Americans' Views of Marijuana Effects Worsen

Gallup ^ | 8/20/24 | Megan Brenan

[DallasBiff]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans’ views of the effects of marijuana have worsened over the past two years, as slim majorities now say it negatively impacts both society as a whole (54%) and most people who use it (51%). This contrasts with Gallup’s findings from 2022, when the public was about evenly divided in its assessments of marijuana’s effect on society and more likely to say the effect on most users was positive (53%) rather than negative (45%).

[DIRTYSECRET]

*Just do it at home*
*Ticket people for smoking it on the street like they do for drinking.

You’re talking encroachment encroachment. Drinking outside doesn’t get into other people’s stomachs. Smoking does get into ones lungs and if a kid is within the smell? There’s a thin line here that will get crossed from time to time and the left will always push the envelope to the point where one thing leads to another.

Ever notice how women are less likely to get outta line on this? They need to be concerned with their safety unlike men. Maybe guys should be taxed more because they do most of the damage trying to impress these women, at least the more attractive ones.

[Dilbert San Diego]

There seem to be a lot of libertarian Types on Free Republic who are in favor of marijuana legalization ,,because the libertarian view is that there should be no restrictions on any kind of drug use.

These types of people do not want to have a discussion about whether marijuana has any harmful effects, because their libertarian view is that there should be no restrictions.

[John S Mosby]

Very few of the “CBD” products are 100% THC free— which is the main problem with all their claims. The THC minor percent has the ability to build up in tissues over continual use— and then shows up in drug screens.

So— if one were to try such non-opioid pain relief in a CBD product, it should have ASSAY labeling that proves to have ZERO THC, not the .035% allowed by government authorities.

There is only a handful of manufacturers that do this- and are ethical in truth labeling it. Very definitive about it, and thus high concentration CBD only products.

[webheart]

The views have worsened which means that ultimately people will decide against using it, rather than making it illegal which makes people want to use it more simply because of the forbidden fruit aspect. When it is illegal people will use it just to be getting away with something. When it is legal people will decide in their own interest not to use it.

[webheart]

The old argument that making it illegal is going to protect people from their own bad decisions. It’s just an argument against legalizing it. It should not be a problem for law enforcement it should be a problem for individual decisions. Stupid people should be allowed to enjoy the fruits of their stupidity rather than being protected by people who think they know better. Similarly to the way you can tell people not to jump from a bridge, they will do it anyway because they are stupid. It may be illegal to jump from a bridge but that has no effect on stupid people who want to jump from bridges.

[AppyPappy]

It’s not helped by the activities of people who wake and bake everyday. You can’t drive around a city without smelling it.

[exinnj]

Both THC and CBD give you bipolar and other psychiatric symptoms. Don’t fook with your brain, idiots!

[kawhill]

Maybe the U.S. should go to this:

Are drugs punishable by death in Singapore?
Laws in Singapore permit the death penalty for people convicted of trafficking more than 15 grams of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine, 250 grams of meth, or 500 grams of cannabis.

[PIF]

My favorite true crime show is the First 48. There is virtually nothing in place to police weed impaired drivers.

—
If you also watch Cops, you’d know that they make a field pee test. Dip the tabs into the pee and it will tell you if meth, heroin, coke, THC are present.

[iontheball]

I worked for fifteen years for the DEA and there was a reason why the drug was in Schedule I, which are drugs with no known acceptable medical use. Marijuana was also viewed by experts as the ‘gateway drug.’ For me, it’s like déjà vu all over again.

[Organic Panic]

Having a dog in the fight.... (manufactured extraction equipment before the Chinese took over the market)

There are definite benefits of cannabinoids for certain conditions. I have seen amazing results for epileptics and others with spastic conditions. Myself, and othe migraine sufferers have huge benefits compared to prescription meds. A few puffs off a vape pen and the migraine is stopped before it begins (taken at the first sign or ‘auras’. I get light triggered migraines that are very painful and debilitating). It is also a very effective pain killer less addictive than opioids.

However. Most people just wanna get high. So toke up.....

[usurper]

Maybe the genetic whiz-kids in agri-business can figure out how to make it smell better.

They have, it's called Gummies.

[Biblebelter]

I live in a legalized state.

There is nothing in place in the city where I live nor have I heard of anything in surrounding cities.

