<strong>You know? This can't go on forever. Is it just because of the passivity of smokers that there hasn't been more done about it?</strong><hr></blockquote>
<a href="http://norml.org"; target="_blank">no</a>. and in many states they have weakened pot laws. in ny, possession of less than an ounce is punishable by up to $100 (first offense), or $250 (each offense after the first). its a citation, like a parking ticket. in some parts of nyc they dont even cite you for it (my friends and [ahem] i, have smoked jays walking along 2nd avenue). many people in law are still really fvcking stupid though.
I don't care if they legalize it (isn't going to affect me, really), but I wonder about how it would be treated/controlled in regards to driving, etc.
Would it been seen as the same or worse than drinking and driving?
They'd have to really toughen up and come down on those who caused accidents while driving high.
As long as you're home or at one location (or have a DD or whatever), I don't see it as being worse than alcohol.
But, like alcohol, it would have to be used responsibly. And, as we all very well know, alcohol is often NOT, so...
I think the stigma attached to it will probably keep it the way it is for a long, long time.
I don't do it anymore (never REALLY did much at all, to be totally honest), so I don't care one way or the other.
But I hate how stoned people act when you're not, so I'm not looking forward to trying to order a Subway sandwich or buy a lottery ticket from some dipshit who spent the afternoon blazing up and can't follow the most simple directions/questions.
"NO! I SAID I wanted a 6" tuna on whole wheat!"
"Huh? You want to tune my hole meat? Huuhhuhh! We don't have any chicken today..."
Yeah real stupid. I can't wait till they legalize it so we have not only drunk drivers but stoned ones too. </strong><hr></blockquote>
studies have shown that smoking isn't as adverse to driving as alcohol. in the inner city (if i recall correctly) it had no disernable affect (i may have it backwards tho, it might be out of the city it had no affect), in one study (i think the full study is avail at norml.org).
besides, alcohol is legal, and plenty of drinkers dont drive at all. why shouldn' potheads be given the same opportunity? are you in favor of prohibition?
Yeah real stupid. I can't wait till they legalize it so we have not only drunk drivers but stoned ones too. </strong><hr></blockquote>
But it's not like people don't smoke it now. In fact, a LOT of people smoke. I don't (for technical reasons with vipassana) but sometimes I really feel in the minority. And I'm talking all age ranges and social groups. I've travelled the country extensively and have observed no difference across much of the US. That's what makes it so silly. It's like America's hidden secret. I've been really shocked by how pervasive it is...
besides, alcohol is legal, and plenty of drinkers dont drive at all. why shouldn' potheads be given the same opportunity? are you in favor of prohibition?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Drinking and Driving is a MAJOR problem. Thousands of countless deaths every year and 1 in 4 drivers after midnight are drunk. We don't need just as many pot smokers driving. No, I'm not for prohibition, I just don't want double the problems that we already have with alcohol.
Drinking and Driving is a MAJOR problem. Thousands of countless deaths every year and 1 in 4 drivers after midnight are drunk. We don't need just as many pot smokers driving. No, I'm not for prohibition, I just don't want double the problems that we already have with alcohol.</strong><hr></blockquote>
well, i can assure you that legalizing pot will not double the inibriated driving problems. <a href="http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3383"; target="_blank">*link*</a> decriminalizing it does not increase the amount of use. infact, keeping it illegal makes it more provocative to some users, and seems to directly correllate with a larger userbase. so, if pot is legalized, there might even be a drop in driving accidents related to intoxication.
<strong>it's not "america's hidden secret" it's "the worlds hidden secret".
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I just say America because that's where my home base is, that's where I have political input and that's what I started this thread about. It's also not criminalized all over the world.
Also, according to <a href="http://www.bop.gov/fact0598.html#Offense"; target="_blank">the BOP site</a> drug offenders account for more than half of the federal prison population. And how many other prisoners commited crimes related to drugs, though not necessarily a drug offense.
