What's Your View On Marijuana?

[KalessinDB]

Legalize it
Sell it in stores such as 7-11 with high taxes
End money crisis?

Well, it may or may not help the economy. I put a ? at the end to signify a possibility. ^_^

Can I just say I find it vaguely amusing that you've come in here 4 times in a 6 month thread and been like "Legalize it. Did I say that already? Legalize it."

It's like something is affecting your memory or something. Weeeeird.

[oxymoron]

and he's from Colorado.

[dsheinem]

I just don't think that getting high on drugs and drunk on alcohol is really worth it. Especially when the rest of us has to pay for them to get their stomachs pumped in hospital. It's an endemic problem.

I just wish people could drink more responsibly. We need to educate people more on the effects of alcohol and drugs. The same goes for food education. I think it is scandalous that some American kids don't know the difference between an eggplant and a potato. I've taught a big classroom of Chinese and North Korean orphans before, and they all know the names of a large variety of fruits and vegetables and their nutritional benefits. In both English and Chinese. Meanwhile, in an American classroom (link).

Why can't we stop living in a world where we take everything for granted? All I am saying is that our children should have a better quality of education. Learn what is bad for you, and what is better for you. It is our duty to educate our societies more. We should be working towards putting those cigarette butts out, saying no to pot, fixing our food industries and enforcing more stringent alcohol laws.

It doesn't seem fair? I'm not saying that we should be taking people's hearing aids and inhalers away, am I? I am saying that we should be limiting things that are bad for our health.

Our education system has a lot of problems, but most of those are a result of larger social concerns like poverty, a history of racial segregation, poor pay for teachers, etc. We have many excellent schools as well, of course, and I think far more kids "know the difference between an eggplant and a potato" than not. Beyond that, our higher education institutions where "kids go to fuck and get wasted" are still some of the best in the world and attract the highest numbers of international students.

And sure, "taking things for granted" is also a problem in much of Western culture - but not one that should have any bearing on legislation regarding nicotine, alcohol, or marijuana. It's really strange that you are making these connections: if there is one thing that IS emphasized HEAVILY to children in all educational contexts it is the perils of abusing nicotine, a range of drugs including pot, and alcohol. In fact, this is done so much that it helps create the "forbidden fruit" syndrome which leads to abuse instead of responsible use. My point is that the problem isn't a lack of education about whether these things are healthy or safe, it is a lack of education about HOW to use these things in a healthy/safe way. That's not a reason to instill prohibition, a condition that tends to exacerbate the other problems of poverty, crime, racial disparities, etc. more than it does to make people stop using the substances.

And I have no problem with my tax dollars helping save someone's life who has abused some substance. It's a hell of a lot better than using it to build a bomb.

[johnny turbo]

Ho ho ho

[oxymoron]

My point is that the problem isn't a lack of education about whether these things are healthy or safe, it is a lack of education about HOW to use these things in a healthy/safe way.

Exactly. I remember have 'drug-free' week as far back as kindergarten. It's isn't the lack but the information being taught. I find many of these classes to be very propaganda like. The drug education programs are more like the 'abstinence only' approach when it should be more like safe sex. It's very optimistic to think the youth won't do it anyways.

[KalessinDB]

Exactly. I remember have 'drug-free' week as far back as kindergarten. It's isn't the lack but the information being taught. I find many of these classes to be very propaganda like. The drug education programs are more like the 'abstinence only' approach when it should be more like safe sex. It's very optimistic to think the youth won't do it anyways.

Depends on the kid. I never took a single puff until I was in my mid 20's, because a girlfriend convinced me to. I did it a handful of times with her, once or twice with my brother after I broke up with her, and that was it. I had a good number of friends who smoked in high school (I went to a hippie high school in the 90's. Don't ask how that works, I don't know, but it did), but there was never any pressure. Would just be like "Nah, not my style" and people respected that.

Heck I remember in college, when I was an RA one year, my boss is like "What do you know about Chris on your floor?" and proceeds to tell me that he's dealing pretty heavily (which I legit knew nothing about)... the next day I see him studying in the lounge and walk up to him and say "I like you, but I like my job more, so don't play dumb when I say this: They know. Be careful." and walk away. Couple weeks later he comes to my room and is just like "Thanks man. Do you...?" "Nope" "If you EVER do, you just let me know". I got a good laugh out of that one.

But I mean... I agree with you that a lot of kids, maybe even most of them, will experiment with sex and drugs, and that abstinence only doesn't work... but I think you're overestimating the propaganda and the idea that "EVERY kid will try"

[Sano]

Legalize it
Sell it in stores such as 7-11 with high taxes
End money crisis?

Well, it may or may not help the economy. I put a ? at the end to signify a possibility. ^_^

Can I just say I find it vaguely amusing that you've come in here 4 times in a 6 month thread and been like "Legalize it. Did I say that already? Legalize it."

It's like something is affecting your memory or something. Weeeeird.

Haha, nice. Its actually other meds that effect my memory. Though I am aware of how many times I come in here. Just like to point out that it shouldn't be a schedule 1 substance.

[oxymoron]

But I mean... I agree with you that a lot of kids, maybe even most of them, will experiment with sex and drugs, and that abstinence only doesn't work... but I think you're overestimating the propaganda and the idea that "EVERY kid will try"

By propaganda I don't necessarily mean that every kid will try it. I also mean things like "Smoking a few cigarettes will get you hooked" and "Smoking a joint will make you instantly dumber". I was never pressured either. People always asked as a courtesy if you wanted to partake but respected if you didn't.