Random Question. What are your thoughts on Cannabis?

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Originally Posted by rick130

For the same reasons you crack a bottle of red ;) (and no, I'm not a user either, never have been)

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I like the taste. It's not necessarily for the alcohol. 'Tis a pity one can't buy really nice alcohol-free reds. The one's I've tried are more expensive than a reasonable red and taste worse than a really cheap bottle.

I don't drink much white - the wine fridge has plenty in it but if I'm out of red, I don't open whites. I have beer in the fridge but a carton will last nearly a year, I have a cupboard full of spirits that don't get opened unless we have a visitor who wants one.

Getting drunk isn't a good feeling.

I love the question:

Random Question. What are your thoughts on Cannabis?

A literal translation would be: My thoughts are light and fluffy when I'm on Cannabis!:D I think about puppies and tim tams.....

I used to smoke it a lot but havnt for the last 5 years or so. Have seen it wreck peoples lives.

On another note, it is not as dangerous as alcohol- ask any ambo or police person. How many violent stoners have you seen?;) Alcohol causes more injury through violence than all other illicit drugs combined together. Don't believe me? The stats speak for themselves:

"In Australia, there are far more health problems and drug-related deaths from the legal drugs alcohol and tobacco than there are from illegal drugs"

This is from:

Drugs - some facts | Better Health Channel

And for some real costs of alcohol have a look at:

Australian Institute of Criminology - Key issues in alcohol-related violence

Alcohol fueled violence costs us 1.7 billion a year. Nearly half of all murders committed are done by people who have been drinking. Pot as dangerous (for violence) as alcohol ? - I dont think so.

As some have stated, the mental health issues associated with pot are a different kettle of fish. The mental health issues are what worry me and through watching mates chuck their lives away, I have decided to give it up. However to say that pot generally - or any other illicit drug for that matter - is worse than alcohol is simply untrue. Worse mentally perhaps in some cases, but the actual dollar figure cost is much lower.

On the lighter side, I've always thought that those new tongue swab drug detector gizmos the police use are a wast of tax payers money. All they need is to pull you over and casually place an open pack of tim tams on your window sill. If you pig out you are stoned!

Not everyone who drinks alchohol, does so for the effects of it. Most of the time I will have a drink for the taste and texture of the drink. Sometimes I will have only one drink, which the effect on me, other than the pleasure of the taste is neglegible.

I for one, cannot see the pleasure in wanting to taste flavoured smoke.

There is not much in this world I haven't tried, and for me, it was a bit of fun at the time, but I really don't see the attraction. Keeping in mind, I don't like being out of control of myself. You can be free, uninhibited and relaxed without needing substances that cause you to lose control of your facalties.

I have been stoned in my teen years, and had those wonderful philisophical discussions that can only make sense while under the influence, but have also seen first hand what happens when it all goes bad.

These days, it is not about having a giggle on some leaf and tip. The drugs are so powerful and normally render the user in a far deeper state where they usually become vegetative and unmotivated.

Narcotics are much more fun, but also far more dangerous. Sex and coke is awesome, but like all things, are great the first time, then it all wears off and you need bigger amounts to get the same effect.

Party drugs. Just too risky. Who knows what you are getting.

I prefer these days to remember what I have done and how fun it was.

So alchohol is my drug of choice. I enjoy the taste, it will relax me enough to become sociable to non-Landy owners, and I generally monitor my intake to remain in control of myself.

CC

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Originally Posted by gusthedog

On another note, it is not as dangerous as alcohol- ask any ambo or police person. How many violent stoners have you seen?;)

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Well, since you ask, and I'm an Ambulance and MICA Paramedic of 15 years experience.......

