Nevada says no to pot

[Guest LooseCannon]

The fact of the matter is that for at least one generation, the nation will overly abuse it and it will be a MESS.

I'm not concerned by this. I've known many hardcore potheads who are functioning, productive members of society. I don't think any MESS will result from over-use.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Define functioning, productive members of society.

[Guest LooseCannon]

Functioning, productive members of society - One with a full time job, who supports himself and his family, and pays taxes.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Okay then, define "pothead"

 

My definition of it is someone who consistently takes time out of his day to smoke pot; whether it be alone or with friends. He is often stoned off of his ass and doesn't know what the hell is going on half of the time. His motivation is lessened because all he really wants to do is get high.

 

That's what we would have if pot was suddenly legalized. Everyone would NOT be responsible with it.

[Guest Insanityman]

Well... I spoke to my Uncle, who is a police officer, and he said that if pot was made legal it'd be very messed up at first. Then once everything settles in it'd be a tad better and they can start focusing on cases more than potheads.

 

I don't have much of an opinion, I don't do pot... though I might later on if made legal.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

You're forgetting one thing, outcast 11, some people will simply choose not to do it.

[Guest DrTom]

I choose not to use drugs now, and that decision wouldn't be affected if they suddenly became legal. It's just my view that the government shouldn't protect its citizens from themselves, nor should they have any say in what someone does in their own home, as long as no one else is affected.

 

I think crack use/possession should be an executible(sp) offense, i know thats harsh, but I promise you crack use would go down.

Murder is a capital crime in most places, and people are still killing one another indiscriminately. I don't think death for smoking the rock would be a deterrent, since the people using it are already killing themselves.

 

Besides, haven't you ever heard Chris Rock talk about "the good side of crack?"

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

More people will choose to use it, though, simply because it's legal.

 

Hell, I don't drink either, but does that mean most people choose not to even though it's legal?

[Guest The Metal Maniac]

A lot of people don't drink.

 

Initally, I think a lot of people are going to run to the stores to get pot, should it be legalized, just to try it. But that'll most likely die down eventually.

[Guest Olympic Slam]

More people will choose to use it, though, simply because it's legal.

 

Hell, I don't drink either, but does that mean most people choose not to even though it's legal?

This is probably true but I doubt it would result in an epidemic. The thing I'd be most woried about is the message it sends to kids. After all, if something is legal than it surely is acceptable right?

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

As far as epidemic level, I'm not sure it would get that bad. However, I'm sure we'd have something like twice as many motor deaths due to stoners driving around like idiots or something like that.

 

I'm positive as it becomes more mainstream, the problem will lessen greatly. I also agree that this will have to happen eventually. The long term benefits of legalizing it far outweigh the "benefits" of the failing drug war. However, I am also positive that the initial influence will be horrible and we will have many problems.

[Guest Kibagami]

Besides, haven't you ever heard Chris Rock talk about "the good side of crack?"

It helps you lose weight.

 

S.

[Guest TJH]

Pot also has as many carcinogens as cigarettes. Last time I checked, Snickers bars didn't cause lung cancer.

True, however no-one smokes enough pot to cause lung cancer.

 

Also, I'd predict that cigarette companies would probably get in to the business, seeing as it's pretty similar to cigarettes. In fact, a teacher of mine was saying some cigarette companies have bought large amounts of land in Sout America so that when pot is legalized they can go in to business straight away. He also said they have registered names. That is 2nd hand info, but it seems pretty reliable.

[Guest NoCalMike]

When the government finds a way to make all the profits from pot, then it will be legalized. I am almost certain that even if Nevada legalized it, John Facistcroft would somehow try to overturn it. Remember a couple years back, California voters voted and passed the bill to LEGALIZE medical marijuana, and in jumped Ashcroft to bitch and whine and remind us of how little Republicans want things controlled by the government.....oh wait, my mistake.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Natural sugar is fine, man made, shoved into everything from candy bars to cereal is not. Sugar has an affect on the body and alters the brains chemical nature, I think. Doesnt that make it a drug?

