Research helps dispel marijuana myths

Sober Talk ^ | Thursday, August 1, 2002 | By BECKY CLARK, MSW, CSW

[Behind Liberal Lines]

As we endeavor toward a more lucid and informed discussion of substance abuse, let's deconstruct the mystique of marijuana and recognize it for the dangerous drug that it is.

Marijuana is a substance that's worthy of our concern. It is the most prevalent of all illicit drugs used in the country. The 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that 34 percent of Americans have used marijuana in their lifetime and 5 percent are current users.

[philman_36]

I'm against legalization because:
I'll pay the medical bills (through taxes and insurance premiums) of those who are irresponsible
You pay the medical bills for welfare recepients, illegal immigrants and others already. No difference.
My family and I are in physical danger from inebriated fools
Your family has been and will continue to be in physical danger from fools inebriated on alcohol. No change.
Legalized pot will coarsen the culture
Our culture is coarsened by worse things than marijuna. Come out of your closet and pray.
It's just more temptation to those who are weak or uncertain about their values
Lots of thing are "temptations". Pamela Anderson in a bikini for example...
Some loathsome people will be made millionaires.
Loathsome people are already millionaires.

You're a riot!

[headsonpikes]

"H-bomb"??????

You consider describing you as 'provincial and inexperienced' is a rhetorical H-bomb????

Ribbon clerk, just as I first surmised.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

I'm happy to pay for prison time; as I see it I either pay for prison for them, or pay for the societal havoc they wreck. If I have to pay for one or the other, I'll pay to lock them up.

You're happy to pay $XX,XXX per annum to keep locked up a person whose only crime was possessing marijuana? Boy, used car salesmen must grin from ear to ear whenever you walk on the lot.

[Scourge of God]

You must be a scholar and a gentleman (or lady) and I appreciate that. Perhaps this comes down to a culture issue. I want to live in a certain kind of world, and am willing to proselyte for that. You seem to have the same desire. Neither of us is evil, or wrong.

We just have differing visions.

Scourge

[laredo44]

Reworded" or how about being so drunk that your family suffers from your "detached existence" or your job loss because of your inablility to be productive at work",

Re-worded still further, how about being so programmed with religion you slip under the control of a cult and you family suffers as you drink the poisoned Kool Aid or "transport" yourself onto the Hale Bopp comet?

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Neither of us is evil, or wrong. We just have differing visions.

He doesn't want to throw people in the slammer for non-crimes. You do. Major difference.

[Scourge of God]

I'm against legalization because: I'll pay the medical bills (through taxes and insurance premiums) of those who are irresponsible You pay the medical bills for welfare recepients, illegal immigrants and others already. No difference. My family and I are in physical danger from inebriated fools Your family has been and will continue to be in physical danger from fools inebriated on alcohol. No change. Legalized pot will coarsen the culture Our culture is coarsened by worse things than marijuna. Come out of your closet and pray. It's just more temptation to those who are weak or uncertain about their values Lots of thing are "temptations". Pamela Anderson in a bikini for example... Some loathsome people will be made millionaires. Loathsome people are already millionaires. You're a riot!

Well, just to help you out, part of being conservative is seeing the value and worth of things "as they are" and not wanting to jump at every change or ill-conceived idea that flies out of some fool's head. Thus, I believe that allowing this change would be bad, for the reason I listed.

Your response indicated you believe that thing wouldn't change. Is this the best you can do? Things won't change for the worse? That is no comfort, and offers no persuasion whatsoever.

I'm still on the ramparts, holding back the barbarians.

[WyldKard]

You must be a scholar and a gentleman (or lady) and I appreciate that. Perhaps this comes down to a culture issue. I want to live in a certain kind of world, and am willing to proselyte for that. You seem to have the same desire. Neither of us is evil, or wrong.

Gee, that's probably the nicest compliment I've ever been paid on this board, and I thank you. And yes...I'll admit, tempers and passions flare high on this topic from both sides (and I am guilty as charged of flying off the handle on many an occasion.)