I am not a fan of the social or medical effects of drunkenness. But why compare one noxious, toxic substance, used to excess, with the harmful effects of another? Why not compare the effects of using cannabis with those of NOT using cannabis? Why not compare them with the effects of healthy living and sobriety? Is there some kind of assumption that the only life options are to be either drunk or stoned?
Fairly early in my career I made the observation that I had not yet encountered a young person suffering from psychotic illness who was not a marijuana user. This was prior to the associative link being confirmed in medical literature. My senior colleagues all agreed that this was the case, and 15 years on I have yet to be proved wrong.
Case in point this very week; I was involved with a university student and athlete who was exhibiting acute psychotic behaviour. Screaming, thrashing about, delusional and paranoid. According to the notes from the attending physicians and psychiatrist, there was no history of illicit drug use. That's very unusual, says I. Yes it is, says they. We scratch a little deeper and, lo and behold, it turns out this young man has been spending his free periods over the past several months with a new group of friends, smoking marijuana. I'm yet to find an exception to this rule.
It is still uncertain whether the link is causative or associative, i.e. does smoking marijuana cause people to go crazy, or are people who go crazy just more likely to be the same type of people who smoke marijuana. My opinion is that it is causative, but that is only an opinion.
Not only have I seen this stuff destroy lives but I have experienced it within my own family and it is heartbreaking. The details are not something I'm about to publish on this forum.
I think that many people of my era (I'm nearing 50) still associate this stuff with what they might have smoked in the 1960s or 70s, when they or their friends might have had a little mischievous fun and come out unscathed. One of the factors now is that the stuff being used is the product of several generations of genetic engineering to the point where the same amount is something like 15 times the potency that it was back then.
Those who hail marijuana for it's supposed positive benefits are generally heavy users themselves, thus so much under it's spell that they will claim it to be capable of anything from curing cancer to removing stubborn stains. I don't give any of these claims much credence.

There is a doco called "The Union" watch that if you get a chance.

The basic reason it is classified as a class 1 drug in the states and many other countries is simply because Ronald Regan did not like it. He commisioned a study and when the info came back saying it was all good, he disputed it and said he didn't like it, so he threw it into the same boat as cocaine and heroin.
What's funny is the most important piece of paper in America 'the declaration of independance' is written on hemp paper.
One mans trash is another man treasure.

Medical studies are also a funny thing, it really really depends who is paying for them, a "thong/flipflop" company could release a study that says "shoes" are a contributing factor to all sorts of mental and health problems, because some people that wear them get sick.
That is true but if you did a real study you would find out that the shoes were probably not the reason the person actually has mental or health problems.
The mental health numbers associated with pot that are always quoted are infact the same percentages that normal society has. ie 5% of pot smoker will go insane, well 5% of the general public will go insane.
It can be a trigger to underlying mental health problems, there is no questions asked, but so can a traffic jam.

It is the most versatile plant in the world. Corn gets used more but Cannabis has more uses. You can run a car on the fuel you made from it, you can lubricate your car with the oil made from it, you can upholester a car with the fabirc you made from it, you can lift a car with the rope made from it, you can design the car on some paper made from it or the smoke from it, you can eat it and you cannot overdose from it. It is used in many many medical applications, the Australian government grows it for ***** sake. If it was that bad the government would not want a thing to do with it. But they actually farm it. So go figure.

Governments are to blame for the inital use of hydroponics for growing, the use of aerial spotting for crops meant growers went inside to grow. The government farms most of their stuff outside. The fact people mix tobacco with it when smoking it, is generally because of the cost due to the fact it is illegal. Smoking it with tobacco becomes harmful to your health.

There are people out there that will not make as much money as they do now if this plant is freely available for everyone to use as they wish. Until we have a world were profits are not the only objective Cannabis will remain illegal.

Alcohol is the worst when abused. 40,000 people die from alcohol poisoning (ie one big night on the turps) in Russia every year. That is not the figure for alcohol related deaths that figure is 400,000 per year (ie life time of drinking)

No one has died from Cannabis.

Australia uses around 4 million grams of POT a day.

I hope some of that helped with your project. Make sure you put it up once you have finished it, i am sure there are some of us that would like to have a read.

OK, fair question Tom, just make sure that because your doing it for a school project you keep a very open mind and don't let your own pre judgements interfere with your topic of "what society thinks..."




I base my opinions on a few things... I am Dutch as well as Australian, and am also an ICU Nurse amongst other things, never smoked despite 10 years in the Army and never smoked weed despite being Dutch.

