How many times are you subjected to references to drugs and substances? Personally, I am subjected to these things a plethora of times a day. I don't even live in a terrible area.
The fact that drugs have infiltrated America's high schools is a shame. I mean, everyday you read about someone dying from a drug overdose or doing something stupid while under the influence. I think its sad that even today's role models--people that kids look UP to do drugs.
How do you expect kids to stay off drugs when their idol does them? It doesn't make sense.
To think that drugs are not imminent in a teenagers life is to be living in a bubble. I hate the fact that school administrators just glance over the fact that people shoot up H in the bathroom stalls. But then again, what do you want them to do?
Thank god none of my friends have died from an overdose. But they've become so dependent on drugs that it's eating their lives indirectly. I've tried talking to them about there problems but it's almost impossible to get through to them. They're happy that they're like this.
Frank Zappa once said, "Drugs have taught an entire generation of kids the metric system."
A statement like this is pretty bold but true.
The fact that we're taking steps to decentralize the laws of marijuana abuse is silly. Everyone says weed is harmless, but it's really not. It turning out braindead people. Seriously, try to talk to someone who smokes weed constantly, they have troubling remembering and get confused a lot easier when they're not high. I don't know, I think we should try to do something about this. But, what can we do?
Drugs have become rampant in this nation that you can get anything for just a few dollars.
I mean we have to do something, I just don't know what we can do.
I don't want our generation be leading the US blindly absorbed by drugs.
+mspin
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
TO TAKE DRUGS IS A PERSONAL CHOICE. WE ALL KNOW THE EFFECTS IT HAS ON THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL SO IF YOUR FRIEND IS ADDICTED, ITS THEIR PROBLEM. I HATE TO BE BLUNT, BUT SOME OF THE MOST ADDICTING DRUGS ARE MORE LETHAL. I DONT DO DRUGS MYSELF BUT I DO KNOW THAT SMOKING WEED CAN ONLY GET YOU HIGH. BUT TAKE ONE TO MANY ADVIL AND THATS A NAP YOU'LL NEVER WAKE UP FROM. THINK ABOUT IT.
SOLAWOP
Yes, drugs are a personal choice. However, there comes a point when a friends addiction is no longer their problem. Drug addicts often times do not feel like they have a choice because the addiction has taken over. That's when they need a good and strong friend to be there to help them through.
Well judging by your exceptional use of punctuation and grammar, I recognize where you're coming from. But that's not what I'm saying. I think we should openly condemn the use of drugs not accept it. You may say we do condemn them.. We don't condemn them by decentralizing marijuana, do we?
I DONT DO DRUGS MYSELF BUT I DO KNOW THAT SMOKING WEED CAN ONLY GET YOU HIGH.
Let me give you a little information here. Getting 'high' alters your brain chemistry. It inhibits your ability to recall things and forms a psychological addiction. Extended use really screws up your brain functioning ability. You can get this information on any health site. What source did you get that statement from?
+mspin
PLEASE STOP WRITING YOUR COMMENTS IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE ITS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ AND PEOPLE WILL NOT TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY IF YOU DO.
Please. I'm begging at this point. Do. Not. Write. In. All. CAPS.
Thank you.
----
What's the worst that could happen, apart from all of us being flattened or fried or whatever bombs do? [Rudy Steiner from The Book Thief]
Speaking about drugs, alcohol qualifies as well. Underaged drinking is a huge epidemic that is now an essential part of a college experience. Alcohol also transforms your brain chemistry. I remember last semester looking at the cerebellum (which is involved with motor coordination) of an alcoholic and the cerebellum of an individual with Huntington's Disease. To me, the cerebellum of the alcohol looked much worse!
Not only is it accepted in our culture, but in cultures all over the world. I think EVERYONE knows someone who either was an alcoholic and the impact that can have on a family and a person's life in general or someone who has become a victim of a drunk-driving car accident. Why is drinking acceptable when in some aspects in can be comparable in danger to illegal drugs, especially when EVERYONE is familiar with its destructive effects?
Or start putting people in prison for everything that is bad for them.
Let's see...
Cigarette smoking 1 year hard labor, second offence 5 years, third strike life.
Possesion or consumption of alcohol the same.
If you eat animal fats in your diet...
Consume Donuts and other 'empty' calories....
Fail to exercise...
Watch too much TV...
Play video games...
Drive a gas guzzling SUV...
Do you REALLY want to protect people from themselves by force?
over 2 million people are sitting in jail in the USA. About 80% for drug related crime. They could be working and paying taxes, but instead we pay to keep them locked up. Police waste their time and the courts are filled with non-violent drug offenders which lessens their ability to pursue violent criminals and theives.
