I DID (except for the druglibrary one you just edited to add) -- first of all, Yahoo Answers is NOT empirical!  It's about as trustworthy a source as Wikipedia.  The other two sources listed the dangers of short-term memory problems and paranoia while high, neither of which is life threatening.  Yeah..marijuana will make you high, just like alcohol will make you buzzed; both of these substances, if used irresponsibly, could lead to hazards due to impaired function--one is legal, one is not; one, BECAUSE it is illegal can be sold to children, where as the legal one, cannot.  Legalization would lead to responsible use AND responsible sales, plus it could be taxed, which this nation could certainly use, AND it would put people to work, (as opposed to jail). 

There is NO DIFFERENCE in the harms caused by marijuana than there are in the harms caused by alcohol OR coffee! (irregular heart beats, irritation which leads to impaired driving, which leads to auto fatalities). 

 

Sorry, I just totally disagree is all.

As long as you are disagreeing for emotional reasons, rather than scientific reasons, I can life with that.

OH...I just read the druglibrary link you posted, LightStar.  I don't think you meant to add that one, because if you fully read the article, the final paragraph concludes:

"The data I have presented point very strongly to the conclusion that the "conveyor belt" metaphor of drug escalation is invalid. If marijuana possession were decriminalized and placed under legal controls similar to those for alcohol, the drug would eventually lose its subterranean character. This would give the marijuana subculture less "specialness" and less socializing power. And the link with the use of other dangerous drugs would be attenuated. The correlation would not, of course, disappear—it still exists with the legal drugs. But the marijuana-dangerous drug correlation would become no different from that between the current legal and illegal drugs. As John Kaplan has pointed out, it is legitimate to ask "whether or not the criminalization of marijuana is part of the problem, rather than the solution"

You probably shouldn't be quoting the Shaffer commission, or anything from DRNCnet if you are opposed to legalization, just an FYI.

Also, your last edited link, the About.com article -- written by somebody referred to as Buddy T, an anonymous author who is in recovery for alcoholism,...it's his BLOG.  There is no empirical evidence, no legitimate footnotes to his blog.  YOU should write a blog against the dangers of marijuana use!  Both of you have about the same amount of hard data and empirical evidence.

 

 

Lightstar, with all due respect, you really are a vicious and bitter person. Denigrating everything this person has to say. Get over yourself already.

 

You have the absolute right to disagree with him, You have the absolute right to say that. What you DO NOT have the right to do is belittle and insult him at every turn. I have noticed you doing the same in another thread. For someone who is obviously over 35 years old you sure act juvenile sometimes

Operative word here is "cocaine"...pot was just the delivery system used. This is purely propaganda devised to discourage use of pot and you'll find tons of these claims all over the internet.

This is just laughable Tom. Anyone that compares pot usage and it's effects to cocaine, heroin or alcohol had never personally used it and it's simply untrue. The only reason some people start with pot is because it was and is easier to obtain than other drugs. All effects from pot are temporary and there is no long term damage of any kind. If that were true I'd be a fulltiltbozo blithering idiot licking windows. Again, this is purely propaganda devised to discourage use of pot.

Again...these are school kids who would be more likely to have exposure to marijuana or tobacco or alcohol...so it would only make sense that they would try one of these first. I never met anyone in any level of school that walked around with heroin or cocaine in their pockets. The first drug I ever did was LSD at age 14...and it wasn't until later that I tried pot.

Yeah...the kid was an idiot to begin with. This proves nothing whatsoever....just more propaganda. The only true way to understand what these drugs actually do is to try them yourself...which I'm not in any way, shape or form suggesting you do.

If you "really" want to know what the effects of drugs are...ask me...I've tried everything under the sun...numerous times...with the exception of known addicting drugs. I will not bullshit you and I will not suggest you try them. I will just tell you the truth. And I am not bragging about what I've done...nor am I trying to justify anything I've done to anyone. I have no regrets or long term side effects from what I did.

I just get extremely annoyed by all this misinformation. The truth will set you free! Or you'll just get a bad case of the munchies! 

 

 

The problem is the person had nothing to say.  They put a whole bunch of words down that said nothing.

 

Understood WG, but in the long run it is what one wholly believes that rules out, finding out the "truth" is almost impossible in a lot of cases. I have to stick with my convictions no matter what, and nothing is ever going to change that. 

