Marijuana, your opinion's

[qwertsta]

Hey people i was just wondering what your thought's are on marijuana. Do you think it should be legalized or decriminalized?
Science has proved that it is safer then alcohol and cigarettes.
Here is a list of positives of marijuana
*Get's you high
*Relaxes and calm's you
*Reduces pain from cancer
*Reducus pain from Aids's
*Can prevent lung cancer
*Can be used to relieve glaucoma and certain neurological illnesses such as epilepsy, migraine and bipolar disorder
*Can stall Alzheimer's desease (demensia)
*Increased awareness of sensation, including visual stimulation, music, taste, and sexual pleasure

Marijuana long term use does not cause lung cancer and can prevent it
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...501729_pf.html

Marijuana can stall alzheimer's http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4286435.stm?ls

Here is some negative's on marijuana
*Varying amounts of paranoia and anxiety in some users
*Loss of coordination and distorted sense of time while under the influence
*Impairment of short-term memory in some users while under the influence
*Is said to increase the risk of Schizophrenia but not back up on scientific evidence
*It's illegal

Newer research has also shown that cannabis use is generally higher among sufferers of schizophrenia, but causality has not been established and confirmed that sustained early-adolescent cannabis use among certain genetically predisposed individuals has an elevated correlation with certain mental illness outcomes, ranging from psychotic episodes to clinical schizophrenia

Here is a few fact's and myth's:

MYTH: MARIJUANA IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. Long term marijuana users experience physical dependence and withdrawal, and often need professional drug treatment to break their marijuana habits.

FACT: Most people who smoke marijuana smoke it only occasionally. A small minority of Americans - less than 1 percent - smoke marijuana on a daily basis. An even smaller minority develop a dependence on marijuana. Some people who smoke marijuana heavily and frequently stop without difficulty. Others seek help from drug treatment professionals. Marijuana does not cause physical dependence. If people experience withdrawal symptoms at all, they are remarkably mild.

MYTH: MARIJUANA IS A GATEWAY DRUG. Even if marijuana itself causes minimal harm, it is a dangerous substance because it leads to the use of "harder drugs" like heroin, LSD, and cocaine.

FACT: Marijuana does not cause people to use hard drugs. What the gateway theory presents as a causal explanation is a statistic association between common and uncommon drugs, an association that changes over time as different drugs increase and decrease in prevalence.

MYTH: MARIJUANA KILLS BRAIN CELLS. Used over time, marijuana permanently alters brain structure and function, causing memory loss, cognitive impairment, personality deterioration, and reduced productivity.

FACT: None of the medical tests currently used to detect brain damage in humans have found harm from marijuana, even from long term high-dose use. An early study reported brain damage in rhesus monkeys after six months exposure to high concentrations of marijuana smoke. In a recent, more carefully conducted study, researchers found no evidence of brain abnormality in monkeys that were forced to inhale the equivalent of four to five marijuana cigarettes every day for a year.

MYTH: MARIJUANA CAN CAUSE PERMANENT MENTAL ILLNESS. Among adolescents, even occasional marijuana use may cause psychological damage. During intoxication, marijuana users become irrational and often behave erratically.

FACT: There is no convincing scientific evidence that marijuana causes psychological damage or mental illness in either teenagers or adults. Some marijuana users experience psychological distress following marijuana ingestion, which may include feelings of panic, anxiety, and paranoia.

MYTH: MARIJUANA IS MORE POTENT TODAY THAN IN THE PAST. Adults who used marijuana in the 1960s and 1970s fail to realize that when today's youth use marijuana they are using a much more dangerous drug.

FACT: When today's youth use marijuana, they are using the same drug used by youth in the 1960s and 1970s. A small number of low-THC sample sized by the Drug Enforcement Administration are used to calculate a dramatic increase in potency. However, these samples were not representative of the marijuana generally available to users during this era. Potency data from the early 1980s to the present are more reliable, and they show no increase in the average THC content of marijuana. Even if marijuana potency were to increase, it would not necessarily make the drug more dangerous. Marijuana that varies quite substantially in potency produces similar psychoactive effects.

