Posted on 02/01/2005 10:22:25 AM PST by .cnI redruM
WASHINGTON — Pot. Cannabis. Hemp. Weed. Grass.
The herb takes many names. But in the nation’s capital, where the marijuana lobby (search) was once the recreational diversion of Playboy Magazine's Hugh Hefner, pro-pot special interest groups have crystallized the divergent issues behind the plant and gained a seemingly unified voice.
________________ Puff, Cough, Puff, Cough________________
"It’s a no-brainer. It makes no sense putting old and sick folks in jail for an herb that makes them feel better," said Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project (search), which was established in 1995 by Rob Kampia, a former mainstay at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, the first pro-pot lobby in Washington, D.C.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I know of one case where weed intoxication was a factor.
Some of those Indica strains are very strong and should not be ingested prior to operating a vehicle, heavy equipment, chain saw, etc.
(or so I've been told)
Alcohol is another matter. Sure, some abuse alcohol. But many more use it for many different purposes without getting high. Probably 90% of drinkers use alcohol responsibly.
You have got to be kidding???
People use Alcohol for the most part to get a buzz to get high to relax Alcohol and Tobacco are the most addicting chemicals out there.
Why do you drink Booze????
The ONLY people that I have ever seen 'flip out' while smoking pot were (DUH) drinking in excess as well. (or doing drugs other than alcohol)
Weird ain't it?
You've brought up a good point.
The "powers behind the thrones" are far better served when the unwashed masses are strung out in one manner or another.
That's why recreational drug use / abuse will always be with us. If a significant percentage of the population is unable to comprehend, or focus on, what the mega money players are up to, their goals become that much easier to obtain.
I think we know what combination drugs do to most people freak out or pass out...
Have you ever seen a girl flip out when her smoking boyfriend decides to go for a drive? Sorry. Pot improves driving performance. My bad.
How many Freepers do you know that your posting with that are sitting at there computers either Hitting the pipe or sucking down a few beers? or can you tell???
Hey, I've already said that some people abuse alcohol. Not all drink responsibly.
But the vast majority do. They're not out there taking major risks in order to have a drink or two to relax. Think about it. It's not worth it.
The people who would seek out an illegal drug are doing so for one purpose -- to get high. Look, go to some of the marijuana seed web sites. See how they describe the plant. Tell me that the majority are not focusing on the rush or the high.
"Stone Effect: After the first puff that daunting warm feeling of impending stoniness comes over you. You feel it just under your eyes and throughout your body in time. It is a serious heavy high. The White Widow has spoken."
-- worldwideseeds.com
IOW, to get high.
The people who would seek out an illegal drug are doing so for one purpose -- to get high.
You get high with one drink.
The effects of alcohol at specific BAC levels.
0.02-0.03 BAC: No loss of coordination, slight euphoria and loss of shyness. Depressant effects are not apparent. Mildly relaxed and maybe a little lightheaded.
0.04-0.06 BAC: Feeling of well-being, relaxation, lower inhibitions, sensation of warmth. Euphoria. Some minor impairment of reasoning and memory, lowering of caution. Your behavior may become exaggerated and emotions intensified (Good emotions are better, bad emotions are worse)
0.07-0.09 BAC: Slight impairment of balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing. Euphoria. Judgment and self-control are reduced, and caution, reason and memory are impaired, .08 is legally impaired and it is illegal to drive at this level. You will probably believe that you are functioning better than you really are.
0.10-0.125 BAC: Significant impairment of motor coordination and loss of good judgment. Speech may be slurred; balance, vision, reaction time and hearing will be impaired. Euphoria.
0.13-0.15 BAC: Gross motor impairment and lack of physical control. Blurred vision and major loss of balance. Euphoria is reduced and dysphoria (anxiety, restlessness) is beginning to appear. Judgment and perception are severely impaired.
0.16-0.19 BAC: Dysphoria predominates, nausea may appear. The drinker has the appearance of a "sloppy drunk."
0.20 BAC: Felling dazed, confused or otherwise disoriented. May need help to stand or walk. If you injure yourself you may not feel the pain. Some people experience nausea and vomiting at this level. The gag reflex is impaired and you can choke if you do vomit. Blackouts are likely at this level so you may not remember what has happened.
0.25 BAC: All mental, physical and sensory functions are severely impaired. Increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of seriously injuring yourself by falls or other accidents.
0.30 BAC: STUPOR. You have little comprehension of where you are. You may pass out suddenly and be difficult to awaken.
0.35 BAC: Coma is possible. This is the level of surgical anesthesia.
0.40 BAC and up: Onset of coma, and possible death due to respiratory arrest.
Because its Legal!! Think about it. When it was illegal poeple did take major risks in order to have a drink or two to relax.
It was sold out of Boulder in the early '70's for $50 per 100 in tabs, blotter and window pane and some of it was mighty potent. I never saw anybody give it away but at 50 cents a hit ...
Before 1970 I have no personal or anecdotal knowledge of it. I do know that $25 dollars was a lot of money. Maybe dumb rich kids paid 5 and 10 bucks a hit!?
It's not a good idea to get behind the wheel after a heavy meal either.
I've never known cannabis to impart a false sense of self-control the way alcohol intoxication quite often does. Also, cannabis intoxication can be completely overcome by force of will. The effects of alcohol can only be overcome by the steady slow cleansing of the blood by the liver.
That's one reason alcohol is legal and pot is not. Alcohol clouds reason.
In Washington's day everyone knew the tensile strength of hemp. But Washington knew more than that he knew how vital hemp was to military strength in that day. That's why he sent an envoy to Russia and cut a deal with them to cut of Britain's main supply from the steppes. And that's why after the republic was formed the government gave every land holder one pound of hemp seed per year and required that they grow at least one acre of it.
If all "recreational" drug us is abuse, then this 90% of alcohol users (as opposed to abusers) must be using it theraputically. What ailments are they treating, and what theraputic benefits are they getting from it?
Oh yeah. A whole lot of responsible social drinking going on at those speakeasies.
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