Weed and other hobbies the "DIscovery" crew might/should have?

[mdtauk]

If it is to carry any weight, it would have to be a main character, and we don't discover (ha) what they are doing until later into the series. Something difficult to deal with happens, and we see them struggle to cope, and become more dependent on whatever substance they are taking.

It is easy enough to be puritan about it, "Just Say No" and all that. But future morality changes, and staying relevant, but dealing with what can be real issues, is a fine balance.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I can understand the arguments for it and against it but I never get how some people can be anti-marijuana but OK with alcohol use.

Very much this.

That particular level of contrast especially bothered me in the Navy. There's a zero tolerance for drug use in the military and marijuana is often the main target for such drug testing. And yet, stereotypes aside, alcohol consumption is practically second nature. Sailors get drunk and do stupid shit, and promptly get punished, repeat ad naseum, but unless its a severe incident, they don't ever get kicked for alcohol. The very opposite of zero tolerance.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I started watching TOS as a child. Clearly, I was scarred for life.

Seriously, I grew up watching KING KONG, FRANKENSTEIN, THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, THE FLY, TARANTULA, THE TIME MACHINE, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, HOUSE OF WAX, TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES BENEATH THE SEA, etc. If I survived the Morlocks eating the Eloi for dinner, Martian war machines incinerating mankind by the thousands, and armies of sword-wielding skeletons, I suspect today's kids can survive a death-ray or two.

(Granted, my parents didn't let me watch the original PLANET OF THE APES until I was ten. And they vetoed ROSEMARY'S BABY . . . imagine that!)

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[Captain of the USS Averof]

That particular level of contrast especially bothered me in the Navy. There's a zero tolerance for drug use in the military and marijuana is often the main target for such drug testing. And yet, stereotypes aside, alcohol consumption is practically second nature. Sailors get drunk and do stupid shit, and promptly get punished, repeat ad naseum, but unless its a severe incident, they don't ever get kicked for alcohol. The very opposite of zero tolerance.

From what we've seen I suspect the same to hold true to Starfleet as well. On account of Starfleet being Military and all…

 

[The Nth Doctor]

From what we've seen I suspect the same to hold true to Starfleet as well. On account of Starfleet being Military and all…

Well, somewhat anyways but there are definitely some major differences, especially the almost entire absence of enlisted personnel and overreliance on officers.

 

[Awesome Possum]

If it is to carry any weight, it would have to be a main character, and we don't discover (ha) what they are doing until later into the series. Something difficult to deal with happens, and we see them struggle to cope, and become more dependent on whatever substance they are taking.

It is easy enough to be puritan about it, "Just Say No" and all that. But future morality changes, and staying relevant, but dealing with what can be real issues, is a fine balance.

Why have it take a negative route? Can't they show a crew member relaxing in their quarters with a drug or sharing it with other characters in a social situation like the poker scenes from TNG? Millions of people smoke weed without any issues.

 

[fireproof78]

Because humanity is supposed to be evolved?

 

[Awesome Possum]

Because humanity is supposed to be evolved?

Are we going to evolve past having stress and needing to relax? There's nothing wrong with weed, we just have a society that doesn't accept it because of propaganda. Studies have shown it to be fairly beneficial. The only downside is that in certain places you can be arrested for having it.

The only reason it's a Schedule 1 drug, which means the US government thinks it's more dangerous than cocaine and has no medical benefits, is because it gave them an excuse to arrest hippies and African Americans. So what's more likely to evolve past, a puritanical attitude about a harmless plant or our desire to unwind after work?

 

[Borgminister]

As with most anything, weed is only harmful if abused.

 

[Spider]

As with most anything, weed is only harmful if abused.

At least weed abuse is calming, although not particularly helpful if you're on a diet.

 

[Borgminister]

At least weed abuse is calming, although not particularly helpful if you're on a diet.

Yeah, it made me paranoid, so I stopped. Beer is also not very helpful on a diet though.

Funny though--weed increases metabolism, something I found counter-intuitive.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Yeah, it made me paranoid, so I stopped. Beer is also not very helpful on a diet though.

Funny though--weed increases metabolism, something I found counter-intuitive.

