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I have changed my mind... marijuana studies are fake and it shouldn't be legal
Look who's funding the studies. The funding is going to people who profit off marijuana. Let me put this in the context of another drug by comparison. For this comparison we're gonna say I'm a rich drug lord with a lot of money and I want to make cocaine legal:
Step 1: find a doctor, which means they are also a scientist, that I can corrupt
Step 2: offer them five million dollars to produce a atudy that cocaine is good for you
Step 3: find a bunch more doctors who I can do this to and repeat steps one and two a few times
I dont really know if the studies are fake or not, im not really into science; but I wonder what kind of benefit will drugs bring to people
People will be tempted to escape their daily problems through drugs rather solving them; the same could be argued about alcohol, but at least with alcohol there is a physical consequence (hangover) so people try not to abuse
Weak minded people who cannot deal with the harsh realities of life seek an escape route through whatever means they can find.
Such low lives find temporary solace in booze and a range of illegal drugs.
It's embarrassing to hear the fools trying to play down the negative side effects of their self imposed drug addiction whilst totally ignoring the mental and physical health hazards they all carry.
Alcohol causes damage to most of the organs but particularly the liver and brain, whereas drugs have a catastrophic impact on all the body's functions.
It has been conclusively proven that marijuana causes schizophrenia, particularly in young males and this condition can be directly associated with a catalogue of violent crimes.
The anti-drug message cannot be made too often.
If people didn't take drugs there would be no drug barons nor dealers and crime rates, particularly violent crime would drop dramatically.
Significantly more time and resources need to be spent in educating children at an early age about the horrors of drug taking.
So my good man, you've just betrayed yourself as one of life's weak minded lotus eaters who dodges REALITY in favour of spending time in a drug induced fantasy world.
Is this why you ended up being a convicted criminal?
Maybe if you'd spent more time in the real world trying to make something of yourself you wouldn't be the embittered and confused little loser that you are.
I repeat, IF filth like you could exercise some self discipline and had been endowed with more moral fibre the world would indeed be a better place.
Unfortunately there will always be irresolute dirtballs like you around to plague society.
If the drugs are medicine prescribed for a specific condition by a doctor with a license it's great sure.
Obviously I do what my doctor tells me to do.
Morphine is the only illegal substance that would actually be a good debate as doctors use it to treat pain in hospitals and it is FDA approved for such usage if the doctors (not you or me) decide to use it.
People will be tempted to escape their daily problems through drugs rather solving them; the same could be argued about alcohol, but at least with alcohol there is a physical consequence (hangover) so people try not to abuse
Like you said, people already do that in massive amounts with alcohol.
I don't know if you've ever tried drugs/researched the after effects, but there certainly is a physical consequence comparable to a hangover with many of them (known as a "come down").
Though, it's true with marijuana that there's not really a come down from it. That said, there's not really any negative long-term effects either if you're smoking it casually. If you smoke it every day, then yes, obviously you're going to mess up your body, but that's the same for alcohol and cigarettes, both of which are legal.
The solution isn't to just ban it completely (and unfairly incarcerate those who are using it), the solution is education. People are aware of the risks of alcohol because it's made vocal. If weed is legalised, the government can run the same campaigns they use for alcohol and inform the population on the risks of regular use.
I wonder what kind of benefit will drugs bring to people
The same benefit alcohol brings to people: fun and relaxation. Not to mention, it's great for the economy.
Legalisation and regulation will mean more small business, and it'll also mean the drug itself is safer for people because what goes into it can be monitored and cleaned.
To be totally honest with you I have never taken drugs, but nonetheless here are my thoughts:
- I aggree that people massively use alcohol, but isnt an excuse to allow drugs. Its really hard to refrain people from drinking alcohol because it was accepted in society for thousands or years, while the wide use of drugs is quite recent = with proper education and policies we can win the war on drugs
- About the benefits: again why allow weed when there already is alcohol, isnt it too much of a "good" thing?
