Why is Smoking bad, but Smoking Marijuana is COOL?

[Alidar Jarok]

People smoke pot because they aren't allowed to? I just assumed they wanted to get high

That's only part of the psychology of the "weed culture."

Do tell me more about this "weed culture" since I have in no idea what it's like and you're clearly the expert.

 

[Welshie]

I don't think marijuana is cool at all. Tell cool to all the young people in mental wards because of it.

Mental wards? Mind explaining?

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

I don't think marijuana is cool at all. Tell cool to all the young people in mental wards because of it.

Mental wards? Mind explaining?

Indeed, there haven't been a single case, that I know of, of a person becoming institutionalized because of smoking dope.

Now, there are people institutionalized for other reasons (extreme schizophrenia or psychosis) who also smoked pot. One might even claim that smoking hash or weed might have pushed the already volatile situation over the breaking point. Something that, some people claim, wouldn't have happened if they didn't smoke grass. But one can't know for sure it wouldn't have happened, had that person not been smoking the skunk. But then, shouldn't we (they) be glad that they smoked hemp? If it wasn't for them smoking the green goods, it would most probably have been something (or someone) else that tipped the balance.

 

[Kestra]

I don't think either are particularly cool, but marijuana seems to be less harmful on the whole.

 

[Australis]

Indeed, there haven't been a single case, that I know of, of a person becoming institutionalized because of smoking dope.

There HAVE been cases, and I've had personal experience, okay? Read upthread.

Denying it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

 

[the Dagman]

Indeed, there haven't been a single case, that I know of, of a person becoming institutionalized because of smoking dope.

There HAVE been cases, and I've had personal experience, okay? Read upthread.

Denying it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Cases where the real underlying problem has yet to be identified because the person's use of marijuana was scapegoated as the cause. And I have had much more personal experience than you. "Okay?"

Asserting something over and over doesn't make it a fact.

Congratulations for perpetuating the propaganda against marijuana that was started by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst a century ago in a series of editorials that were designed to boost his newspapers' circulation by tapping into the collective fears of the masses.

 

[Australis]

Of course there was a lot of hype and spin around grass generated by the likes of Hearst, he had an agenda, just like Anslinger.

But people who make the 'grass is harmless' noises usually have an agenda as well, whether selling the stuff, or pushing the 'counterculture' meme, or just don't wanna stop smoking the weed. And you don't know all about my personal experience, just as I don't know about yours.

"Okay?"

 

[Geckothan]

Weed's fine. If you have a history of mental disorders in your family or you're already screwed up, stay away from it. Everyone else? Have fun. Tobacco is only legal because governments tax it and make major money from it, I'm sure if they could make significant money from weed, it would legal too. However, they've already dug themselves a huge hole of "LOL WEED MAKES YOU MAD AND FORCES YOU TO TURN TO HARDER DRUGS AND KILL PEOPLE" propaganda that if they suddenly legalised + taxed it, it would be obvious that they're doing it for money.

There are no longterm harmful physiological effects from consumption of the substance (aside from the effects of smoke inhalation, but then again almost everything is harmful when you combust it, so "LOL IT CAUSES LUNG CANCER" is a terrible argument). There's no doubt that it can cause mental illness in people who are predisposed to mental illness, but so does stress (in addition to giving you hypertension), and smoking a joint is pretty stress-relieving if you ask me.

Tobacco on the other hand, is harmful however you consume it, and is massively addictive. I've smoked a bunch of cigarettes in the past and I don't feel any addiction or attraction to it, but some people are hopelessly addicted. Imagine if they made tobacco illegal, all of those addicts would become like major heroin addicts, it's that bad. Not to mention that it's brutal on your body as a whole. Nicotine was used as a bloody insecticide, and there's plenty of other disgusting substances in there (not as many as the anti-smoking propaganda would have you believe though).

There's also the fact that when you criminalise something, you create criminals out of otherwise "good" people.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

But people who make the 'grass is harmless' noises usually have an agenda as well, whether selling the stuff, or pushing the 'counterculture' meme, or just don't wanna stop smoking the weed.

I don't think anyone here has said it is harmless, merely that it causes less harm than a myriad of other perfectly legal substances, and as such they feel it's hypocritical that it remains illegal.

I neither smoke it, sell it, or are pushing any counterculture agenda. I am however tired of tax dollars being wasted on pointlessly enforcing the illegality of a substance which is used by millions anyway (so prohibition has already failed), and with fewer detrimental effects on the user or others than either alcohol or cigarettes in my opinion.

I'm tired of tax dollars going toward imprisoning people who pose no threat to society, and the injustice of that imprisonment in the first place. I'm tired of a potentially huge source of taxable revenue being ignored because of hysteria and antiquated beliefs, and I'm tired of something with proven medicinal value being denied to patients in many areas because of those beliefs.

 

[Australis]

^ I agree pretty much with most of what you said. I am against people getting a criminal record for smoking it, and it's definitely less harmful than tobacco or large amounts of alcohol.

I'd prefer to see Govt dollars (in any country) spent on educating that yes, smoking dope isn't as harmless as hippies implied. Also very aware of how successful such programmes are, that is, not very successful at all.

I shouldn't get angry, I know. It's just that more information of dope effects should be spread more widely. I wish I could go back to my early 20s and tell myself and friends, "Guys, seriously, it's not worth it".

I would say to anyone here, don't smoke - but it's your choice. Just be informed when you do it, really informed. Don't assume, "It's a herb, man, it's good for you!"

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

But people who make the 'grass is harmless' noises usually have an agenda as well, whether selling the stuff, or pushing the 'counterculture' meme, or just don't wanna stop smoking the weed. And you don't know all about my personal experience, just as I don't know about yours.

I disagree. Scientific studies have shown that smoking Marijuana is only a problem in those cases where mental illnesses are already present. In such a case, other substances like alcohol, free medicines like paracetamol and states of stress are to be avoided as well.

With the majority of people, however, Marijuana isn't harmful at all. Rather, it's completely harmless, as far as recreational substances go. Tobacco is more harmful, as is alcohol. As such, it's ambiguous to declare tobacco and alcohol a legal substance and marijuana an illegal one. Even if it's tolerated here in the Netherlands and you can get it everywhere.

I haven't smoked hash for the last 10 years (nor weed, as weed gives me a headache). And I don't miss it one bit; it simply doesn't do all that much for me. That doesn't mean I have an agenda; it simply means I'm trying to present the facts.

 

[Australis]

Sorry. Ireally have to disagree. There are papers stating that there is harm caused. The more susceptible are subject to, let's just call them mental episodes, from relatively minor breakdowns all the way to full blown mental issues, the heavy stuff.

What isn't in these reports, because it's very hard to measure, is the subtle damage it does to mentally stable people. They aren't as sharp. As the old joke says, short term memory is the first to go. They are more disorganised and, in the main, have less ambition and drive. I've seen this in old friends, and in myself. You can only measure these things if you watch someone closely for ten, fifteen years.

It's obvious I'm not going to change anyone's mind, so I'm done talking about it. Work it out for yourselves, one way or another.

 

[Kail]

A large percentage of those same users have a genetic predisposition towards being psychologically addicted; whether it be to smoking pot, playing the casino, masturbating or eating spaghetti.

Do I know you?