Outside of the damage that marijuana can do to the brain (as can alcohol), and the potential to move on to harder drugs, one joint has the same negative health impact on the lungs as 6 regular cigarettes. And we all know how smoking is headed towards an all out ban at some point.

There have been arguments, valid is a matter of opinion. I don't consider the "alcohol is just as bad or worse" argument valid. I would have no problem making alcohol illegal or at the very least restricted. However, it can be pointed out that alcohol is used by some because they enjoy the taste, especially at meals, or that it is considered an anti-oxident and, in moderation, good for the circulatory system.

 

Pot, on the other hand, has no purpose other than getting high. (If you have cateracts or are on chemotherapy, you are excluded). How can you defend a substance whose only purpose is to affect one's ability to be in control of one's self?

:thumb: Good point on what it's use is intended for....

If marijuana were legal, do you honestly think people would still be buying it from drug dealers? Nope...

 

Sorry to be Debby Downer, but if it were legal a lot of those problems might not exist. Banning something (ex. Prohibition on Alcohol) often times creates more crime.

 

:thumb: Good point here as well.

Outside of the damage that marijuana can do to the brain (as can alcohol), and the potential to move on to harder drugs, one joint has the same negative health impact on the lungs as 6 regular cigarettes. And we all know how smoking is headed towards an all out ban at some point.

 

I think smoking might be headed towards an all out ban (in public) but I do not think we'll ever see smoking cigarettes completely banned. I think that would be STUPID. Let people smoke ciggies if they want, as long as they are not contaminating non-smokers air.

Outside of the damage that marijuana can do to the brain (as can alcohol), and the potential to move on to harder drugs, one joint has the same negative health impact on the lungs as 6 regular cigarettes. And we all know how smoking is headed towards an all out ban at some point.

1. Can we let this argument go. If you are going to do harder drugs then you are going to do harder drugs. I have smoked pot before and have never once even considered doing anything harder.

 

2. Can you please give a link to a study that supports your statement about the health impact? I have a very hard time believing this.

Very interesting thread.

 

As a nurse who works with psychiactric patients, drug addicts and the dual diagnosed, I have the following thoughts.

 

I believe if alcohol was discovered today, it would be illegal. Personally, I am glad it is not.

 

To say that it is impossible to hallucinate on pot is definately wrong. We occasionally get very psychotic people in, with no psyc history, who are only positive for one thing.....pot. Usually after a day or two they clear up and are fine. Problem when you buy it off the street you dont know what it is mixed with which usually leads to bad side effects.

 

Many of our bipolar and schizophrenic patients self medicate with pot. They dont like the side effects of prescription meds. Sometimes it is helpful. It slows down the racing mind. However, it usually worsens paranoia in our schizophrenics.

 

I do not really believe it is a gateway drug any more than alcohol is. It is probably considered a gateway drug because it is illegal and the mindset is "If this is illegal and it didnt hurt me then....why not try something else?

 

Personally, I dont think pot is all that harmful. I just wonder where we stop.

What about cocaine? Some of our most violent patients come in on cocaine...they have strokes and heart attacks because of cocaine... but if you are doing it in the privacy of your home.......

 

Hallucinogens? Same thing.....Dont get me started on Heroin.

 

But the thread is about pot. I would not have a big problem with legalizing it, but would hate to start down that road with the other drugs.

 

I think for the most part, our police officers have better things to do than bust a couple smoking weed in the privacy of their own home.

 

 

BTW, I accidentally voted the wrong way.

Because I want you to live without any side affects from being a pothead, alcoholic, or anything similar.

 

Like many others have said, most people that I know that smoke weed really have ruined their lives. Find one person that says that weed actually helped their life and honestly meant it.

 

Sure, you can a temp. high and feel much better, but does it actually acomplish anything in the long term that is good for you?

 

You can't honestly say that smoking weed will help you in anything in life.

