[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

Seems to me that the many of the same people who want zero controls on guns want maximum control on marijuana.

Back in college, statistics and scientific data mattered. I'm glad we've gotten to a time where all we need is opinions. I'd guess I'm an outlier on the correlation alleged to exist.

[Golfingnut]

Looking at the poll numbers gives me reason to think TV is in better shape than I would have thought. Yea Villagers.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by joerocker

Most beer drinkers don't graduate to hard alcohol and they don't have the same problems that chronic hard alcohol drinkers have.

You could also say that most hard liquor drinkers don't graduate to alcoholism. But I certainly don't think you mean to intend that people who drink only beer will never have an issue with it. That is simply NOT true. Just be a nurse for a few days and you'll know that answer.


But I can tell you that I have never met a person who does POT only that has any issues from it. At least not from a medical standpoint like a life long beer drinker.

[joerocker]

Originally Posted by TexaninVA

Joe, I was reading your otherwise reasonable arguments / opinions with interest until I saw the above quote. In addition to your views on religion being "amazing," your views on probably the most tyrannical regime in the world where the Stalinist government crushes people under their boot are astounding!!!

You truly, genuinely and without a doubt, have absolutely NO IDEA what you are talking about regarding North Korea ... zero. By making these patently absurd comments about North Korea, your credibility has vaporized. Maybe you and Dennis Rodman should team up?

When was your visit? That's all you have to answer.

Otherwise, like most here, you're parroting what someone else said. You have NO first hand experience and you're relying on what you've read or heard. So, in reality, you have a STRONG opinion about a place you've never been to or seen. Is that stereotyping? (sorry, wrong thread)

This is the same as your "facts" about marijuana. ALL you know is what you've read or heard. No firsthand experience, yet plenty of opinion. Whom doesn't know what they're talking about?

Using NK as my example for general ignorance was perfect. Thank you for proving the point. Never been there but know ALL about it?

Amazing.

I said we don't know anything about NK. But apparently, you do. Tell us again about your trip.

The most tyrannical regimes are found in Africa.

Don't be so easily lead astray.

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

You could also say that most hard liquor drinkers don't graduate to alcoholism. But I certainly don't think you mean to intend that people who drink only beer will never have an issue with it. That is simply NOT true. Just be a nurse for a few days and you'll know that answer.


But I can tell you that I have never met a person who does POT only that has any issues from it. At least not from a medical standpoint like a life long beer drinker.

My posts are long enough without going into every detail in every example. Of course I meant "rational" beer drinkers. People who enjoy a few beers to relax. Not people who put down cases at a time. I'm constantly saying that rational, self regulating people should be free to choose.

Thank you for saying that a "pot user" isn't a problem. Medically at least.

[Chi-Town]

OK. A couple of questions about poster's names in this thread.

Billethkid, is that a play on Billy the Kid?

Texaninva, are you from Texas and now in Virginia Trace?

Just curious. Of course, Chi-Town is pretty obvious.

Thanks.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

OK. A couple of questions about poster's names in this thread.

Billethkid, is that a play on Billy the Kid?

Texaninva, are you from Texas and now in Virginia Trace?

Just curious. Of course, Chi-Town is pretty obvious.

Thanks.

You are Chinese?

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

You are Chinese?

Gracie, Gracie, Gracie...

[gomoho]

I have been there done that, seen and paid for the ravages of marijuana with my children, so I come from a position of experience - maybe tainted by that experience; however I just cannot rationalize how legalizing marijuana will doing anything positive for our country. I don't agree with the ridiculous penalties attached to a conviction involving weed, but just cannot wrap my arms around legalization cause I have seen first hand the damage it does. And please don't equate it to alcohol cause there is an awful lot of damage there as well, but as I said earlier wine or a cocktail doesn't have to be enjoyed just to get a buzz - can enhance your meal. What do you pair marijuana with - ho ho's and doritos? It's only purpose is too get f_ _ _ ed up.

