Just Say Yes

[ajcorleone]

Well said Wick.It is not harmless.I knoe the movie misconception is everyone is mellow and all they want to do is eat twinkies.I will show you factual cases that I have dealt with where pot smokers halucinate so bad they run themselves into walls or hurt themselves or others.
It is not harmless at all just maybe less lethal than other drugs or alcohol

Marijuana isn't harmless. It's infinitely less harmful than nicotine and alcohol, but it's not harmless. When smoked, a marijuana user subjects himself to most of the same carcinogens as a cigerette (same goes for any smoke, really). Even without that there are effects on the brain and nervous system. Those effects are reversible to a point, basically meaning if you stop smoking before a certain point, or generally have a small amount, the effects on these systems reverse. However chronic heavy use will lead to permanent brain and nervous system damage.

With that said, it still is less harm full than what prolonged alcohol leads to (brain/liver damage, diabetes, etc) and less harmful than cigarettes (brain/lung damage, respiratory disease, heart problems, etc). I see no reason for marijuana to be illegal, but that's no reason to spread misinformation like "it's totally harmless" as so many (not necessarily you) tend to do.

[Wickabee]

Well said Wick.It is not harmless.I knoe the movie misconception is everyone is mellow and all they want to do is eat twinkies.I will show you factual cases that I have dealt with where pot smokers halucinate so bad they run themselves into walls or hurt themselves or others.
It is not harmless at all just maybe less lethal than other drugs or alcohol

Cases like that often have include a substance, usually unknown to the smoker, other than marijuana. While THC is arguably a mild form of acid, the amount you would have to ingest to experience marijuana-induced hallucinations is staggering. It's not an impossible amount to ingest, like a "lethal" dose of marijuana, but it's difficult, even for the most seasoned smoker. Actually, it's even more difficult for the seasoned smoker because he's built up a tolerance.

Marijuana does have harmful effects.

[shrewsbury]

I don't think it is accurate to compare it to cigarettes. how many people smoke 20 cigarettes worth of marijuana everyday? I don't think you could function and the health hazards would exceed the 20 cigarettes.

[Wickabee]

I don't think it is accurate to compare it to cigarettes. how many people smoke 20 cigarettes worth of marijuana everyday? I don't think you could function and the health hazards would exceed the 20 cigarettes.

You would be surprised.

The health hazards between marijuana and cigarettes are kind of offset by how each is usually smoked. Cigarettes have more carcinogens than marijuana smoke. At the same time, most joints don't have filters,so more get to you. Also, you hold in marijuana smoke longer than cigarette smoke, so there is more opportunity for it to enter your system.

[ajcorleone]

I know recreational marijuana smokers and they can fucntion quite well with everyday use.Not excessive just a joint or 2 a day.I also have seen 2 0r 3 joints send people into a frenzy and i am talking straight marijuana not looped or wet laced joints.Guess the human body reacts differently to all things

Cases like that often have include a substance, usually unknown to the smoker, other than marijuana. While THC is arguably a mild form of acid, the amount you would have to ingest to experience marijuana-induced hallucinations is staggering. It's not an impossible amount to ingest, like a "lethal" dose of marijuana, but it's difficult, even for the most seasoned smoker. Actually, it's even more difficult for the seasoned smoker because he's built up a tolerance.

Marijuana does have harmful effects.

[Wickabee]

I know recreational marijuana smokers and they can fucntion quite well with everyday use.Not excessive just a joint or 2 a day.I also have seen 2 0r 3 joints send people into a frenzy and i am talking straight marijuana not looped or wet laced joints.Guess the human body reacts differently to all things

Everything hits everyone differently, that's definitely true. I personally have never even heard of a reaction like that to straight marijuana. I've seen mushrooms do that to people, but never marijuana.