- Great for the economy: interesting, the government could tax it to oblivion wich could act as a deterrent; another problem I see is that the countries producing majijuana are poor, yes their economy would thrive for a bit, but as we could see it in columbia most of money goes to local drug lords and the workers get addicted to it
About making it safer for people, sure it will; but the way I see it is that drugs being dangerous healthwise acts only as another deterrent, you break the law= you face the consequences
Its really hard to refrain people from drinking alcohol because it was accepted in society for thousands or years, while the wide use of drugs is quite recent = with proper education and policies we can
Actually, the use of opium and marijuana can both be traced back thousands of years. They were both used by the Chinese, the Indians, and traces have even been found in the Mamluke period.
Whilst the West did not discover drugs until later, I don't think it's really a valid argument. As a modern society, we're meant to progress and learn/discover new things. Why does alcohol being around for a long time make its use any more fair than other substances?
Tobacco's a recent find in the West, and its wide use is also new. It's hypocritical not to acknowledge that.
with proper education and policies we can win the war on drugs
The war on drugs has essentially been waged since the 19th century. We've made absolutely no progress since then, and even the campaign in the 80's arguably just made drug use even more common. Any publicity is good publicity, after all.
About the benefits: again why allow weed when there already is alcohol, isnt it too much of a "good" thing?
I don't see why it's a negative thing for us to be allowed to enjoy a natural substance.
Why should we just settle for alcohol? Why is it bad to have another "good thing" we can enjoy?
another problem I see is that the countries producing majijuana are poor, yes their economy would thrive for a bit, but as we could see it in columbia most of money goes to local drug lords and the workers get addicted to it
This would only benefit those countries. It would mean that drug lords become irrelevant; they wouldn't have to avoid the authorities and kill, lie and cheat to outsmart them.
Think about this: a drug dealer needs to keep a low profile to stay away from the police in order to avoid being arrested. A lot of drug-related deaths are due to disputes between dealers and clients. If there's regulations and protection from the law, it means dealers won't be under pressure to hide from the police, and it means clients won't be in danger of being harmed.
If you allow a drug lord's trade to become legal, essentially what you're providing is further deterrent. Crime lords aren't afraid to commit more crime because they're already in deep; but if you make their actions legal, they'll no longer have any reason to commit further crime.
About making it safer for people, sure it will; but the way I see it is that drugs being dangerous healthwise acts only as another deterrent, you break the law= you face the consequences
I think that's a rather unfair way of looking at things. If you're irresponsible with substances, your punishment is the effect it'll have on your health. Chucking people in jail isn't going to help people get better.
More people might end up using drugs if some are legalised, but that won't cause a health crisis, and in fact the destigmatisation could follow what happened in Portugal when they decriminalised drugs: an increase in health amongst drug users. Heroin addicts in particular became less embarrassed and scared to see professionals, meaning they could get the help they need.
Weed isn't really dangerous anyway, and so the only thing legalisation will do is ensure people are using high quality substance.
Drugs do go back for thousands of years,but not in the west where they are only 2-3 centuries old; and their use was frowned upond for the same reasons they are today.
Alcohol being around for longer of course doesnt make it legitimate of course, but its use is so widespread that it would be impossible to ban it (same for tobacco, wich isnt that new = 16th century)
Just because we are making no progress doesnt mean we should give upp. In fact it gives a very bad image of the government: "Well since we cant stop people of doing something illegal lets just make it legal" Imagine it applied to other matters...
A difference between alcohol and majijuana is that you cant be perpetually drunk (hangovers) and it will be really annoying for people around you so you refrain. While you can be perpetually stoned and it wont really affect those around you, chances are most people are nicer when they are stoned! (anecdote: this guy in my class has been showing upp completely smashed since september, I wonder how he got through the exams)
Quick facts:
-drugs and alcohol are VERY bad for your health if taken together, wich will happen if drugs are legalized
-The stats of my country show that the people which are most likely to take drugs are between the ages of 16 to 22, ie students, wich impairs the brain and has negative effects on the long term ( research in english: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana) )
The fact that it is legalized or not doesnt change anything for the countries that produce it, in fact it probably makes it worse. The drug lords work hand in hand with the authorities because they share the revenue; sometimes the drug lords are so powerfull that the government couldnt do anything even if they wanted to.