IMO Marijuana should be legalized for personal use, and should go under the same law's with alcohol eg. Have to be 18+ to consume and purchase, illegal to drive while under the influence. I also believe if it is to be legalized you should be allowed to grow it your self.
The only reason why i can see marijuana still being illegal is because the government will have a hard time taxing it as many people are not going to buy it they are going to grow it.

So what are your opinion's about marijuana and do you think it should be legalized?


I got the majority of the info from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana
And if you want to see the whole list of the myth's and fact's visit http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/

[greenfoam]

Do what you want since it doesn't affect me but I grew up with dozens of people that smoked it without fail every day for more than 10 years. Now every single one of them is mentally screwed up and in a very big way that's the only advice I have for you. Also I think it should be legal so we can see what happens when the human race goes downhill

[qwertsta]

Smoking daily for 10 year's would be just like drinking everyday for 10 year's, will it mess you up? Yes. Its called drug abusing. Tho my mate's dad who is in his 40's has been a daily smoker since he was like 9 or 10 and he's doing alright.

[VN_Luke]

Do what you want since it doesn't affect me but I grew up with dozens of people that smoked it without fail every day for more than 10 years. Now every single one of them is mentally screwed up and in a very big way that's the only advice I have for you. Also I think it should be legal so we can see what happens when the human race goes downhill

hehe

do drugs make you crazy? or do crazy people take drugs?

[greenfoam]

I think you will find most if not everyone that smokes it long term are daily smokers (or several times a day), alcohol is just a poision that your makes your brain go spastic while it's trying to get rid of it thats another story, it only damages you slowly over time due to the little bits of damage it does each time you take it, it wont change who you are, only slow you down like being a boxer and getting your head bashed in once a weekend.

Marijuana on the other hand rewires your brain and it never changes back, MYTH my ass that's what I say

[greenfoam]

hehe

do drugs make you crazy? or do crazy people take drugs?

Crazy people don't need to take drugs because they are allready wired up wrong from the start, like me :P

[qwertsta]

Marijuana on the other hand rewires your brain and it never changes back, MYTH my ass that's what I say

Please explaine I have been smoking for a few year's now, i have never done it daily and at the most it is once during the weekend. I also function normally. I can think of many more thing's what will screw your body up more than marijuana and a good example is fast food AKA Macdonald's.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Please explaine I have been smoking for a few year's now, i have never done it daily and at the most it is once during the weekend. I also function normally. I can think of many more thing's what will screw your body up more than marijuana and a good example is fast food AKA Macdonald's.

lol you gotta be jokin me. Tell that to my uncle who has schizophrenia thanks to marijuana. It is the root of all evil when it comes to drugs.

I cant believe you just said Mcdonalds is worse for you than marijuana. Look at all the damage marijuana is doing to people at the moment... then look at wat Mcdonalds is doing... Considering how many hundreds of millions of people that eat Mcdonads every week compared to the minority that smoke marijuana...

[sixshooter]

Opinions...ok

For starters like Greenfoam, I also have known people who abused hemp when younger and are are now suffering significant mental problems.

You may think the law is wrong and source all the pro-hemp stuff you like and side with those who want to legalise it, but the truth be known it is associated with mental disorders and thats why it's illegal.

People can shit-on experiments and studies all they like...saying things like "oh the studies dont take into account possible succeptability to metal disorders in the group before and therefore you cant say pot-smoking will cause mental problems", etc, etc. But that is really just shit-stirring in the pot, and is testamount to saying but you can't say yada yada this and that as it may be Solar/ Lunar influences which caused the effect. The truth is you can't take everything into consideration in a study. Scientists can only look for associations, the possible causes and make hypothesises until they can't be disproven in which their hypothesis then become theories or facts. But as I see it when a study of people in Sweden concluded that there was an "association" of 6 times more individuals suffering with schizophrenia that used hemp when younger compared against a group who didn't use hemp what more proof do you need ?

http://www.mth.kcl.ac.uk/~streater/cannabis.html

I got that link off one of your source links.

[shaggerz]

I have never tried it and will never as long as it is illegal

but I do believe it should be legalised and I believe it is less harmful than alcohol or nicotine.

[qwertsta]

I cant believe you just said Mcdonalds is worse for you than marijuana. Look at all the damage marijuana is doing to people at the moment... then look at wat Mcdonalds is doing... Considering how many hundreds of millions of people that eat Mcdonads every week compared to the minority that smoke marijuana...