[JustAlex]

Marijuana isn't harmless. It's infinitely less harmful than nicotine and alcohol, but it's not harmless. When smoked, a marijuana user subjects himself to most of the same carcinogens as a cigerette (same goes for any smoke, really). Even without that there are effects on the brain and nervous system. Those effects are reversible to a point, basically meaning if you stop smoking before a certain point, or generally have a small amount, the effects on these systems reverse. However chronic heavy use will lead to permanent brain and nervous system damage.

With that said, it still is less harm full than what prolonged alcohol leads to (brain/liver damage, diabetes, etc) and less harmful than cigarettes (brain/lung damage, respiratory disease, heart problems, etc). I see no reason for marijuana to be illegal, but that's no reason to spread misinformation like "it's totally harmless" as so many (not necessarily you) tend to do.

All correct stats and I thank you for bringing this up.

Yes, I meant to say LESS harmful than tobacco with nicotine and Alcohol....not completely harmless, it obviously can be harmful.

But as you said, not to the level of the other things that are indeed legal.

I don't think it is accurate to compare it to cigarettes. how many people smoke 20 cigarettes worth of marijuana everyday? I don't think you could function and the health hazards would exceed the 20 cigarettes.

Isn't that a good thing?

Marijuana users won't be lighting up cigarette after cigarette.....maybe one or two per day (heavy users).

And the best part, it's not addictive.

There are no big consequences to making marijuana legal, in fact almost everything would be much better!

> Less people going to jail for nonsense
> Tax the hell out of it and the government takes in some much needed cash
> No more marijuana (or at least a lot less) trafficking

[Wickabee]

And the best part, it's not addictive.

I did recognize what you meant about it being harmless, but not addictive isn't quite true. It's not physically addictive like alcohol, nicotine, heroin, cocaine, etc, but it is psychologically addictive. Everything on earth is psychologically addictive, but it's also true that some are moreso than others. Marijuana is moreso. Although is has no physically addictive properties, that which makes your system believe it needs that substance for your survival, it is very psychologically addictive, meaning people like it so much thy just can't help themselves. This kind of addiction can lead to physical symptoms, that does not make it physical addiction. Because marijuana alters your reality and perception, it is easier to use that as an "escape" from emotional and psychological pain. Pot is actually really, really good at that.

Basically, a physically addictive substance can grab anyone who tries it, even once, depending on your body's chemistry. A psychologically addictive substance or action (shopping, gambling, etc) require any number of variables to be present. Pain, fear, depression, lack of willpower and/or education can all lead to a psychological addiction. The reason parents need to be concerned about their kids is, once they hit their teens, they experience all of these things all at once and drugs are a quick and easy way to make them go away.

Marijuana is not physically addictive the way alcohol and tobacco are. It is psychologically addictive like shopping and gambling are. The high erases all other feelings just like that feeling of risk at the tables or the rush of making a purchase some people feel. Saying it's not physically addictive is in fact saying it's better in that regard than both alcohol and nicotine. However to say it's not addictive is a lie. To say anything isn't addictive is a lie.

[ajcorleone]

Tax the hell out of it yes but less people going to jail no.Because like any drug those who cannot afford it will steal,beg and borrow to get it.So that statement has no wings.But taxingit heavily would bail out some debt

All correct stats and I thank you for bringing this up.

Yes, I meant to say LESS harmful than tobacco with nicotine and Alcohol....not completely harmless, it obviously can be harmful.

But as you said, not to the level of the other things that are indeed legal.


Isn't that a good thing?

Marijuana users won't be lighting up cigarette after cigarette.....maybe one or two per day (heavy users).

And the best part, it's not addictive.

There are no big consequences to making marijuana legal, in fact almost everything would be much better!

> Less people going to jail for nonsense
> Tax the hell out of it and the government takes in some much needed cash
> No more marijuana (or at least a lot less) trafficking

[Wickabee]

Aj, a statement like that tells me you don't know pot (heh). Anyone who steals to support a marijuana habit would steal to support a McDonald's or baseball card habit. Every study I've ever read (and admittedly there are few) says a group of marijuana smokers will have a similar background to almost any random group put together if you take out charges related to marijuana.