As you said more people will be using drugs but the health of drugs users will go upp, dunno though if the "overall" health of the nation will go upp but thats not really the point
Most importantly drugs and more specifically majijuana is a dangerous slope: if you legalize it why not permit things like cocaine or heroin, of course its bad for your health but tabacco and alcohol are probably worse, and its my body I can do anything I want with it; I dont think you aggree with this but think of people a few generation from now who think that smoking pot is as normal as having candy
Answer honestly what good, what qualities will it bring out of people? Seems a very dangerous bargain with not much to win and everything to loose
Drugs do go back for thousands of years,but not in the west where they are only 2-3 centuries old; and their use was frowned upond for the same reasons they are today.
True, I've acknowledged that.
but its use is so widespread that it would be impossible to ban it
No it wouldn't. The government could make a law tomorrow that they're making alcohol illegal, and will be phasing out its use over a set period of time. It'd result in underground, illegal trading of booze... which is what we have now with drugs, which would be much less safer than alcohol being legal.
Just because we are making no progress doesnt mean we should give upp. In fact it gives a very bad image of the government: "Well since we cant stop people of doing something illegal lets just make it legal" Imagine it applied to other matters...
That's a very narrow minded view of government policy. It's not about giving up, it's about acknowledging that you've made a mistake and working to fix that. It reflects even worse on the government that they've given up trying to making things better, and have just accepted the war on drugs as normal when it has made very little progress.
A difference between alcohol and majijuana is that you cant be perpetually drunk (hangovers) and it will be really annoying for people around you so you refrain. While you can be perpetually stoned and it wont really affect those around you, chances are most people are nicer when they are stoned!
So... your argument is that because alcohol annoys people it should be legal, but marijuana shouldn't because it doesn't annoy people?
-drugs and alcohol are VERY bad for your health if taken together, wich will happen if drugs are legalized
People do this already. The point of decriminalisation/legalisation/etc is to make drugs safer and bring more awareness to them. There's no government campaigns which advise on how to use drugs safely because they - incorrectly - believe that it encourages drug use. Mixing alcohol and drugs can be discouraged by careful government campaigns, and the people who do it despite that are likely to be the people who would be doing it anyway.
-The stats of my country show that the people which are most likely to take drugs are between the ages of 16 to 22, ie students, wich impairs the brain and has negative effects on the long term ( research in english: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana) ) )
Again, alcohol has the same effects. The amount of people I know (admittedly including me) who have missed lectures/exams/lessons because of a hangover is shocking.
The point is, all of these substances are bad for your health and for a young person's development, but in moderation they're perfectly safe.
The fact that it is legalized or not doesnt change anything for the countries that produce it, in fact it probably makes it worse. The drug lords work hand in hand with the authorities because they share the revenue; sometimes the drug lords are so powerfull that the government couldnt do anything even if they wanted to.
This speculation makes no sense, as I've already pointed out. Drug lords are no longer criminals if the drugs they're selling are legal (I should also point out that drug lords gain their profit largely through cocaine, not marijuana or other non-class A drugs).
Let's take a look at Columbia, and other South American countries. A lot of farmers make their living from harvesting drugs to sell to the drug lords. For them, the decriminalisation of drugs is devastating: it means they're underpaid and can't fight against that, are in danger of having themselves and their families kidnapped and murdered, and on top of that are constantly harassed by the authorities who shut them
down and arrest them without looking at the wider picture.
There is no black market for drugs if they're legal. That means the crimes associated with drugs and gangs are eliminated.
