Marijuana: The Great Taboo Topic

[TPiddy]

3. It's the most annual grossing cash crop in America.

U, Tabbacco?

And to answer your question, I say no. Everyone I know who smokes on a regular basis is a douche, especially when they arn't high. So maybe my opion is biased, but I'm sticking to it.

Also, It smells like shit.

I disagree with the notion that I am a douche. I believe that it may be more of a problem of the people you know than of pot in of itself

Actually, I would be inclined to agree with this guy.... I've met a lot of people who use marijuana regularly over the years and only a very small percentage of them have not been complete fucking idiots.

 

[Lexodus]

I'm against the smoking of weed and I think your friend's parents have acted in an entirely non-ignorant manner. Weed is illegal in most countries, what does that tell you?

Other things that are illegal:

Plowing a field with an elephant
Putting a moose or camel in a bathtub
Tying a giraffe to a lamppost
Children buying lollipops (Spokane)
Cutting your hair in many Arabic countries (oh, and hows about 'going outside without being completely covered head-to-foot if you're a woman'?)

and tons of other shit.

Also, what is keeping it illegal going to do? Even if you don't smoke it, it's going to be a great tax revenue for the government, it will take business away from drug cartels, and only pure, harmless stuff will be sold by the legal traders, and it will clear the jails of harmless potheads, free up a massive amount of police time and money which can be used to fight actual crime, keeping it illegal won't reduce usage, many more dangerous things are still legal (try alcohol and cigarettes and driving, for some), nobody has ever died from smoking weed, it's wicked inspiration for music, an excellent painkiller and relaxant, a brilliant resource (hemp and cannabis could potentially wipe out deforestation, be made into clothes, fuels, foods, cosmetics, paints, cleaners, building materials, rope and other useful things), and only illegal in the first case because of a smear campaign by the paper and timber industry.

 

[syndicated44]

I was told in school that if I smoke weed I will black out and kill my family and friends. Did I black out and kill my family and friends..? No. I sat around laughed watched a street sign turn into a slot machine and probably smoked waaaaaaaaaaaay to much bud on my second outing. Since then its just pot. It is like everything else. If you do it in excess there are consequences if you do it occasionally then really there is no real harm other then being stupid for a bit and probably wasting some money and a load of food. The end.

 

[Nightflight51]

Incorrect. It's EQUALLY harmful/dangerous as alcohol or ciggies. It's definitely not LESS dangerous than them, at least.

Haa ha hah ha!
You can't be serious!

Alcohol rots your liver, and cigarettes your lungs. Weed doesn't affect the liver, and can actually help fight lung cancer! There's no way they're equally harmful.

 

[The_Echo]

I'm indifferent on the matter. I don't use drugs myself, and I'm not in relations with anyone who does.

 

[geldonyetich]

Personally, I live under a philosophy that using any mind-altering substance is simply a path of wanton delusion. Alchohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, heroin - addictive or not, harmful or not, legal or not, you're still just doping yourself for kicks.

Legalize one more avenue of that? No thanks. That the prohibition failed does not mean the intent behind it was not in the best mind.

However, it's futile to get involved in a pro/con thread about Marijuana or any other drug, because frankly these people are dependent - if not physically then psychologically - and will not, will not, change their minds.

Besides, there's no reason for debate. Currently, there's no chance MJ's going to be legalized because it'd be political suicide. Given so many conservative voters, and even the number of liberals who would be against this specific idea despite their overall political leanings, what chance does it have to pass? What senate member could sign that bill and expect to keep his or her seat the next time sweeps come due? However, this is not to say that the political landscape will never change adequately that such a bill may pass in the distant future...

 

[ReincarnatedFTP]

First of all... those of you who think it's harmless.... you're complete morons...

Weed may not contain some of the harmful chemicals of cigarettes so in that way they are 'healthier' than cigarettes, but you are still inhaling smoke into your LUNGS which is NEVER good for you.

I feel that the governments should do the following:

1. Legalize it, but in a controlled manner, like they do with cigarettes now.
2. Apply the same laws to it as both cigarettes and alcohol (no smoking in public places, no driving vehicles while intoxicated, no being 'high' in public, etc.)
3. Apply the same age limits as alcohol / cigarettes.
4. Monetize that shit, and stop spending money combating it.

