Is Pot Harmless?

[JimmyWint]

Okay, so I have been seeing this girl for about a month now. Just yesterday she says she likes to get high once in a while with this girlfriend of hers. I have never smoked pot. I enjoy going out drinking about once or twice a week, and drinking too much, that is my vice. What is the difference between getting drunk like I do, or in getting stoned, other than the obvious fact it is illegal. I kind of threw up a red flag when I heard this...maybe I am overreacting? What do you all think?

[RendeR]

You are overreacting, now if she can't go 2 hours without lighting up, THEN you should see red flags.

I'd be more worried about your drinking habit than her smoking habit.

[Samdari]

Just make sure she'll let you watch when she gets high with this girlfriend.

EDIT: You ask a very different question in the title and post. Is pot harmless? Absolutely not. Is alcohol harmless? Absolutely not. Should you be worried that she has a potentially harmless vice, when you admit you have one yourself? Unless you consider strict adherence to the letter of the law at all times a moral imperative, I think you should not worry any more about her casual use of pot than you do about your casual use of alcohol.

[Eaglesfan27]

Is it harmless? No, I don't think it is. Are you overreacting? It depends on your value system and what you consider important in a mate.

[lungs]

It's absolutely harmless. Granted, some people would say that I live in my car because I smoke dope. But I also get drunk on a regular basis too. I do know plenty of normal people that smoke dope and have regular jobs with no ill-effect.

It's really a matter of personal choice. You can lead a normal life and smoke dope. Personally I think drinking is more harmful than smoking pot. The only thing bad about pot is that it's illegal. It was a great way to arrest Mexicans when they decided to ban it.

If you can live without it, more power to you. But if you can do it in the comfort of your own home without affecting others, there's nothing wrong with that either.

But if dating somebody who smokes makes you uncomfortable, then that's a personal decision you have to make.

Now back to my car, I have a bottle of whiskey waiting for me.

[Draft Dodger]

Is it harmless? No, I don't think it is. Are you overreacting? It depends on your value system and what you consider important in a mate.

yep.

[Samdari]

It's absolutely harmless. Granted, some people would say that I live in my car because I smoke dope. But I also get drunk on a regular basis too. I do know plenty of normal people that smoke dope and have regular jobs with no ill-effect.

It's really a matter of personal choice. You can lead a normal life and smoke dope. Personally I think drinking is more harmful than smoking pot. The only thing bad about pot is that it's illegal. It was a great way to arrest Mexicans when they decided to ban it.

If you can live without it, more power to you. But if you can do it in the comfort of your own home without affecting others, there's nothing wrong with that either.

But if dating somebody who smokes makes you uncomfortable, then that's a personal decision you have to make.

Now back to my car, I have a bottle of whiskey waiting for me.

You live in your car?

You have internet acces there?

Dude, I need a new car.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Is it harmless? No, I don't think it is. Are you overreacting? It depends on your value system and what you consider important in a mate.

AFAIC, I think you've just supplied the definitive "right answer" to the question.

[RendeR]

You live in your car?

You have internet acces there?

Dude, I need a new car.



DUDE! Where's my CAR!!!?!?!?!?!?!

[Draft Dodger]

You live in your car?

You have internet acces there?

Dude, I need a new car.

internet access AND a bar
and what sounds like a nice smoking lounge as well.

[Ksyrup]

Is it harmless? No, I don't think it is. Are you overreacting? It depends on your value system and what you consider important in a mate.
I agree.

But I also agree with Samdari that there is potential when two girls get high together. Except I don't think you should ask if you can watch when they get high - that might make them self-conscious. I think the closet is your best bet.

So in other words, this presents me with a great moral dilemma.

[Samdari]

So in other words, this presents me with a great moral dilemma.

I cannot think of any situation in which watching any non-relative female you know get it on with another non-relative female (whether you know her or not) could be considered morally objectionable. But, that's just me.

[NoMyths]

She sounds cooler than you. I'd hit it.

;)

Seriously, though, from the outside I'd be far more concerned about my girlfriend getting drunk twice a week as opposed to getting stoned once in awhile. Having friends who regularly indulge in both vices has given me enough circumstantial evidence to feel that pot is far less harmful than drinking.

[duckman]

I cannot think of any situation in which watching any non-relative female you know get it on with another non-relative female (whether you know her or not) could be considered morally objectionable. But, that's just me.
I would ask to tag along and take a few token hits (if you're not into pot). Get the conversation to shift to sex and see where it may lead you.

[Ksyrup]

I cannot think of any situation in which watching any non-relative female you know get it on with another non-relative female (whether you know her or not) could be considered morally objectionable. But, that's just me.
That's not morally objectionable, but the pot is. Taken by itself, I approve.

[Samdari]

Seriously, though, from the outside I'd be far more concerned about my girlfriend getting drunk twice a week as opposed to getting stoned once in awhile. Having friends who regularly indulge in both vices has given me enough circumstantial evidence to feel that pot is far less harmful than drinking.

My guess - the people you know doing pot ran out before the people consuming booze. Doing either to excess is dangerous, it just seems easier to do alcohol to excess.

[Samdari]

That's not morally objectionable, but the pot is. Taken by itself, I approve.

I reiterate - I cannot think of ANY situation (any includes them being high).

[JimmyWint]

Thanks for all of the input. I think I overreacted. Does smoking Pot do anything to your sex drive? I would hate to take a few hits and then not be able to perform afterwards if the opportunity arose.

[rkmsuf]

Jimmy would like getting high.

[HomerJSimpson]

My guess - the people you know doing pot ran out before the people consuming booze. Doing either to excess is dangerous, it just seems easier to do alcohol to excess.