In terms of driving, more studies should be done to find out the exact effects and then legislate accordingly. If found to be similar to alcohol, it should be treated the same way. But for this to be the sole reason for keeping the current laws is a grave mistake. Either way, people will be driving on it, and if it were legalized we could run responsibility campaigns w/out hinderance from groups saying said campaign is just a way to condone breaking the law. Plus, I think there is little question that it in no way impairs as much as alcohol.
marijuana is being used for hunderds of years. no horrible diseases connected 'till now. in fact marijuana is being discovered as a cure more and more.
i guess in 50 years people are gonna laugh at us for banning it.
Well, my Mom is a doctor, and the worst lung cancer cases she's ever seen were in people that had been heavy pot smokers. But I still think it should be decriminalized/legalized. They will definitely need to do more studies on the effects on driving as well as health effects so they can do a good job of creating laws and regulations with regard to it's use.
Reminds me of the debate about whether circumcision prevents AIDS. You may laugh, but I recently had to get a lot of articles for someone researching it here @ Northwestern. There is very, very compelling evidence from many, many valid studies that definitively proves each side. Situations like that show that even the most objective of studies sometimes will not yield the answer.
PS
Perhaps if it was legalized, low-tar strains could be developed...
where exactly did you get that statistic?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sorry its 1 in 7. I got that confused with being 4x as likely to be involved in an alcohol related accident at night. I got both of these statistcs from MADD.
<strong>I don't care if they legalize it (isn't going to affect me, really), but I wonder about how it would be treated/controlled in regards to driving, etc.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
How the hell can it NOT affect you? Do you know what this would do to already rising health-care costs? I must find the Newsweek issue that examined the folly of legalizing marijuana.
Please do. Although we all know about newsweek. I'll look in the economist tonight. They are big supporters of legalization (remember the big cover story last year? or was it winter?), and also the most highly regarded news magazine.
Comments
<strong>You know? This can't go on forever. Is it just because of the passivity of smokers that there hasn't been more done about it?</strong><hr></blockquote>
<a href="http://norml.org"; target="_blank">no</a>. and in many states they have weakened pot laws. in ny, possession of less than an ounce is punishable by up to $100 (first offense), or $250 (each offense after the first). its a citation, like a parking ticket. in some parts of nyc they dont even cite you for it (my friends and [ahem] i, have smoked jays walking along 2nd avenue). many people in law are still really fvcking stupid though.
free pot.
<strong>
many people in law are still really fvcking stupid though.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah real stupid. I can't wait till they legalize it so we have not only drunk drivers but stoned ones too.
Would it been seen as the same or worse than drinking and driving?
They'd have to really toughen up and come down on those who caused accidents while driving high.
As long as you're home or at one location (or have a DD or whatever), I don't see it as being worse than alcohol.
But, like alcohol, it would have to be used responsibly. And, as we all very well know, alcohol is often NOT, so...
I think the stigma attached to it will probably keep it the way it is for a long, long time.
I don't do it anymore (never REALLY did much at all, to be totally honest), so I don't care one way or the other.
But I hate how stoned people act when you're not, so I'm not looking forward to trying to order a Subway sandwich or buy a lottery ticket from some dipshit who spent the afternoon blazing up and can't follow the most simple directions/questions.
"NO! I SAID I wanted a 6" tuna on whole wheat!"
"Huh? You want to tune my hole meat? Huuhhuhh! We don't have any chicken today..."
<strong>
Yeah real stupid. I can't wait till they legalize it so we have not only drunk drivers but stoned ones too.
studies have shown that smoking isn't as adverse to driving as alcohol. in the inner city (if i recall correctly) it had no disernable affect (i may have it backwards tho, it might be out of the city it had no affect), in one study (i think the full study is avail at norml.org).
besides, alcohol is legal, and plenty of drinkers dont drive at all. why shouldn' potheads be given the same opportunity? are you in favor of prohibition?
<strong>
Yeah real stupid. I can't wait till they legalize it so we have not only drunk drivers but stoned ones too.
But it's not like people don't smoke it now. In fact, a LOT of people smoke. I don't (for technical reasons with vipassana) but sometimes I really feel in the minority. And I'm talking all age ranges and social groups. I've travelled the country extensively and have observed no difference across much of the US. That's what makes it so silly. It's like America's hidden secret. I've been really shocked by how pervasive it is...