I think a lot of the anti-WoD passion comes from anger, pure, hot anger at the corruption and excesses, the sheer chicanery and pure, unmitigated evil shown by people like Asa Hutchinson and John Waters. The abuse of "asset siezure laws" the innocent civilians killed in many a botched no-knock raid. I could go on about the evils of the Federal Government. And then to see some people on this very board SUPPORT those actions (not you, other people :)...it polarizes folks, to be sure.

We just have differing visions.

Well, if all I could get you to agree on is that the Federal WoD must end, that I would be happy to call that a mutual victory, and to call you an ally in that battle.

[Scourge of God]

He doesn't want to throw people in the slammer for non-crimes. You do. Major difference.

One man's "non-crime" is another man's felony. You'd do well to realize that not everyone sees things as clearly and as simply as you apparently do.

[laredo44]

do i think one is better off without it, yes i do.

Do you think one is better off without the choice or without the substance? In other words, is a person who can legally choose whether he or she will consume a substance better or worse off than someone who is without the substance because they haven't the choice?

[Scourge of God]

I think a lot of the anti-WoD passion comes from anger, pure, hot anger at the corruption and excesses, the sheer chicanery and pure, unmitigated evil shown by people like Asa Hutchinson and John Waters. The abuse of "asset siezure laws" the innocent civilians killed in many a botched no-knock raid. I could go on about the evils of the Federal Government. And then to see some people on this very board SUPPORT those actions (not you, other people :)...it polarizes folks, to be sure.

Regarding the abuse of asset seizure laws, I voted for a constitutional amendment here in Utah to repel such laws. I know there are problems with the WOD, there are just certain "cures" suggested that I'm not willing to support.

[philman_36]

I'm still on the ramparts, holding back the barbarians.
You're the enemy inside the fortress awaiting the opportunity to lower the drawbridge for your cohorts during the confusion at apex of the conflict.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

One man's "non-crime" is another man's felony. You'd do well to realize that not everyone sees things as clearly and as simply as you apparently do.

On what basis is smoking or possessing marijuana criminal?

[Scourge of God]

You're the enemy inside the fortress awaiting the opportunity to lower the drawbridge for your cohorts during the confusion at apex of the conflict.

Awww, you're just saying that...

[philman_36]

Awww, you're just saying that...
Awww, you're just doing that...

[philman_36]

Or should I say...Awww, you're doing just that...

[Scourge of God]

On what basis is smoking or possessing marijuana criminal?

Well, I suppose on the basis that a legislature here and there has passed such a law.

One could also make the argument that God has given us physical bodies, and has decreed that they are temples. Therefore, following God's commandment would mean you don't smoke stuff.

There is also the moral argument that inebriating yourself makes you a menace to society.

Finally, there is the philosophical reasoning that if you have to escape reality, then you should change reality, not alter your perceptions.

[liberallarry]

I'll ignore the distorted ad-hominems.

You haven't covered anything. You're already paying for prison time, some of which is punishment for genuinly bad behavior. You have to show that societal havoc will increase dramatically if pot is legalized, and that it will be more costly than the drug war which, itself, is wreaking societal havoc in many ways. Show your stuff.

There's something else. Every human action alters reality. Otherwise, what would be the point? A night's sleep, a good meal, an unexpected smile, a small gift. All can profoundly alter a person's outlook. So it's not alteration of reality that bothers you but only a particular type; the drug experience in general and marijuana in particular. Yet your posts show you have very little understanding of it. Rather you're motivated by fear. Fear that drugs will unloose the demons and destroy your world. In that way you seem remarkably close to Anslinger.

[robjna]

interesting question. I beleive everyone has the right to choice concerning their own body, as long they do not become a burden to me when looking for care from abuse or desease. Do i think some one is better off without having the choice of using marijuana, i think so, but it would present other choices which may not be any better. i don't think i answered your question