I thought the claim about “marijuana dependence” was a bit curious, so I looked at their citation. They cite “Treatment Episodes Data Set (TEDS) 1992-2002.” That is nonsense. To pass that off as a legitimate citation indicates a fairly high level of deception on their part. To put how silly this is in other terms, it would be like making the claim “Republicans are stupid (see Census 2010).” How many of you would accept that?

 

The other citations were proper publications, though I didn’t investigate to see if they were accurately construed. Either way, I think RTS makes a good point. They are trying to pass off marijuana use as a causal variable in depression, but how many of these people were depressed before? Perhaps they were attempting to self-medicate because of their mental problems? With those caveats in mind, it’s hard to take those as particularly conclusive.

 

Outside of the legality, which will hopefully change someday, I don’t see anything wrong with marijuana use. I think it’s far less worrisome than alcohol, both in terms of health and its immediate effect. But, like anything, it can be taken to extremes. That is the sole responsibility of the user. There are a lot of people who can’t stop eating fast food, but we aren’t blaming Big Macs for obesity.

 

Yeah, we are. See Michelle Obama.

:lol: Why UK or UofL students?

 

I'd say that more than 50% of American college students have tried at least one of the two. That's a fairly random and totally unscientific guess.

 

I would say it is way higher than that.

I would disagree, but thats just me. I know a lot of people who would say they are actually better drivers under the influence of marijuana because they pay a lot more attention then they would normally. Alcohol really messes with motor coordination, marijuana not so much. Marijuana actually makes you more aware of what you sense.

 

Those people were smoking when they told you that. The drowsiness is just as evident as with alcohol use, if not more so. While it does not screw with your coordination and you be come acutely aware, pot really messes up your perception of what's going on around you. Depth perception really goes south. Then there is the paranoia. The drowsiness and acute awareness combined with the paranoia can be dangerous when you're driving.

 

Besides, the argument is between cigarettes and weed, not alcohol and weed. The only time cigarettes are dangerous when driving, is went you drop the butt between your legs.

 

Goodness Gracious, Great Balls of Fire!

Many would be shocked at how many "professionals" still occasionally smoke weed.

 

I know several. They use it to relax when at home, the same as they would alcohol in social settings.

Well the hardcore drunk lifestyle is bad as well. But, if you don't think a big-time smoker (smokes all day) has a distinctive style they're addicted to then there is no point in arguing. I don't think they will put someone in rehab for pot because medically someone cannot be physically addicted to it as far as I know.

 

And when you say smoke all day are you saying all day almost every single day, cause that is what I'm talking about. I know some people that can't do anything until they get their tokes. I've known people that choose pot over anything else, family, friends, fun. I've known people that don't have money to go and do something like go to the mall or to a ball game because their priorities start at pot.

I'm talking about guys that carried one hitter with them everywhere so they could take hits whenever they wanted. When they would get home they would smoke a joint. When they woke up the would smoke a joint. All of these guys went to school or had jobs. They didn't sit in a dark room all day fried. Are there people like that, sure but so what. That doesn't mean anyone who tries pot will end up like that no more then anyone who tries a beer will end up a drunk.

Many would be shocked at how many "professionals" still occasionally smoke weed.

Off hand I know of a highly successful engineer who smokes every day, a doctor who occasionally smokes, and several lawyers who smoke on a regular basis.

That's not necessarily true. Those that do harder drugs would do so regardless, IMO. I have never done cocaine, heroin or meth but I smoked a lot of weed. Never had a desire to do so. None of my friends or people I partook with went to hard drugs either. College aged kids are smart enough to know the dangers of doing harder drugs than weed and those that do the harder drugs would do them eventually. At least based on my life experiences that is the truth.

 

I've got friends from college that are still addicted to drugs. They all smoked pot in college. I understand where you're coming from but I think once you make a decision to break the law w drugs it's even easier to do it with harder drugs. I don't have evidence but seems rational to me. I don't know any guys who went from cigs to coke but I know several guys that went from pot to coke.