Minors cannot buy legal alcohol, but they have no problem geting illegal drugs. 80 years of drug prohibition has failed to stop them to the point we see now. An entirely new aproach is needed. Localities could set their own rules, different drugs should each carry apropriate restrictions. They should ALL be legal.
Is there any other way to put that many gangsters out of work overnight?
A Fact is Always Better Than an Ideal.
Why is it so terrible to be "subject" to references of drugs?
Do you take aspirin when you have a headache? That's a drug. What about anti-depressants? Sleeping pills? Anti-nausea pills? Birth control?
"The fact that we're taking steps to decentralize the laws of marijuana abuse is silly. Everyone says weed is harmless, but it's really not. It turning out braindead people. Seriously, try to talk to someone who smokes weed constantly, they have troubling remembering and get confused a lot easier when they're not high. I don't know, I think we should try to do something about this. But, what can we do?"
Have you actually studied the effects of marijuana? Or the effects of the law? In the Netherlands, where marijuana is decriminalized, people use it FAR less.
I smoke weed "constantly" and yeah, I'm forgetful - I've always been forgetful though. Weed makes me happier, calmer, and more productive. Before I started smoking, I was depressed all the time and slept loads. I had terrible nightmares that would leave me depressed all day. If I didn't smoke, I probably wouldn't be able to attend college. If the only negative effect is that I have trouble remembering names... that's a far more minor side effect than the side effects from painkillers, antidepressants, and other drugs people take every day. Even caffeine. There are no permanent negative effects from marijuana. There are no dangerous side effects. You cannot overdose on marijuana. You can, on the other hand, overdose on coffee and get addicted to coffee. Hell, you probably are. Coffee is worse than marijuana, far worse.
I'm trying to get a perscription for marijuana. Are you saying that doctors who perscribe marijuana (for anything from cancer, to AIDS, to sleeping disorders, to anger management) know less about it than you? O.o
There are no permanent negative effects from marijuana. There are no dangerous side effects. You cannot overdose on marijuana. You can, on the other hand, overdose on coffee and get addicted to coffee. Hell, you probably are. Coffee is worse than marijuana, far worse.
I'm trying to get a perscription for marijuana. Are you saying that doctors who perscribe marijuana (for anything from cancer, to AIDS, to sleeping disorders, to anger management) know less about it than you? O.o
Apparently college hasn't taught you much :).
"There are no dangerous side effects."
So becoming brain dead isn't a dangerous side effect?
A drug with no side effects huh? Wow, that's a miracle drug. You are pretty ignorant by saying that.
"I'm trying to get a perscription for marijuana. Are you saying that doctors who perscribe marijuana (for anything from cancer, to AIDS, to sleeping disorders, to anger management) know less about it than you? O.o"
LMAO, so do you have AIDS or cancer? Hmph, that's the only way doctors prescribe it. To dying patients... Please answer that. It seems like you are just another junky that this country claimed. Grow up, and stop being emo. Rich kids now adays.
+mspin
That is very indepth and you make a good point!! ;)
*~*K i M b U r L e E*~*
LMFAO. Where are you getting your information from? Doctors in Washington, where I live, perscribe marijuana for Chron's disease, which my father has. They also perscribe it for a variety of auto-immune disease. It is provided people who are being treated for cancer, including fairly minor cancer, as treatments for cancer often have a side effect of nausea, which marijuana helps counter. I know a guy who takes it for TMJ (a condition where he grinds his jaw and it hurts a lot). People take it instead of pain medication. It's pretty common.
In California, marijuana is also perscribed for psychological issues, such as anger management. So really... I'd love your source for doctors only perscribing marijuana to "dying" patients.
Emo? I am not emo in the least, how does smoking pot make me emo? And rich kids? Please. I am in debt for college and at times have had to struggle to get enough money for food.
Brain dead? Hm... I'm doing quite well in college. My sociology professor has been smoking for at least two decades and she's not brain-dead, either. Please provide a source for your claim that marijuana makes people brain-dead.
I notice you also didn't respond to my note of the Netherlands policy on marijuana and how it has lowered use.
LMFAO. Where are you getting your information from? Doctors in Washington, where I live, perscribe marijuana for Chron's disease, which my father has. They also perscribe it for a variety of auto-immune disease. It is provided people who are being treated for cancer, including fairly minor cancer, as treatments for cancer often have a side effect of nausea, which marijuana helps counter. I know a guy who takes it for TMJ (a condition where he grinds his jaw and it hurts a lot). People take it instead of pain medication. It's pretty common.
Buddy, I was just going off with what you said. If you actually read your previous post you mentioned AIDS and cancer. I was just using those two examples because those were the ones you listed. So I don't get what you're trying to say?
In California, marijuana is also perscribed for psychological issues, such as anger management. So really... I'd love your source for doctors only perscribing marijuana to "dying" patients.