[Organic Panic]

As one who manufactured extraction equipment....

You are incorrect. The process used, at least I did, has zero THC. It was tested with every batch. CBD is an anti inflammatory that needs time to build up in the system. It does not do much else. The extraction left us with pure THC and CBN, which was where the real money came in. So I am honest about that. But the CBDs are all the rage as snake oil cure alls. One caveat though, which is a proven fact. It is a very effective treatment for spastic and epileptic conditions. One of my customers held the patent for it and is approved by the FDA for treating epilepsy in children.

Drug tests test for the terpines and are unreliable for testing THC. For that you need a blood draw.

But I know... most users just want to get high.

[hinckley buzzard]

The media won’t tell you but a look at the increasing rate of mj related auto accidents will tell you whether widespread mj use is going to be good for society or not. Maybe not yet as bad as alcohol, but do we really need another mindaltering drug to add to the general decline in individual responsibility.

[patriot torch]

I agree. I’ve always stood against “recreational pot” As for use towards those who medically find positive results such as cancer sufferers, who am I to deny them use?

What really gulls me is the fact that legalizing pot has been predominantly forced upon society by the same party which has for decades demonized big tobacco. Simply because big tobacco chose to contribute mainly to Republican candidates. although democrats have been successful at taxing big tobacco to such a degree that they have largely dried up a big government tax revenue source.

So now they support a product that is every bit as detrimental to society (as a recreational drug) but the difference now is that they can tax it, as well as receive campaign contributions from its proponents.

The end result I believe will be serious health issues on society as a whole as well as increased crime. It only adds to the intoxicated driver statistics. And to the delinquency of minors.

I believe it not only failed to curb the black market, but actually enhanced the black market sales due to undercutting the cost of legal pot sales.

[PGR88]

I can smell weed coming from cars in front of me while driving 60 MPH on the highway.

Weed was never good for one’s health, and its about 20X more potent now than 30 years ago

[fr_freak]

...because the libertarian view is that there should be no restrictions on any kind of drug use.

These types of people do not want to have a discussion about whether marijuana has any harmful effects, because their libertarian view is that there should be no restrictions.

I don't know which views people like to label as "libertarian", but the American view has always been that the government is not your mom and dad. The government, especially the federal government, is a necessary evil whose powers should remain few and defined.

If you accept the idea of the government having the power and moral authority to tell citizens what they can and cannot smoke, or drink, or eat, or grow in their backyard, you have ceded power to that government that it should never have. How can we complain about the government mandating medical shots, for example, if we have also been clamoring for the government to regulate our intake of other things, based on this supposed governmental concern for our health?

If the argument for government control and restriction is the protection of other people, rather than the user, that can be achieved in the same way we regulate alcohol - no public drinking, no drinking and driving, etc. Do we outlaw alcohol for everyone because some people drink and drive, or drink and fight? We could (and did) with disastrous results, but it required a constitutional amendment to do so, back when we were a people who still respected American principles instead of a people who have been successfully brainwashed into thinking that nanny is an appropriate role for government.

Whether marijuana, or a alcohol, or coffee, has any harmful effects is only relevant to the personal decision whether or not to use it, but is irrelevant to any discussion about whether the government should have the power to restrict it, if you are somebody who loves freedom.

I would gladly take full legalization of everything, and the resulting problems, over a government which seizes your assets at will, kicks in your door at 3am in no-knock raids, and uses your assets that it seized to buy more armored personnel carriers for use against the populace.

[zeestephen]

Re: "Now the pothead dorks are out in the open blowing smoke in the streets thinking it's cool."

You are mistaken.

Most marijuana smokers are young and live in apartments, dorms, or with Mom and Dad.

USA apartments and dorms will evict you immediately if you smoke anything inside.

So, they walk outside to smoke, or smoke while driving.

No one wants to smoke dope in public, because you will immediately get harassed by the underclass, who want a free hit off your weed.

[Bikkuri]

I know every time one of the nearby residents in this building of the apt complex lights up..
It immediately stinks up my apartment (comes through the bathroom ventilation), and it is some STRONG crap.
Smells like skunk with B.O.

Have been complaining to management here since I have been here, but nothing has been done.

I am pretty sure that if I had to take a piss-test, THC would show up because of it (and I am a very strong supporter of the death penalty for dealers of ANY type of drug).