Eh, it's relatively harmless. And there's vaporizers.

And you just described exactly what I would like to see done good sir.

 

[benylor]

I must first apologise if you saw that as an ad hominem attack. By your initial post it seemed like you were not going to be as comitted in this debate as I would. The tactic of forcing another controversial issue isn't always the best method of debating another. I saw that as an ad hominem attack as you appeared to be questioning my morals on another issue which is arguably unrelated.

Concerning point 2, I think you have misinterperated. I am of the opinion that I will support a law if I feel it should be supported and I will not support a law If I do not feel it should be supported. I do not support laws simply because they are laws despite what my initial post may have implied.

I am sorry, it is you who has misinterpreted. I was covering my OWN arse for something which seemed ad hominim while I was typing it to YOU. I was actually apologising for what I was about to type. It was just that I felt the need to question your own motives, but didn't want it to be part of the legitimate debate because it was arguing on a point not directly related to the discussion.

In short, I was not claiming you were ad hominim, but I WAS atrociously unclear as to how I said that. Apologies.

 

[Klepa]

One of our trainers often talked about his experiences with all sorts of drug addicts. He used to work at some medical facility that handled drug addicts, among other things. He was against legalization, but admitted that people who were baked never gave them any resistance, and were more than cooperative. I use cannabis every now and again, if I happen to have some extra money lying around. Which is actually fairly rarely.

Legalization however..
I don't think the general public could really handle it. All might be good in 10+ years, but I'm adamant that if it would get legalized tomorrow, most people would just get baked as hell, and go to work, drive, or whatever. I'm obviously not talking about heart surgeons or lawyers, but people who work full or part-time at some dead end shit job. Like me. I just can't force myself into thinking that suddenly all the adults in this country would somehow turn into responsible, intelligent beings.

 

[G1eet]

I am for it. I think Marijuana should be legalized, it will then only be there if people want it, not shoved in peoples faces like cigarettes. I do smoke Weed, every other night or so. It just makes a good day better. And as for parents, mine smoke it with me. They introduced me to it a while back. They said they smoke it. And later on in the year I asked if I could try some. They accepted, and now we smoke it together and watch movies and stuff. It's great.

The family that tokes together... blokes together.

Damn, that's a stretch at best.

 

[benylor]

One of our trainers often talked about his experiences with all sorts of drug addicts. He used to work at some medical facility that handled drug addicts, among other things. He was against legalization, but admitted that people who were baked never gave them any resistance, and were more than cooperative. I use cannabis every now and again, if I happen to have some extra money lying around. Which is actually fairly rarely.

Legalization however..
I don't think the general public could really handle it. All might be good in 10+ years, but I'm adamant that if it would get legalized tomorrow, most people would just get baked as hell, and go to work, drive, or whatever. I'm obviously not talking about heart surgeons or lawyers, but people who work full or part-time at some dead end shit job. Like me. I just can't force myself into thinking that suddenly all the adults in this country would somehow turn into responsible, intelligent beings.

Well... Portugal. I understand your fear, but it hasn't played out that way in Portugal.

Now they have a different way of life to us, so WE may not be as prepared as they. Would you argue, then, that starting on the road to legalisation is the way to go?

 

[Raven's Nest]

Sorry if people are waiting for responses, I'm only a human on a mobile phone. I'm also dealing with responses in the order they came unless I have already dealt with your response in a previous thread...

 

[scotth266]

Incorrect. It's EQUALLY harmful/dangerous as alcohol or ciggies. It's definitely not LESS dangerous than them, at least.

Haa ha hah ha!
You can't be serious!

Alcohol rots your liver, and cigarettes your lungs. Weed doesn't affect the liver, and can actually help fight lung cancer! There's no way they're equally harmful.

Ok, first off: I don't believe that line about preventing cancer. Like, at all.

Second off, it's a perception-altering drug, which means that it's just as likely to cause accidents as drinking too much is. Hence, just as dangerous as booze.

I don't know if it has effects over time with continuous usage, but I'm more than willing to bet that using it for sustained periods of time can't be good for you mentally, even if it's not addictive. Hence, equally as dangerous as cigarettes in the sense of a damage over time effect (though I'm speculating with regards to the effects weed has on a person's psyche over time.)