Booze is more physically addictive. Pot can be mentally adictive, but I don't think there are any strong physical reactions to suddenly stop smoking it. Nicotine is much, much, much more dangerous in that regard.

[BigJohn&TheLions]

About the only foreign substance you can put in your body without any harmful effects is water. Marijuana, alcohol, nicotene, and Krispy Kreme doughnuts all mess you up somehow.

Personally, I think you are overreacting. What if she doesn't like a drunkard boyfriend? That is your vice. So while you pray to the porceline god, she eats up all your malomars... That's the difference.

[Super Ugly]

A friend of mine went out with a girl who occasionally liked to take coke and ecstasy. Despite being a massive drinker and chain-smoker, my friend deplored his partner's dabblings and gave her an ultimatum: give that stuff up or find a new boyfriend.

She thought about what he said and then dumped him.

Hope that helps.

[rkmsuf]

Don't inhale and when she is high, shag the crap out of her.

[Anthony]

I would ask to tag along and take a few token hits (if you're not into pot). Get the conversation to shift to sex and see where it may lead you.

i wish nothing but good things for you.

[Galaxy]

A friend of mine went out with a girl who occasionally liked to take coke and ecstasy. Despite being a massive drinker and chain-smoker, my friend deplored his partner's dabblings and gave her an ultimatum: give that stuff up or find a new boyfriend.

She thought about what he said and then dumped him.

Hope that helps.


Big difference between coke and ecstasy then pot.

[rkmsuf]

How about sex packets? Are they safe?

[Anthony]

listen, this is all you have to know:

we're all gonna die when we're 70,80 years old. there will be a point in your life when silly things you've done as a youth won't have mattered in the grand scheme of things. 70, 80 years is not a long time, such a short ride - just enjoy it anyway you can (as long as it doesn't cause harm to anyone else). that's what i live by.

seriously, everytime i go out drinking (which has decreased over the years) i always tell myself "i'll be dead in about 50 or 60 years and nothing i do this weekend will matter". great way to excuse a *lot* of the things i do when i go out with my friends.

[korme]

I don't know man, I probably wouldn't date a girl that got high often. I have never really enjoyed it myself and I can't see myself being with someone who liked it so much.

This is probably the worst contribution to the thread.

[korme]

Now back to my car, I have a bottle of whiskey waiting for me.
11:16 AM! Hell fuckin' yeah!

[korme]

My guess - the people you know doing pot ran out before the people consuming booze. Doing either to excess is dangerous, it just seems easier to do alcohol to excess.
You can't smoke too much, there is no excess. You can't OD or anything from smoking weed. It's science.

[Swaggs]

Watch your supply of Doritos.

And make sure if you are having an argument in your car and you get pulled over by the cops, she doesn't blurt out "He has pot!!!"

[Raven]

If you're looking to bag two chicks at once, weed isn't going to be the key.

Alcohol is the answer. A combination of both could do the trick as well.

[Raven Hawk]

If you're hoping to get a new job anytime soon. Stay off the pot. Many companies drug test and it would suck to be offered a job, then have that offer revoked because you failed a drug test . . .

If you're in college and have a little bit of time before you graduate . . .

Enjoy.

[JimmyWint]

How long does it stay in your system? I never thought of that. We are going to hang out tonight, so the opportunity may present itself.

[Anthony]

don't worry, get yourself a wizzinator and you're money.

[korme]

How long does it stay in your system? I never thought of that. We are going to hang out tonight, so the opportunity may present itself.
People say it is around 1-2 weeks time to get out of your system, but I know my buddy recently who had smoked on a Friday, went to court 3 days later on a Monday (underage), and was told he had to take a surprise drug test, if he failed, 30 days in jail. Scared him shitless knowing he had just smoked. He passed.

I don't know how these things happen.

[Superman=#54]

Thanks for all of the input. I think I overreacted. Does smoking Pot do anything to your sex drive? I would hate to take a few hits and then not be able to perform afterwards if the opportunity arose.

For VERY FEW males it will effect the ability to have an erection. It would be wise to smoke a few times before trying the bake'n'bang.

[duckman]

People say it is around 1-2 weeks time to get out of your system, but I know my buddy recently who had smoked on a Friday, went to court 3 days later on a Monday (underage), and was told he had to take a surprise drug test, if he failed, 30 days in jail. Scared him shitless knowing he had just smoked. He passed.

I don't know how these things happen.
If you only smoke occassionally, it pretty much leaves your bloodstream in 48-72 hours. If you smoke on a regular basis, it takes two weeks for it clear your system.

If you can get it, buy some niacin pills at the health food store. The shit will clean out system pronto.

The only place they can nail you is in the hair. The chemicals will still remain in your hair for possibly years.

[McSweeny]

People say it is around 1-2 weeks time to get out of your system, but I know my buddy recently who had smoked on a Friday, went to court 3 days later on a Monday (underage), and was told he had to take a surprise drug test, if he failed, 30 days in jail. Scared him shitless knowing he had just smoked. He passed.

I don't know how these things happen.

on a Friday night i smoked a whole ton of pot. And i had been smoking once or twice a week for the previous two months or so. The following Monday i got a job offer and was told my drug test would be Tuesday morning. I freaked out. And drank massive amouts of water and took vitimans by the handfull. I guess it worked because i got the job.

not sure if it's a coincidence or not, but that was one of the last times i smoked...

[Eaglesfan27]

There are different qualities of urine drug tests (and the best ones are more expensive) but an expensive good urine drug screen can detect Marijuana for up to 30 days IF someone smoked regularly or high amounts. It varies greatly for an occasional smoker. Also, it depends on how fat a person is because Marijuana becomes stored in adipose (fatty) tissue and can gradually release into your system.

