Saturday morning cartoons to repeated messages throughout my schooling told me the horrors of weed use (and drug use in general). Looking back now, the least amount of information I got on it was from my parents!
Then in high school it all changed. I never have smoke weed before, but I've met so many functional people who have that I discovered it's not the death plant I once thought. The smartest girl in my school, effortlessly achieved a 4.0, accumulated dozens of scholarships, incredible writer and drop dead gorgeous, smoked weed perhaps more than anyone else- sometimes showing up in our 8 AM class high. Our class president also smoked, sometimes *I heard* in preparation for a speech. Many people I've worked with through various jobs would get high, and I never knew it until they offered me a hit. I have a lot of experience with customer service jobs, I feel confident saying I can understand the utility of a quick hit on a break. Again, from observation, not from experience.
But remember everyone, only losers use drugs. Except for Olympic gold medal winners, presidents of the United States, beautiful 4.0 students, and numerous wealthy celebrities, only losers do drugs!
But remember everyone, only losers use drugs. Except for Olympic gold medal winners, presidents of the United States, beautiful 4.0 students, and numerous wealthy celebrities, only losers do drugs!
I agree. When it comes to marijuana, I don't recall meeting any violent, dangerous potheads. It's like any other thing in life -- avoid excess and it's probably fine. But then, I imagine how I would feel if my child were using it, and my position suddenly changes. I wouldn't want my kids to use it. Some of the people I've known who have used pot had exactly zero ambition. I think marijuana had something to do with their zest for doing nothing.
Sam, I completely agree with your assessment -- there are a lot of people who use weed who aren't basketcases. But would you want your kids to experiment and/or use marijuana? How would you feel about it? Because for me it's a weird juxtaposition: I have no problem with other people using it, but when I imagine someone in my own family using it, I start to worry.
I would probably feel the same way about alcohol, too, or smoking.
-Krogenar
I could see it being legal, with restraints. I.e. some penalty for DWH that ought to be as severe as DWI is now. It is far closer to alcohol than tobacco. The latter doesn't really cause any impairment, while alcohol does.
All that said, i voted no. Largely because the chances of our politicians getting it right the first time out of the gate is slim. I suspect those arguing for legalization view it more akin to Tobacco than Alcohol, and would not be on the forefront for the public safety concerns.
It would be far easier to have the restrictions on from the beginning, than to go and add them later. Look at the difficulty it was in making the legal drinking age 21 in the early 1980s. That was a state-by-state fight (pushed along by federal funds dangle) - should marijuana be a state by state decision, or a federal one?
I haven't put too much thought into it, but I suspect I would land on the side of a state decision, much like the blood alcohol standards are state by state.
-relantel
Rel, I agree with your assessment of implementation. A lot of the people who make the most noise for legalization are exactly the kind of people who would argue for a legalization without any restrictions. And yes, I would put marijuana under the same category as alcohol. Some will argue that it doesn't actually impair reaction time, but I'd still feel better knowing it was not abused.
I also agree that the restrictions placed on marijuana use should be decided on a state-by-state basis.
It always amazes me just how many conservatives tend to favor marijuana legalization.
-Krogenar
Have any of you ever smoked Marijuana? And by smoked it, I don't mean took a puff of it and that was it, have any of you ever used it normally or on occasion for recreational purposes? Because if not, while I'd hate to be a total dick, your apprehension to it being legalized, or outright stance against it is based on nothing more than fear and the many many lies the dominate culture has made up about marijuana.
You also do not smoke it recreationally, let alone have any sort of problems like arthritis, or cancer, or any sort of anxiety order, or any other ailment which Marijuana is known to alleviate the symptoms of. By the way...THC is the active chemical in Marijuana which gets you high, it's useless to smoke (or otherwise consume) if the THC is removed.
HOWEVER, the plant itself besides being incredibly relaxing (that's right that's really all it does is mellow you out...ALOT depending on the strand and potency of the plant), is also useful for creating over 200,000 different things which are NECESSARY in todays society, but because the American people are so dumbed down and have allowed our government to lielielie about the actual effects and use of the plant, currently we won't be seeing Marijuana being used for any of these things any time soon. And it's a damn shame, ya know why?
The plant can be harvested nearly ANYWHERE. It can grow to full maturity within 3 months time. An acre of marijuana is useful material equivalent of four acres of most trees. A single plant contains 4 times as much material useful for making paper and other things than a tree. Besides being a very robust plant which can grow everywhere and raises to maturity very quickly and would likely do incredible things for our environment due to the steady decline of trees.
It can be used for making more efficient and cleaner fuel than that derived from oil, materials for clothing and building houses, and furniture, and cars and computers and pretty much everything else under the sun (you could make most - if not possibly all of the materials needed to build and run a car from hemp - and subsequently for just about everything else that is "necessary" for life in todays society).
The plant can be used to make BIODEGRADEBLE PLASTIC, that's right you heard it BIODEGRADEABLE PLASTIC which is a huge thing because currently all plastic ever created is not biodegradeable and eventually breaks down into little microscopic pieces which are suffocating our oceans.
So yes Marijuana is a huge deal, and it is a great offense that to the American People that the lies about it continue to spread at the detrement of our society and the many many people who are just trying to enjoy their day.
