Legalization of Marijuanna and acceptance of it's users

should Marijuana be legalized/decriminalized?

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I'd rather not buy it at all and save myself some money.

Still, a lot of people neglect that despite its reputation and consideration as a minor drug there HAVE been people who have died because of taking it... And people who have died because they didn't take it... (murder). Its just this incidents don't get reported that often, nor a fuss made of them such as someone who died of beer or the hard stuff. Anyway, I don't agree with beers and what not either but since the governments allow it to remain legal thats not something that I complain about. I don't smoke or drink nor have a desire to. Considering their trying to ban cheap alcohol even the cheapest drink costs abotu £4-£8. Wow, thats like 2-3 meals of food I can eat rather then starve to death. And a packet of cigerettes, thats about £2-£6 your paying. If you smoke about 40 fags a day and drink reglaurly heavy or otherwise, your burning about a weeks worth of amount of money you can spend on food or other essentials on stuff that isn't going to do you good.

Though I stress I only let alcohol slide generally because it is proven that at least a certain amount is good for you - though cigerettes still do no one any favours.

And TRZA, its impossible to express opinion without some form of judgement. I don't think people who take drugs are stupid as choice is choice. You can spend your life having a quick buzz and feeling the regret when it hits you hard later in life, or you can suffer mildly now and not have the hard hit later in life. I suppose you could argue "you only live once..." but that being so I know there are always other ways to live life to the full and if you can afford drugs you can afford those methods.

Otherwise... I agree on legal terms to anything if proven they MEDICALLY help someone. But even that can be abused. Besides as far as I'm concern if you really want the stuff so badly, go to the countries where its native - its grows on the side of the road and no one will bother you for taking it. Otherwise, if your not prepared to do just that, then don't complain about the country you living in banning it.

(Just a throw away note: 1 gram of crack costs you £100- £250 pounds here in the UK... Thats like wow, most users are like me broke and jobless, getting about $45-60+ (without living expenses benefits on top of it) a week, how can they afford that??? In the caribean islands you can buy the stuff for like a couple of quid. And another note - from someone who went there who told me about it, he said that the whiter it is - the less crack you get for your money, apparently most foriegners don't realise it and just buy it because the white stuff is cheap... But you end up spending more money on the cheap stff to get he same effect as a gram of the much yellower stuff).
 
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Well, Angel, while I don't mean to come off as telling you what you're thinking...I'd kick other people for that *cough*MKF*cough*. But by saying the people taking drugs are weak, that's a judgment, and as such that makes you...well, judgmental.

That said, I agree with you. Drugs are escapism true and true. People who take drugs either like the feeling it gives them, or want to distract themselves from something painful. That can be a stressful job, a bad relationship, past trauma, any number of things. But escape is escape and that's an excuse for weak people.

Now personally, I live in the moment and when things are looking up, I'm happy. When they're looking down, I'm in a bad mood, but I go to bed that night and wake up refreshed and content the next morning. Some people can't handle their issues. They're not strong enough. And I'm not saying they can't or shouldn't take marijuana if that makes them feel better. I'm just saying they're weak.

As you say Angel, it's their choice. There are consequences to every choice. In the case of users or junkies, it's the choice to feel good and be high now, and feel like utter shite later. The same is true of alcohol and hangovers. But as I said before, there are choices that hurt yourself and there are choices that hurt others. Marijuana does not cause increased aggression, violent tendencies, or a physical addiction. In that way, I approve the legalization of marijuana and ONLY marijuana.

Angel, as you say, hundreds of dollars (or pounds for you) is not affordable. Cocaine is also EXTREMELY addictive, physically addictive (if anybody doesn't understand that term I suggest you look it up immediately before continuing in this discussion). Cocaine causes people to have crack babies just for the child support money from the government and then they spend it on crack. It causes people to rob and steal and sell themselves to facilitate their addiction. It's NOT affordable, not for them, not for anyone. It's dangerous to the user and anybody near the user (high or sober).

That's why this is a discussion about legalizing marijuana Angel, and not cocaine or any other hard drug.

This is why I love this forum. We've got intelligent and inquisitive members that I can really discuss complicated issues with and not feel like I'm talking to a 2-year-old. If I tried to chat about a difficult subject on any other forum the thread would be flamed and spammed out of existence.
 
Look, I'm not saying you're not entitled to your opinions, but labeling anyone as "weak" simply because they smoke is rather rash.

I don't smoke, but I have plenty of friends that drink. A lot. So while I may end a stressful week with a few hours of Family Guy or what have you, they'll head to the bars. Is one party worse off than the other? Not in my opinion.

People choose to cope in different ways. Just because marijuana is illegal right now doesn't make a dope smoker a weak person. That's a judgment that few are qualified to make.
 
