First area to legalize Marijuana

[vikingBerserker]

VB here its an illegal substance. On this matter I honestly don't give a S*IT if you can put all the facts in the world. ITS illegal FOR A REASON only certain people use it for medical purposes for a REASON.

(Not directed at u VB just in general.)

So is speeding. The article you posted was in regards to OR making it legal to use it for medical reasons so in areas of the US it is legal (State vs Federal laws is a political one and thus will not be touched upon).

In any society, it scares me when any law rules regardless of the facts. There are reasons why some laws are overturned and others changed.

 

[B-17engineer]

But I don't see why this is being overturned. Leave it illegal.

 

[Amsel]

It's probably overturned because of the expense of locking up people who are under the influence or in the posession of marijuana. With the growing deficits in local and state governments due to the sharp decrease in taxpayers, the authorities may no longer want to prosecute it as a crime.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Yea I agree with that. I could also see it being taxed like tabacco as well.

 

[beaupower32]

Yep, I see it being sold just like cigarettes in any store you walk into. Its a sad fact, but looks like it might come that way. But if it does, tax the hell out of it.

 

[109ROAMING]

Why would you Smoke if your already sick.

But it you are already very very ill, why waste your few days or months smoking. Smoking in itself is bad without the marijuana.

Because just like Brompton Cocktail's , your going to die anyway why not live it less painfully? Your saying dope is bad right and causes bad things down the road? what if you had no more road and it was a bad one and dope could stop that bad feeling atleast til the end? no bad effects then?

It does not always mean smoking it Harrison , I watched a doco once where a guy ( I think in Canada) turned dope into a series of cookies and argued "Wouldn't you rather eat a cookie than eat a couple pills?"

Good post too Maria

 

[Maestro]

Oh, yeah... The good old pot muffin trick.

A guy I know was once offered a pot muffin (without knowing the presence of the "special ingredient")... He spent the whole afternoon laughing for no reason.

Oh, and B-17, FYI most musicians are/were on drugs. That old Ludwig von Bethoven was an alcholic... He died from lead poisoning (because the special brand of wine he was drinking was using lead salt as a spice). And do you think that the Beetles would have wrote "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" if they were not high on drugs ?

Also, I remember in my religion classes that none of those who wrote the bible had the same version of Jesus' life... I personally believe that it was because they were all high on pot. But I could be wrong on this...

 

[GrauGeist]

And just for the record, Marijuana wasn't illegal until 1937 and there was mainly issues against it for tax purposes. So technically speaking, if the law was passed against it, it can be repealed. And there was a temporary modification to the law during WWII because of the importance of Hemp for the war effort.

If a person (an adult) makes a decision, then it's thier responsability to know the pros and cons of what they are doing, and assume all responsability for thier actions. I enjoy a beer every so often, but I don't drink as a means of escape. When I do get hammered, which is once in a blue-moon these days, I'm going to be the last person to even consider driving a car. So you can say that overall, I drink in moderation.

That's the key to anything. Do it in moderation. If a person chooses to unwind with a joint, good for them...but if a person does that in excess (smoking it constantly), then like most things, it will mess them up.

An occasional beer is considered healthy, same with a glass of wine, but you do it constantly, you will ruin your health and your life...again, moderation is the key.

Same goes for diet sodas or anything a person becomes addicted to. Too much of anything can be detrimental to your health.

 

[BikerBabe]

I agree with GG.
Me 3 years ago: 2-4 litres of cola a day, bad stomach (- diagnosed irritable colon) and I had to eat pills to keep my stomach calm and be able to go to work without my stomach flipping out - or even just be able to get to work without any incidents.
I love cola (Harboe - a cheap danish copy of Coca Cola), but I decided to call it quits last year.
3 days later I could ditch the pills and I haven't had any stomach problems ever since.
Oh, and to top it off, I even lost 3-4 kilos in 4 months because I stopped drinking cola.
So yes - moderation's the word of the day.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

All I am saying is that its my opinion. No matter how many facts you have I am not changing my mind.

Yeah but everyone keeps shooting down your facts...

It is your right to think what you do, but don't use false facts. Just because someone smoked pot, does not mean they wasted their life, or are doing so. That is the part where you are annoying me. You are taking it so damn personal.

Just because some one chooses to do so for recreational or medicinal purposes does not make them dumb and stupid! Period!

 

[Marcel]

Now what exactly is your argument then? If you tell me I am supporting argument then you are going with what I say? Where do you get slaves from? Slaves are inhumane and that's why they are illegal not because they made too much money. That is a completely different thing that is not to be brought into the conversation.

If you wanna smoke your cam pot stay inside and don't go around promoting it and saying smoke pot! Smoke Pot! Because that is how young kids are loosing futures. There are some people who go around promoting you.

