Legalization Debate

I can't afford my meds or therapy for almost untreated MDD anymore after a year and a half of trying to find the right combination. Of course the only one that worked was so expensive, that my cheap insurance stopped paying. Long story short, pot is the only thing that helps me stabilize my moods these days. It helped me stop alcohol abuse, a starting coke habit, and it's getting me through hell 'unmedicated'. Pro-legalization here, converted from a true non-believer and non-user.

I am strongly for the legalization of pot. I honestly don't see the harm in it and i think it could be very beneficial to people with chronic illnesses at least. Alcohol is legal and it has killed many people so i think it's quite absurd that there's so much controversery over legalizing pot. Many people already smoke pot even though it isn't legal anyway so that really isn't keeping it away from anyone.

.....I'm smoking pot right now. Call the po-po!!!!

Share???

lolllll....

You guys ever watch the movie "Shrink"? With Kevin Spacey? I've heard it's a good movie...

I'm watchin it right now...http://www.megavideo.com/?v=5H2C7CV5
He's tokin up as we speak. :P

This is kinda random, sorry, I've got a crap-ton of reading, am quite sleep deprived and hyped up on espressos, lol...

I'm on the fence on this issue actually.

On the one hand, some studies have suggested that marijuana can be very harmful if smoked in heavy amounts for long periods. The issue of it (at least temporarily) possibly decreasing the production of testosterone is concerning. Expecting mothers who smoke while they are pregnant can harm their unborn fetuses, and there's the issue of heavy use affecting the immune system. Also the damage that smoking does to the lungs can't be ignored.

I've also known some people who's lives deteriorated greatly because they were heavy users of pot. They were not themselves anymore, and while it's not biologically addictive from everything I've read..they still felt they needed it to get by every day. Their work and school suffered, and they ended up driving a lot while they were high.

All that said, I also understand the issues that have been brought up to legalize it. And I am one of those people who think people have the right to live their lives as they see fit as long as they are not hurting others. If I was running the world, I would probably outlaw cigarettes so pot would never be legalized either (I might even outlaw alcohol unless it was controlled better ) but that's not reality. In reality I think everyone has to make their own decisions.

The biggest problem I see is that since cigarettes and alcohol have become such a cultural "right" (meaning they've been allowed for so long that the majority of people believe they have the inherent right to use them), if we did this with pot and problems did arise from mass heavy use like they have with alcohol and cigarettes, it would be hard to again make it illegal.

This is why personally, considering all the issues, I have to say I am against legalizing marijuana. I can see both sides, but I would not support it because I think the bad outweighs any good.

I don't smoke, but I would agree with legalization. Legalize it and tax it. Yes, it's damaging in the long run. But so is alcohol and regular cigarettes and a lot of other things. People get high and crash cars....but people get drunk and crash cars too. Doesn't make it right, but it does make you think.

Then again, StaciLeigh makes a good point with people feeling the "right" to smoke after legalization. Remember, even during prohibition people were still drinking because they felt it was their right to do so. And once something is legalized, good luck making it illegal again. That won't happen. And when it's legalized, we'll have a bunch of burnout potheads getting high and causing trouble.

Still, all things considered I would say legalize it, tax it, and restrict sales. Yeah, it will cause all the same problems we have with alcohol and cigarettes combined, but we already have those problems.

Anyone seen Leaves of Grass (2009) comedy crime drama.

Edward Norton - plays 2 parts (twins)
Susan Sarandon
Richard Dreyfuss
Keri Russell

Good movie . imdb rated it 9 out of 10.

Here are a couple of lists of highly successful pot smokers, though they're certainly not the only ones:
http://coedmagazine.com/2009/02/06/t...h-to-admit-it/
http://www.theagitator.com/2008/11/0...s-make-a-list/

Proof that potheads can contribute to society productively just as well as non-smokers.

Just thought I would throw a quick thought in here to remember the guidelines....would really hate to see this thread shut down......talking about doing illegal things (shhhhhh ) is against the guidelines even if we are talking about legalizing it....it's not legal now........

I am pretty sure that those posting while smoking weed are vacationing in Amsterdam.

Ahahahaha

I'm glad this has lasted this long- has been an interesting read, even if I don't agree. You should post another 'debate topic' Paintingravens, they're good reads!

staci (and everyone else, this thread is long and I honestly didn't read it all), I will go ahead and say that I smoked on and off while pregnant for nausea and panic attacks. I would say overall I smoked about 1/3 of my pregnancy. I smoked similar amounts while pregnant that I occasionally do now, one or two hits from a pipe at a time, up to three times a day in the most "severe" cases.

For information on a woman who has studied marijuana and it's effect on pregnancy, newborns and children later in life please google Melanie Dreher. She has been doing her research over several decades. This research was based on women who smoked giant Jamaican spliffs, not single "hits" from a pipe.