As you said more people will be using drugs but the health of drugs users will go upp, dunno though if the "overall" health of the nation will go upp but thats not really the point
It will slightly improve the health of the nation, especially amongst younger people who are much more likely to consume illegal drugs. It means they're less likely to be spiked or poisoned. Keep in mind that a lot of people do drugs just for experimentation, not regularly; they deserve to be protected, even if you believe their curiosity is stupid.
if you legalize it why not permit things like cocaine or heroin
I believe heroin, especially, should be decriminalised, but the sale of it should be illegal. Drugs such as cocaine and heroin are much more dangerous than the likes of marijuana/MDMA/ketamine/etc.
However, I think marijuana, shrooms and MDMA are the only two which should be properly legalised and regulated. With the others, they should be legal to consume, but illegal to sell.
its my body I can do anything I want with it
I agree. That's the main reason I believe it should be legalised.
think of people a few generation from now who think that smoking pot is as normal as having candy
No offence, but I think that's a pretty ridiculous notion. Do we see alcohol and tobacco as normal as eating candy? No, of course not. We don't feed it to our kids, and the thought that the next generation will be treating it like it's a sweet just because it was legalised a few decades before is ludicrous. The same age restrictions would apply.
Answer honestly what good, what qualities will it bring out of people? Seems a very dangerous bargain with not much to win and everything to loose
Economically? It opens up new enterprise and jobs, but that's more the secondary reason why I support this.
Socially, it has two benefits: first of all, crime will decrease, since drug dealers for some of the most common drugs will become obsolete.
Secondly - I've saved this for last, since it's the main point as to why I support legalisation of consumption - it's because it's our body, and the government shouldn't be deciding for us what we do with it. The government is there to protect us, but that doesn't mean it's responsible for moderating what we put inside us (whether that be drugs, or the genitals of the same sex, hehe...).
It’s true what you say. Marijuana studies ARE fake. That’s because it’s a schedule one drug and can’t be obtained by any reputable university or pharmaceutical company FOR study. Oh, they can put themselves on a list to get some AUTHORIZED pot from the DEA’s pot garden at the University of Mississippi. But it’s shit pot and studying it won’t teach you anything.
In the world of marijuana there’s only one list that counts, and that’s the list of people who died from smoking it. That list is empty, of course.
In the world of marijuana there’s only one list that counts, and that’s the list of people who died from smoking it. That list is empty, of course.
excon
Marijuana (and alcohol) have horrible, detrimental effects on the developing Human brain (before the ages 21-25) that ultimately derail proper development entirely (if abused to sufficient extent). Do you not find this highly alarming? Doesn't the Adult population have a serious responsibility to properly inform the young of this in order to encourage a healthy transition into adulthood?
I think you missed it. I said drugs aren’t good. They’re certainly not for children. But I have no problem with consenting adults imbibing in a harmless herb.
In another post I mentioned that marijuana can’t be studied in this great nation of ours simply because the federal government has classified it as a schedule one drug. Therefore your fear mongering is simply drugwarmongering.
I've taken no stance against gay marriage, the economy is yuge, the stock market is the biggest and best it has ever been, black unemployment is the lowest in recorded history, we hit 4% growth, from a high of 2% under Obama, and Apple is bringing back billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to this great country. More and more winning. Democrats are now taking money away from children and vets. Sad.
I think you missed it. I said drugs aren’t good. They’re certainly not for children. But I have no problem with consenting adults imbibing in a harmless herb.
I agree that after a certain age (personally, I would set the mark at 25 years old), then all drugs should be de-criminalized. Further serious education efforts about the potential ramifications of using varied substances is needed (as the Young seem wholly unaware of the long-term consequences of these choices, made in their early Youth, at the moment).
In another post I mentioned that marijuana can’t be studied in this great nation of ours simply because the federal government has classified it as a schedule one drug. Therefore your fear mongering is simply drugwarmongering.
