Medical Marijuana--

[Betty]

I think you could say that there are very few things you can do that don't have the possibility for some adverse side effect. I hope I wasn't suggesting otherwise - just that in the grand scheme of things I don't see what the big deal is for a consenting adult.

[PanTheMan]

Originally Posted by mousepod

I sense a little bit of silliness in this thread. I'm all for legalization of drugs, but to argue that there are no real adverse effects of pot is plain stupid. I wouldn't knowingly get into a car driven by someone under the influence. I've experienced several friends disappear into a lethargy brought on by their incessant pot use. I've terminated business relationships with stoners because of their unreliability.

The argument that these people probably had those traits (or a tendency toward them) is as valid as saying that someone who drinks alcohol and acts inappropriately "had it in them anyway". Altered thinking can and often does lead to dumb decisions.

There are adverse effects to anything not done in moderation. 'Stoners' are unreliable. So are Alcoholics. You use the term incessant. that is the key. Some people will always go over the edge. It hapens with any addiction. Addiction to pot is purely a mental addiction rather than chemical. And it is rare. There are FAR more alcoholics which is BOTH physically and mentally addictive than stoners out there.

[PanTheMan]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

But, yet, alcohol - which is probably the MOST destructive of substances (or possibly tobacco) remains legal.

I know WHY alcohol will remain legal, I just don't get why the other drugs shouldn't be as well.

Tobacco and Alcohol are actually quite hard to produce. Easier to control and tax by the government.

The call Marajauna, weed, because it can be grown anywhere.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by PanTheMan

There are adverse effects to anything not done in moderation. 'Stoners' are unreliable. So are Alcoholics. You use the term incessant. that is the key. Some people will always go over the edge. It hapens with any addiction. Addiction to pot is purely a mental addiction rather than chemical. And it is rare. There are FAR more alcoholics which is BOTH physically and mentally addictive than stoners out there.

I've got so many problems with the statements made in this post I don't think I can even begin to refute.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Alcohol's not hard to make. Making specific versions of it, sometimes yes, but if you just want to ferment stuff, that's easy. Wine, beer, mead - quite easy and homemade can be quite tasty.

[Gemini Cricket]

Here's the deal:
The people that are pro-legalized marijuana are too stoned to organize themselves. The people that are anti-legalized marijuana probably should smoke lots of it and chill out.

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by PanTheMan

There are adverse effects to anything not done in moderation. 'Stoners' are unreliable. So are Alcoholics. You use the term incessant. that is the key.

Inability to stop once started on a run, or inability to stop despite serious negative life effects, perhaps. But "incessant" is not the key.

Some people will always go over the edge. It hapens with any addiction. Addiction to pot is purely a mental addiction rather than chemical. And it is rare. There are FAR more alcoholics which is BOTH physically and mentally addictive than stoners out there.

Except that once the physical withdrawal from alcohol/meth/heroin/benzos/etc. stops, you STILL have the disease of addiction, same as any pot smoker. The physical aspect of it has a smaller connection than you might think. Why is it so hard to quit smoking? It certainly isn't the physical withdrawals -- you're over that in three days.

I don't think the case is closed on pot being a "purely mental" addiction. And honey, pot addiction is NOT rare. Not at all.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

For me it comes down to this.

If:

1. I enjoy it
2. I can use it without harming anyone physically
3. I can use it without harming anyone socially
4. I can hold a job, keep my house clean and be a responsible human being
5. I don't use it every day
6. I feel fine without it
7. The majority of users say yes to all the above

How can you justify taking it away?

[Betty]

Awww... clean house too?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

For me it comes down to this.

If:

I trim the list to:

2. I can use it without harming anyone else physically

Depending on the nature of the social harm I'd be willing to take into account:

3. I can use it without harming anyone else socially

All of the others I consider irrelevant to whether I have any say in whether another person can do something they choose to do.