My son is advanced for his age in many areas. He is perfectly healthy, far healthier than most of the other children I know. I have chosen not to have him immunized. He was breast-fed, while I still occasionally smoked until 5 months old. He is now fed organically. We do not use any toxic chemical products in our home or on our bodies; washes, cleansers, candles, nada. His bottles and toys are all bpa free. I ate organically and as healthy as possible while pregnant. No caffeine. I still consume only nominal amounts of caffeine for that matter.

My choice to self medicate with marijuana is an informed and RESPONSIBLE choice. I do not smoke around my son, and although there are side effects that I am not happy with, compared to any other chemical option - this is the best choice for me and my family. I treat it as seriously as any other decision I make, and I do not make decisions lightly.

It is unfortunate to know that something which is such a beneficial drug to so many can have such a distorted image in our society based on propaganda. Marijuana has been used for thousands of years. Many of the drugs that would have been prescribed to me during my pregnancy for either of my symptoms could not only have had far more detrimental effects on my child, but they could have actually killed him. In the first trimester, my panic attacks could have as well.

For example : In the 50's and 60's they prescribed a drug called Thalidomide to women for their morning sickness, which resulted in children being born with severe deformations, i.e. no arms and legs.

Everything in moderation. Everything in it's place. Nothing is ever black and white.

I agree. It is nice to have a civilized debate. I appreciate everybody's thoughts and opinions even when they are different from my own.

(plus I finally have a reason to post all these gifs and images)

I'm surprised it lasted this long... I wasn't expecting it to, but yay! Thanks!

My thoughts EXACTLY.

Everyone is different, and different people lead different lifestyles. You, apparently, live a very healthy one; I wouldn't doubt for a second that you're much healthier than most people who don't smoke pot and have diets that aren't nearly as beneficial as yours. Some people are much more responsible than others (you seem to fall into this category as well), and some people are much too irresponsible to be unable to abuse marijuana. It can be extremely beneficial for some people, while others, not so much.

It's like drinking milk; while it's fine and healthy for many people, some are lactose intolerant. It all depends on the individual.

ahahaha, so far every picture you've posted up has made me literally laugh out loud... Thanks, btw.

one more just for you...

lol. I don't drink cows milk either.

loverregardless, notice I did say "can" harm..not does harm. I've read a lot of the studies, and the evidence suggests that marijuana use can have multiple harming effects on fetuses and newborns who are breastfed.

However, I've also read the results that are inconclusive and suggest that other factors may be what is causing the harm.

Personally, I would not even taken tylenol when I was pregnant. That was my own personal choice. If there are medical conditions present that could cause harm to the mother or fetuses if a drug is not administered, then I would not speak up against the use of that drug. My main concern is that since the studies suggest it can be harmful, using a mind altering substance when pregnant or breastfeeding is not a good idea for recreational reasons. The risks in my opinion are too great, but that's coming from someone, as I said, who wouldn't even taken tylenol.

Plus, I would not want to expose my own baby to a mind altering substance without their consent just for recreational reasons. That doesn't seem right to me. I don't personally believe fetuses or newborns should be exposed to that sort of thing just so the mother can get high.

If it's needed for a medical condition and especially if the mother is so conscientious about nutrition, then I think that's completely different than using it recreationally. It sounds like you made an informed choice based on your needs, and for that I applaud you.

I didn't take tylenol either, lol.

But when my planned home birth turned into an emergency c-section, I was on narcotic pain medication for weeks after he was born which was very upsetting, but absolutely necessary. I had a friend who only took tylenol after her home birth turned into a premature delivery via c-section. But that girl could wrestle a horse to the ground and win, lol.

Thank you though. I wasn't trying to be confrontational, so if it sounded that way I apologize. I just get defensive about it because of the stigma that surrounds it and how often people usually pass judgement. The fact that it is illegal just sucks and feeds into a lot of guilt for me.

I agree with you about the recreational versus medical aspect as well. Although, I would say that in very small amounts, such as some doctors allow/suggest small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy, I do not think it would be detrimental. I can understand if some women make that choice. I had people offering me glasses of wine left and right.

One of my fist duties in Vietnam was to check on soldiers who had overdosed and were assigned to quarters. My second day in country, I found a soldier that had hanged himself.

What was particularly distressing to me is the number of troops who opted for a second tour of duty out of concern the drugs they were using would not be as readily available at home.

Another eye opener was the flight home from Vietnam. The strong, vibrant soldiers that arrived in Vietnam were going home with the flushed faces of alcoholism, the dilated pupils of the addict and the broken spirit of those who for too long had to choose to kill or be killed.

I am pleased to be able to say I no longer smoke or use alcohol, and never have used drugs. The image of a soldier swinging from a rope with his eyes wide open has been a powerful influence in my life.

Oh, Byz, My heart goes out to you!
I can not know all you saw and heard and can only imagine.
It must have seemed like you were there forever given the dire circumstances.
You are in my thoughts, my friend.