Look at all the damage marijuana is doing? What exactly is it doing? I havent read anything or seen anything about it in the past 6 month's? What is that disease what is rising at an alarming rate? It's called obesity, what does obesity lead to diabete's, heart failure's etc. What causes obesity? Fast food aka macdonald's. Australia is the fattest country and it's still rising. What kill's more people, obesity or marijuana? deffinantly not marijuana as there has never been one reported case of death


You do know that 1 in every 100 people will contract schizophrenia once in their life time and the majority of people wont know they have it. Schizophrenia can be brought on from stress,hereditary,depression,diabetes,high blood pressure,child hood abuse.

[vpkiwi]

There is nothing wrong with getting stoned. I have been smoking every day since i was 13 and im 28 now. My health is great, I have a good job and I own a nice Holden I have had the displeasure of meeting and flatting with some people who drink to much and I think that if you are to have a drug to worry about it should be alcohol. The problems with booze far out weigh the problems with weed and anyway when was the last time the cops had to be called to a stoned man beating up his wife and kids? The americans tried prohibition and it didnt work so unfortunatly we just have to accept that people are goin to do these things to enjoy life.

[MzTomboy]

marijuana does not CAUSE schizophrenia. It CAN bring out schizophrenia early in people when they are going to get it anyway...

[flyen]

i hate marijuana
has stuffed up too many of my mate's lives

i use to use a bit of it and never realy liked it but did it anyway.

since i stoped using it altogether i feel so much better. I never really like the high that much anyway, it always made me parnoyed and feel out of control. I couldnt interact with my mates or meet new ppl because when i got stoned it was like my brain would stop working and i couldnt talk, and most of the time hear what other ppl were saying.

i dont mind other ppl smoking it or smoking it around me, thats there choice but i will never touch the stuff again, in the long run it makes me feel worse.

i'm happy with getting blind on alcohol atm because the hangover doesnt make me feel mentally shit just a headache.

it has so many bad side affects, and if you are mentally strong you dont need it to feel good anyway

[Troy711]

you need to move to canberra... it is decriminalised here. that means you can grow it for perso use and smoke it... but if you are caught with too much you only get a fine and it doesnt go on your criminal record... or something

[qwertsta]

i hate marijuana
has stuffed up too many of my mate's lives

i use to use a bit of it and never realy liked it but did it anyway.

since i stoped using it altogether i feel so much better. I never really like the high that much anyway, it always made me parnoyed and feel out of control. I couldnt interact with my mates or meet new ppl because when i got stoned it was like my brain would stop working and i couldnt talk, and most of the time hear what other ppl were saying.

i dont mind other ppl smoking it or smoking it around me, thats there choice but i will never touch the stuff again, in the long run it makes me feel worse.

i'm happy with getting blind on alcohol atm because the hangover doesnt make me feel mentally shit just a headache.

it has so many bad side affects, and if you are mentally strong you dont need it to feel good anyway

I guess it has different effect's on each person... For me i go into a relaxed and calm state, laugh my ass off, dont stop talking. I love the high, i love tripping, i love listening to music and i love how you wake up the next day feeling normal. I rarely drink anymore, i hate the side affect's, and i hate waking up the next day feeling like absolute shit. It all come's down to personal opinion's. I know a few people who are pretty messed up from drug's tho i am not going to say it was marijuana when they have been doing ectacy, speed, acid and coke. One of them almost OD on acid. He has never done any other drug's again beside's alcohol and marijuana.

[gopher]

you need to move to canberra... it is decriminalised here.

and thats why the idiots that run the country are there

[1991_Vn2nV]

Look at all the damage marijuana is doing? What exactly is it doing? I havent read anything or seen anything about it in the past 6 month's? What is that disease what is rising at an alarming rate? It's called obesity, what does obesity lead to diabete's, heart failure's etc. What causes obesity? Fast food aka macdonald's. Australia is the fattest country and it's still rising. What kill's more people, obesity or marijuana? deffinantly not marijuana as there has never been one reported case of death


You do know that 1 in every 100 people will contract schizophrenia once in their life time and the majority of people wont know they have it. Schizophrenia can be brought on from stress,hereditary,depression,diabetes,high blood pressure,child hood abuse.