Alcohol was on a MUCH larger scale than drugs are now. You don't have boats with grenade launchers and guns now do ya (1920's) ? Now you have un armed ships trying to sneak drugs in which if the drugs get through its not as violent so in no way whatsoever I am supporting your argument.
. [/U]

The argument was that if alcohol was illegal we should get all this crime stuff. Then you say drugs must not be legal and this illiagl drugs is the reason that we have that same crime.

BTW I already said drugs use in the Netherlands is lower than in other countries, while it's legal here. Sure must be a reason to promote legalising soft-drugs. I absolutely don't agree with Piet here that the dutch policy is dumb, I would say it was a smart move.

 

[B-17engineer]

And I still don't care. Like I said, if they want to make it legal go right ahead!!!!!! But you stay in your dam house till the effects wear off and don't come out publicizing, promoting, or offering it to other people.....

 

[B-17engineer]

"Introduction to "Bad effects of pot"

The latest studies on so called "bad effects of pot" including short and long time ones proved that most of many of the "reefer madness" tales were simple lies. Although these studies did not answer all remaining questions about marijuana toxicity, they generally supported the idea that marijuana was a relatively safe drug - not totally free from potential harm, but unlikely to create serious harm for most individual users or society. An analysis of research studies with long-term, recreational users of marijuana has failed to reveal a substantial, systematic effect on the neurocognitive functioning of users. According to researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, the only deleterious side effect found was a minimal malfunction in the domains of learning and forgetting. So however stong the effects may be during the experience, keep in mind, it won't cripple You. Now for the sake of truth, read ...

Short time bad effects of pot

Here are short time effects of pot, meaning during a few hours after use. The short-term effects occur rapidly after a single dose and disappear within a few hours. Most of them can be fun if You are in safe place with good people to laugh with. Most of those bad effects can be very dangerous if the place and situation demands capabilites You have just weakend by pot use and/or the people around You are not friendly. General advice is to plan ahead, prepare the right time, place and people. Good plan will help You relax, enjoy the experience and avoid bad effects of pot, which in my humble opinion are exagerrated. But always use pot with caution, if You are not experienced don't smoke too much at the first time.

- bad short time memory and lowered learning abilities.
Example: difficulty to stay on topic, because of forgetting what was the subject and what was said a moment ago.
Comment: Some potheads like me say it is a part of fun. Sure it is when You are among friends in a safe place. But not when You have to talk to Your mother or the policeman.

- difficulty thinking and problem solving.
Example: Don't use pot before the exam or driving lesson. These tasks need quick thinking and You are likely to fail or even put Yourself in danger. Remember to take it easy after using pot. No duties, no difficulties. Plan a enjoyable experience for Yourself.

- poor performance, loss of coordination and risk of injury.
Example: This is serious ! Don't sharpen knifes, Don't go climbing ! Go walking, looking, smelling, touching

- inability to drive safely or do complex tasks for up to 24 hours after use.
Example: Selfexplanatory. Daydreaming behind the wheel can be dangerous not only to Yourself, but everybody with You.

- distorted senses of sight, hearing, touch, time, and depth.
Example: Just keep in mind not to trust Your senses in 100%. Not sure You can cross the street ? Check again !

- reduced athletic ability.
Example: Don't go wood choping or running. Work in the garden if You like ...

- elevated heart rate.
Example: If You find Your heart pounding too strong just relax.

- anxiety, panic attacks.
Example: Not likely, but just in case, or if You are nervous person, or just got scared, use Your pot in a safe place with relaxed helpfull people to help You calm down. And most of all for all of You panickers, if You happen to smoke too much, and start feeling bad in any way, remember to lay down or sit down and relax and I assure You will feel better in a few hours.

"Long time bad effect of pot

There is some evidence from human studies that long-term pot use can have bad effects, although it seems that the spectrum of these effects is narrower than previously thought and mainly centres around cognitive (intellectual) function. These effects disappear gradually after pot use stops. Long-term effects occur after repeated use over a period of time. Like smoking a few joints a week for 10 years.

Study published in a Canadian medical journal (CMAJ 2002 Apr 2;166(7):887-91) found that: Current marijuana use had a negative effect on global IQ score only in subjects who smoked 5 or more joints per week. A negative effect was not observed among subjects who had previously been heavy users but were no longer using the substance. We conclude that marijuana does not have a long-term negative impact on global intelligence. This study compared IQ scores of individuals aged 9-12 years before they started using cannabis, with their scores at 17-20 years. Light users, former users and non-users showed a gain in IQ over the same period. "I suppose we expected to see some differences in people who were heavy users, but in fact the differences were very minimal." Still, researchers say impairments were less than what is typically found from using alcohol or other drugs.