[Mr. Wednesday]

On at least one occasion, I had a hair sample drug test. I don't recall which job that was for, it had to have been at least seven years ago because my last job only did a breathalyzer and urine tests for the random testing.

[JimboJ]

Does smoking Pot do anything to your sex drive? I would hate to take a few hits and then not be able to perform afterwards if the opportunity arose.

Back when I did it, it made me horny as hell. Everytime me and my GF got high, we'd end up f@#%ing like jackrabbits 10 minutes later. It basically makes your senses more acute. Food tastes better, sex feels better, everything seem funnier...

[Buzzbee]

She sounds cooler than you. I'd hit it.

Intentional, or unintentional comedy?

Does smoking Pot do anything to your sex drive? I would hate to take a few hits and then not be able to perform afterwards if the opportunity arose.
If the opportunity arises, you've got nothing to worry about.


About the only foreign substance you can put in your body without any harmful effects is water.
Not quite true. Even water can kill you. It's called drowning.

on a Friday night i smoked a whole ton of pot. And i had been smoking once or twice a week for the previous two months or so. The following Monday i got a job offer and was told my drug test would be Tuesday morning. I freaked out. And drank massive amouts of water and took vitimans by the handfull. I guess it worked because i got the job.

not sure if it's a coincidence or not, but that was one of the last times i smoked...
Anyone else notice McSweeny's location?

[WSUCougar]

we're all gonna die when we're 70,80 years old
Sounds like a quote for your tombstone. And no, I ain't talking about the pizza.

And this is an intriguing thread.

[panerd]

If you're looking to bag two chicks at once, weed isn't going to be the key.

Alcohol is the answer. A combination of both could do the trick as well.

Agree. I am not sure how pot is getting all of this credit for creating kinky sex. Pot, no. Alcohol, maybe. Coke, yes. In college the pot came out when I was hanging with the guys, the Cuervo came out when I was hanging out with the girls.

[Buzzbee]

Hehe. He named his penis Cuervo. Hehe.

[Buzzbee]

I would ask to tag along and take a few token hits (if you're not into pot). Get the conversation to shift to sex and see where it may lead you.
Oh yeah, missed this one. Isn't Duckman going to be a teacher. Hope he's not teaching MY daughter. :p

And he wonders why his ex-wife hates him and doesn't want him around the kid. *friendly jab*

[Anthony]

Hehe. He named his penis Cuervo. Hehe.

mine's is "Mr. Perriman".

refined and regal. he has a british accent even.

[korme]

Blaze for Biggy

[duckman]

Oh yeah, missed this one. Isn't Duckman going to be a teacher. Hope he's not teaching MY daughter. :p
They have to learn it from somewhere. Why not your neighborhood friendly duckie? :D


And he wonders why his ex-wife hates him and doesn't want him around the kid. *friendly jab*

And here I thought it was all the crack rocks I smoked? :D

[Glengoyne]

I cannot think of any situation in which watching any non-relative female you know get it on with another non-relative female (whether you know her or not) could be considered morally objectionable. But, that's just me.
Rosie Odonnell

[korme]

mine's is "Mr. Perriman".

refined and regal. he has a british accent even.
If we are talking English accents, then Big Ben is the obvious choice.

[WSUCougar]

mine's is "Mr. Perriman".

http://www.detroitlions.com/photos/ll-perriman.jpg :confused:

Hey man, whatever floats your boat...

[Glengoyne]

on a Friday night i smoked a whole ton of pot. And i had been smoking once or twice a week for the previous two months or so. The following Monday i got a job offer and was told my drug test would be Tuesday morning. I freaked out. And drank massive amouts of water and took vitimans by the handfull. I guess it worked because i got the job.

not sure if it's a coincidence or not, but that was one of the last times i smoked...
I wasn't a pot smoker, so when asked if I could take a drug test at a job interview, I said sure not a problem for me. So I go take the test, walk out the door, sit down in my car, and only then realize that two days before I'd spent about six hours in a car with two quasi friends who were pot fiends. The two of them smoked the whole time. Man was I nervous until the results came back negative.

[flere-imsaho]

Based on personal experience, I wouldn't mix it with alcohol the first time....

[Buzzbee]

Based on personal experience, I wouldn't mix it with alcohol the first time....
Otherwise, you get something like this...


http://kamilewicz.org/albums/misc/explanation_001.jpg

[Airhog]

I was drug tested by the state for 6 weeks. I wasn't clean until the last test...Of course I was a very heavy smoker, and didnt stop until 5 minutes before my first test :D

YMMY of course, but I wasnt very active.

[MJ4H]

Is it harmless? No, I don't think it is. Are you overreacting? It depends on your value system and what you consider important in a mate.
Good answer. As for my opinion, I personally choose not to associate with people that do those types of things, so no I don't think you overreacted.

[JeeberD]

Not quite true. Even water can kill you. It's called drowning.



And lets not forget about Water Intoxication (http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/hydration/a/aa051200.htm)... :p

[BigJohn&TheLions]

Rosie Odonnell
http://members.fortunecity.com/johnrobinson10/scanso/odonnell/odonnell_rosie.jpg

[Flasch186]

I am also not ok with smoking pot. I have friends that do and am around it on occasion but I feel no peer pressure to do it. HOWEVER my friends think Im crazy because for some reason I view myself as a role model AND, as you all know, I cannot consider myself a hypocrite SO since I try to teach kids a right and wrong way to behave (doing drugs being wrong) I could not live with myself if I said, "Dont do drugs" and proceeded to do them. SO there you go....I dont, and dont think you should either....

