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shannkelly

- 3 years ago

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Is marijuana really that bad?

Whenever there is a celebrity who is caught smoking pot, the world suddenly attacks them for being poor role models and a bad influence. But really, is it all that awful? 94 million Americans (40%) have admitted to trying marijuana, and if it wasn't illegal I guarantee more people would try it. So when it all comes down to it, what's the big deal people?

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There are a few side effects that are undesired but that happens with just about everything. You're definitely less cognitively sharp under the influence of marijuana and there seems to be indications of a bit of brain-lag after having used. You don't sleep very well under the influence (you may sleep like a log but REM is interrupted) but this also happens with alcohol. Overall, though, marijuana is a pretty mild drug, though the effects depend on the indiv. (as with any drug). I guess I'd say it's mostly harmless.

no no no no no no no no

There is nothing wrong with lighting up every so often. I mean for me and for most of the people that I hang out with pot is something good for around the camp fire in the summer, something to make everyone feel chill and happy. No one i know has ever done anything stupid high on pot, because out of all the drugs that we could get a hold of this one has the least chance of really messing you up. Living in Canada it is illegal, but I think that we here are more chill about the topic... especially since some of the best stuff is the BC bud. Here a lot of people want to decriminalize, not legalize it. That's because if it is legalized then it becomes like cigarettes controlled by the government or big business, where as decriminalizing it then people are still able to have the good stuff that we are used to.

I met a doctor once who was from Holland (It's legal there right?). He did not recommend smoking marijuana and said that it could have very negative side effects, but he also said that cigarettes should be outlawed completely because to him they posed a much greater health risk.

Yeah, it's about time to decriminalize it, and end this insane war on people that we call the "war on drugs." More harm comes to the families whose parents are imprisoned for non-violent offenses than the use (not abuse) of these drugs by said parents. That's a crime.

I had this converstation with my mom the other day! Of all the drugs, marijuana is probably the least to be afraid of. Our economy could make SO much money selling it! But on a more serious note, it really isn't that bad. If it could have laws against it similar to alcohol (no driving, age limit) things like that then it would be fine. I could be wrong, but that's how i feel. When we give first time drug offenders longer jail sentences than rapist and murderers...there is a problem I think.

Well I think it is quite a paradox. Drugs in general are touted culturally as being a sign of "rebellion" and transgression. But those who do drugs seem to limit themselves to that specific action as a sign of their "outsider" position in society, or even putting a lot of energy into movements to legalize, etc... What is sad is that many creative and subversive minds which could really be changing the world for the better are either sitting on thier couch smoking doobies complaining about the state of the world or going to ultra lame hemp legalization shows....ineffectual! Speaking of innefectual, as I recall Malcolm X spoke very eloquently as dope being the tool of "the man", as it makes you a) not very credible, no matter how intelligent you are and b) again, ineffectual. Heres a good speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM2_zeMkc-Y" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM2_zeMkc-Y Drug use definately does not promote the liberal, pro change agenda. It makes outsiders remain just that. And don't get me started on how legalization would not change anything...a black market will always remain. What the state needs to do is offer REAL treatment options for drug offenders and not prison time.

Sorry for any spelling errors or gramatical mistakes in that post... it's a bit late for me to be pancaking around on here but I just had to throw my 2 cents in. *That's suppost to be George Washington, by the way not Georger.

Georger Washington actually had a hemp garden while he was president, and I believe he said something along the lines of "It's the most useful plant ever, sow it's seeds everywhere." When my mom was in college and I was in high school (my mom rocks) we used to trade homework, she did my science paper for me and I wrote her critical thinking paper for her. The assignment was to write an unbiased article presenting one side of an argument without making any hints as to which side of the argument you're on. I did it on pot, you'd be suprized what marijuana and other related hemp plants can be used for. You wanna go green? LEGALIZE BABY... look into it, it's a serisouly awsome plant, truely the most useful plant on god's green earth. It's impossible to over dose on (well not impossible but to actually overdose on THC from smoking pot the joint would litterally have to be the size of a telephone pole, it's not physically possible to smoke that much although i'm sure some people have tried), proven to not be addictive, it can even make a contaminant free fuel! It's not carcinagenic unlike tobacco which is perfectly legal, in some places they even perscribe marijuana medicinally to cancer patients to help with the side effects of kemo therapy. There's also been talk for a long time about the possible financial government benefits from legalizing it and taxing it like they do cigarettes... some people claim that doing so could pretty much wipe out the national deficit. Oh and while we're on the subject of drugs, sears-roebuck (I think I spelled that wrong) use to sell Heroin, yeah, the most addictive and destructive drug known to man. It was $1.95 and came in a little silver case with two viles and two needles. Meth Amphetimine durring WWII was considered medicinal and there was 39 differant conditions that it was perscibed to treat. I'm not saying meth or smack should be legal, no way in hell but I think it's a bit hypocritical of our government to keep weed illegal when they used to pedal meth to GI's and codine (which is only one molecule away from being heroin) is perfectly legal (with a perscription, athough it's not hard to get without a perscription).