Well, humans were here before they discovered drugs, survived without them... The drugs were always there, when they discovered them they didn't know what we know now. I find it hard to believe with all the info dotted around that anyone would want to take things this way.

The person's choice. Not mine. Weak minded is weak minded. But I got a friend who takes them... Its screwed up her life. And I've known others with the same problem. They regret them and actaully agree with me they are weak. So there you go. But before they screwed up their lives, they wouldn't have said exactly what you guys are saying. But, its too late to change your mind when your suffering from something like that. Their wiser, but not strong-willed enough to quit anymore.

If I say something lie this - its for a reason!

And about 50% of the guys I know of that lot (but not my friend, she started on Heroine first) started on weed. ^_-

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And no - I don't hang around with druggies. Lol. I went to Art university in London and got to know people. Students of the creative arts (art, music, drama, you know) are more likely to smoke weed or take any drug in fact...

Edit:

Amazing though saying that none of the students at my university actaully turned up stoned out of their minds yet a lot of them were on the stuff, yet a pair ICT students back in my college turned up pissed out of their minds after one or too many drinks while they were at the pub (forget its name) on the nearby Bread and Cheese hill road.
 
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Well ya know, my judgments are not based on what's legal and what's not. I think alcohol is escapism as well.

I'm sorry if you don't agree but going to a bar and drinking is not as legitimate a means of relieving stress than watching Family Guy, if that's what you do. Alcohol and any mind-altering drug is a foreign substance that literally alters the chemicals in the brain to experience emotions and stimuli that simply wouldn't be there otherwise. It's losing your mind for a few hours. As I said I want to keep my mental faculties at all times. I never intend to be drunk and I never intend to do drugs (of any kind).

I make no excuses for myself, I'm being judgmental here. But if you can't cope with something and you require something to physically alter your mind then you don't have the strength to do otherwise, or else are too lazy to.

But this is turning into a pointless argument and I foresee flaming and hurt feelings in the future, so I think we should end this line of conversation right now.
 
The moment anyone disagrees, feelings get hurt. If you don't want to see anyone hurt; don't create threads where there is likely someone thats going to react against someone else. This is the internet - not Lamb Chops play-along.
 
Angel said:
The moment anyone disagrees, feelings get hurt. If you don't want to see anyone hurt; don't create threads where there is likely someone thats going to react against someone else. This is the internet - not Lamb Chops play-along.
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On the contrary. Mature adults should be able to discuss these topics at length. Disagreement does not always result in conflict and insult-mongering.

And you're right: this is the internet. Too often, people lack simple civility.

With that said, the author of this thread was thoughtful and respectful. It would behoove you to stop making such sweeping generalizations, though.

To the topic: I won't pretend like I'm intimately familiar with weed culture, but I'll not be judging the people who engage in that sort of lifestyle. Pouring hours upon hours into a videogame or anything that isn't constructive is some form of escapism. And that's not a damning offense.

If the only difference in considering pot is its legality, then that's a tenuous objection to make. The FDA here stateside is rife with special interests. There are a ton of products on the drug market that are addictive and far more devastating than weed.

So to reiterate, legalize weed. Make it a taxable commodity and let weed smokers engage in the lifestyle without feeling like social outcasts.
 
That's an interesting point you make calling games "or anything that isn't constructive" a form of escapism. Constructive is a very objective term. And what's more, equating video games to drugs is...well, just not a proper comparison. As I was trying to say, family guy (or games, or sports, or movies, or books) all provide a mental stimulus that releases natural chemicals already present in the brain just like any other action ("constructive" or not). The primary difference being, drugs directly alter the minds normal working state. You will respond to stimuli differently, feel things that aren't normally there, and become something other than you were.

What's more, I think it comes down one's outlook on life as to whether games or TV is escapism. I know I don't play games to escape. And I did mention above that some drug users just like the way it feels. These people are not using their habits to escape anything, in fact, my life goal is to live comfortably and make enough money to facilitate my gaming as much as I possibly can. I'm rational about it, I do other things than gaming on a regular basis, and I see it as nothing more than wanting to do what I enjoy for as long as possible as much as possible. Some people like fishing, or golf, and guess what? That's what they do when they have free time.

Drug users, the ones that aren't just in it for the fleeting pleasure, are removing themselves from the world for a few hours. And while you can "escape" with anything that distracts you from your troubles, drugs do it in a way that is principally more powerful than others. A distraction is a distraction, but that's not what drugs are.
 
Hey TRZA... I'm not looking for a fight, I called drug users weak but only to the ones taking it for no cause or anti-depressants... As stated if its for medical terms I ave no objections against it. But if your taking it for non-medical terms, then I totally object and I'm not going to repeat why. If i makes you feel better I consider the time I got anti-depress pills off my doctor during my GCSE exams at a moment of weakness on my part. Haven't taken them since because I scolded myself hard for that (and they didn't do anything anyway), I only took them because I got them free on the NHS here in the UK.