Right. We need to be able to conduct Scientific studies to discover the exact effects of various substances. Not all drugs are even "bad". For instance, I use Caffeine several times a week before I work-out and it is an enhancement to my life. I am comfortable using it because I know of all the effects associated with Caffeine consumption & use it accordingly/responsibly. Now, different drugs have different effects, which is very important--and more information needs to be (A) Discovered via Science (B) Disseminated to the public via Education efforts
Excon, are you familiar with the Neuroscientist Karl Hart? He specializes in Drug Addiction as well as the effects of various drugs
I find it highly alarming that you do not understand what you are talking about. No study has ever proven "horrible, detrimental effects" on patients without an existing predisposition to mental health disorder. There is evidence to suggest that marijuana can act as a catalyst to the emergence of predisposed mental health conditions, but here you are exaggerating that evidence to the extent that you are presenting marijuana as a direct cause of those conditions.
Ghosthead, your article only claims that nobody has ever proven definitively that marijuana is safe. That is exactly like saying nobody has ever proven definitively that I am not a rapist. Marijuana is not guilty until proven innocent. It doesn't work that way.
Marijuana has been shown to have rather profound detrimental effects on the developing human brain.. If you use it a bit/in moderation after your early to mid-twenties then there doesn't appear to be much/if any real harm; However, prior to this point, it would be wise to "think-twice" before using Marijuana in any notable/significant amounts
It isn't safe but all we know is it gets you high. Can you think of anything else safe that gets you high other than alcohol which in large amounts can be unsafe anyways?
Best to let the junkies and or sots live in their delusional dimension where everything is haloed in a misty glow of happy 'UNREALITY'.
Over the years I've watched so many friends, good friends, develop what I call, an alcoholic personality. That is someone who cannot hold a conversation, never mind relax and have a good laugh without being intoxicated, ( intoxicated as in the intake of toxins or poisons) or maybe high on some hallucinatory drug.
In the gym and the world of sports there are the low life CHEATS who take performance enhancing steroidal drugs and try to rationalize their deceit by convincing themselves that other competitors also indulge in dishonest chicanery.
There is no point trying to show those hooked on drugs that they're weak minded morons as deep down they're well aware of their mental condition.
I guess all that can be done is to point out that they're on the path to ruination.
If they still wish to jump on their trusty steed and gallop like blue blazes down the road to hell towards an early grave and diminish their quality of life while they're still here, then so be it.
Over the years I've watched so many friends, good friends, develop what I call, an alcoholic personality. That is someone who cannot hold a conversation, never mind relax and have a good laugh without being intoxicated, ( intoxicated as in the intake of toxins or poisons) or maybe high on some hallucinatory drug.
Same. It is very sad to witness indeed--some of them, at this point, know that there is a significant issue (however, many also either deny and/or are oblivious) with (A) Dependency/Addiction (which is fixable) (B) Brain Damage (which is not fixable)
The largest issue is the population that refuses to admit to themselves the nature of the problem--as they will encourage their peers, children, the Young, ect. to drag themselves down also with their horrible "advice"
n the gym and the world of sports there are the low life CHEATS who take performance enhancing steroidal drugs and try to rationalize their deceit by convincing themselves that other competitors also indulge in dishonest chicanery.
I agree with this--although I would take it further. Anyone who has done any serious athletic training independently/individually would no there is not even any conceivable need for such substances (i.e. it would be like a rich person steeling fruit, bread, ect. from the grocery store). It is highly reflective of a culture that is profoundly lazy, self-entitled, conceded, excuses, lack of character, ect. ect.
I guess all that can be done is to point out that they're on the path to ruination.
Agreed. The problem is with how highly such activities/mind-set are encouraged far outcries the whispers regarding how detrimental/self-destructive it is
If they still wish to jump on their trusty steed and gallop like blue blazes down the road to hell towards an early grave and diminish their quality of life while they're still here, then so be it.
LMAO. Very good imagery here. However, I still contend that there is a significant problem if the vast majority engage in such behaviors as it normalizes it to such a high extent that the Youth often think "How bad could it be if "everyone" does it?"--and so the cycle perpetuates indefinately
The largest issue is the population that refuses to admit to themselves the nature of the problem
Pardon me, but this is laughable in its irony. At least the alcoholics and the drug addicts are having fun. You, on the other hand, are equally desperate to escape the reality where you are, at best, of very limited intelligence. Without drugs you have limited your options to writing large quantities of pontificating nonsense to like-minded white supremacists on the internet, since these are really the only people who take what you say seriously without breaking into laughter.
