High anxieties : What the WHO doesn't want you to know about cannabis

New Scientist ^

[Lady Jag]

Hey, you're the one who brought up turtles. If you want to rent turtles, call Lisa Schel and get back to me. I can really visualize and appreciate your idea of rounding up a few people to stand around looking downtrodden but what does that have to do with your saltwater, turtles and sea rocks recipe?

[Hap]

You would be correct! Please add me to your ping list too. :)

[philman_36]

Wrong on both counts, dear.
Please don't call me dear. You sound too much like nopardons when you do that.
Somehow I get the feeling it's simply condescension on your part.

[nopardons]

Don't be upset.; being accused of sounding like me is a good thing; dear. : - )

[philman_36]

No, it isn't.

[Destructor]

'Who exactly supports legalizing drugs, and the whole counter-culture, anti-American crap line anyway? Conservatives? Wrong."

"Man, am I glad you're here. I've been calling myself a conservative for so long, and I'm embarrassed as all hell to find out I was wrong." "

So tell me: if I'm for Ron Paul, school vouchers, the NRA, legalization, capitalism, and Ann Coulter, and against abortion, Amnesty International, Susan Sarandon, government interference, and Hillary, am I a leftist?"

"I sure hope not. I hate to think I've been voting the wrong ticket for the last 15 years."

Good for you! At least you have some measure of good sense. Your support of legalizing drugs makes you one of the Libertarians that really ought to know better.

[Destructor]

Mr. Vomit-

Forgive me for being sceptical, but I would really like to see that study. I find it hard to believe that any substance that impairs you mentally would have no effect on your driving, or your reaction time.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. Personally, I don't want to share the road with drunk, or stoned drivers.

Destructor

[Destructor]

"Sobriety seems to have nothing to do with it since you claim sobriety AND incomprehension."

Speaking of incomprehension I think that last one went over your head, so I'll explain. It does you no good to be literate and cultured, if you're stoned. You might think you're brilliant, but your thought process is impaired. You come off looking foolish at best.

Unless you happen to be doing cocaine.

[Destructor]

"So, you're for legalization of cannabis, so long as there are regulations against driving stoned, like there are against driving drunk?"

No I'm not for legalizing cannabis, but I know that people are going to use it anyway. I can't sit around and worry about all of the fools that want to destroy themselves with drugs. Just stay out of your car. Don't make some innocent person pay for your stupid decision.

[tacticalogic]

The NHTSA did some research that found drivers having low to moderate levels of THC in their systems were impaired, but far less than those with low to moderate levels of alcohol. THC and alcohol in combination seems to be much worse than either one alone. Link to the research is here.

[Destructor]

"No one has yet mentioned this.....reefer is a true aphrodesiac. Not in the fuzzy alcohol sense where inhibitions are lowered, along with good judgement, but in the increased intensity of pleasure sense."

"Are you still so sure you hate it?"

I guess that could be construed as a benefit, if you have to be mentally impaired to express love.

I think you're ingnoring the fact that the lack of inhibitions can also lead to a lack of caution. Drugs can cause people to engage in risky behavior that leaves them open to catching sexually transmitted diseases such as: AIDS, Herpes, Hepatitis, etc.

[Phantom Lord]

I don't want to share the road with drunk drivers either. But I'm not advocating the prohibition of alcohol.

[Phantom Lord]

Drugs can cause people to engage in risky behavior that leaves them open to catching sexually transmitted diseases such as: AIDS, Herpes, Hepatitis, etc.

As can alcohol. Far more than so than MJ.

[Destructor]

Thank you. I'll read it with an open mind. I appreciate the link!

[Destructor]

"Drugs can cause people to engage in risky behavior that leaves them open to catching sexually transmitted diseases such as: AIDS, Herpes, Hepatitis, etc."

"As can alcohol. Far more than so than MJ."

Not so Phantom. Alcohol and Marijuana both impair your thought process, and your ability to reason.

[Phantom Lord]

Yes, they both impair your thought process. That is not in question. But when it comes to reducing sexual inhibitions, alcohol is far more 'effective' when it comes to that.

[Destructor]

I read the study. Very interesting stuff! I think that blows this argument that Marijuana has no effect on driving, or reaction time. However, I agree with your premise that alcohol does impair you more than pot. The study that you sited proves it.

[Destructor]

So, I guess that means alcohol is actually a better aphrodisiac than pot! Interesting. I hope Atomic Vomit is paying attention.

[Phantom Lord]

Big difference between an aphrodisiac and something that reduces your mental capcity to the point that you willingly engage in risky behaviour that you wouldnt engage in if you hadnt been drinking.

Last I checked, the favored tool of college guys to get girls in the sack was alcohol. Not pot. While used in conjunction may work even better, but when only one is ingested, alcohol would be the way to go.

[tacticalogic]

I read the study. Very interesting stuff! I think that blows this argument that Marijuana has no effect on driving, or reaction time. However, I agree with your premise that alcohol does impair you more than pot. The study that you sited proves it.

While we're on different sides as far as decrim/legalization are concerned, I don't see making absolute assertions in either direction as constructive. As far as driving impairment goes, they're just now looking at the impairment levels caused by under-DUI levels of alcohol in combination with many OTC drugs and finding that the impairment level may be as bad as that from DWI levels of alcohol. IMHO, someone trying to talk on a cell phone in a car full of screaming kids can be just as dangerous as a drunk.