- because the tar content of THC smoke is 50 percent higher than that of tobacco, many users have chronic bronchitis and other respiratory problems. That can be avoided by using vapouriser instead of smoking pot.
- some chronic heavy users(especially young ones less than 16 years old) may show loss of drive and energy, slow and confused thinking, impaired memory and apathy. This is often referred to as "amotivational syndrome," and disappears gradually after drug use stops.
- there is no conclusive study, but it is advised not to use pot during pregnacy. Possible cause of lower birth weight and slower brain cognitive functions development.
- psychological addiction is possible and happens among heavy users.

Dutch Marijuana Use Lower Than Previously Thought: New Study Shatters American Myth That Relaxed Dutch Marijuana Laws Cause Increased Marijuana Use Despite Decriminalization, Dutch Use Less Marijuana Than Americans - AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - April 17 /PRNewswire/ --

A new study with sweeping implications for marijuana policy in the United States and abroad has found the number of marijuana users in the Netherlands to be substantially lower than previously estimated. According to a study released this week by the Centre for Drug Research (CEDRO) at the University of Amsterdam, only about 2 to 3 percent of the Dutch population (ages 12 years old and up) had used marijuana in the previous month. Earlier studies had put the rate at about 5.0 to 6.5 percent.

"Previous estimates were based on surveys in Amsterdam, which has a higher use rate than the rest of the country," said Peter Cohen, one of the authors of the study. "By including the cities of Tilberg and Utrecht in our survey, the results are more representative of the Dutch population as a whole."

These findings offer new insight into the relationship between marijuana use and marijuana policy. For the last twenty years, Dutch citizens over the age of 18 have been able to buy and use marijuana in government-regulated coffee shops. In the United States, where it is illegal under federal law to grow, purchase or use marijuana, U.S. government studies have found Americans use marijuana more often than the Dutch. According to a 1996 U.S. government study, between 4.2 and 5.3 percent of the U.S. population (ages 12 years old and up) had used marijuana in the past month. Despite fundamentally different marijuana policies, the Dutch use less marijuana than Americans.

"This study is further evidence that Dutch marijuana policy has not resulted in an explosion of marijuana use," said Dr. John P. Morgan, co-author of the book Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts: A Review of the Scientific Evidence (The Lindesmith Center, $12.95 U.S., paperback).

"Despite an overly punitive policy toward marijuana in the U.S., Americans still use more marijuana." Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts co-author Lynn Zimmer asks, "If the Dutch are using less marijuana, what purpose was served by arresting 642,000 Americans for possessing marijuana last year?" "

 

[B-17engineer]

Any intoxicating substance is hazardous to one degree or another

"What is marijuana?
Marijuana (grass, pot, weed) is the common name for a crude drug made from the plant Cannabis sativa. The main mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), but more than 400 other chemicals also are in the plant. A marijuana "joint" (cigarette) is made from the dried particles of the plant. The amount of THC in the marijuana determines how strong its effects will be. The type of plant, the weather, the soil, the time of harvest, and other factors determine the strength of marijuana. The strength of today's marijuana is as much as ten times greater than the marijuana used in the early 1970s. This more potent marijuana increases physical and mental effects and the possibility of health problems for the user. Hashish, or hash, is made by taking the resin from the leaves and flowers of the marijuana plant and pressing it into cakes or slabs. Hash is usually stronger than crude marijuana and may contain five to ten times as much THC. Pure THC is almost never available, except for research. Substances sold as THC on the street often turn out to be something else, such as PCP.

What are some of the immediate effects of smoking marijuana?
Some immediate physical effects of marijuana include a faster heartbeat and pulse rate, bloodshot eyes, and a dry mouth and throat. No scientific evidence indicates that marijuana improves hearing, eyesight, and skin sensitivity. Studies of marijuana's mental effects show that the drug can impair or reduce short-term memory, alter sense of time, and reduce ability to do things which require concentration, swift reactions, and coordination, such as driving a car or operating machinery.

Are there any other adverse reactions to marijuana?
A common bad reaction to marijuana is the "acute panic anxiety reaction." People describe this reaction as an extreme fear of "losing control," which causes panic. The symptoms usually disappear in a few hours.

What about psychological dependence on marijuana?
Long-term regular users of marijuana may become psychologically dependent. They may have a hard time limiting their use, they may need more of the drug to get the same effect, and they may develop problems with their jobs and personal relationships. The drug can become the most important aspect of their lives.

What are the dangers for young people?
One major concern about marijuana is its possible effects on young people as they grow up. Research shows that the earlier people start using drugs, the more likely they are to go on to experiment with other drugs. In addition, when young people start using marijuana regularly, they often lose interest and are not motivated to do their schoolwork. The effects of marijuana can interfere with learning by impairing thinking, reading comprehension, and verbal and mathematical skills. Research shows that students do not remember what they have learned when they are "high".