[ 08-07-2002: Message edited by: giant ]</p>
<strong>
besides, alcohol is legal, and plenty of drinkers dont drive at all. why shouldn' potheads be given the same opportunity? are you in favor of prohibition?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Drinking and Driving is a MAJOR problem. Thousands of countless deaths every year and 1 in 4 drivers after midnight are drunk. We don't need just as many pot smokers driving. No, I'm not for prohibition, I just don't want double the problems that we already have with alcohol.
where exactly did you get that statistic?
in switzerland they are trying to legalize it because there are to many people smoking weed - but it is not legal 'till today.
the stories they (mj-banners) come up with are realy funny.
situation now. you can smoke it - if you have it.
but if you have to much you are a drug dealer and can go to jail if the amount is big.
everytime the pigs got nothing to do - they raid a hemp-shop or two (shops selling tea and stuff but if you ask you get pot) but thats all.
the future will show us some very good effects of marie jane.
but 'till it isn't "a drug" anymore there is no way to make proper laws for it.
it's a shame.
<strong>
Drinking and Driving is a MAJOR problem. Thousands of countless deaths every year and 1 in 4 drivers after midnight are drunk. We don't need just as many pot smokers driving. No, I'm not for prohibition, I just don't want double the problems that we already have with alcohol.</strong><hr></blockquote>
well, i can assure you that legalizing pot will not double the inibriated driving problems. <a href="http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3383"; target="_blank">*link*</a> decriminalizing it does not increase the amount of use. infact, keeping it illegal makes it more provocative to some users, and seems to directly correllate with a larger userbase. so, if pot is legalized, there might even be a drop in driving accidents related to intoxication.
<strong>it's not "america's hidden secret" it's "the worlds hidden secret".
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I just say America because that's where my home base is, that's where I have political input and that's what I started this thread about. It's also not criminalized all over the world.
In terms of driving, more studies should be done to find out the exact effects and then legislate accordingly. If found to be similar to alcohol, it should be treated the same way. But for this to be the sole reason for keeping the current laws is a grave mistake. Either way, people will be driving on it, and if it were legalized we could run responsibility campaigns w/out hinderance from groups saying said campaign is just a way to condone breaking the law. Plus, I think there is little question that it in no way impairs as much as alcohol.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
<strong>I'll be laughing my head off in 50 years if someone discovers a link between marijuana and some horrible diseases.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
it's called cancer.
<strong>I'll be laughing my head off in 50 years if someone discovers a link between marijuana and some horrible diseases.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
marijuana is being used for hunderds of years. no horrible diseases connected 'till now. in fact marijuana is being discovered as a cure more and more.
i guess in 50 years people are gonna laugh at us for banning it.
<strong>I'll be laughing my head off in 50 years if someone discovers a link between marijuana and some horrible diseases.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, my Mom is a doctor, and the worst lung cancer cases she's ever seen were in people that had been heavy pot smokers. But I still think it should be decriminalized/legalized. They will definitely need to do more studies on the effects on driving as well as health effects so they can do a good job of creating laws and regulations with regard to it's use.
<a href="http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.57309"; target="_blank">pro</a>
<a href="http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01.n1045.a03.html"; target="_blank">pro</a>
<a href="http://www.drugabuse.gov/MedAdv/00/NR6-20.html"; target="_blank">con</a>
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/141891.stm"; target="_blank">con</a>
Reminds me of the debate about whether circumcision prevents AIDS. You may laugh, but I recently had to get a lot of articles for someone researching it here @ Northwestern. There is very, very compelling evidence from many, many valid studies that definitively proves each side. Situations like that show that even the most objective of studies sometimes will not yield the answer.
PS
Perhaps if it was legalized, low-tar strains could be developed...
[ 08-07-2002: Message edited by: giant ]</p>
<strong>
where exactly did you get that statistic?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Sorry its 1 in 7. I got that confused with being 4x as likely to be involved in an alcohol related accident at night. I got both of these statistcs from MADD.
Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>I don't care if they legalize it (isn't going to affect me, really), but I wonder about how it would be treated/controlled in regards to driving, etc.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
How the hell can it NOT affect you? Do you know what this would do to already rising health-care costs? I must find the Newsweek issue that examined the folly of legalizing marijuana.
[/QB]
[ 08-07-2002: Message edited by: giant ]</p>