Some very sobering thoughts regarding the wide variety of negative health effects caused by alcohol.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...ons/000494.htm

Amazingly, it is not classified at all - nor is tobacco.

I don't think anyone would disagree, but three wrongs don't make a right, and there's not great deal can be done to restrict the supply of substances so easily obtainable that have been considered acceptable throughout the Western world for such a long period of time.

I think most ppl. backing the use of marijuana are probably users, some with adequate justification, but the other mainly recreational users are possibly not fully aware or else are turning a blind eye to the long term negative effects.

I fully back the arguments for legalising marijuana though I don´t participate. Some years ago I tried it but simply didn´t like the "high". I simply didn´t like the paranoia it caused me.
I still know many people who sit and smoke a joint, after work or at the weekends. But just like any other drug, alcohol, coffee and all the other usual suspects, different people are effected differently.
These aren´t your stereo typical ignoramus whom struggle to string a sentence together. They are mostly well educated and succesful business people.
They enjoy the "mellow" and cause no one but themselves harm. (Mostly smoke inhalation!)
Isn´t it the right of an individual to choose?

I've never even tried it, but like yourself I know many people who have now reached their mid-fifties and older, with successful careers, who have partaken for most of their adult lives with no discernible ill effects. I think it's ludicrous that such people run the risk of acquiring a criminal record in countries where people are still prosecuted - and despite all the physical and financial resources devoted to trying to enforce the law, all those countries still have huge drug problems.

Well according to research well educated intelligent people may well end up struggling to string a sentence together after long term use.

Yes it's the right of the individual to choose as long as they don't cause a problem for others, but bear in mind that those of them who end up in the funny farm, (and some definitely do), have to be paid for and taken care of by some means or other.

The point has clearly been made regarding the damage and costs relating to alcohol and tobacco abuse.
Maybe we have yet to learn the full cost of long term and widespread marijuana use.

Most of the marijuana now smoked in the UK, 70% of it, is home grown skunk, which does have unpleasant side effects, and the notion of highly educated people smoking spliffs without causing themselves or others harm is a false one.

The trouble is, alcohol, cigarettes and dope are all stress relievers, and without relieving stress you are also causing yourself harm.

Perhaps a tad facetiously, what would you rather have - a shorter life full of rip-roaring fun, or a longer one filled with austere misery?

It appears you can't have both. I'm trying for a middle course, resting up my liver during the week, but frightening the life out of it at weekends.

Where do you think the majority of these people are getting their supplies from? The majority are growing one or two plants (yes, skunk) at home, not out buying from dodgy youths on street corners. Apart from anything else they won't pay stupid prices for a couple of grams when good quality seeds are available to buy on the high street.

You could liken skunk to spirits - if someone decides to have a Scotch in place of a pint of beer, they don't drink a pint of the stuff. Really, you have a very blinkered and unrealistic view on this subject.

If you read the post properly, I have said they cause themselves harm but, with the full knowledge of what they are doing. Much like yourself at the weekends

My experiences in the field are limited indeed, but I do remember one meaningless one when visiting a couple of ladies in the bad part of town. We had to sit in the kitchen because the living room was full of Tenants Super they had just fetched over from Calais.

Anyway, we all had a couple of cans of Tenants Super and a couple of spliffs. Before I took my leave, I remember the two quite ordinary ladies suddenly looking like film stars, and the rather grubby kitchen suddenly looking like a gold-plated spaceship.

I don't know which mind altering substance was to blame for the sudden euphoria, it could have been either, or both. And as far as I know, the experience didn't do me any harm.

I'm sorry about my blinkered view on the subject.

Wonderful post HBG ... I have a wide grin on my face

You believe all of that published by the American government do you? They're not biased in any way really are they? Do you always believe everything governments tell you? Do you always believe everything the media tells you?

For as many reports that say cannabis is harmful, I can probably show you just as many that say it isn't. Who to believe?

Incidentally, swop out the words marijuana and cannabis for alcohol and that article will actually start to make some sense.

Nice first post
How to make friends and influence people

Of course the trained researchers haven't a clue, I should really have known that.

Much better asking the users with first hand experience who ended up in the funny farm, that's if they can still manage to utter a few words that make any sense.

I'm sorry if that came across as being a little abrasive, it's just the way I am. I tend to say things as I see them!

What trained researchers might those be? The ones working for and being paid by the American government, who just happens to be fighting a war on drugs? What methodology are they using? What's the sample size? How are they reaching those conclusions and what are the basing them on?

Without any of that information it's just more government propaganda to justify their war on drugs.

What users might those be and do you have any examples you'd like to cite? Or are you going to simply point your finger back to the same government and media propaganda sources that tell everyone Cannabis use is bad because it's politically expedient for them to want to do so?

You appear to have a very anti-Cannabis stance yet can't back any of your claims up with a single shred of evidence beyond posting a link to an American government drugs site that says Cannabis is bad!

Fortunately there has been some really intelligent posts on this subject in this thread by people who really understand the issues. But sad that the same government and media fueled hysteria about how bad it is still seems to pervade some minds that can't think for themselves and don't appear to have the slightest clue with regards to the issues that surround the subject matter.