Originally posted by Aargh
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I attended WSU in the late '60's and early '70's. I was a dormie - lived in Brennan, Wheatshocker and Fairmount. I missed some time for participation in a military exercise active at that time. When I came back from my military participation, I don't know about the commuter students, the live-at-home part-time adult students, or the frats, but the dorms and the renters south of campus ...the non-users were the minority. I knew A LOT of pot smokers.
I've probably known over 100 pot smokers who quit. I've never seen any evidence of withdrawl. Some struggled a bit because they liked getting stoned and didn't want to give up that relaxation and enjoyment, but it wsa nothing like quitting smoking or an alcoholic giving up booze.
Take a 20-year study on almost anything and you're going to find problems. Welbutrin, Chantix, oxycontin, Lyrica, and a host of other common medications are brutal over a 20-year usage. Tobacco and alcohol have no beneficial qualities and a plethora of negative effects, but they're legal. Do a 20-year study on those and you'll find horror stories. The primary side effect of marijuana is a feeling of relaxation and happiness. I'm willing to give that choice to people, but I expect them to be responsible in pursuing that. Just like I expect them to be responsible in their use of other drugs they use for the same effect - alcohol.
In my experience, I'd much sooner be around bunch of people who've been smoking pot than be around a bunch of people who've been drinking alcohol. The alcohol consumers are more prone to erratic and violent behavior. The marijuanaa smokers are more likely to sit in a chair, listen to some music, say some things that make no sense, and from time to time laugh for no apparent reason.
I've given the topic considerable study and have some personal experience. Compared to alcohol, tobacco, heroin, cocaine, crack, ecstasy, and crystal meth, marijuana is relatively harmless. I say that even though I don't have experience with all of those.
By criminalizing pot, it is associated with meth, cocaine, and heroin. Teens are regularly exposed to marijuana and that is often their first illegal drug. Pot isn't the evil drug out of "Reefer Madness" that it's been made out to be and they are smart enough to figure that out. Pots' association with the hard drugs and the marketing of the hard drugs by the same dealers who sell pot is probably the major factor in marijuana being considered a gateway drug.
I've probably known over 100 pot smokers who quit. I've never seen any evidence of withdrawl. Some struggled a bit because they liked getting stoned and didn't want to give up that relaxation and enjoyment, but it wsa nothing like quitting smoking or an alcoholic giving up booze.
Take a 20-year study on almost anything and you're going to find problems. Welbutrin, Chantix, oxycontin, Lyrica, and a host of other common medications are brutal over a 20-year usage. Tobacco and alcohol have no beneficial qualities and a plethora of negative effects, but they're legal. Do a 20-year study on those and you'll find horror stories. The primary side effect of marijuana is a feeling of relaxation and happiness. I'm willing to give that choice to people, but I expect them to be responsible in pursuing that. Just like I expect them to be responsible in their use of other drugs they use for the same effect - alcohol.
In my experience, I'd much sooner be around bunch of people who've been smoking pot than be around a bunch of people who've been drinking alcohol. The alcohol consumers are more prone to erratic and violent behavior. The marijuanaa smokers are more likely to sit in a chair, listen to some music, say some things that make no sense, and from time to time laugh for no apparent reason.
I've given the topic considerable study and have some personal experience. Compared to alcohol, tobacco, heroin, cocaine, crack, ecstasy, and crystal meth, marijuana is relatively harmless. I say that even though I don't have experience with all of those.
By criminalizing pot, it is associated with meth, cocaine, and heroin. Teens are regularly exposed to marijuana and that is often their first illegal drug. Pot isn't the evil drug out of "Reefer Madness" that it's been made out to be and they are smart enough to figure that out. Pots' association with the hard drugs and the marketing of the hard drugs by the same dealers who sell pot is probably the major factor in marijuana being considered a gateway drug.
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