Schizophrenia is partly caused by enlarged ventricles within the brain (ALL schizophrenic patients have enlarged ventricles). This can be hereditary to a degree in the point that there is a much higher risk of relatives having enlarged ventricles also.
Studies show that schizophrenia kills the brain cells around these ventricles which allows them to grow, ESPECIALLY in childhood and adolescence when these ventricles are still undergoing growth.

Schizophrenia is not simply a psychological condition... It is a Psychological disease brought on by biological issues.

HOW these ventricles cause schizophrenia is unknown, but all schizophrenic patients have enlarged ventricles.

I've spent alot of time looking into this because of my uncle whilst studying psychology at uni.

[qwertsta]

you need to move to canberra... it is decriminalised here. that means you can grow it for perso use and smoke it... but if you are caught with too much you only get a fine and it doesnt go on your criminal record... or something

I heard it is decriminalized every where in australia besides nsw and qld? I heard in other states you can have up to 32g?

[beeks]

It is a disgusting habbit,and talk about maccas and obesity.Smoking that shit gives you the munchies,causing over indulgence and rooting your motabilism.You are also prone to pigging out on junk food aka maccas,and putting on a few more kilo's aka fat.You could end up morbidly obese and be stuck in your room,flat out on the bed,only able to move your arms and legs.And btw the negatives outweigh the positives.

[Outlaw Torn]

hehe

do drugs make you crazy? or do crazy people take drugs?

that is a very good point.
Personally i dont have a problem with weed, i would rather be around ppl smokin that than other drugs that are popping up. Besides, alot of ppl already use marijuana anyway, y not legalize it?

[Outlaw Torn]

It is a disgusting habbit,and talk about maccas and obesity.Smoking that shit gives you the munchies,causing over indulgence and rooting your motabilism.You are also prone to pigging out on junk food aka maccas,and putting on a few more kilo's aka fat.You could end up morbidly obese and be stuck in your room,flat out on the bed,only able to move your arms and legs.And btw the negatives outweigh the positives.

Also, its a persons choice to lounge around when they are not high, if they cant get off there asses to lose those "few more kilos of fat" then its their problem. I think Playstaitions and Xboxs play a bigger part than weed.
just my opinion

[beeks]

that is a very good point.
Personally i dont have a problem with weed, i would rather be around ppl smokin that than other drugs that are popping up. Besides, alot of ppl already use marijuana anyway, y not legalize it?

Not much else to do in your neck of the woods,other than the obvious of course.

[bangers]

weed speeds up your metabolism so you don't get fat from getting the munchies. it does bring on schizophrenia but only in some people, my ex-flatmate did but his father was nuts too. it should be decriminalised so people can grow it and take out the financial problems of buying it, plus the theft cos of people not being able to afford it. also if people grow it themselves then they won't be going schizo and stuff from the harsh chemicals that are in pot you buy now. people will go back to smoking bush instead of hydro so all the issues of brain damage, schizophrenia and everything else will become non-existant. it is a good way to relax after a hard week at work, better than getting blind and damaging your liver etc. i used to smoke but if i ever took it up again it would only be bush as i don't like the effects (paranoia) and after-effects (mood swings) caused by the chemicals used in the growing process. most people who grow it at home use chemicals but as they're not in a rush to sell it they take the time to flush the chemicals out before harvest unlike people who grow it for profit, who don't want to wait another week or two for harvest. decriminalize it i say and there will be less hassles overall, it's not going to make the issue any worse is it. and it will free up a lot of police officers who can then go and track real criminals. And the theft rate will be down anyway so there's more available police. win - win situation.

[VS Omega]

... it also leads to crime, people who are addicted don't think straight, and if they don't have enough cash to pay for a hit they could potentially steal stuff - cars, stereos, tvs etc. and it'll end up in the dealers house or Crime Converters (cashies). I've also seen first hand the negative effect it can have on people and agree with those who say it shouldn't be legalised.

Good on the cops for bringing out drug testing in booze buses, I know I for one wouldn't want to be driving on the roads with someone who's so high their judgemental skills are off or they get a confidence boost and try to be a hero.. screw that

God knows there's already enough idiots out there, if not in their hotted up cars being fully sick then walking around the streets starting shit