• I personaly would prefer it to be legalised as IMO this would reduce criminality and increase the countrys tax income as opposed to the criminals (non) taxed income.
• I also think that legalising it would regulate it, thus preventing impurities and dodgy weed. Much like Alcohol and Tobacco are regulated.
• I don't find weed any worse than Alcohol or regular smokes. IMO, I find it to be hugely less of an issue than alcohol in this country (face it).
• I have treated to many people in Hospital as a result of Alcohol intoxication and related violence, and in comparison very few that were stoned, not even in Holland. If drugs were involved, it was generally a concoction of many.
• Weed does not cause paranoia, it excacerbates a pre existing mental health condition. (as do a lot of "drugs") To hard basket to establish this prior to weed use, like Alcohol, this is a "trial and error" system.
• Medical "evidence" to the mental health issues is contradictory. You will find research pointing both ways quite easily
• There are always exceptions, some "people" go into a depressive psychotic spiral after 2 beers, some "drugos" go into a depressive psychotic spiral afetr one joint (Can't call an alcoholic a drugo:o)
• Weed does not create social disorder or increased criminal activity if it is in a legalised population. (Although Germany and Belgium have been putting a lot of pressure on Holland because of the "drug tourism", now that you can drive around Europe without border controls. even still, it's not a huge issue)
• Weed is not an issue for the Dutch, they have more important issues to worry about, like FC Utrecht, Frans Bauer, international trading, and spending their money on other worthwhile ventures (like getting themselves out of the current recession)
• People think that because it's illegal, it must be bad. Not always true.
• IMO I feel this country needs to get a grip with it's obsession with Alcoholism before worrying about changing other lwas (may sound contradictory to me wanting it legalised, but there are priorities here) They stopped the Benson and Hedges cricket series because tobacco is bad for your health, yet they allow the VB and Bundy rum power plays so our youth is pounded with the idea that alcohol is cool because all of our sporters (read: role models) support it?!
• I found an interesting website, might save you a bit of leg work;) just don't plaguerise and realise this is an international debate, and a solely Australian opinion may differ.

Debate: Legalization of Marijuana - Debatepedia

My 2c worth

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Originally Posted by stevo68

You could apply all 6 of those to alcohol....but the list would keep on going......and like alcohol as with pot if it is consumed in high levels as with food for example...there is going to be a downside.

As I noted.....I and most of the people I knew smoked pot/ hash and the ones you have noted that would apply would be.......................well none. Now if I was to relate that to times through my life when I have drunk excessively.......I would apply 1...2.....and 6. Alcohol leaves pot for dead when it comes to those 6 points...............unarguable either :p:D,

Regards

Stevo

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Taking addiction aside.....

I think the main point is that you could drink 2 cans of beer every day and not have your brain turn to mush unlike if you took cannabis every day...

I say this from a perspective of dealing with users of both substances on a daily basis yet the can swilling guys ain't the ones with fried heads.... James

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Originally Posted by gusthedog

I love the question: ...
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On another note, it is not as dangerous as alcohol- ask any ambo or police person. How many violent stoners have you seen?;) Alcohol causes more injury through violence than all other illicit drugs combined together. Don't believe me? The stats speak for themselves:
...!

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Actually I am an emergency nurse and not sure I fully agree with you. The saturday night specials with an odour of alcohol, blood and vomit is a mental image I can not forget, just it's mention brings back the odour to my senses. Difficult to deal with? not really, after a few thousand cases, be consistent, speak in a loud voice and keep your eye on them.

Cannabis, need 7 staff to hold them down when they are having a psychotic break with reality and if you want statistics, Just go to your Institute for Criminology and you find that while Alcohol has been tested for many years and a lot of statistics are based upon alcohol related road statistics, in every age category the rate of driving whilst under the influence of drugs other than alcohol is greater than the alcohol category and in some groups 50% greater. Australian Institute of Criminology - Drug driving in Australia so how do we know that the statistic was related to the alcohol or was in fact related to some other illicit drug? Remember cannabis is the most commonly consumed illicit drug in the country.

Cannabis has similar effects on driving performance as alcohol http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/a...riving_web.pdf but preponents and opponents of cannabis read the results of scientific studies quite differently. (Remember that Australian scientific studies on drug use and abuse are more reliable than similar studies in the US, its the nature of the beast)

Also....as for crime...never dealt with a house or car breaker who was after money for a beer..... Unlike the drug fiends......

Re Lots a Landies.........

I would also much rather deal with a ****ed beer monster rather than a drug fuelled lunatic..... But hey that's where Tazer becomes the equalizer!!!! James