 

[feather240]

For Your Attention

I won't speak for benylor, but I'll say that simply the comparison of the two debates is not getting as far off topic as you might think. They WERE both illegal, so are you saying that gay people didn't have the right to practice homosexual intercourse as much as marijuana users don't have the right to smoke marijuana?

I'm only going to state this one more time. My reasons for supporting a law currently in place, are completely unrelated to my opinions towards the once unlawful practise of homosexuality.

I had nothing to do with the formation of these laws, I have nothing to do with the reasons one is still in place and another is not. So my opinions about homosexuality are irrelevant.

My opinion on whether or not I support a law depends entirely on which law it is. If it satisfies your curiosity, I would always have been against homosexuality being illegal. I do not support laws simply because they are illegal.

In that sentance I was pointing out that one particular law concerning the use or sale of marijuana is stillupheld in the majority of countries across the world. My opinions of why it is a law are irrelevant. Do you need to bring up every single law that was once illegal and obtain my opinion of it to continue this debate? Or are you satisfied with having probed the subject most likely to provide a controversial response from either myself or someone else who wishes to debate the issue of the legalisation of marijuana?

Are we going to have to go over this again?

P.S My apologies for slow responses, I'm typing through an iphone.

All you're saying is...
"God works in mysterious ways."
"Cuse I said so."
"I'm a sheeple."
"Baa Baa"

If the majority of countries upheld jumping of a bridge would you do it? You can think what you want, but either keep it your self or create a real reason. You're too smart for this.

 

[lizards]

i grew up with people who smoked it and my best friend smoked it about 5 times a week and usally more

i personally think it needs banned from what little we know about it productivity goes down in people who are potheads and i know that for a fact based on 5 years of being friends with them

as it stands go ahead i dont care the only problem that i have with people who smoke it is that it usally gets on my clothes

 

[kannibus]

I have a moderate view on the subject. If you want to smoke weed, go right ahead. HOWEVER, make sure it's only you that's smoking it or that everyone else around you at that particular point in time is okay with it. And please, try to keep it outside, eh? If you can handle swinging that, I've got no problem. Now if you can't/won't then we've got a problem. And by we I mean you.

Personally, I can't stand the smell of the stuff and even second hand smoke makes me really dizzy + nauseous, but I didn't mind when some of my room mates were doing weed. I DID begin to mind when after I told them to take it outside they did not. Of course, delicious, delicious revenge sauce was mine when, while they were quite the worse for wear due to their weed I picked the locks on their rooms and put rancid meat into their heating vents. And since smoking made them extremely paranoid, I took massive amounts of delight in very obviously sharpening my butcher knives while they were high and then performing some very suggestive motions with said knives.

Yes I am a vindicative bastard.

 

[Nasti]

Personally I used to smoke weed casually (~3 nights a week, mainly when out when friends). Ive kinda grown out of those situations now but some of my friends still smoke occasionally. To me it was never more than a social thing, just like drinking. Some people go overboard smoking constantly and it becomes a habit, just like drinking.

The severity of weed's impact on health seems to have always been exagerated since the propaganda produced at it's first illlegalisation. I have no dought that habitual use (every day) can a temporary effect. But there seems to be very limited evidence that any long term effects exist.

Legalisation could work, but changes are needed to make it work: Help for weed addicts just like alcholics, Adaptations of current law like the smoking-ban/DUIs, and a new social attitude towards Marijuana.

 

[Space Spoons]

I'm all for legalizing it. Apart for the significant boost our economy would get from the tax income, I think it'd chill out a lot of situations that cigarettes and alcohol tend to aggravate.

 

[Mcface]

I know my share of pot heads.

They are all totally mindless, and they didn't used to be.

it kills braincells, and its really obvious if you've ever hung around people who use it.

 

[ShotgunShaman]

I wish people would stop saying that there are no side effects of smoking weed! My family doesn't move frequently, so I'm currently in high school with most of the people I was in elementary/middle school with. Every time one of them starts smoking, I notice changes (often times for the worse). This has happened way too many times now, but there isn't a lot I can do about it. Anyway, I don't think weed is number one puppy killer or anything, the main reason I've never smoked is I'm working on being an athlete and don't want to stress already not-too-great lungs.

I also don't think that the government would make much off of marijuana sales, too easy to grow in your own backyard.