It can make you hungry, back when I smoked I'd either eat something healthy or just ignore it. It's all about willpower. I actually gained more weight when I stopped.

 

[Greg Cox]

Because humanity is supposed to be evolved?

But we still see humans enjoying the simple pleasures of life: wine, tea, chocolate, Romulan brandy, etc. Pike liked a good martini. Kirk and Janeway clearly enjoy a strong cup of coffee. Picard's family has been producing fine wine for generations. So how is Lt. Doolittle settling back with a relaxing joint any different? Or finding out that Ensign Vosco's family runs a lovely hydroponic pot farm back in Colorado?

Heck, Janeway was willing to dare uncharted nebulas in pursuit of caffeine, but people have evolved above other recreational herbs?

(Which reminds me: I need coffee.)

 

[urbandefault]

Personally, I don't care to see Starfleet personnel rolling a chubby, flaring a J, hitting a bong, or whatever the kids are calling it now.

If it directly affects a story, fine. Otherwise, skip it.

 

[fireproof78]

Are we going to evolve past having stress and needing to relax? There's nothing wrong with weed, we just have a society that doesn't accept it because of propaganda. Studies have shown it to be fairly beneficial. The only downside is that in certain places you can be arrested for having it.

The only reason it's a Schedule 1 drug, which means the US government thinks it's more dangerous than cocaine and has no medical benefits, is because it gave them an excuse to arrest hippies and African Americans. So what's more likely to evolve past, a puritanical attitude about a harmless plant or our desire to unwind after work?

It's not harmless is my point. It has benefits and it has deficits, like everything else. And no, I'm not just citing propaganda. I work in the mental health field, in WA state, and I see negative effects, again, as with other substances.

Perhaps they'll have synthweed, all the relaxing and none of the side effects

But we still see humans enjoying the simple pleasures of life: wine, tea, chocolate, Romulan brandy, etc. Pike liked a good martini. Kirk and Janeway clearly enjoy a strong cup of coffee. Picard's family has been producing fine wine for generations. So how is Lt. Doolittle settling back with a relaxing joint any different? Or finding out that Ensign Vosco's family runs a lovely hydroponic pot farm back in Colorado?

Heck, Janeway was willing to dare uncharted nebulas in pursuit of caffeine, but people have evolved above other recreational herbs?

(Which reminds me: I need coffee.)

I could see it being presented, and don't have a problem with it. Personally, I would prefer if hemp production could go back in to full force, but nobody would expect that talk from a crazy conservative like me

 

[Greg Cox]

Personally, I don't care to see Starfleet personnel rolling a chubby, flaring a J, hitting a bong, or whatever the kids are calling it now.

If it directly affects a story, fine. Otherwise, skip it.

Again, just to play devil's advocate, how is that different from Yeoman Rand bringing Kirk a fresh cup of coffee, or Picard relaxing with his Earl Grey tea, etc.? Such moments seldom directly affected the story, but arguably made the future feel more lived-in.

(Is McCoy presenting Kirk with a bottle of contraband brandy for his birthday a plot point? That's a judgment call, I guess.)

Of course, now I'm having fun mentally inserting weed into classic Trek moments:

"Captain's log. Romulan weed NOT to be served at future diplomatic functions."

"There's reefer in that Nebula."

"Sometimes a man will tell his herb dealer things he would never tell his doctor. "

"My people were spared the dubious benefits of marijuana . . . ."

"It's . . . .green." (Boy, you don't have to rewrite that one at all!)

 

[Awesome Possum]

It's not harmless is my point. It has benefits and it has deficits, like everything else. And no, I'm not just citing propaganda. I work in the mental health field, in WA state, and I see negative effects, again, as with other substances.

Perhaps they'll have synthweed, all the relaxing and none of the side effects

What side effects? It's non-addictive and is no longer affecting you after a few hours.

 

[Greg Cox]

Oh, I'm sure it can be abused . . . just like alcohol, prune juice, and holodecks.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Anything can be abused, there are people addicted to collecting action figures. It's an issue with certain personalities, not the substance itself.

 

[Tuskin38]

There was a no smoking sign on the bridge simulator and in the transporter toom in Wrath of Khan

So clearly people still smoked something

(I know they were not suppose to be there, Gene asked them to be removed but a couple snuck in)