If you actually read my post instead of just blindly bashing what I said, you would see that I was saying that California is very lenient on marijuana use. That is a part of the problem. I know a lot of people with Marijuana cards. The fact that the government makes it so easy to get these cards causes the drug rampancy in America. So really... I'd love it if you would understand my points and read what I'm saying before making silly statements. :)
Emo? I am not emo in the least, how does smoking pot make me emo? And rich kids? Please. I am in debt for college and at times have had to struggle to get enough money for food.
It seems you change your views more than you change boxers. I see a pattern of you not even reading what you have written.
"Before I started smoking, I was depressed all the time and slept loads. I had terrible nightmares that would leave me depressed all day."
If that's not emo, then I don't know what is. Plus, maybe instead of taking matters into your own hands, why couldn't you have just seen a doctor? I'm sure he could have prescribed some actual medication.
I notice you also didn't respond to my note of the Netherlands policy on marijuana and how it has lowered use.
It has also increased the number of junkies so the government can just control you without you ever figuring it out :).
+mspin
Buddy, I was just going off with what you said. If you actually read your previous post you mentioned AIDS and cancer. I was just using those two examples because those were the ones you listed. So I don't get what you're trying to say?
Um, are you capable of reading? This is what I posted:
"I'm trying to get a perscription for marijuana. Are you saying that doctors who perscribe marijuana (for anything from cancer, to AIDS, to sleeping disorders, to anger management) know less about it than you? O.o"
As well as cancer, which is often not fatal, and AIDS, I mentioned sleeping disorders and anger management. You jumped from there to saying that doctors ONLY perscribe it to people who are dying. Obviously, you are wrong.
If you actually read my post instead of just blindly bashing what I said, you would see that I was saying that California is very lenient on marijuana use. That is a part of the problem. I know a lot of people with Marijuana cards. The fact that the government makes it so easy to get these cards causes the drug rampancy in America. So really... I'd love it if you would understand my points and read what I'm saying before making silly statements. :)
You claimed that doctors only perscribe marijuana to dying patients (see your own post above, please). You also claimed that marijuana makes people "brain-dead". If it makes people "brain-dead", why do doctors perscribe it? Doctors say it's safe to use and does not cause people to become "brain-dead". Are you claiming that you know more than doctors? Are you in high school? College? Do you have a Phd. in medicine or science? Do you even have a source for this "brain-dead" claim?
If that's not emo, then I don't know what is. Plus, maybe instead of taking matters into your own hands, why couldn't you have just seen a doctor? I'm sure he could have prescribed some actual medication.
No, that's called depression, hypersomnia, chronic fatigue, and nightmare disorder. All of which, by the way, can be helped with the use of marijuana. Suffering from a disease certainly does not make one "emo".
I have seen a doctor. I have been perscribed "actual" medication (though... marijuana IS actual medication, what exactly are you claiming the difference is between drugs like heroin and marijuana and something a doctor would perscribe? A drug is a drug is a drug.), and consulted with doctors about my marijuana use.
How would the government control me via drugs?
If that was possible, why is it not being done? Why are people being thrown in jail for smoking a bit of pot?
I thought I would look up information online before I commented on Kiota's statement on the side effects. Here is an except from the National Institute on Drug Abuses' website: "Research findings for long-term marijuana abuse indicate some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term abuse of other major drugs. For example, cannabinoid (THC or synthetic forms of THC) withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stress-response system5 and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine6. Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse." Altering your brain structure if you ask me, is sort of a big deal. You talked about how you were less stressed and felt better immediately after smoking, but dopamine is involved with that feeling. Over time you will build a resistance and need more and more marijuana to gain the same effect. I do not understand how in the short term increases in dopamine is a comprise when extended use can lead to a depletion of dopamine and subsequently increased activation of the stress-response. Increased stress-response is what causes anxiety disorders and ultimately depression. I have a severe anxiety disorder, if you ask me, getting high for a few hours would be no get reward if it ends up that you screw up your body's stress response (HPA axis) as a result! It is a lifetime consequence that affects not only you, but also the others around you.
Point is: there are long term consequences of smoking marijuana. You may enjoy the short-term benefits of getting high, but is it really worth it when it has the potential to screw up the rest of your life and to have an impact on those around you who care about you most. A lot of people have the "it won't happen to me" mentality. Think about it.
Your source is biased. Please find a NON-BIASED source.
"Research findings for long-term marijuana abuse indicate some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term abuse of other major drugs."