NOW I am the same way about Alcohol, prescription meds, etc. so I readily admit I have a hard time seeing the line...and maybe that is not such a good thing and why NOT becoming a cop, (as I had planned) is probably a good thing.

[Raven]

I am also not ok with smoking pot. I have friends that do and am around it on occasion but I feel no peer pressure to do it. HOWEVER my friends think Im crazy because for some reason I view myself as a role model AND, as you all know, I cannot consider myself a hypocrite SO since I try to teach kids a right and wrong way to behave (doing drugs being wrong) I could not live with myself if I said, "Dont do drugs" and proceeded to do them. SO there you go....I dont, and dont think you should either....

NOW I am the same way about Alcohol, prescription meds, etc. so I readily admit I have a hard time seeing the line...and maybe that is not such a good thing and why NOT becoming a cop, (as I had planned) is probably a good thing.

Translation: boring

:)

[JonInMiddleGA]

See Flasch, it's posts like this one that explain why, no matter what we argue about, you've never made it to my ignore list.

You're a lot of things, but you aren't hopeless ;)

[Dutch]

I tried weed a few times but when my buddy starting lighting up before the first class of the day I knew he was beginning the long winding road to trouble. So I stopped while I still could. I'm 34 and am no great success story, but that dude is still sitting in front of his dad's TV smoking pot watching cartoons. To each their own I guess. :)

[Dutch]

Oh, and to answer the question. As long as you don't get busted by the cops. Chances are you won't get in trouble smoking dope, you usually get in trouble trying to buy it. Good luck.

[Desnudo]

Okay, so I have been seeing this girl for about a month now. Just yesterday she says she likes to get high once in a while with this girlfriend of hers. I have never smoked pot. I enjoy going out drinking about once or twice a week, and drinking too much, that is my vice. What is the difference between getting drunk like I do, or in getting stoned, other than the obvious fact it is illegal. I kind of threw up a red flag when I heard this...maybe I am overreacting? What do you all think?

This should be a poll. You are overreacting. There is no difference in drinking too much or smoking pot as long as you are doing it in moderation and not operating heavy machinery. Except of course that pot is illegal, if that bothers you.

[Galaxy]

Jimmy,
Are you 21? If not, alcohol is illegal as well.

[Flasch186]

See Flasch, it's posts like this one that explain why, no matter what we argue about, you've never made it to my ignore list.

You're a lot of things, but you aren't hopeless ;)


grrrrrrrrrrrrr :p

[MrBigglesworth]

Here is the deal, marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, cigarettes, and empty calorie snack foods. During colonial times hemp was considered legal tender, and Virginia had laws on the books requiring farmers to grow marijuana. So why is it illegal? Racism and yellow journalism. Marijuana was painted as the drug of choice of Mexicans and negroes. Here are some quotes from Harry Anslinger, director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in the 1930's:
There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races...Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men.
(incidentaly, it is amazing how far we have come as a country, and it's quite a rebuff to those who want a return to 'traditional values')

The push to outlaw marijuana was also pushed by newspaper mogul William Randolf Hearst. For one, he had purchased part of the timber industry to produce the paper for his newspapers and feared the competition of hemp paper. Furthermore, stoking the fires against certain groups sells papers, and painting the Mexicans as marijuana smoking murderers helped make Hearst an even richer man.

Now, I have never tried it, it's just not my bag, but a lot of my friends did it in college and still do it every once in a while with no problems. However, it is still against the law, and if you get caught you might have problems down the road with it on your record. And even if you aren't caught, you can't get a job in some government agencies such as the FBI. So that is the only downfall. It's your choice whether it is worth the risk.

[Flasch186]

regardless, when a growing impressionable teen makes the choice to "break the law" rebuking some moral set that is widely known (whether right or not) it is exactly that "gateway" that the conservatives talk about. The same as when a kid shoplifts for the first time. If theyre not caught they come to a crossroads...they either learn from the adrenaline rush that the fear is not worth it (and theyre unlikely to do it again) OR they do it again and again and again until they get caught (not necessarily red handed; it could be a paranoia that "ive been had!!"). I know that this is not a blanket thing that happens to everyone but it is fact that most heavy drug addicts first relationship with illegal narcotics was/is marijuana. SO either legalize AND remove the stigm (you cannot simply do one without the other) or keep your freakin' kids from doin' em or else I hope the cops and judge do their job and throw the book at them.

[korme]

Flasch let's go smoke some rocks baby

[BishopMVP]

regardless, when a growing impressionable teen makes the choice to "break the law" rebuking some moral set that is widely known (whether right or not) it is exactly that "gateway" that the conservatives talk about. The same as when a kid shoplifts for the first time.Underage drinking is illegal too, and for most kids alcohol will be their first experience with a mind-altering drug. Unless you want to count cigarettes, which are also part of that "gateway" from doing nothing illegal to shooting up heroin daily. I don't think marijuana is some magic line in the sand. I'm not saying I'm cool with kids smoking joints, but I don't think they should be drinking alcohol (which is much worse for you) or smoking cigarettes (which don't provide as big a pleasurable feeling.)

As for Jimmy, I'm guessing you are between college-age and 30, same with the girl. Unless you have a strong moral objection to breaking any laws, I wouldn't dump this girl or care much. A fairly significant portion of people that age do smoke weed at least occasionally, and it's not an indication that she's a drug addict or degenerate. You also don't need to start smoking either, because from knowing a lot of people who do smoke, just saying you don't is sufficient. They're not gonna press the issue. The worst that's gonna happen is your kitchen will get cleaned out. Smoking weed=Hungry, lazy and easily amused. I'd be a lot more worried if she got real drunk without you around.