 

Pot is not worse then sugar, pot puts you to sleep, sugar and caffiene keep you awake, thats bad, but thats more of an opinion then scientific fact.

First of all, sugar is sugar. Be it from a beet or cane, it's all the same. What you're probably thinking of are artificial sweeteners, which indeed are nothing but chemicals and are probably worse for you than the granulated stuff in the long run, regardless of calorie count. The definition of a drug goes as such. "Any substance that is not a food, that is taken into the body to produce a certain effect."

 

Basically a medicine or a narcotic. Pot happens to be both. Sugar is neither.

 

Caffeine's addiction is fairly mild, and the only negative effects I know of off hand are the usual stuff encountered with any stimulant, albeit on a very mild scale when compared to amphetamines and stuff. Jitteriness, restlessness, too much energy, peeing a lot... shit like that. Nothing dangerous. Withdrawl symptoms include a headache. There ya go,

 

 

Pot is way worse for your system than sugar and caffeine. It gums up the respiratory system, which is no secret. IT'S SMOKE. Doesn't matter if it's from tobacco or pot or whatever, it is not healthy to inhale smoke. Cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, etc. Not to mention the fact that it can produce a psychological dependency. Not a physical one like heroin or coke that affects the CNS, though. If you're a chronic smoker, there's things like memory problems and reproductive problems that come with it. Withdrawl symptoms can, but don't always include depression, sleeplessness, attention problems, etc. Nothing that doesn't go away with time. Keep in mind that's only with habitual use. If you smoke a joint on Saturday, you're not going to be lying awake depressed on sunday.

 

The problems associated with habitual use don't mean anything though when you look at the positives. Just for medical use alone, it's proven to stimulate appetites, help people sleep, cure chronic pain, ease nausea, calm people down. Face it, some people just need to smoke a damn bowl.

 

Give it a decade or so. It will be legal. Maybe not in every state, but in the majority.

[Guest LooseCannon]

Okay then, define "pothead"

 

My definition of it is someone who consistently takes time out of his day to smoke pot; whether it be alone or with friends. He is often stoned off of his ass and doesn't know what the hell is going on half of the time. His motivation is lessened because all he really wants to do is get high.

 

That's what we would have if pot was suddenly legalized. Everyone would NOT be responsible with it.

I define hardcore pothead, the term I used, as someone who smokes it at least once a day, often more.

 

For all the talk about how it saps ones motivation, and this is true, it does not greatly impact people's lives in a negative way. I'm not saying it doesn't negatively impact people, but it's really not even as bad of an impact as alcohol. Personally I don't smoke it, because I don't enjoy it that much. I like drinking better. But I think it's obvious to anyone who has ever smoked marijuana or knows a lot of people that have that one can smoke it regularly and still be a functioning, productive member of society.

 

Well... I spoke to my Uncle, who is a police officer, and he said that if pot was made legal it'd be very messed up at first. Then once everything settles in it'd be a tad better and they can start focusing on cases more than potheads.

 

I'm not sure which side your taking with this post, but I wouldn't consider a policeman an expert on the initial consequences of legalizing marijuana.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Also, I'd predict that cigarette companies would probably get in to the business, seeing as it's pretty similar to cigarettes. In fact, a teacher of mine was saying some cigarette companies have bought large amounts of land in Sout America so that when pot is legalized they can go in to business straight away. He also said they have registered names. That is 2nd hand info, but it seems pretty reliable.

 

God i hope not, I dont want to ever endorse tobacco smoking.

 

AoO you say caffeine's addiction is fairly mild then why is it so many people have to drink pop on a daily basis? I think its a bigger epedemic(sp) then you imagine.

 

"In 1997, Americans spent over $54 billion on soft drinks. The industry produced 14 billion gallons of soft drinks, twice as much as in 1974. That is equivalent to 576 12-ounce servings per year or 1.6 12-ounce cans per day for every man, woman, and child.