Excuse me for my reactions, but I've got a ton more horror stories - no thanks for any legalisation of anymore drugs! Alcohol and cigerettes do enough harm, one I'll accept for medical users and the other I wish they'd destroy all the plants for and swear they'd never grow them again because all my real grandparents are dead because of the pre-"smoking is bad" era before they knew it was liable to kill them. And when you take the legal medical drugs which potentially could harm you its normally uner supervision of a doctor, though they generally are fairly strict in my country. When every pill adds to the NHS bill, the doctors don't like to waste them. Besides there is help there for medical drugs that have left you adictive. And the kill-potentials aren't dished out that often unless no other option here. Its an issue thats pretty much a hot topic since people don't like it.

The UKs strict... This is the country where battering breed chickens are illegal and not going to school will have a reaction from social services. Though its legal systems actaul punishment arrangements for criminals could use some rethink despite the strictness... ^_^'

Something I do note since video games are mentioned. At least a video game though, in contrast, if you spent an hour excercising for every hour on the game, you'd not feel too much life's effect. But in contrast, spend for hour smoking weed and an hour excerising the effects won't go away. Also, your flexing your thumbs pushing buttons and keeping your mind sharp... Video games are not a omplete waste of time, if news has talk me anything, there are some benifits to V.games that a lot of people DON'T want to admit. So while its a escapist resort still its not a complete waste of time. And even when you don't prouce work, if you complete a game don't you feel some sort of achievement?

I'm very much into the "video games are bad" issue, but this isn't a topic for that so thats all I'm gonna say. We should all know them anyway since video games are our business here.

Edit:

"Drugs aren't a destraction?"

Hmm...I would disagree, though taking them is brief and quick in most cases, if your going to take them to stoned or drunk levels, then that statement has flaws. Otherwise... Okay you got me there, I admit defeat on that note. Thogh currently I'm working to sell artwork and I'm playing Video Games while my computer working on rendering scenes. Amazingly I've yet to have my system crash while doing it, though its crashed twice now while I was asleep and left it running... T_T
 
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I don't mean to be picky, but that last post was practically unintelligible for all the grammar and spelling mistakes. But I think I got the gist of it. What I mean by saying drugs are not distractions is just this. A distraction takes your mind off something by focusing your concentration on the task at hand. Something like video games, sports, movies, tv, books, plays, sex, work, or ANY of those things. Any action one takes can be used as a distraction if one puts all their effort into it. There are those who throw themselves at their work after a tragedy (break up, death in the family, etc.) and there are those that stay active so they don't have free time to think on past painful events.

Drugs don't distract you in that way. They don't occupy your mind, they alter your mind.
 
Glamador said:
That's an interesting point you make calling games "or anything that isn't constructive" a form of escapism. Constructive is a very objective term. And what's more, equating video games to drugs is...well, just not a proper comparison. As I was trying to say, family guy (or games, or sports, or movies, or books) all provide a mental stimulus that releases natural chemicals already present in the brain just like any other action ("constructive" or not). The primary difference being, drugs directly alter the minds normal working state. You will respond to stimuli differently, feel things that aren't normally there, and become something other than you were.
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Yes, I agree that the term "constructive" is very subjective. As a student, drinking excessively, smoking excessively, playing video games excessively..anything of that nature would not be constructive.

The comparison stands in so much that both smoking pot and using video games as a time sink are both coping mechanisms, and in some instances, also vices. So while playing video games may release endorphins and imbibing alcohol may impair, the end result is nevertheless the same: a want to feel differently.
 
Well since I'm being pulled apart no matter what (same thing happens) I'll end my part in this topic here. Thanks for the "unintelligible" remark Glamador, I stress I'm mild dyslexic once, as soon I stop stressing it everyone forgets. Thanks, I really wanted to be reminded here about that Glamador, I really apricate that.

Since its two again one I quit the argument. Its hard enough agruing against one person let alone two when they don't want to snap into reality and think about the problem might not be as great as they think it will be. Anyway, if lemmings want to play with death then let them. In the end I'm sticking by my words regardless, I've seen too much to ever consider changing my mind, and no offence guys, its pretty selfish of the pair of you. Whats popular isn't always right, but whats righ isn't always popular. If a lot of people want it legalised, doesn't mean they are correct in the end, not everyone wants to breathe in their smoke when they fancey getting stoned. Its bad enough with cigerettes. I personnelly don't like that idea at all.

As stated though, they are both coping systems, yes, but the most one will do is hurt your eyes and give you unfitness related illnesses. The others going to give you a lot more. Incidently, the dutch have a law that says you can't grow the stuff but you can smoke it freely. If you really want to waste some fo your life in THAT particular brand of coping, now you know where you can move to. Then again, there are coping methods and escapist methods, but if you want to play a mugs game.... In the end I will lecture and argue but won't force it upon a person. Just as I never forced my friend to quit her drugs, she had to do that herself. But all I ask lastly is before you guys decide that, I suggest you visit a rehab, talk to staff, talk to patients...