[MrBigglesworth]

regardless, when a growing impressionable teen makes the choice to "break the law" rebuking some moral set that is widely known (whether right or not) it is exactly that "gateway" that the conservatives talk about. The same as when a kid shoplifts for the first time. If theyre not caught they come to a crossroads...they either learn from the adrenaline rush that the fear is not worth it (and theyre unlikely to do it again) OR they do it again and again and again until they get caught (not necessarily red handed; it could be a paranoia that "ive been had!!").
The 'gateway' thing seems to me to assume that all kids are stuck in level 1, stage 1 of Kohlberg's stages of moral development, concerned only with obeying authority. Most people that smoke pot are well beyond that stage however. I still think that it should be illegal for kids, just like alcohol. Making it illegal is a deterrant to help keep it from being abused. I drank during my early years of college before it was legal to do so, but I would have drank a lot more if it was legal. And while we are talking about conservative ideas, what about the supposedly conservative idea of letting people take responsibility for themselves and not have their actions be regulated by the state? (for all you people who think I am a huge liberal, this is part of my libertarian/conservative side, even though conservatism has drifted away from this principle)

I know that this is not a blanket thing that happens to everyone but it is fact that most heavy drug addicts first relationship with illegal narcotics was/is marijuana.
Using a stat like that assumes causation when it may only be correlation. Pot is relatively cheap and easily obtained, so it makes sense that most drug users begin with that. If I wanted to start doing drugs, I know about a dozen places I could find pot, but I wouldn't even know where to start to look for heroin. I would bet that their very first relationship would have been with cigarettes, since they are even cheaper and more easily obtained. How many people do you know that have tried a cigarette and how many do you know that have tried pot? Why not make cigarettes illegal, they are much more addictive and cause more maladies than marijuana, plus it is an earlier gateway? I can't support the slippery slope argument. It's like banning dancing because it leads to sex. Or to use a better example, since sex is still legal in most states, outlawing driving because it leads to DUI.

[Ksyrup]

Everybody move to Canada and smoke lots of pot.
Everybody move to Canada right now. Here's how we do it:
Bum rush the border guard before he and his dog ever knew it.

Streets on fire, the mob goes wild.

[JimboJ]

Rosie Odonnell

I think he was referring strictly to the human species.

[Flasch186]

Underage drinking is illegal too, and for most kids alcohol will be their first experience with a mind-altering drug. Unless you want to count cigarettes, which are also part of that "gateway" from doing nothing illegal to shooting up heroin daily. I don't think marijuana is some magic line in the sand. I'm not saying I'm cool with kids smoking joints, but I don't think they should be drinking alcohol (which is much worse for you) or smoking cigarettes (which don't provide as big a pleasurable feeling.)

As for Jimmy, I'm guessing you are between college-age and 30, same with the girl. Unless you have a strong moral objection to breaking any laws, I wouldn't dump this girl or care much. A fairly significant portion of people that age do smoke weed at least occasionally, and it's not an indication that she's a drug addict or degenerate. You also don't need to start smoking either, because from knowing a lot of people who do smoke, just saying you don't is sufficient. They're not gonna press the issue. The worst that's gonna happen is your kitchen will get cleaned out. Smoking weed=Hungry, lazy and easily amused. I'd be a lot more worried if she got real drunk without you around.


On MOST occasions the first experience with Alcohol (where "Doing something 'wrong' is involved") also is around marijuana as well. Im not talking about sipping a beer that dad hand's you while watching a game (although Im against that too) Im talking about he first social experience with alcohol. I dont disagree with you, and alcohol-ism in teens hidden by the social cloth is bad, maybe worse then the marijuana BUT that doesnt excuse or minimize the effect that those first times trying marijuana can have on a teens life.

[Flasch186]

The 'gateway' thing seems to me to assume that all kids are stuck in level 1, stage 1 of Kohlberg's stages of moral development, concerned only with obeying authority. Most people that smoke pot are well beyond that stage however. I still think that it should be illegal for kids, just like alcohol. Making it illegal is a deterrant to help keep it from being abused. I drank during my early years of college before it was legal to do so, but I would have drank a lot more if it was legal. And while we are talking about conservative ideas, what about the supposedly conservative idea of letting people take responsibility for themselves and not have their actions be regulated by the state? (for all you people who think I am a huge liberal, this is part of my libertarian/conservative side, even though conservatism has drifted away from this principle)

not true and that is why I said it isnt blanket however in the teen life you are dealing with many microcosims of scoiety one of which is being pressured (not necessarily by others - many kids put the pressure on themselves) to try Marijuana and Alcohol. The gateway, I speak of, is the Kids ability to overcome the morality issue and "do the drug". The first time someone is able to overcome the moral roadblock, it will be easier to do the next time, and so on, and so on.


Using a stat like that assumes causation when it may only be correlation. Pot is relatively cheap and easily obtained, so it makes sense that most drug users begin with that. If I wanted to start doing drugs, I know about a dozen places I could find pot, but I wouldn't even know where to start to look for heroin. I would bet that their very first relationship would have been with cigarettes, since they are even cheaper and more easily obtained. How many people do you know that have tried a cigarette and how many do you know that have tried pot? Why not make cigarettes illegal, they are much more addictive and cause more maladies than marijuana, plus it is an earlier gateway? I can't support the slippery slope argument. It's like banning dancing because it leads to sex. Or to use a better example, since sex is still legal in most states, outlawing driving because it leads to DUI.

