Does Marijuana ruin lives and entire societies?

[binö]

hahahaha that is laughable, but you'll notice I never even bring the 'roids bit into the equation. YES, steroids can really fuck kids up for life. YES, they can be very detrimental to adults who abuse them. yes, they can be psychologically addicting.

BUT the fact of the matter is, steroids can be used responsibly (not without ANY risk, but with minimal or low risks). I hate having to ban things just to protect the lowest common denominator. If someone wants to use steroids, who am I to judge them? If someone wants to sell them at a school, then yes, I'll take issue with that, but to me using steroids is a purely personal choice that any adult should be able to make.

anytime something negative crops up on here about roids, the joosers get in a tizzy, calling the docs/medical field peeps ignorant and that sorta thing
such denial

 

[jnevin]

anytime something negative crops up on here about roids, the joosers get in a tizzy, calling the docs/medical field peeps ignorant and that sorta thing
such denial

It got Golden banned and all he was trying to do was help.

 

[Lestat]

Well, rock on, I guess...lol. If you were my son, I would try to help you find something more meaningful than pot to give you true inner peace and happiness. I think marijuana is a crutch. I hope nothing bad comes to you from it, like cancer or getting arrested. I hope you never do it after you have kids. No kid wants their parents getting high, you know.

I agree, the kids thing is tricky. this is somewhat relevant, so I'll relate.

My roommate in college came in pretty naieve (as did I). His dad is a very successful lawyer in los angeles, and his mother has a master's degree and is a school teacher in a very rich part of town.

When my roommate smoked weed the first time, he told his parets about it. Their response was "What did you think?"

After that they told him that they were glad he chose to wait so long to try (he was 18 and a freshman in college) and that while he and his brother were kids they used to smoke in the bathroom and blow the smoke out the window.

The conversation ended with his dad asking him where you could go to get a "bong" as his experience was always with rolling joints.

Now I'm not saying this is typical, but it literally blew my mind. These guys were Jewish, I figured they were conservative and with his mom being a school teacher I figured drugs were out of the question!

Now my roommate's little brother was 1 year younger. The following year he started college (at an ivy league school). When he was back for a break, we were all hanging out at his parents house, and he smoked weed for the very first time. I just saw this guy two weekends ago at his brother's wedding. His brother said that I was the one that "started it all" for him, as he is now a daily smoker.

He graduated with a 4.0 from Brown, and is now 6 years into an 8 year M.D./Ph.D program at a top ranked school. He received a fullbright scholorship to do research on Dengue fever in South America between his undergrad and start of grad school. He's the smartest peer of mine that I know, a true genius, and all this despite his drug use.

During his brother's wedding we snuck out with another guy (high school teacher) and blazed one up in the parking lot before they served dinner at the reception. His dad joked with us later that he saw us "go for a walk" and came back "glassy eyed"

To me, this is a normal and healthy view on drugs. Now lets say this guy had tried pot and it consumed him, he was unable to complete schoool, or was generally unproductive, I would say right then and there "you have a problem, I wouldn't suggest you use this" and I am sure his parents would say the same thing. But at this wedding, the vast majority of people were taking full advantage of their open bar, but how many people were passing judgement on the alcohol use? none.

 

[heatherrae]

I agree, the kids thing is tricky. this is somewhat relevant, so I'll relate.

My roommate in college came in pretty naieve (as did I). His dad is a very successful lawyer in los angeles, and his mother has a master's degree and is a school teacher in a very rich part of town.

When my roommate smoked weed the first time, he told his parets about it. Their response was "What did you think?"

After that they told him that they were glad he chose to wait so long to try (he was 18 and a freshman in college) and that while he and his brother were kids they used to smoke in the bathroom and blow the smoke out the window.

The conversation ended with his dad asking him where you could go to get a "bong" as his experience was always with rolling joints.

Now I'm not saying this is typical, but it literally blew my mind. These guys were Jewish, I figured they were conservative and with his mom being a school teacher I figured drugs were out of the question!

Now my roommate's little brother was 1 year younger. The following year he started college (at an ivy league school). When he was back for a break, we were all hanging out at his parents house, and he smoked weed for the very first time. I just saw this guy two weekends ago at his brother's wedding. His brother said that I was the one that "started it all" for him, as he is now a daily smoker.

He graduated with a 4.0 from Brown, and is now 6 years into an 8 year M.D./Ph.D program at a top ranked school. He received a fullbright scholorship to do research on Dengue fever in South America between his undergrad and start of grad school. He's the smartest peer of mine that I know, a true genius, and all this despite his drug use.