Those guys are there for a reason, they've experienced hell and back for the sake of a few kicks, thats cost them...
 
Sorry Angel, didn't even know you had an issue. I just had a lot more trouble understanding that last post than I did your others. I thought maybe you had rushed it and I wanted to make sure you knew that if I said something stupid it was a result of a misunderstanding and not idiocy or a desire to be mean.
 
Angel said:
Well since I'm being pulled apart no matter what (same thing happens) I'll end my part in this topic here. Thanks for the "unintelligible" remark Glamador, I stress I'm mild dyslexic once, as soon I stop stressing it everyone forgets. Thanks, I really wanted to be reminded here about that Glamador, I really apricate that.

Since its two again one I quit the argument. Its hard enough agruing against one person let alone two when they don't want to snap into reality and think about the problem might not be as great as they think it will be. Anyway, if lemmings want to play with death then let them. In the end I'm sticking by my words regardless, I've seen too much to ever consider changing my mind, and no offence guys, its pretty selfish of the pair of you. Whats popular isn't always right, but whats righ isn't always popular. If a lot of people want it legalised, doesn't mean they are correct in the end, not everyone wants to breathe in their smoke when they fancey getting stoned. Its bad enough with cigerettes. I personnelly don't like that idea at all.

As stated though, they are both coping systems, yes, but the most one will do is hurt your eyes and give you unfitness related illnesses. The others going to give you a lot more. Incidently, the dutch have a law that says you can't grow the stuff but you can smoke it freely. If you really want to waste some fo your life in THAT particular brand of coping, now you know where you can move to. Then again, there are coping methods and escapist methods, but if you want to play a mugs game.... In the end I will lecture and argue but won't force it upon a person. Just as I never forced my friend to quit her drugs, she had to do that herself. But all I ask lastly is before you guys decide that, I suggest you visit a rehab, talk to staff, talk to patients...

Those guys are there for a reason, they've experienced hell and back for the sake of a few kicks, thats cost them...
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Glamador hasn't sided with anyone.

Me being open minded isn't selfish. I'd appreciate it if you'd not label me as such. All I've advocated is to not judge anyone for their personal decisions, especially when no one knows why people choose to smoke weed.

Also, I've spent a stint in the hospital coping with depression myself, and I've personally experienced the extent of how badly prescribed drugs can f*** you up, so I'd like it if you'd not be condescending to me.

I don't need to apologize for anything I've said.
 
I said it was two against one, not you were siding with each other. Grief... Glamador's right, my last post has been rushed too much it seems. I do admit I did rush it a bit. I've actaully spent the whole of today and yesturday sick with mild flu and its making that horrible little dyslexia problem worst it seems. Oh wells... Can't be helped. Don't worry though Glamador,I'm not really that bothered by comments like that, its the internet. I've been on it for ten years, I've got to the stage where I've gotten past suprises.

In the end we can debate all the time about this, but I feel we need to bring it to an end. I personnelly don't want to continue on because one of us would have to lecture the side effects of weed beyond "it can ruin your life" and I think we're all old enough to know them anyway. I know I've purposesly avoided that little lecture myself because I've spent the last fourteen years in and out of lectures. As my tutor said in college, at the end of the day, everyone was old enough to decide what todo with their life... You can't change anything. I can talk about how bad they are, how much I've seen the bad effects of users... But take my friend, I found out about a year after she started she was taking them, but it wasn't until about half a year ago or so she asked for help. I wasn't about to force her to stop.

TRZA, my dad went into hospital last summer for fluquids in his toes... Got food posioning from food, had an allergic reaction to a injection they did on him that for some reason made his face swell up, got an infection in his leg after a blood test and to top it off got something else they gave him a pain killer his records said not to give him because his body rejects it or something... Nice hopsital huh? (The only good thing was I had a fortnight without my depressing father to put me down).

I do note, saying you won't apologise is a bit harsh considering I'm apologising for hurting feelings don't you think? It matters not though, this is the internet. Besides I've think by now everyone 's gone through the hurt feast and come back round and its "I'm sorry time..." I pretty much don't mean to hurt anyone myself but I figured long ago its best just to say whats on your mind and get it out in the open then bottle it up and have people not know who you are. So a big sorry for expressing my opinions and hurting people, pity I don't agree with you guys on the issue, normally I love to chatter here. Guess my own life experiences are making me take it a bit personnel here. ^_^'
 
Agreed. It seems that everyone has something very personal at stake in this argument.

The reason I don't feel the need to apologize is because I haven't said anything particularly offensive. It's certainly unfortunate if anything has been misconstrued as a personal attack. That was not my intention.
 
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