Political Discussion - "on-topic & unmoderated"Rated PG13, unmoderated but threads must stay on topic - that means you can flame each other all you want as long as it's legal
As usual there are conflicting studies about the actual medicinal benefits of marijuana. And really, there are some obvious health risks. And it certainly appears that there are some benefits as well.
But I find the "medical benefits" question muddies the essential issue, at least for me.
It's a matter of choosing your poison.
And I want the same right to chose my poison that the users of alcohol have.
Totally, want to discuss it over a decent Scotch or four?
As usual there are conflicting studies about the actual medicinal benefits of marijuana. And really, there are some obvious health risks. And it certainly appears that there are some benefits as well.
But I find the "medical benefits" question muddies the essential issue, at least for me.
It's a matter of choosing your poison.
And I want the same right to chose my poison that the users of alcohol have.
Maybe it's because I don't smoke pot (although I'm not implying that you do, because I have no idea), but the essential issue to me is that the cons of criminalization far outweight the pros. Decriminalize it, create a few problems but solve a whole lot more, and Bob's yer uncle.
Maybe it's because I don't smoke pot (although I'm not implying that you do, because I have no idea), but the essential issue to me is that the cons of criminalization far outweight the pros. Decriminalize it, create a few problems but solve a whole lot more, and Bob's yer uncle.
Yes. I make no secret of it now. I smoked it when I was young. Quit smoking it when I raised a family and worked with high risk teens. And then started again a couple of years ago because I quit drinking. I became a musician late in life and restaurant and bar owners will serve you liquor until you can no longer play. I got tired of hangovers. Now I light up a sparky after I play and can relax without the heavy aftereffects.
And yes, I agree completely with what you say.
The only thing I support in terms of regulation is that like, alcohol, it should be off limits to minors. And yeah, I know kids drink underage and I would presume the same would be (is) true with pot.
But as parents, you educate your kids, you keep them as close as you can and you make damned sure you are involved enough in their life to be aware of what they are up to.
Smoking pot is an adult decision in my view. And again, I agree, the social cost of criminalizing pot far outweigh the costs of decriminalizing it.
As usual there are conflicting studies about the actual medicinal benefits of marijuana. And really, there are some obvious health risks. And it certainly appears that there are some benefits as well.
But I find the "medical benefits" question muddies the essential issue, at least for me.
It's a matter of choosing your poison.
And I want the same right to chose my poison that the users of alcohol have.
I wouldn't say it muddies it at all.
People have been using cannabis as natural medicine for literally thousands of years, for a wide variety of ailments. Queen Victoria drank cannabis tea for her menstrual cramps is one common
historical example.
There are loads of documentation on this if you do enough digging... many of it pre-dates this corrupted silly era of prohibition we have been in for the bast 70 years. I believe Lester Grinspoon's "Marijuana Revisited" goes into the history of cannabis as medicine quite a bit.
Think of it like ginger. That stuff has all sorts of medicinal uses as well.
Though, there's nothing wrong with having cannabis as a vice either. As far as vices go, it's a pretty safe bet... no drug is harmless of course but in comparison to alcohol or even caffeine it stands up pretty well.
It's cliched in these discussions but it really is true: cannabis hasn't killed anybody like, ever.
People have been using cannabis as natural medicine for literally thousands of years, for a wide variety of ailments. Queen Victoria drank cannabis tea for her menstrual cramps is one common
historical example.
There are loads of documentation on this if you do enough digging... many of it pre-dates this corrupted silly era of prohibition we have been in for the bast 70 years. I believe Lester Grinspoon's "Marijuana Revisited" goes into the history of cannabis as medicine quite a bit.
Think of it like ginger. That stuff has all sorts of medicinal uses as well.
Though, there's nothing wrong with having cannabis as a vice either. As far as vices go, it's a pretty safe bet... no drug is harmless of course but in comparison to alcohol or even caffeine it stands up pretty well.
It's cliched in these discussions but it really is true: cannabis hasn't killed anybody like, ever.
I don't necessarily disagree with your take in it's medicinal value, but for me, it is not the core issue in the debate about marijuana.
Freedom of choice is what I believe the issue should be.
Scientists debate the medicinal value, but the freedom issue seems much more clear to me. It would be nice if it had medicinal value...but for me that should not be the deciding factor in the ongoing march towards decriminalizing.
I suspect we are ultimately on the same side, however, and we both simply offer opinion.
I don't necessarily disagree with your take in it's medicinal value, but for me, it is not the core issue in the debate about marijuana.
Freedom of choice is what I believe the issue should be.
Scientists debate the medicinal value, but the freedom issue seems much more clear to me. It would be nice if it had medicinal value...but for me that should not be the deciding factor in the ongoing march towards decriminalizing.
I suspect we are ultimately on the same side, however, and we both simply offer opinion.
For sure, we're on the same side, I do think it's important to get the "debate" on the medicinal values right though. The "debate" on the medicinal value stems from the pro War on Drugs lobby.
The best example of the US government being caught in hypocrisy regarding this was mentioned earlier in the thread I believe... their official stance is that it has zero medicinal value, yet they also own and maintain the federal patent for medical marijuana.
The bottom line is that cannabis is a plant that has absolute, proven, documented medicinal use. Very common medicine too, all the way up until the 1930's.
I get that people are apprehensive of the term "medical marijuana" because of how it's used by many folks, especially in California, as a front to just smoke recreationally. That doesn't mean that it's total ******** though.
It's a completely legitimate medicine that tangibly improves the quality of life for a lot of sick people out there... it's important not to loose sight of this.
For sure, we're on the same side, I do think it's important to get the "debate" on the medicinal values right though. The "debate" on the medicinal value stems from the pro War on Drugs lobby.
The best example of the US government being caught in hypocrisy regarding this was mentioned earlier in the thread I believe... their official stance is that it has zero medicinal value, yet they also own and maintain the federal patent for medical marijuana.
The bottom line is that cannabis is a plant that has absolute, proven, documented medicinal use. Very common medicine too, all the way up until the 1930's.
I get that people are apprehensive of the term "medical marijuana" because of how it's used by many folks, especially in California, as a front to just smoke recreationally. That doesn't mean that it's total ******** though.
It's a completely legitimate medicine that tangibly improves the quality of life for a lot of sick people out there... it's important not to loose sight of this.
What do you guys think about these marijuana legalization initiatives?
I think that the government should grow it (using top scientists to produce the best results), sell it, tax it and legalize it. It should be regulated, sold to those only over 19 (or whatever the legal age is) and adhere to the same regulations as alcohol: meaning you can only smoke it in an establishment (say a marijuana bar or in your own private residence, and not be high in public or while driving a motor vehicle, etc.), it should be taxed and sold by the state or province. The money raised by this would be put right back into the system, specifically healthcare and education.
Tyler gets me a job as a waiter, after that Tyler's pushing a gun in my mouth and saying, the first step to eternal life is you have to die.
- Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas.
Most poignant...
"So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark—that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.” ~ Hunter S Thompson