You can honestly say that not smoking weed will help you in life.

 

Want to argue it? Find me one company that gives their employees drug tests and are completely fine with it coming back positive for weed.

Because it's no more harmful than alcohol (and probably less so), and instead of wasting gadzillions of taxpayer dollars hunting it up in the DB National Forest they could instead undercut the illegal trade of it by taxing and regulating it. The reason marijuana was made illegal in the first place, as was noted earlier in this thread, was to have an excuse to deport Mexican immigrants early in the 20th century.

 

 

Both are good points, so much time and money wasted eradicating the plant, and locking up non violent "criminals".

I would be interested in hearing the guru's opinion on this.

Because I want you to live without any side affects from being a pothead, alcoholic, or anything similar.

 

Like many others have said, most people that I know that smoke weed really have ruined their lives. Find one person that says that weed actually helped their life and honestly meant it.

 

Sure, you can a temp. high and feel much better, but does it actually acomplish anything in the long term that is good for you?

 

You can't honestly say that smoking weed will help you in anything in life.

You can honestly say that not smoking weed will help you in life.

 

Want to argue it? Find me one company that gives their employees drug tests and are completely fine with it coming back positive for weed.

I know plenty of people who have never touched weed and have ruined their lives. Most who amount to nothing do so because they are lazy and just don't care. The weed had nothing to do with it. They are just losers.

 

Show me one company that would be fine with an employee testing positive for alcohol while on the clock?

There are differences between police using discretion and the law. Mostly being trafficking and posession laws. With some being based upon discretion.

I'm aware of that but if you get caught with a bowl or two of pot on you, 99% of the time you are not going to jail unless other factors are involved.

 

BTW, I accidentally voted the wrong way.

 

High?

There have been arguments, valid is a matter of opinion. I don't consider the "alcohol is just as bad or worse" argument valid. I would have no problem making alcohol illegal or at the very least restricted. However, it can be pointed out that alcohol is used by some because they enjoy the taste, especially at meals, or that it is considered an anti-oxident and, in moderation, good for the circulatory system.

 

Pot, on the other hand, has no purpose other than getting high. (If you have cateracts or are on chemotherapy, you are excluded). How can you defend a substance whose only purpose is to affect one's ability to be in control of one's self?

 

Plenty of people enjoy the taste of pot. You can smoke it and not get high just like you can drink alcohol and not get drunk. It also helps with headaches, stomachaches, hangovers etc. so that really isn't a valid point.

Plenty of people enjoy the taste of pot. You can smoke it and not get high just like you can drink alcohol and not get drunk. It also helps with headaches, stomachaches, hangovers etc. so that really isn't a valid point.

 

I agree. I posted something above that was stating. I know people that have one glass of wine. they aren't wasted, just relaxed. Or they drink 12 beers, but you would never know. Then others are wasted and acting a fool.The same with weed. They smoke a little, not high, just relaxed. Or they smoke lot and they are very HIGH. Or some handle it very well. I think its a lose lose arguement at this point lol.

I think some folks would be amazed at who and how often people are smoking the ganja. I do not condone it and think its a big waste of time and can lead to overeating LOL. However, I am amazed at how many people that I personally know that use it recreationally and behind closed doors. I am not talking about Joe Construction worker either, I am talking about people that hold professional positions.

:thumb: If you compared the number of people who have ruined their lives solely because of pot and compared it to the number of Lawyers/Judges/Police/Nurses/Doctors etc. who smoke occasionally in the privacy of their own home the numbers wouldn't even be close.

I find that many many people have a "drug" to help them relax and/or cope. Prozac, Wellbutrin, Ativan, Xanax, Seroquel, Ambien..........I could go on and on. These drugs are big money so someone has to be taking them. Alcohol is looked down upon (though the alcohol industry does quite well) and pot is illegal. However a lot of people have a drug of choice. Tough to judge someone's choice if it truly is done in the privacy of one's home.