Donno about marijuana, but hemp is AWESOME for you... and the environment! Com'on DEA! Legalise hemp! PULEEEZE! The bloody constitution is written on it, for crying out loud! The government used to make us plant it. It's Sustainable (that's a buzz word now, right?)! Good for mother earth! You can wear it! You can eat it! You can rub it on your skin! You can make plastic crap out of it! sigh I just don't want hemp seed bread to cost so damn much, okay? Best. Bread. Ever. Also, watch this documentary, if you can (this is the trailer for it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RipC0fxLbUM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RipC0fxLbUM

I think we all know that the reason it's illegal is horseshit. But politicians, for whatever reason, are not allowed to suggest such a thing. It needs to be a grass roots effort. Pun intended.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rational_scale_to_assess_the_harm_of_drugs_(mean_physical_harm_and_mean_dependence).svg" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rational_scale_to_assess_the_harm_of_drugs_(mean_physical_harm_and_mean_dependence).svg It's a healthier, more useful, more entertaining alternative than our current legalized drugs. You can find plenty of great thinkers (Carl Sagan, Francis Crick, Alan Watts) who attribute some of their greatest mental feats to psychedelics. You're not going to find many people who expand their consciousness on alcohol or cigarettes. I go for a 3 mile run once a week. At the half way point, I stop and smoke a few bowls. It helps me finish the run, meditate when I finish, and get to sleep as I'm coming down (which helps me immensely as an insomniac). Oh, it's also fun. I don't understand what isn't healthy about any of that. More money has been spent trying to find health of marijuana than any other pharmacological agent in history, and what they've come up with is just so minuscule you have to wonder why there is any controversy at all. The biggest lobbyists against marijuana legalization are the tobacco and alcohol industries.

Man, our economy would get a huge boost from mass producing hemp products. Smoking it--whatever. I mean everything else this plant can be used for (and was used for at one time in our country.) If anyone has the time, this video is actually pretty informative: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9077214414651731007http://blip.tv/file/1356143/" target="_blank">http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9077214414651731007http://blip.tv/file/1356143/ You really just need to watch the first five minutes or so to get the gist. I'm not saying all drugs should be legalized, but marijuana should be strongly considered, particularly because of its other uses.

Ps, I ment to say tried, not tired.

Although it isn't something that I would do, or have ever tired. I'd have to say no, it isn't that bad. Of course in most places it's illegal, but other than that, the effects aren't as horrible if you compare it to harder drugs, or even alcohol. I did a bit of research for a school project , and really, if I were more curious, I'd probably try it. I'm not reccomending it though, just for the record.

@shannkelly East Stroudsburg, PA / Boston, MA

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SoulPancake

shannkelly

Is marijuana really that bad?

eybarra71

seedeypete

no no no no no no no no

Slopoc88

wanderingWolf

I met a doctor once who was from Holland (It's legal there right?). He did not recommend smoking marijuana and said that it could have very negative side effects, but he also said that cigarettes should be outlawed completely because to him they posed a much greater health risk.

e__v_a_n

Yeah, it's about time to decriminalize it, and end this insane war on people that we call the "war on drugs." More harm comes to the families whose parents are imprisoned for non-violent offenses than the use (not abuse) of these drugs by said parents. That's a crime.

sarahmarie

monicalups1

Mistral

Sorry for any spelling errors or gramatical mistakes in that post... it's a bit late for me to be pancaking around on here but I just had to throw my 2 cents in. *That's suppost to be George Washington, by the way not Georger.

Mistral

applegrass

zamfir

I think we all know that the reason it's illegal is horseshit. But politicians, for whatever reason, are not allowed to suggest such a thing. It needs to be a grass roots effort. Pun intended.

Sovereign

jdharrison

labordaychild

Ps, I ment to say tried, not tired.

labordaychild

Is marijuana really that bad?

no no no no no no no no

I met a doctor once who was from Holland (It's legal there right?). He did not recommend smoking marijuana and said that it could have very negative side effects, but he also said that cigarettes should be outlawed completely because to him they posed a much greater health risk.

Yeah, it's about time to decriminalize it, and end this insane war on people that we call the "war on drugs." More harm comes to the families whose parents are imprisoned for non-violent offenses than the use (not abuse) of these drugs by said parents. That's a crime.

Sorry for any spelling errors or gramatical mistakes in that post... it's a bit late for me to be pancaking around on here but I just had to throw my 2 cents in. *That's suppost to be George Washington, by the way not Georger.

I think we all know that the reason it's illegal is horseshit. But politicians, for whatever reason, are not allowed to suggest such a thing. It needs to be a grass roots effort. Pun intended.

Ps, I ment to say tried, not tired.

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