Weed being a gateway drug is a ridiculous claim, IMO. When someone chooses to do cocaine, it's their choice, it just so happens to be that if they're doing cocaine, they're probably smoking weed too because the type of person they are. It has nothing to do with weed making you want to do cocaine, or whatever people believe. I'm currently in college and you'd never catch me or my friends doing cocaine or other hardcore drugs. I can't say the same for a little bit of pot. I also have a lot of friends (one's that I live with) that are addicted to cigarettes, and couldn't quit if I paid them to. These same friends won't even touch weed. I think they are in much more "danger" than my friends who smoke weed about once a day. Another one of my friends, the biggest "pothead" that I know, smokes weed maybe three or four times every day. He's also the most intelligent and witty friend that I have. Another friend, who has a 3.9 gpa, in UK's medical school, smokes weed on a daily basis. I know these examples may not prove or mean much to people, but my point is the weed isn't going to ruin a person's life if they mess with it in college. Cigarettes I can't say the same for.

I don't think that I necessarily agree with the way this poll is leaning. In my experience, MOST people that have smoked weed will only smoke weed, but it is a gateway substance. And in quite a few instances, I can see how weed has lead to abuse of other "heavier" drugs.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see my child do neither, but seriously if you caught your child with weed, your going to have to start wondering what else they are hiding from you.

Weed being a gateway drug is a ridiculous claim, IMO. When someone chooses to do cocaine, it's their choice, it just so happens to be that if they're doing cocaine, they're probably smoking weed too because the type of person they are. It has nothing to do with weed making you want to do cocaine, or whatever people believe. I'm currently in college and you'd never catch me or my friends doing cocaine or other hardcore drugs. I can't say the same for a little bit of pot. I also have a lot of friends (one's that I live with) that are addicted to cigarettes, and couldn't quit if I paid them to. These same friends won't even touch weed. I think they are in much more "danger" than my friends who smoke weed about once a day. Another one of my friends, the biggest "pothead" that I know, smokes weed maybe three or four times every day. He's also the most intelligent and witty friend that I have. Another friend, who has a 3.9 gpa, in UK's medical school, smokes weed on a daily basis. I know these examples may not prove or mean much to people, but my point is the weed isn't going to ruin a person's life if they mess with it in college. Cigarettes I can't say the same for.

Its a gateway drug, and I don't doubt that one bit. You saying it is not a gateway drug is your personal opinion.

I've got friends from college that are still addicted to drugs. They all smoked pot in college. I understand where you're coming from but I think once you make a decision to break the law w drugs it's even easier to do it with harder drugs. I don't have evidence but seems rational to me. I don't know any guys who went from cigs to coke but I know several guys that went from pot to coke.

 

I couldn't agree with you anymore!:thumb:

I guess I'm going to put it this way, I've seen way too many KIDS waste their life from starting weed then I have from kids who smoke cigs or tobacco. I've seen way too many ADULTS waste thier lives from a tobacco habit.

I've got friends from college that are still addicted to drugs. They all smoked pot in college. I understand where you're coming from but I think once you make a decision to break the law w drugs it's even easier to do it with harder drugs. I don't have evidence but seems rational to me. I don't know any guys who went from cigs to coke but I know several guys that went from pot to coke.

 

 

Seems rational. I was just saying in my experiences I have been around 100 potheads easily and none went to harder drugs because weed wasn't strong enough. Maybe I just hang around smart people. I just feel that those who do hard drugs were going to do hard drugs regardless of their experiences with weed. I don't know anyone who smokes weed that needs a better high. Those that I know who succumbed to the hard drugs were more binge drinker/alcoholic than pothead.

I've got friends from college that are still addicted to drugs. They all smoked pot in college. I understand where you're coming from but I think once you make a decision to break the law w drugs it's even easier to do it with harder drugs. I don't have evidence but seems rational to me. I don't know any guys who went from cigs to coke but I know several guys that went from pot to coke.

Those guys probably would have found SOMETHING destructive anyways.

Off hand I know of a highly successful engineer who smokes every day, a doctor who occasionally smokes, and several lawyers who smoke on a regular basis.

 

I know several like this as well. A good friend of mine smoked everyday in college beginning our freshmen year and he smoked all the way through med school and his residency and maintained a 4.0 while in school. I haven't spoken to him in years but he should be doctor at this point and I'd bet money he still smokes.