[graciegirl]

The words above were spoken last night at a Gala that Whitney Houston would have attended and they were spoken by an old friend of hers.

I don't understand drugs and I don't understand how someone could make that statement.

I don't see how the legalization of drugs would have kept her alive. It seems to be that when you are addicted you live for the next high and I know I am not alone in thinking that her death was caused by an overdose of drugs.

I hope that her death serves to warn young people how awful drug addiction is.

Am I not seeing what this man was trying to say????

I was shocked just now when I read it.

[memason]

While "soft" drugs are tolerated in Amsterdam, there are no drugs that are legal there that aren't legal in the US.

[nitehawk]

Maybe someday we will have a happy hour for drugs

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The words above were spoken last night at a Gala that Whitney Houston would have attended and they were spoken by an old friend of hers.

I don't understand drugs and I don't understand how someone could make that statement.

I don't see how the legalization of drugs would have kept her alive. It seems to be that when you are addicted you live for the next high and I know I am not alone in thinking that her death was caused by an overdose of drugs.

I hope that her death serves to warn young people how awful drug addiction is.

Am I not seeing what this man was trying to say????

I was shocked just now when I read it.

It makes me think he's probably an addict, too. I'm still so saddened and shocked about the flippant attitude Whitney showed in her lengthy interview with Diane Sawyer 10 years ago. She openly said in many ways what drugs she was abusing, and that it was no big deal.

Sober people knew better. This is a crying shame. But as long as she kept going back to the husband who fed it (and who beat her), others couldn't stop her.

[De Lis]

I simply can't believe what an utterly STUPID statement Bennett just made! Give him the hook, he needs to get off the stage and stop influencing young people.

[rubicon]

The old saw states the two times people say nice things about you is when you retire and when you die.

I have to admit cognitive dissonnance when hearing people hero worship a person who led their lives as did whitney Houston.

Yes she was a wonderful entertainer but to overlook th obvious is to send the wrong signals to our young.

Amsterdam based on what I have read is sorry they legalized and kind of drugs and prostitution because it has made a mess of their city and their leaders are not attempting to back track.

No one will ever convince me legalizing drugs will solve our problem. Look at the legal prescription drug issue. It has overtaken the street drug problem. to vote for legalization is to either want the right to be an addict or to admit that the war on drugs is not winnable. I believe it is winnable but authorities need to get at the heart of the matter and stop protecting those who either ignore the problem or enable it for political/monetary reasons

[quirky3]

Alcohol is legal and look at the addicts and messed up lives that causes. I would venture to guess that very few people have not abused something in their lives. It doesn't make sense to me to single out one type of addiction and make self righteous judgements about people who are addicts. Vague biblical memories of "remove that beam in your eye". I do agree with responses of compassion and sadness, and the sharing of what lessons we can all learn from this.

[JeffAVEWS]

I don't think they will get the message, Janus Joplin, Mama Cass Elliot, John Belushi, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Hendrix.........

[PennBF]

It is sad to see another life allegedly taken by another drug. I don't understand the reference to "alcohol" as it is just another drug. Have been to Amsterdam a few times and you can see the effect of their "light drug laws".
These people who think pot is OK should understand that it is a gateway drug and many, many users end up going to more strong drugs as the high gets higher when they do. It is sad to see such a talented person as Whiteny Houston allegedly die from drugs or have a history of drug usage. Because of her money she most likely had a number of enabler's who helped her reach this point. Some do it because they think they are helping her, other because they want to continue to reap some money from her and some just don't care and abuse her. In the end she is responsible for her own life.
But please don't think using "pot" is just an innocent pastime. It is the potential beginning of a life of drugs and the sorrowfull effects of that life style. Of course alcohol is just another possible "gateway drug".

[manaboutown]

Having spent a little time in Amsterdam I want to let potential visitors know that if a storefront has a sign reading "coffee shop" it means that it is a place to toke up on marijuana in one form or another. It is not what most folks understand a coffee shop to be. If one really wants coffee one needs to go to a real restaurant or bakery. Stroll through the red light district while you are there. I wonder what their HIV rate is now....I also noticed a lot of people were freaky looking and off-putting to me, being unwashed, ill clothed, emaciated, covered with tattoos and had lots of piercings and body jewelry. I believe historically because the Dutch are so liberal and accepting drug users from all over descended on Amsterdam starting back in the 60's and 70's. People could not take their children into parks for all the used needles lying around back then. Things are cleaned up somewhat but it is not a place in which I would find it comfortable to live.

[duffysmom]

I've been to Amsterdam and have seen NY City's Bowery. The Bowery looked like a day spa compared to Amsterdam. Frightening!! For many addicts there comes a point when they can no longer make a rational decision to stop using, their brain is too toxic. God rest her soul.

[memason]

Not sure where you folks went in Amsterdam, but you certainly saw a different city than I saw. Like any big city, there are areas, but to characterize the whole city of Amsterdam as some sort of cesspool is wrong. ..and, there aren't a bunch of crazed drug addicts running all over the place...

[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The words above were spoken last night at a Gala that Whitney Houston would have attended and they were spoken by an old friend of hers.
...... Am I not seeing what this man was trying to say????

I was shocked just now when I read it.

I have long thought he's not the sharpest Crayola on the tree.

[PennBF]

I didn't read where someone said all of Amsterdam is a cess pool. There are some very nice sections. But to imply it is almost "drug free" is a very significant overstatement. You see a lot of lost souls in the main area of town.
I remember being there in the early 70's during the drug revolution. I had a movie camera and tried to take a picture of all of the druggies on Dam Square around the statute. There were hundreds. They had postitioned one druggie on each corner of the statute and they had mirrors to flash into your camera to prevent pictures/movies, etc. The city is still a haven for this as it was open in the 60's and 70's and many have stayed there. Of course a great many were avoiding the draft and could have protection from it. The
parks were dens of drug users, open living, etc.
The city has never lived down this reputation and thats why many still flock to Amsterdam. We were there a year ago and did not feel threatened. Liked the city but did notice a number of drug users both young and oldies.

[quirky3]

In the past, we had long threads about alcohol in the squares at TV, and people have boasted that The Villages is "an alcohol friendly place", and if you don't like that, don't move there. The same can be said for Amsterdam. In my eyes, direct parallels exist between making (legal) alcohol easily available, and making legal soft drugs easily available. Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place if we evolved beyond the use of addictive substances, period, and used natural methods for stress reduction and relaxation.