I thought you said you WEREN'T close minded.

Guys one of the primary reasons why hemp is illegal is because it competes with the timber industry over specific products like paper, not because of some religious polling.

I mean Karen that after investigating this further and reading up on it at the request of others, I have found nothing to change my convictions, but only strengthen them. So I guess that now makes me closed minded.  Sorry.

In case people did not know it, and I certainly do not agree with it, but medicinal marijuana has been legal in Michigan since 2008.  It is also legal for medicinal purposes in 13 other states, and in two other states under stricter controls.  At least my state has got people with some brains left in it government wise!

RogueCaptain, don't confuse hemp and marijuana It is the same plant but mainly weak males make the bulk of it up. It is not something you would smoke. otherwise know as the brown frown. But you are right Timber industry, Dow Chemical, The Bank of Mellon Chicago all lobbied with the Temperance Movement. But they sold it as a health, morality and threat of violent crime from Black men toward White women issue. They played on the perceived fears of the population to criminalize and demonize its use. While religion wasn't the main push I am sure that many a 3 time a week church goer had no problem judging his fellow man and deeming him unfit for "regular" society

Yeap, that's us drug users. We're all a bunch of Evil, Satanist Worshiping, Baby Eaters, over here. I eat my baby's while dipping them in the tears of orphans. Then I sit back and roll a fatty with a page out of the bible. Once I get the munchies again it's back to eating more babys.

 

That's encouraging to know, but the DEA is still raiding dispensaries in states where it is legal, under the DEA directorship of Michele Leonhart, despite the fact that Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama have publicly stated that federal funds would not be used to prosecute medicinal marijuana users and dispensaries in states where it is legal.  Sick people are still at risk of incarceration simply for acquiring their medicine.

Damn Raven X, that's brutal. I prefer my one hitter, some Anime, and maybe a good PC game. Don't forget the chips and about 5 gallons of sweet tea! But yea, that is how they sold Marijuana Stamp Tax Act! We got to thank Pres. Nixon for our present drug laws, and Reagan gave us the Prison clogging mandatory sentencing, so much for smaller government!

 

Yes, I am aware of that Karen. But from what I have heard, and correct me if I am wrong, is that they are mainly raiding dispensaries that do not have all their legal documentation in order in many cases, or those that have exceeded the plant growing limitation.  There are strict rules to follow, and many abusers selling on the side for extra profit. I am sure mistakes have been made though, as I am sure it is a tough market to oversee for the DEA also. No government agency is perfect.

It's amusing that the arguments here parallel those of whether piracy is right or not.

Anyone who promotes drug use is a fool.

The silly part of all this is that the OP is clearly deficient in logical thought processes which suggests drug abuse on a significant scale.

As someone who has never taken drugs recreationally or plans on it (I take medication to deal with my neurological disorder, but that's a different matter entirely) I am really quite glad that pot has been legalized [EDIT: in certain places]. Hell, I think smoking pot is not a smart thing to do whatsoever, but throwing people in jail for it and giving money to very iffy people is a terrible and wasteful idea. Legalize all drugs, reassign the DEA to white collar crime, make sure the drugs are clean, tax them to fund schools, efficient mass transit, and so forth, and you've solved a helluva lot of problems.

... and created a helluva lot more.

I have a pretty strong objection to your last statement. If Raven X's mind is damaged from long-term drug abuse, he would not be able to compose text as coherently as he does. Frankly, Raven X someone who posts a great deal on these forums and always writes with solid grammar and spelling, I think this is a cheap shot from you. You can disagree with what he says, but saying he holds his opinions out of some sort of perceived mental infirmity doesn't do you any credit at all and is insulting.

I've never met Raven X, but as someone who actually does have a brain disease, I think Raven X probably functions better than I do on a daily basis, at least when I'm not on medication.

Ok for the record the issue is only to  legalize medical marijuana use... see here it in no way is about support drug use for other purposes...

 

While I won't post my feelings on drugs as a whole... this I can support.. if the issue is voted on and the majority support then I to will support it...

 

oh and  btw I am a resident of Michigan and live 72 miles from Detroit and our local major city is also considering this issue...

wait ... youll vote for it IF the majority says yes? lol

no I do not get a vote as I am not a resident of Detroit... I merely said i would support the issue of medical marijuana if it was passed by popular vote...

That's OK. I'll flee them on my bullet train paid with drug money.