How does marijuana affect driving ability?
Driving experiments show that marijuana affects a wide range of skills needed for safe driving -- thinking and reflexes are slowed, making it hard for drivers to respond to sudden, unexpected events. Also, a driver's ability to "track" (stay in lane) through curves, to brake quickly, and to maintain speed and the proper distance between cars is affected. Research shows that these skills are impaired for at least 4-6 hours after smoking a single marijuana cigarette, long after the "high" is gone. If a person drinks alcohol, along with using marijuana, the risk of an accident greatly increases. Marijuana presents a definite danger on the road.

Does marijuana affect the human reproductive system?
Some research studies suggest that the use of marijuana during pregnancy may result in premature babies and in low birth weights. Studies of men and women may have a temporary loss of fertility. These findings suggest that marijuana may be especially harmful during adolescence, a period of rapid physical and sexual development.

How does marijuana affect the heart?
Marijuana use increases the heart rate as much as 50 percent, depending on the amount of THC. It can cause chest pain in people who have a poor blood supply to the heart - and it produces these effects more rapidly than tobacco smoke does.

How does marijuana affect the lungs?
Scientists believe that marijuana can be especially harmful to the lungs because users often inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and hold it in their lungs as long as possible. Therefore, the smoke is in contact with lung tissues for long periods of time, which irritates the lungs and damages the way they work. Marijuana smoke contains some of the same ingredients in tobacco smoke that can cause emphysema and cancer. In addition, many marijuana users also smoke cigarettes; the combined effects of smoking these two substances creates an increased health risk.

Can marijuana cause cancer?
Marijuana smoke has been found to contain more cancer-causing agents than is found in tobacco smoke. Examination of human lung tissue that had been exposed to marijuana smoke over a long period of time in a laboratory showed cellular changes called metaplasia that are considered precancerous. In laboratory test, the tars from marijuana smoke have produced tumors when applied to animal skin. These studies suggest that it is likely that marijuana may cause cancer if used for a number of years.

How are people usually introduced to marijuana?
Many young people are introduced to marijuana by their peers - usually acquaintances, friends, sisters, and brothers. People often try drugs such as marijuana because they feel pressured by peers to be part of the group. Children must be taught how to say no to peer pressure to try drugs. Parents can get involved by becoming informed about marijuana and by talking to their children about drug use.

What is marijuana "burnout"?
"Burnout" is a term first used by marijuana smokers themselves to describe the effect of prolonged use. Young people who smoke marijuana heavily over long periods of time can become dull, slow moving, and inattentive. These "burned-out" users are sometimes so unaware of their surroundings that they do not respond when friends speak to them, and they do not realize they have a problem.

How long do chemicals from marijuana stay in the body after the drug is smoked?
When marijuana is smoked, THC, its active ingredient, is absorbed by most tissues and organs in the body; however, it is primarily found in fat tissues. The body, in its attempt to rid itself of the foreign chemical, chemically transforms the THC into metabolites. Urine tests can detect THC metabolites for up to a week after people have smoked marijuana. Tests involving radioactively labeled THC have traced these metabolites in animals for up to a month. "

 

[B-17engineer]

Fact Sheet - MARIJUANA
Bad effects of pot - short time - long time - how long does pot stay in your system

"Lung Cancer: Yes, smoking marijuana may cause lung cancer. Is that supposed to be shocking? After all, you're breathing fire. On the other hand, eating some pot-brownies might make you fat, but certainly won't tar-up your lungs."


You wanted facts. There they are. Read them because I read yours.

So what is this? Marijuana is bad. It may not be the worst but it STILLretains the name illegal SUBSTANCE.

 

[lesofprimus]

Stop ur trumpet blaring Harrison... U sound like the fu*kin Gestapo.....

Alcohol is BY FAR the worst of both evils... Period.... End of story.......

 

[B-17engineer]

Why? So I can other can go on there rants but I can't?

I never said alcohol was a billion times better! I never did. I am saying I don't want marijuana legalized. People tell me I don't have the facts well there they are. And I'm sure anyone on this site can find another way to tell me there wrong.

 

[Maestro]

Stop ur trumpet blaring Harrison... U sound like the fu*kin Gestapo.....

Alcohol is BY FAR the worst of both evils... Period.... End of story.......

Agreed.

But I still wouldn't like to sit in a car driven by someone high on pot.

 

[lesofprimus]

And as far as Im concerned, all that crap u posted up above about how it distorts u and this and that:

Bullsh!t....

It may alter u in several different ways, as does alcohol... All that crap u posted up above is straight up propoganda from non-smokers....

 

[lesofprimus]

Thats just plain retarded Maestro.....