Oh come on Krog, is that shocking to you? Is that a bad thing? You see the thing is, for the most part the debate is between two very distinct groups of people: those who smoke marijuana and those who have never even tried it.
Marijuana should be in about the same category as alcohol I suppose, although it is not nearly anywhere as harmful to your health, if harmful at all. Whatever restrictions should be placed upon it, it shouldn't be regulated any differently than we regulate alcohol, and if anything I'd argue we over-regulate that. And no marijuana does not adversely affect your reaction time, depth perception etc in the way that alcohol does. While it certainly does relax you, it also has an effect of making you much more aware of your surroundings. People tend to do things better while high on Marijuana, of course that's depending on how long/often they smoke.
There are also two distinct strands of the plant (with many variations derived from these strands) sativa (which basically makes you "high", makes you a feel a little bit peppy) and indica (which makes you stoned and gives you the desire to not want to move from your coach).
By the way, I don't smoke it anymore, it's just not my thing, neither is alcohol for that matter...but that's besides the issue. Bottom line is it should be legalized with certain restrictions, and it shouldn't be such a slow process doing so, along with so many other things in this country that need changing.
Why do I feel we've already had this discussion many times before?
You're wrong. I was an avid user. It is an immature drug, it's not a miracle drug. It's claimed its not addictive, yet people light up as soon as they wake up until go to bed. It's claimed it's not as bad a s drinking , yet a woman not long ago was under the influence of it and crashed and killed some people.
It's claimed it doesn't cause crime, yet it does every day. It's not a miracle drug, maybe in the minds of the smokers it is because they'll say anything to get it legalized. But as I said I don't care, let it happen just keep it out of my face, and make severe stipulations if you are under the influence while driving and other things just like drinking.
Sorry, but I grew up.
Using the drug itself is immature? Really? Not everyone who smokes pot sits around playing video games, eating junk food and otherwise being useless, not that I'm saying you were doing that, just giving examples. Tthere are plenty of people who use it and do so in a mature fashion, just as people do with alcohol.
Citation? Any proof that the woman didn't have any other problems? Her being under the influence of marijuana does not prove that the accident was caused because she was under the influence of marijuana. In fact I'd wager she was on other things as well or had never smoked pot before in her life. People who drive while high tend to drive fairly slow and carefully. Even if they might miss their turn or whatever.
That's because it's illegal.
I'm not saying it's a miracle drug, but there's well documented evidence that marijuana alleviates the symptoms of many horrible illnesses, and recent research is showing that THC may help prevent heart attacks. That's not information coming from just a bunch of pot-smoking hippies, that's real science, and it has very little to do with why people want it legalized. They want it legalized because it was illegalized for completely false reasons in the first place and it is for the most part completely harmless used as a recreational drug, much much less so than alcohol.
There is simply no argument that the plant itself, used for smoking or especially for other purposes is one of the most useful natural substances on the planet.
Let me ask you this, what about alcohol makes you think it should be legal?
Let me ask you this, what about alcohol makes you think it should be legal?
It's recreational and It can be used as medicine too. Let's say I was camping, maybe got a snake bite and just happen to be carrying a pint of Jim Beam. I could use it to sterlize until I got to the hospital.
And SCIENCE studies say that a glass of wine a day has been shown to improve liver function, lower cholesterol and lessen the chance of heart disease. In moderation fo course, so it has it's uses.
Pot has it's bad points too. Just because it is illegal doesn't mean if it is legal there won't be crime. Happens on a daily basis whether you deny it or not. People owe someone money, that person kills him over pot money. Happens all the time. All for some good 'ol weed.
Make pot legal...tax the living crap out of it. Make stipulations just like alcohol. Drive under the influence, go to jail period. No more drug tests before you get a job. But work while under the influence and do something stupid, you get fired.
Smoke it in public, go to jail. I don't want second hand pot smoke, sorry.
Not everyone who smokes pot sits around playing video games, eating junk food and otherwise being useless
I manage to do all that without getting high. Yay me.
-Krogenar
The idea of pot dealers killing people for a bit of money is pure fantasy. If anything like that happens, it's producers killing dealers or vice versa, and rarely do things of that nature involve marijuana. I would imagine your idea of the kind of people who sell pot is pretty skewed. When I was living in LA I mainly bought from a nice elderly Jewish woman who was the mother of one of my college professors, other than that I'd buy from enighbours and friends from school trying to make a buck. Hardly the kind of people who would kill anyone.
Whatever the case is it HAS to be stressed that the crime happening around this drug is nearly completely due to it being an illegal substance. If it were legalized, it would also have to taxed and become government regulated and there wouldn't be such an issue of dealing with "drug dealers".
Outside of locations that are designated for doing so (such as bars and so forth), I doubt you'd get many people complaining about that.
Weed has such a bitter smell to it though!
Well, I guess if it were leagalized they could engineer it so that it had a much nicer smell, or no smell at all. But then at that point you'd probably have the left railing against 'Big Marajuana' and how they're altering weed to entice children to smoke it! At that point I suppose it will be a good economic force, enticing conservatives to defend it... At that point I'll be either middle aged or older, and I'll either shake my fists in frustration at the world or will have finally learned to laugh at it. ;p
Wow, they must get really bad weed in your part of the world.
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