 

12- to 19-year-old boys who consume soda pop drink an average of 2 12-ounce sodas per day (868 cans per year). Girls drink about one-fourth less."

http://www.cspinet.org/sodapop/highlights.htm

[Guest LooseCannon]

I read a study that said caffeine is as addictive as heroin, and as someone who NEEDS~! two pots of coffee a day, I tend to believe it.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

I tend to disagree about your stance on the motivation factor. Being a college student, I've seen many a bright person get completely sapped away by pot... they turn into a complete slacker and get bad grades when they obviously have such potential... and they used it before they started smoking. Things like this can ruin a person's life.

[Guest LooseCannon]

No, I agree that it does sap a person's motivation to a degree, but I can't agree that it's greatly responsible for turning bright people into slackers. I know too many people who are doing way better than the average person, who smoke pot seemingly constantly. I can understand your point of view though, as I believe these people would be far more productive if they didn't do so much pot, but I just don't believe the doomspeak when it comes to the effects of marijuana or what will happen initially if legalized.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Everyone reacts to it differently. I dont get as creative as I used to when I smoke, but I mellow out alot more. And everyonce in a get while, I get weird muscle spasims(sp) if I smoke to much high quality suff, pot is strange

[Guest The Metal Maniac]

Cynical Profit: I don't think that just because people drink a lot of pop, means that they NEED pop.

 

I mean, a bunch of people drink juice too. Does that make it addictive?

 

I drink Coke every day - but I don't have to. I just like the tase.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

I used to drink Coke, root beer (Barq's, which has caffeine), Pepsi, etc. every day, but then I stopped simply because my dad forgot to buy some when he went out to the store. Within 2 days, I grew accustomed to having very little, if not any, caffeine in my system. Milk, chocolate milk, Gatorade, Kool-Aid, and the daily cup or two of tea. That's all I'd drink. And that's all I still drink.

 

So, was I addicted to caffeine? No. I just happened to like the flavor of the products it was in.

 

I know that if pot turned legal, I'd toke up now and then, but only on special occasions. Besides, with laws similar to those of drinking laws, and a ban on toking in public places and driving under the influence, I think there wouldn't be as much chaos as people seem to think. Plus, McDonald's would have increased business...

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Don't drink Coke you guys! The Pepsi Police will put you AWAY~!

[Guest The Metal Maniac]

Is there a fair way to test if someone is too stoned to drive though?

 

Like, at least with booze, we got the Breathalyzer. What can you do with weed, besides smell the guy and check how red their eyes are?

[Guest Karnage]

Is there a fair way to test if someone is too stoned to drive though?

 

Like, at least with booze, we got the Breathalyzer. What can you do with weed, besides smell the guy and check how red their eyes are?

They could test by seeing how much they giggle or eat or something.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

No you dont need to drink it, but without the caffiene you can suffer withdrawl syndromes. I drank pop for like 18 years straight then stopped. Worst week for sleepig I ever had. I just couldnt sleep because the lack of caffiene in my body made everything all out of whack. Try going a week without caffiene, not just pop, see how that feels. But caffiene is like all drugs, some people just react differently to it.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Is there a fair way to test if someone is too stoned to drive though?

 

Like, at least with booze, we got the Breathalyzer. What can you do with weed, besides smell the guy and check how red their eyes are?

It's seriously not hard at all to tell if someone's stoned.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Easiest way to tell if someones stoned, ask them a question and then ask them to repeat it about a minute later.

[Guest The Metal Maniac]

I realize it's not hard to tell if someone's stoned, but then again, you're allowed to drive with a certain amount of booze in yer blood. If the same were to apply to weed, how would they know?

 

And I'm sure that there are people who can pass for sober whilst they're high, if they try to.

 

All I'm saying is, there's no real scientific way to see exactly how stoned someone is, and should it become legal, I wonder if they'd need something that would tell them for people like drivers, etc.