Anyone who has done any serious athletic training independently/individually would no there
Anybody whose words are worth reading knows the difference between know and no. This is very important because presently you are presenting the world with long, grandiloquent, self-congratulatory written content which nobody is actually interested in reading. There is a glaring disconnect between the formal (almost academic) writing style you are using and your actual understanding of the topics you are discussing. I am perhaps sorry to disappoint, but anybody with any formal schooling in academia can tell the difference between intelligence and trying too hard.
Which studies are you speaking of? All of them? So every study which has been conducted which results in positive data about marijuana is part of a global conspiracy to legalise it?
Don't you think that if that were the case, it would already be legal? I don't think someone with that much money and power would have any trouble getting something legalised.
Marijuana is perfectly safe. I, and the majority of my friends, smoke it, and in moderation it's completely fine. But that's the same for alcohol; drink it casually and in moderation and you'll be fine. Abuse it, and you'll damage your health. It's a double standard to allow one thing but not another when they're that comparable.
The war on drugs has been a total disaster, and has made absolutely no progress. I'd argue that drugs are even more common now despite it (well, here in the UK that's definitely true, not so sure about the US).
Whether you believe the studies or not, we can't deny that drug laws need urgent reforms, and legalisation and regulation of marijuana should be where it starts.
In moderation it won't which is the same as wormwood. No comclusive studies on marijuana so I don't add it to the list. Only two things are alcohol and wormwood because that's what's confirmed not to kill you if done in moderation.
Nor will marijuana. There's no conclusive studies - or even any reports - that marijuana will kill and addict you in moderation. You're the one making the claim, so the burden of proof rests on those who make unsupported criticisms of the drug.
In fact, most medical experts agree that marijuana can't kill you on its own. Keep in mind that there are zero reported marijuana-induced deaths.
There is a historic presented set by Presidential declaration to Drug War set by consequence. The United States Constitutional separation describes openly any unconstitutional law targeting an object as illegal can be ignored in gender welfare, as it is the use which can be still proven as illegal in impartial judicial separation.
Explaining a Constitutional Right against a Constitutional wrong in a clear separation.
The best argument for why marijuana should not be legal is based on United States Constitutional law, and not the State enforcing of one governing use. Marijuana cannot become legal due to the legal precedent already set in pace. Constitutional order dictates it is legal, and must be proven as a crime before it is to be enforced as illegal. This process means a universal way to dictate a wrong must takes place to dictate by law a written right. Admission to a type use simply express clearly a legal wrong in need of basic separation. This one event isn’t the demonstration to a lack of representation of any freedom of religion by Constitutional loss of self-value. As there is always a risk to criminal wrong which can be attributed to all separation of knowledge a consumer should argue judicial separation as a liberty in pursuit of happiness.
Simply said a law cannot impose a restriction on a higher protection designed in event of natural use. A rock is not made legal by reason a person harms another by throwing it at people. The Constitutional target of law is the harm and its extent a rock leveeing a hand, or trap can create.
A freedom of religion in this matter can be described as a use in regard to personal liberty replacing loss of punishment overseeing self-value. An Independent state can be described were safety is required as all who may at some point, by ingestion, or appreciation of limited quality, consume, use, or appreciate an organic plant which can be used as rope, flower, tobacco, or tea. There are reasons to uphold many forms of legal governing to insure the public general welfare.
It is illegal to use marijuana as a weapon, and yet it may be proven that the restriction of a governing an impartial separation is the greater crime.
If plain words can be found outside the following writing used to describe a basic principle. A state is better to address marijuana governing by focus of legal principle. It is illegal to use marijuana as a weapon to intentional inflict harm, or discomfort. As the point of debate may be continued to alcohol, tobacco, and medications as they may all befit from constitutional forms of legislation as well.