Simply whitewashing it as a financial thing is a scary statement as sometimes, the first hits etc. of a "worse" drug can be cheap to free, so lets not go there. YES, because it is around more often Pot is the drug that is easily had, but remember the kid trying it for the first few times usually never bought it at all. In this case the slippery slope argument is not regarding Marijuana, per se. It IS regarding the child's ability to ignore their moral and social restraints that we hope have been instilled. Once they do it once, they will be more ready to make that decision again next time, and somewhere down the road perhaps it wont be marijuana that we are talking about. You see the difference Im making no?

[Raiders Army]

My experience with illegal drugs is confined to Dope Wars.

[sabotai]

Fucking while stoned is a very spiritual experience.

[korme]

FWIW, I don't really consider weed harmful at all. Thus, why I seperate it from other drugs like cocaine/crack/acid/ecstacy/meth/heroin. The former is the category I would try if I was in the mood, the latter is the category that I will never try no matter what.

[Flasch186]

FWIW, I don't really consider weed harmful at all. Thus, why I seperate it from other drugs like cocaine/crack/acid/ecstacy/meth/heroin. The former is the category I would try if I was in the mood, the latter is the category that I will never try no matter what.

at all? I asusme you want us to assume the "in your own home" suffix?

[duckman]

If you buy pot, your funding terrorism. :rolleyes:

[korme]

at all? I asusme you want us to assume the "in your own home" suffix?
Hmm.. yea, basically.

[JimmyWint]

For the Record, I am 36 and she is 29. At this point I am not going to make an issue of it. I do think that I want to witness them doing it to see if I can get lucky afterward!

[rkmsuf]

Jimmy was going to have sex until he got high.

His penis was excited until he got high.

He had sex with a flower pot and I know why.

Because he got high, because he got high, because he got high.

[duckman]

For the Record, I am 36 and she is 29. At this point I am not going to make an issue of it. I do think that I want to witness them doing it to see if I can get lucky afterward!
Be sure to bring some "toys" with you.

"Look at what I've found in under the bed! It's a high power vibrator with pleasure bumps! I wonder what use we can find for this?"

[korme]

D00D That's like SOOOO a new verse for that song!111one

[korme]

Be sure to bring some "toys" with you.

"Look at what I've found in under the bed! It's a high power vibrator with pleasure bumps! I wonder what use we can find for this?"
He'd probably rather use his weiner as a means of insertion

[NoMyths]

If you buy pot, your funding terrorism. :rolleyes:Those British Canadian and Humboldt County terrorists would be a lot more fearsome if they weren't stoned all the time. :p

[duckman]

He'd probably rather use his weiner as a means of insertion
There is nothing wrong with the girls having a little fun before introducing the weiner into the situation. :D

[rkmsuf]

There is nothing wrong with the girls having a little fun before introducing the weiner into the situation. :D


It's like a weiner warmup. Think of your weiner as being in the bullpen ready to come in.

[JonInMiddleGA]

It's like a weiner warmup. Think of your weiner as being in the bullpen ready to come in.

I'm not sure "The Closer" is a name I'd want associated with my weiner.

[Raiders Army]

I'm not sure "The Closer" is a name I'd want associated with my weiner.
Better than "Second String" or "The Relief"

[rkmsuf]

I'm not sure "The Closer" is a name I'd want associated with my weiner.

Makes perfect sense. He's only in there for an inning to take care of business. Then he sits down and comes back in tomorrow.

The bummer for the closer is when it's not a save situtation. That's where the weed comes in.

[MrBigglesworth]

The gateway, I speak of, is the Kids ability to overcome the morality issue and "do the drug". The first time someone is able to overcome the moral roadblock, it will be easier to do the next time, and so on, and so on.
You say that the morality issue is the gateway. Why is smoking pot immoral? Merely because of its illegality, nothing more. It doesn't cause you harm, it doesn't cause anyone around you harm. So the solution, according to your characterization of the gateway, is to make marijuana legal. Then kids have no moral roadblock, and therefore it won't be a gateway.

Simply whitewashing it as a financial thing is a scary statement as sometimes, the first hits etc. of a "worse" drug can be cheap to free, so lets not go there. YES, because it is around more often Pot is the drug that is easily had, but remember the kid trying it for the first few times usually never bought it at all. In this case the slippery slope argument is not regarding Marijuana, per se. It IS regarding the child's ability to ignore their moral and social restraints that we hope have been instilled. Once they do it once, they will be more ready to make that decision again next time, and somewhere down the road perhaps it wont be marijuana that we are talking about. You see the difference Im making no?
I didn't say it was only financial, I said it was a matter of access as well. There are many more outlets to obtain pot than there are cocaine or heroine. Your argument here again is based on your assumption that smoking pot is immoral for some reason. If a clear distinction is made between marijuana and other more harmful drugs, then the gateway is destroyed. Instead, today we have people trying to put blanket statements on all drugs, and when kids who have been kept in the dark see that marijuana isn't harmful, they just assume the same lying has been done about other drugs that really are harmful.

[Flasch186]

You say that the morality issue is the gateway. Why is smoking pot immoral? Merely because of its illegality, nothing more. It doesn't cause you harm, it doesn't cause anyone around you harm. So the solution, according to your characterization of the gateway, is to make marijuana legal. Then kids have no moral roadblock, and therefore it won't be a gateway.

if you legalize it you must also remove the moral hurdles that have been stamped on it or else its pointless. Something can be immoral and legal at the same time.


