[pt447]

Originally Posted by Josh3239

I am very open to an intelligient discussion about it.

That is my biggest problem with drvgs of any kind is the ritual you speak of. I have co workers who go out almost every night and get hammered. The next morning they are complaining about how bad they feel yet they do it again later that week. I have friends who use marijuana and it seems their ultimate goal is to just smoke more. If they get money, they should buy marijuana. If they have free time, they should smoke marijuana. If they wanna have fun, they should smoke marijuana. To me it seems very counter producive if society behaved like that.

I am biased, because I have never touched the stuff. Except on rare occassion alcohol. From someone on the outside it doesn't look like a healthy way to live. I don't care how you slice it, anything that you put in your mouth and burn is bad for you.

the thing is, you can't link "socializing" with weed. i smoke pretty much every day. i get home from work, do some ****... go to dinner, whatever. write a bit, read... then i'll do my thing and play some Xbox LIVE till nighty-night. i don't hurt anyone. i don't complain, and it doesn't hamper my life in any way.

the people you speak of, are trapped in some social habit they can't break. they're addicted to the lifestyle, or the habit of "going out". just like alcohol and caffine, marijuana doesn't effect everyone nearly the same as cigarettes. people jonesing for a butt is an intense individual i kid you not...

marijauan is just like a strong ciagerette. it has been so villainized and missunderstood--and poorly reported on--that most people think it's akin to cocaine or heroin, or that its' even remotely like being drunk. it's just not that way.

[Josh3239]

But you are like that because of current legislation, correct? What happens if the prohibition on marijuana is repealed? We both know that it won't be something that you do privately. I guess part of it is MY ignorance of marijuana, but is it safe to drive under the influence of marijuana? Does marijuana not slow reflexes and thinking that requires you to drive? Would you want your baby sitter getting baked while they are watching your very young child? Would it be safe to say, get baked and then go swimming?

What is your opinion on the gateway theory?

[pt447]

Originally Posted by Josh3239

But you are like that because of current legislation, correct? What happens if the prohibition on marijuana is repealed? We both know that it won't be something that you do privately. I guess part of it is MY ignorance of marijuana, but is it safe to drive under the influence of marijuana? Does marijuana not slow reflexes and thinking that requires you to drive? Would you want your baby sitter getting baked while they are watching your very young child? Would it be safe to say, get baked and then go swimming?

What is your opinion on the gateway theory?

i think it's safe. i'm not just being ignorant, but i drive perfectly well on marijuana. i'm very serious. of course, to say so is a taboo...

and the babysitter comment... if it's a 14 year old, smoking weed, no. but if it's a responsible adult, sure. just not phsyically in her face. it should be a 21 and over thing... and it's not like that babysitter couldn't be smoking a bowl while your gone now anywa... right???

so legalizing it won't make it more available, and jsut because it's legal, more kids wont do it. kids don't do things cause they dont' want to, not cause it's not abailable...

[swpthleg]

indeed legalizing (and probably, taxing the hell out of) pot would significantly reduce our deficit

there would still be penalties for endangering others etc. while high, just like there's drunk driving laws. it's not like the moment it became legal, everyone would run out, find some, and blaze up

i still think the most dangerous substance out there is alcohol. I think we'll all agree that we did dumber things and put ourselves at risk far more whilst wasted than high.