“isn’t it basically just like beer and whiskey?”
I wouldn’t say “just like” those. It gets compared to alcohol a lot because they have some similar effects, but they are both pretty unique drugs in a class by themselves (as opposed to most intoxicants, which you can group as stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, opiates, etc because they all have very similar effects).
I would say that alcohol is a less intoxicating drug when used in moderation, but it is very quickly more intoxicating once you cross that threshold. You can black out (still awake and active but with no memory), lose all motor control, or even die from drinking too much alcohol, but if you smoke too much marijuana, you will not suffer effects nearly that bad.
On the other hand, regular marijuana use, even if it is moderate, probably causes greater psychological changes, short-term and long-term than regular alcohol use. On the other hand, long-term alcohol use will do worse damage to other parts of your body, like your liver and kidneys. So they both have different downsides, but I don’t think either of them is on the same level as the “hard” drugs, as far as that goes.
Interesting, thanks!
Ed
I have known quite a few regular, every day marijuana users.
In 90% of these users it causes their reflexes to slow down like molasses and it causes them to be lazy as hell and want to do nothing but eat while they’re smoking this garbage. The effects for the big time pot heads are almost identical to drinking a 12 pack of beer. We all know what a 12 pack of beer does to our senses, especially when trying to drive a vehicle. The government goes way to easy on drunk drivers. Legalizing dope will cause more deaths on the highway, and is that what we really need? It’s all BS.