I didn't say it was only financial, I said it was a matter of access as well. There are many more outlets to obtain pot than there are cocaine or heroine. Your argument here again is based on your assumption that smoking pot is immoral for some reason. If a clear distinction is made between marijuana and other more harmful drugs, then the gateway is destroyed. Instead, today we have people trying to put blanket statements on all drugs, and when kids who have been kept in the dark see that marijuana isn't harmful, they just assume the same lying has been done about other drugs that really are harmful.

revert to my statement above...

doing something illegal can be immoral too....and I stand by my thoughts on the moral slippery slope. You ave a teenager go against what their parents instilled (we hope), feel no repurcussions, they will be more likely to make the same choice to go against their moral framework later.


PS - if you want to talk about legalization of marijuana that is one thing....dont say it doesnt hurt anyone becuase many people have done stupid things while drunk, high, stoned, etc. that have resulted in themselves and others being hurt or killed. If you want to throw the caveat of ebing in your own home, then that is different...but you havnt.

[MrBigglesworth]

if you legalize it you must also remove the moral hurdles that have been stamped on it or else its pointless. Something can be immoral and legal at the same time.



revert to my statement above...

doing something illegal can be immoral too....and I stand by my thoughts on the moral slippery slope. You ave a teenager go against what their parents instilled (we hope), feel no repurcussions, they will be more likely to make the same choice to go against their moral framework later.
You are still suggesting that there is some type of self-evident immorality to marijuana that I just don't see. Even if it is taking a risk, that doesn't make it immoral either, just as rock climbing or skydiving isn't.

PS - if you want to talk about legalization of marijuana that is one thing....dont say it doesnt hurt anyone becuase many people have done stupid things while drunk, high, stoned, etc. that have resulted in themselves and others being hurt or killed.
Saying it doesn't hurt anyone, taken literally, is a bit of a stretch. But in the overall scheme of things, general sense, smoking marijuana doesn't hurt anyone. You'd be hard pressed to find someone that actually died from marijuana. Meanwhile, 500 people drown in pools every year. 100,000 die from alcohol, and 400,000 die from cigarettes. So in the grand scheme of things, marijuana is harmless. But let's say it does cause some minor negative effects that we don't want. When we make it legal, we put a tax on it. Use the revenue generated to pay for programs to mitigate the negative externalities.

[Flasch186]

dont go slippery slope on me when it's convenient and then disregard "slippery slope" when it doesnt suit your fit.

If you say that you dont think that in America there isn't a stigma attached to Marijuana usage which stems from a morality benchmark then you are being naive...and I think it is a thought out naivete not ignorance. There most certainly is in this country and you are wrong if you say there is not. HOWEVER I am not arguin whether or not that stigma is correct or not, but that it DOES exist. So assuming it does, and we spend years and years and years pounding it into kids' heads, and then they go and try pot they MOST CERTAINLY are hurdling the moral regard when they agree to smoke weed.

I am also NOT arguing leagalization of marijuana Im simply stating that if you legalize it, you MUST remove the stigma at the same time or else all you will do is confuse kids. SO its all or none regarding marijuana.

[MrBigglesworth]

dont go slippery slope on me when it's convenient and then disregard "slippery slope" when it doesnt suit your fit.
Where did I promote a slippery slope argument?

If you say that you dont think that in America there isn't a stigma attached to Marijuana usage which stems from a morality benchmark then you are being naive...and I think it is a thought out naivete not ignorance. There most certainly is in this country and you are wrong if you say there is not. HOWEVER I am not arguin whether or not that stigma is correct or not, but that it DOES exist.
In general it has a stigma, but my contention is that there is no basis for that stigma. If there is no basis for it, it's stupid to let it continue. Will some people move on to cocaine or heroin after smoking pot? Most definitely. Would they have never moved on to harder drugs if they didn't start with pot? Could be. But I do not need the government to babysit me in that way.

[Flasch186]

Where did I promote a slippery slope argument?

you didnt promote it it, you used it by starting to talk about all of the other things that people get hurt doing thus implying that if we start talking about pot we should then have to start addressing those things too.


In general it has a stigma, but my contention is that there is no basis for that stigma. If there is no basis for it, it's stupid to let it continue. Will some people move on to cocaine or heroin after smoking pot? Most definitely. Would they have never moved on to harder drugs if they didn't start with pot? Could be. But I do not need the government to babysit me in that way.

Well thats great for you but it doesnt work for most (statistics would say). I agree with the fact that perhaps the stigma is unwarranted but unless you can get that to change, legalizing it would do more harm then good, IMO.

[sabotai]

you didnt promote it it, you used it by starting to talk about all of the other things that people get hurt doing thus implying that if we start talking about pot we should then have to start addressing those things too. He didn't say or imply that at all. He said that since other, legal things kill a lot of people, and pot doesn't kill anyone, that it is relatively harmless. He was making a simple comparison.

Well thats great for you but it doesnt work for most (statistics would say). What statistics? Could you reference your source?

[Mr. Wednesday]

Well thats great for you but it doesnt work for most (statistics would say). I agree with the fact that perhaps the stigma is unwarranted but unless you can get that to change, legalizing it would do more harm then good, IMO.Wait, I thought you were arguing that the stigma was because it was illegal? If so, you're trying to have it both ways.

[Karlifornia]

I smoke pot every once in a while. I firmly believe alcohol is more evil than marijuana. I've never seen two stoners get into a fistfight. I've never seen two stoners hit their significant other. I've never seen my parents yelling at each other after a night of smoking pot (I don't even know if they ever did it). I've never had a girl physically assault me after getting high. All of these things have happened because of alcohol.

As the Onion once said: New Study Shows Marijuana Linked to Sitting Around and Getting High.

Don't dump the girl over a once a month habit of smoking ganj.