[joerocker]

Originally Posted by gomoho

I have been there done that, seen and paid for the ravages of marijuana with my children, so I come from a position of experience - maybe tainted by that experience; however I just cannot rationalize how legalizing marijuana will doing anything positive for our country. I don't agree with the ridiculous penalties attached to a conviction involving weed, but just cannot wrap my arms around legalization cause I have seen first hand the damage it does. And please don't equate it to alcohol cause there is an awful lot of damage there as well, but as I said earlier wine or a cocktail doesn't have to be enjoyed just to get a buzz - can enhance your meal. What do you pair marijuana with - ho ho's and doritos? It's only purpose is too get f_ _ _ ed up.

Details please...marijuana alone "ravaged" your children? In what way?

The positive thing? It brings back freedom of the individual to choose. A right you used to have in MANY aspects of your life.

After 2 drinks, most people are legally "at the limit", You are borderline too intoxicated to drive your car. You just don't realize it with alcohol.

Wine "enhances your meal"? Of course it does...enjoy the buzz.

I think you're under the false impression that marijuana is like heroin or drinking a 5th of scotch. A few puffs and you're wrecked, sprawled out on the couch, unable to utter a coherent sentence. Nothing, nothing could be farther from the truth. A few puffs is that same mellow feeling you get from your cocktail, or two. That relaxation you feel with your drink, it's chemical. You're f_ _ _ ed up on alcohol.

Denial isn't only a river in Egypt.

[graciegirl]

The "other" Don.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by gomoho

but as I said earlier wine or a cocktail doesn't have to be enjoyed just to get a buzz - can enhance your meal. What do you pair marijuana with - ho ho's and doritos? It's only purpose is too get f_ _ _ ed up.

Please!


if there was NEVER a buzz in wine or booze there would be no such thing as 'pairing'. Wine was not created to 'pair' with anything except a buzz. That is a much, much later inventive way for the booze industry to sell the product. Don't think the early humans were saying "what can we invent that would pair well with this lamb?"


Many people do have just one joint to 'mellow'. And maybe a nice Hostess cupcake


From the web:


The altered consciousness produced by wine has been considered religious since its origin


Of course, ancient wines weren't just for recreational quaffing; they were also used as medicinal mixtures, (Hmmm, that sounds familiar doesn't it?)


Want more just search origins of wine!

[graciegirl]

I suppose someone is going to tell me that there isn't a Santa Claus either.


I am so naïve.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by joerocker

...Wine "enhances your meal"? Of course it does...enjoy the buzz...

Since you don't think even one small glass of wine "enhances a meal", then I guess all those people who do are simply wrong. Yeah...that's it.

[gamby]

Pot taxes in one month for Colorado: $2 million


Colorado Launches Campaign to Curb Stoned Driving

DENVER — Colorado is spending $1 million on television ads making fun of marijuana users who space out during everyday tasks — an effort to stop stoned driving.

The Colorado Department of Transportation unveiled the "Drive High, Get a DUI" campaign Thursday, the state's first effort since marijuana was legalized in 2012 to remind drivers that pot should be treated like alcohol and not used before driving.

[coolkayaker1]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

I have never smoked a joint and never would, however I would support legalization.
Instead of making smugglers, street hustlers, and Central and South American cartels rich, why not have it grown and controlled by Americans as it is in Colorado?
Instead of paying for the incarceration of tens of thousands of users and sellers, and spending millions on eradication and police work why not save that tax money and add the tax money on maijuana?
I think most people who want to smoke it already do, it seems to be easily accessable.
Seems to me the quality would likely improve and the controls over it would insure better and safer product.

As a physician, we could say the same about over 100 prescription only drugs, medically proven to be equally as recreationally enjoyable with low addition potential and less side effects than pot (these are pills, not smoked).

Should we legalize those, too? Make them OTC and tax them?

I point out eweissenbach's post above not to pick him out, but because he so eloquently describes the arguments for legalization. I hope to have made one think about the negative repercussions of legalization...and where to draw the line.

And, The fact that alcohol is a drug and already legal is not a convincing argument for legalizing other mind-altering substances.

The fact that we cannot control pot sales and distribution with current laws and forces is not a convincing argument for legalizing a mind-altering substance. (It is an argument for stricter laws, including potentially capital punishment for the worst offending distributors).

Courts and prisons will not be less burdened with legalization...conversely, they will be more burdened as pot does impede driving, machine operating skills, work occupational safety, etc. at least as much as alcohol.

Bottom line: slippery slope of legalizing mind-altering, impairing substances is "bad" societal medicine.