During his brother's wedding we snuck out with another guy (high school teacher) and blazed one up in the parking lot before they served dinner at the reception. His dad joked with us later that he saw us "go for a walk" and came back "glassy eyed"

To me, this is a normal and healthy view on drugs. Now lets say this guy had tried pot and it consumed him, he was unable to complete schoool, or was generally unproductive, I would say right then and there "you have a problem, I wouldn't suggest you use this" and I am sure his parents would say the same thing. But at this wedding, the vast majority of people were taking full advantage of their open bar, but how many people were passing judgement on the alcohol use? none.

You have to understand. I don't think pot users are evil, bad people. I just think for some people, it is very damaging and then they can't control themselves. That's all.

 

[Lestat]

You have to understand. I don't think pot users are evil, bad people. I just think for some people, it is very damaging and then they can't control themselves. That's all.

But do you think that applies to all people equally?

 

[heatherrae]

But do you think that applies to all people equally?

no. I don't. I don't think all people will get cancer from it either, but I like you too much to want you to take that chance.

 

[Lestat]

no. I don't. I don't think all people will get cancer from it either, but I like you too much to want you to take that chance.

haha well thanks for the love darling!

Of all the risks, that is the one I am most concerned about, some sort of lung damage or cancer. You'll never here me claim its without risk.

 

[jerseyrugger76]

I dunno. If you look at the countries/regions in which most drugs are grown (Afghanistan, Mexico, Central & South America) one trend is blatantly obvious: all such places are complete shit holes. Most have unstable governments, rampant poverty, currencies that are worth less than ours (if you can believe that), sovereign debt that carries junk bond ratings, and a fair amount of violence surrounding the drug trade. So marijuana and other drugs sure as hell haven't done these countries any favors.

 

[Lestat]

I dunno. If you look at the countries/regions in which most drugs are grown (Afghanistan, Mexico, Central & South America) one trend is blatantly obvious: all such places are complete shit holes. Most have unstable governments, rampant poverty, currencies that are worth less than ours (if you can believe that), sovereign debt that carries junk bond ratings, and a fair amount of violence surrounding the drug trade. So marijuana and other drugs sure as hell haven't done these countries any favors.

Good point. I would think that the drug trade thrives in that country because of the issues you stated, not that the issues you state are a result of the drug trade, but they certainly perpetuate and contribute to the violence and what not that they have going on.

This is one of the reasons I am a huge proponent of legalization and control of most recreational drugs. Get the power and money out of foreign cartels. I don't think cocaine and heroin should be on the short list of drugs to legalize though, so I don't think we'll see a complete solution anytime soon.

I get my weed locally grown from a few friends (until I get my medical card then I'll use the cannibus clubs and what not we have in California)

 

[bigmann245]

You are really stretching and rationalizing there. No one smoked more weed than my mom, and I can assure you that it didn't sharpen her creative or cognitive functioning in any way. that is such a myth. Hate to tell you, but getting high leads to as much irresponsible behavior (unprotected sex, etc) as drinking does. It is a financial drain on families. It causes cancer, just as smoking does (please don't give the tired old argument that there is no study proving it yet). As far as easing nerves and tension, it sure didn't ease my tension as a child watching my mom get high and performing all of her antics. The year before she died of cancer, she got this wild notion while she was high that she was going to start a hair salon in her house. So, she ripped all the carpet out of her house, took it outside and started a big ole bonfire with it. That is the sort of stuff she would do. So, when you visited her house then, you were walking around on sub-floor. Potheads are nutty.

wow, i can definately see your point. my mom is a recovered alcoholic of over 20 years but luckily for me i was too young to notice the things she did that were wrong besides cursing out a women in the supermarket for cutting her off with her cart. then again im from new york so that was normal...lol but when they told me i had no idea what was going on. i saw my sisters cry and i figured i had to cry also so i did. but like i said i never noticed anything wrong. i was lucky she became sober for the best years of my life. im not for or against weed only because alcohol is still legal and for me if alcohol is legal than why not weed? im not saying i hope it becomes legal its just alcohol is just as bad imop. they say its a gateway drug but i think people will do whatever they want no matter whats available or legal. for me i dont do any drugs like that. i barely even drink and its because of my mom. i remember going to rehab with her for a week during family week and i learned a lot. they even said for my age i was very bright. i continued to alateen for many years after. now i dont see the point of drinking to just get drunk. i beer here or there is fine for me. even when i worked in night clubs i got made fun of because i constantly turned down shots all the time. but thats just the way drunks try to get you to be like them.