Smoking weed

[VentdependenT]

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But then I'd have to use drugs to dull the pain of my soulless existence.

Woahh.. a soul? How do I get one if those? If I collect unemployment, welfare, medicaid, free housing, a refund on others taxes, a cell phone, and food stamps, AND I can still buy cigarettes, pot, beer, heroin, oxycontin, AND crack, AND call 911 for a cheeseburger, AND have the government take care of my kids for me, can the government hook me up with a soul too? Maybe theyll just take yours and give it to me!

 

[sevoflurane]

Woahh.. a soul? How do I get one if those? If I collect unemployment, welfare, medicaid, free housing, a refund on others taxes, a cell phone, and food stamps, AND I can still buy cigarettes, pot, beer, heroin, oxycontin, AND crack, AND call 911 for a cheeseburger, AND have the government take care of my kids for me, can the government hook me up with a soul too? Maybe theyll just take yours and give it to me!

My hats off.



And it's sad cuz it can/is true.

 

[sevoflurane]

Regulate it, tax it, generate revenue.
ETOH is chemically more impairing and destructive. This point, is without question.

 

[Pooh & Annie]

To get all reductio ad absurdum on the gateway argument, 100% of hardcore drug addicts started out with baby food.

Although an absurd reduction, it's also a non-sequitur. The question is what most drug users have in common (vs non-drug users). Not what both have in common.

Professionals who have the potential to lose their license or job with illegal drug use should not do so. Recognizing the potential ramifications of getting caught yet continuing the activity might already be a sign of a problem.

 

[OB1🤙]

Although an absurd reduction, it's also a non-sequitur. The question is what most drug users have in common (vs non-drug users). Not what both have in common.

You're right. You get a Scooby snack.

Professionals who have the potential to lose their license or job with illegal drug use should not do so. Recognizing the potential ramifications of getting caught yet continuing the activity might already be a sign of a problem.

Well, there's that word you used. Should. As defined by who? If their work and health is unaffected, so what? These are people who have assessed the risk to their careers, weighed that risk against the perceived recreational benefit of their intoxicant of choice, and decided to do what they do. And here's the thing- nobody can tell they're marijuana smokers. Not their clients/patients, coworkers, acquaintances, nobody.

So when you say they shouldn't do it, you've inserted your own judgement and values into a decision that these adult professionals can make for themselves.

 

[shopsteward]

Well, there's that word you used. Should. As defined by who? If their work and health is unaffected, so what? These are people who have assessed the risk to their careers, weighed that risk against the perceived recreational benefit of their intoxicant of choice, and decided to do what they do. And here's the thing- nobody can tell they're marijuana smokers. Not their clients/patients, coworkers, acquaintances, nobody.

So when you say they shouldn't do it, you've inserted your own judgement and values into a decision that these adult professionals can make for themselves.

If you grow your own, fine. If you are buying from your friendly neighbourhood drug dealer, then you are buying into trans-national organised crime which devastates the lives of people who are a lot poorer than you and have a lot fewer choices than you. You are also paying to make the world a lot less safe for you and your children, and to increase the taxes used to try to provide you with the security you take for granted.

There are arguments both ways for de-criminalising drug production and use (can't sensibly decriminalise use without also de-criminalising production and distribution). There are no good arguments for buying into organised crime, and however friendly the face your local pot dealer puts on, he or she is just the acceptable face of a business that stinks.

 

[VentdependenT]

My hats off.



And it's sad cuz it can/is true.

I forgot about disability.

 

[OB1🤙]

If you grow your own, fine. If you are buying from your friendly neighbourhood drug dealer, then you are buying into trans-national organised crime which devastates the lives of people who are a lot poorer than you and have a lot fewer choices than you. You are also paying to make the world a lot less safe for you and your children, and to increase the taxes used to try to provide you with the security you take for granted.

There are arguments both ways for de-criminalising drug production and use (can't sensibly decriminalise use without also de-criminalising production and distribution). There are no good arguments for buying into organised crime, and however friendly the face your local pot dealer puts on, he or she is just the acceptable face of a business that stinks.

Fair enough, although in my little corner of the world, the vast majority of what is consumed is locally produced. The Latin cartels are not a factor in this market.

Still, your points would become moot with sensible legalization, production, and taxation policies.

 

[Pooh & Annie]

Well, there's that word you used. Should. As defined by who? If their work and health is unaffected, so what? These are people who have assessed the risk to their careers, weighed that risk against the perceived recreational benefit of their intoxicant of choice, and decided to do what they do. And here's the thing- nobody can tell they're marijuana smokers. Not their clients/patients, coworkers, acquaintances, nobody.

You've assumed a lot about the smoking habits of all of the professionals who are pot smokers out there. If they're all sitting in their apartment alone watching cartoons and eating bugles with French onion dip, you're right. Otherwise, other people know. And they have to get it somewhere. Those people know.

If they're casual smokers I don't really think they're putting their lives or anyone else's lives in danger, and that's why I think it should be legalized. But for now it's an illegal drug, and if a physician's use is discovered and made public, patients may claim they received inadequate care, insurances may drop the user, boards may restrict/suspend licenses, and employers/partners may choose to terminate employment. And as safe as people may feel in their use, I guarantee they get a little twinge of paranoia once in awhile about what could happen. That's because the possibility is there.

Every person absolutely has the right to make that decision. To me it is obvious that a choice that could cost someone so much should be avoided if possible, and buying/holding/using illegal drugs can pretty easily be avoided.