Note the emphasis. It really hasn't found anything. Long-term (how long is this? Are they talking a month? A year? A decade?) abuse (what is abuse defined of? Is this someone who smokes a gram a day? Or ten grams a day?) cause "some" changes (what changes? how does this affect someone in their everyday life? Are these changes, in fact, NEGATIVE?) in the brain. Oh wow, how terrifying. That's basically zero information. All the research I've read, and my personal experience, has shown me that any negative effects of marijuana (and not everyone suffers them, I personally do not and I know many others who do not) are entirely reversible. If someone feels they are becoming forgetful, they stop smoking for a couple days, and viola, their memory is back. No biggie. Same with "withdrawal". It's no big deal because there's no physical side effects. You just stop smoking for a day or two and then your tolerance is back up again.
Long term consequences? Like what? Please be specific. Please also explain how millions of people have smoked marijuana their entire life with no ill harm. Please also explain why something that has been proven to be beneficial to people's health should be made illegal, simply due to possible negative side effects (which every medication has). Please also explain why it should be illegal since there's plenty of research to show that making it legal will actually DECREASE use,
would you please indicate to me what you feel an unbiased source would be? Therefore, I can more accurately attempt to find a source of information that would satisfy you. please be specific, because I thought that given the billions of dollars each year that the government pours into research, that such a website would have a reputable offering of information. I am also curious about your "research." in all of these posts, you have made a number of claims and failed to support them with citations, stats, or other hard evidence. I am not saying that you are wrong, but I was just wondering if you could give me a website, so I can further read about your claims.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000A844E-8FBE-119B-8EA483414B... <--- article by Scientific American. Not an organization that is against drug use.
http://www.acponline.org/advocacy/where_we_stand/other_issues/medmarijua... <--- paper by the American College of Physicians.
http://www.csdp.org/kz/mmj.htm <--- a paper that lists many scientific, peer-reviewed sources and studies.
http://salem-news.com/articles/january112008/cancer_treatment_11008.php <--- article about the use of marijuana to treat cancer, including the study's methodology.
I recommend you read those three before continuing in this debate. Also, an answer to my ENTIRE post would be appreciated. :)
The problem with your source is, it's about drug "abuse". It's government-sponsored. I don't trust the government when it comes to marijuana, the government is made up of conservative and religious men. I trust the scientists and the doctors, not government propoganda..
"The problem with your source is, it's about drug "abuse"."
I never said that I don't think that drugs such as marijuana should not be used for medical purposes (I never said that they should be either, but that is irrelevant). To take a drug on a normal basis, when you do not need it for medical reasons, I think qualifies as drug abuse, which I think would than make my source valid.
Anyways, I have a lot of other things that I could be doing with my time, than to continue debating this with you. I mean no disrespect with this comment. I respect that you have valid sources to back up your opinions, I just think that either way, I will hold steadfast to my views, as you will to yours.
It was nice debating with you. Good luck!
First and formost, this is a BLOG my friend so grammar is never an issue. Especially when it comes to answering your ridiculous information. Marijuana like every for of medication *** has side effects. The side effects of an over use of marijuana is far less deadly than that of a prescription to a so called " safe drug" whether that safe drug cures headaches or the flu. If u would watch t.v. You would hear these side effect. But of course they are said at a fast rate so you only have a chance to reflect on the good. Of anything, cigarettes should be considered a drug and you can't tell me that its side effects are worse than " Mary Janes". If so then please indulge me. People that use drugs are fully aware of its risk through information that is given from elementry school so again it is your friend "bad" for getting themselves into the situation they are in. There is NO help you can give them be ultimately, it there Choice, you *** to get clean. You can condemn the use of drugs all you want ( but get this, its really good info) people are gonna do what they want as long as the opportunity is availible. The US government has condemned drugs for years and look how far it has gotten them. And yes I used gotten. You know what's funny, doctors prescribe other drug for addicts to break there addiction so no matter where you turn, drugs are the key to keeping us alive where legal or not.
Feel free to comment me back. I love a challenge.
SOLAWOP
***(Edited by Fallon for ToS Violations- 2-21-08).
I think you meant to say that marijuana is SAFER than cigarettes...?
I have nothing more to say, this kid ignored my comment. So I can't refute anything :).
+mspin
i think drugs r bad and that ppl shouldn't do them but at the same time. a lot of ppl that use drugs think that ppl shouldn't do them either. its a choice u have to make and u should choose not to. but in actuality we are human and we do what makes us feel good and getting high and having sex makes us feel good. so a lot of us r going to do those things. but some don't. but ultimately we shouldn't do drugs
sex is a little different to me tho
"Seriously, try to talk to someone who smokes weed constantly, they have troubling remembering and get confused a lot easier when they're not high"
Someone agrees with me. Phew, that is a load off. Sure, I'm going to look down on stronger drugs more, because some can outright kill people with one dose, but marijuana is the "gateway" drug that leads people to try something with a little more zing. Plus, that whole braindead thing you mentioned.
~ *~
This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think