Next.........decriminalize marijuana at federal level

[Guest]

By executive order the president should remove the threat to prosecute from states that have by law permitted the use of this drug for medical purposes .

Of course this will not be seen as politically motivated in an election year to cater to the youth vote...............but rather as a compassionate aid to the terminally ill .

[Guest]

I watched a show recently about that topic and it opened my eyes. It is amazing how much money is spent on the war on drugs and those that fight the war laugh at our stupidity and state openly that it is truly a waste. Several dollars are spent by the courts and prisons for possession of small amounts. I agree with slapping the dealers and suppliers, but to put some Young man or women in jail because they grow a personal use plant in their house is a bit of a stretch for me. We can legally make homemade beer, wine and even pain killing remedies, so why not this marijuana plant?

Don't misunderstand, I personally am a Bourbon and beer man. However; I have known people in my travels even some in the relative department that have puffed on the silly stuff for years and years and I see no change in their personality from 30 to 40 years ago.

[Guest]

Benefit versus risk should be the test with taking any drug/intoxicant for "therapeutic" purposes.

"Numerous studies have shown marijuana smoke to contain carcinogens and to be an irritant to the lungs. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which further increase the lungs' exposure to carcinogenic smoke."

And then there is the risk of being in a constant stupor....while driving, while parenting, while working in a responsible job, and while attempting to get and maintain consistent, self-supporting employment.

And this is laughable: "Of course this will not be seen as politically motivated in an election year to cater to the youth vote."

Stoner Nation here we come.

National Institutes of Health (NIH):
Marijuana | DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana)

[Guest]

Benefit versus risk should be the test with taking any drug/intoxicant for "therapeutic" purposes.

"Numerous studies have shown marijuana smoke to contain carcinogens and to be an irritant to the lungs. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which further increase the lungs' exposure to carcinogenic smoke."

And then there is the risk of being in a constant stupor....while driving, while parenting, while working in a responsible job, and while attempting to get and maintain consistent, self-supporting employment.

And this is laughable: "Of course this will not be seen as politically motivated in an election year to cater to the youth vote."

Stoner Nation here we come.

National Institutes of Health (NIH):
Marijuana | DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana)

I don't think the recreational pot head smokes 25 to 30 joints per day, so the carcinogenic hydrocarbons are not as detrimental as one might think. Also, Alcohol is responsible for countless people being in a constant stupor, a higher rate of deadly accidents and violent crimes than Marijuana, so If we replace all alcohol with Marijuana, we would be much better off. Wait a minute, no one is going to take my Jack Black nor my Bud Light. LOL

[Guest]

Illegal drugs have been around for so long that people have been complacent about and almost blind to their detrimental effects. While there are various reasons why our education system is detriorating drug use is at the top of the heap. Worse yet we get this multiplier effect as each succeeding generation moves up the adult ladder. To suggest that marijuana is harmless is disingenious when you consider every drug has side effects and can create major problems including aspirn

States like California that made headway into marijuana medical clinic found major abuses and learned they were nothing more then dope dens.

While I have no experience with drugs I have served on board of companies whose businss is to rehabilitate young people. What I have seen is ugly ugly ugly.

I do agree that some folks are being incarcerated unnecessarily or too long and I do agree that our leaders have not been committed or serious enough to implement an effective program. However no one will ever convince me that legalization is the solution

[Guest]

There is no question that "pot" is a Gateway drug and between 10-20% of
users move on to other more damaging drugs. This is not something to argue
about since if you have been in the "treatment business" for addicts you
would acknowledge the risks. These risks are much greater for the youth !!
Of course there are other documented effects, (e.g. shrinks the stem of the
brain, potential cancer trigger, of course social impacts from usage, and many so ons.)
Of course you have the ones who like to compare "pot" to acohol. A drug is a drug is a drug. Comparing pot to alcohol is like comparing a hand gun to a shotgun..They all can kill..:sad:
Remember when you talk to a person who is a "user" you are not talking to the person you are talking to the drug. It is nonsense to think
you are actually talking to the person since they are not the one listening. The thing listening is the drug whether it be Pot, Alcohol, Meth,
Coke, and so on. Ever talk to a peron who is drunk and how stupid they sound and then when they sober up how different they sound? That is
good illustration as what it means to be talking to a drug as opposed to the person..

[Guest]

PennBF: I have it on good authority that almost one in ten people who are given milk in their childhood grow up to be alcoholics.

....based on reports that 8% of the US Population are alcoholics. 33% have abused alcohol during their lives.