And I'm comfortable with should. I dont think cigarette smokers should smoke. I don't think fat people should eat 4000 calories a day. I think professionals should avoid activities that could cost them their job.

 

[countingdays]

You've assumed a lot about the smoking habits of all of the professionals who are pot smokers out there. If they're all sitting in their apartment alone watching cartoons and eating bugles with French onion dip, you're right. Otherwise, other people know. And they have to get it somewhere. Those people know.

If they're casual smokers I don't really think they're putting their lives or anyone else's lives in danger, and that's why I think it should be legalized. But for now it's an illegal drug, and if a physician's use is discovered and made public, patients may claim they received inadequate care, insurances may drop the user, boards may restrict/suspend licenses, and employers/partners may choose to terminate employment. And as safe as people may feel in their use, I guarantee they get a little twinge of paranoia once in awhile about what could happen. That's because the possibility is there.

Every person absolutely has the right to make that decision. To me it is obvious that a choice that could cost someone so much should be avoided if possible, and buying/holding/using illegal drugs can pretty easily be avoided.

And I'm comfortable with should. I dont think cigarette smokers should smoke. I don't think fat people should eat 4000 calories a day. I think professionals should avoid activities that could cost them their job.

It's not a question of whether one should smoke given the criminalization of marijuana.
Obviously not, but the negative consequences are government created not inherent in the use itself.

The question is whether it should remain a criminal activity,
The answer is no, it shouldn't be illegal.

 

[DreamMachine]

It's a hell of a drug. That is all.

 

[shopsteward]

Fair enough, although in my little corner of the world, the vast majority of what is consumed is locally produced. The Latin cartels are not a factor in this market.

Still, your points would become moot with sensible legalization, production, and taxation policies.

You may well be right that where you live you have independent artisanal producers of weed, just as some of the "artisanal" products sold at Walmart may well have been lovingly crafted by well-paid American citizens.

In my neck of the woods, I could see the cash intake, verify the tax receipt from the IRS and meet all the police widows and orphans benefitting from charitable contributions and would still take the view that behind the smiling face of my friendly neighbourhood pusher are some very rich, very violent bad guys who if I can help it will never see so much as a single penny of my hard-earned.

We agree on the need for a sensible, coherent legalisation policy. We probably also agree that, looking at our elected politicians, we are not going to get one.

 

[ASA6]

To me this is obvious and irrefutable, although its also obvious that some people disagree.

Im not sure I follow this logic. Are you saying if someone drinks a beer they have an urge to use harder drugs like cocaine and heroin?

 

[ASA6]

A definite in my book is legalization of prostitution. Regulate it and let consenting adults do their thing. I don't know (but don't think) that it would have a negative societal impact.

Well isnt it legal in Nevada? what has been its effect there?

 

[24858]

what i would like to see is people who have crack babies or fetal alcohol syndrome babies have tubal ligation automatically. babies born secondary to this end up in a ****ty situation. if cocaine and prostitution were legalized we could hopefully monitor these women and chemically prevent them from having chidlren it would save society a lot of money and heartache

 

[Pooh & Annie]

Well isnt it legal in Nevada? what has been its effect there?

I don't know. I haven't really looked into its history there. I know it's illegal in the only real metropolitan area in the state, and Nevada is pretty unique in a lot of ways. It'd be difficult to extrapolate its effect to the east coast or Midwest.

 

[Pooh & Annie]

Im not sure I follow this logic. Are you saying if someone drinks a beer they have an urge to use harder drugs like cocaine and heroin?

I'm not sure which post you're referencing but I know I wouldn't say that.

 

[24858]

I'm not sure which post you're referencing but I know I wouldn't say that.

WaY back when i was in school to be a pharmacist, they taught us heavily on this topic. Pharmacists have a high rate of drug abuse, similar to anesthesiologists due to our continual exposure. We had to take 3 seperate courses on Pharmacy and Society I, II, and III. These courses focused heavily on gateway drugs and the use of certain meds leading to addiction of certain other meds, divorce, job loss, suicide and homicide. I remember numerous studies that we had to quote and memorize regarding certain pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs and their individual propensities toward certain behaviors and outcomes. Needless to say its ingrained in my mind that pot is a gateway drug that leads to conspicuous consumption of cocaine, heroin, et al, and then divorce, suicide, homicide, blah, blah, blah. I dont buy it, but never really sat down and poured over the studies the way i should have, simply because i was never that interested.

but it is what is being taught to pharmacists and i personally dont buy it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_drug_theory

 

[TX515]

Im not sure I follow this logic. Are you saying if someone drinks a beer they have an urge to use harder drugs like cocaine and heroin?

I wouldn't say alcohol causes an urge, although disinhibition may very well allow one to use.

What I'm saying is what I said earlier, if there is a gateway drug, it is tobacco and beer rather than marijuana.

Not all marijuana dealers are meth/heroin/cocaine dealers, contrary to public opinion.

 

[jetproppilot]

I'm not sure which post you're referencing but I know I wouldn't say that.

OK OK you wouldn't say that

OK

Does that mean I

CAN ROLL A SWEET

HYDROPONIC JOINT USING

ZIG ZAG

SLOWBURN

paper?

DOCTOR???

 

[Random Anesthesiologist]

I have no problem with people smoking pot in their home.

I have a problem with people getting high and operating heavy machinery, including a vehicle. It's bad enough to try to dodge some of the elderly going 30 in a 55mph zone coming off of a curve, but someone high doing 15mph? It's not like we can paste a farm implement sign on them.

Smoke all you want, but don't get behind the wheel afterward.