[Eaglesfan27]

I have seen people get into fights over smoking "pot." Part of the problem is you never know what might be in your pot. Particularly here in New Orleans, it is popular to spike a batch with a very tiny amount of PCP to give it "more kick." I'm sure this isn't the only part of the country where pot often is "contaminated" with other substances.

I do agree that uncontaminated pot is less dangerous than many other substances that people to use to become high or drunk.

However, I firmly believe it isn't harmless.

[Flasch186]

Stigma and Legality can be attached HOWEVER they are not necessarily correlated. You can have one without the other. I Think that in this case, regarding marijuana and its moral implications you must remove both to remove one and be effective.

Stats...well theyre everywhere and like you guessed either side can find stats to prove their point so here is just one I got as Im walking aout the door:

http://www.dpna.org/drugtrends/drugstatistics.html

I see that he didn't use slippery slope. I apologize.

I agree with Eaglesfan in that Pot is certainly not harmless considering all of the ramifications involved.

[Airhog]

I have seen people get into fights over smoking "pot." Part of the problem is you never know what might be in your pot. Particularly here in New Orleans, it is popular to spike a batch with a very tiny amount of PCP to give it "more kick." I'm sure this isn't the only part of the country where pot often is "contaminated" with other substances.

I do agree that uncontaminated pot is less dangerous than many other substances that people to use to become high or drunk.

However, I firmly believe it isn't harmless.


I have to agree with Eaglesfan here. Although I do have an addictive personality. I would get in pretty bad mood swings. I can only imagine how much worse those swings would have been had I been doing harder drugs...

[GMO]

People will use pot so they won't have to face reality.
People will use it while driving cars, get into accidents and kill people because of it.

Alcohol has caused a lot of damage. Will bringing in another alcohol-equivalent help society?

Will pot-smoking be shown to cause lung cancer in a few years?

[SFL Cat]

Unbelievable! I have actually AGREED with everything Flasch186 has posted in this thread. There is a first time for everything, I suppose.

[Cringer]

It's absolutely harmless. Granted, some people would say that I live in my car because I smoke dope. But I also get drunk on a regular basis too. I do know plenty of normal people that smoke dope and have regular jobs with no ill-effect.

It's really a matter of personal choice. You can lead a normal life and smoke dope. Personally I think drinking is more harmful than smoking pot. The only thing bad about pot is that it's illegal. It was a great way to arrest Mexicans when they decided to ban it.

If you can live without it, more power to you. But if you can do it in the comfort of your own home without affecting others, there's nothing wrong with that either.

But if dating somebody who smokes makes you uncomfortable, then that's a personal decision you have to make.

Now back to my car, I have a bottle of whiskey waiting for me.


I just think it is great a guy named 'lungs' would post in this thread. :D

And legalize!

[Marc Vaughan]

I personally think Pot is relatively harmless if used sensibly, the problem is that few such substances are used 'sensibly' by people who have addictive personalities ... any such substance whether alcohol, pot or another drug can have serious consequences imho.

The risks from Pot as I see it are death or similar problems from actions taken while 'stoned', it leading onto 'harder' drugs, general problems with lifestyle from excessive usage (ie. retaining credibility at work etc.) and possible police problems.

I don't advocate pot being legalised, then again I'm amazed in todays PC society that alcohol is still legal (and fully expect society to start making moves towards banning that sometime after the current move to fully ban smoking is completed) ...

Then again perhaps thats just my naturally cynical nature ;)

[MrBigglesworth]

I have seen people get into fights over smoking "pot." Part of the problem is you never know what might be in your pot. Particularly here in New Orleans, it is popular to spike a batch with a very tiny amount of PCP to give it "more kick." I'm sure this isn't the only part of the country where pot often is "contaminated" with other substances.

I do agree that uncontaminated pot is less dangerous than many other substances that people to use to become high or drunk.

However, I firmly believe it isn't harmless.
I share your same concerns with tainted pot. Alcohol was like that during prohibition. When something is produced underground, it doesn't usually get FDA approval before consumption. However, if it were to be legalized, regulated, and taxed, those particular dangers would be gone.

[lungs]

People will use pot so they won't have to face reality.
People will use it while driving cars, get into accidents and kill people because of it.

Alcohol has caused a lot of damage. Will bringing in another alcohol-equivalent help society?

Will pot-smoking be shown to cause lung cancer in a few years?

Being someone who lives in my car and smokes lots of dope, I can tell you it's much harder to drive drunk than it is stoned.

Usually when I'm stoned I'm too lazy to drive but whenever I'm hungry for a double cheeseburger after I get stoned I have to drive down to McDonald's. Usually I end up driving about 10 miles under the speed limit. Ever see some teenaged to twenty something person driving really slow? Yup they're stoned all right.

Driving stoned is relatively harmless. I've driven drunk and I've driven stoned. I've driven both drunk and stoned. The worst is a combination of the two. I tried it once and just pulled over and fell asleep.

I'm on absolute sobriety now so I just park my car when I get drunk. But there's no convenient way for the police to test if you are driving stoned. How many DUI of marijuana arrests do you see made? There is no dopealyzer that'll measure dope on your breath either.

[Marc Vaughan]

I'm on absolute sobriety now so I just park my car when I get drunk. But there's no convenient way for the police to test if you are driving stoned. How many DUI of marijuana arrests do you see made? There is no dopealyzer that'll measure dope on your breath either.
In the UK I believe the police can take you to the nearest station and take a blood sample which will show it up ...

Personally I think anyone who drives drunk or stoned is very very scarey and irresponsible - try to think how you'd feel when you 'sobered up' if you hit someone while driving in that state ...

(sorry but I had to say it, part of being a parent is relentless nagging, you recieve classes in this once you have your first child ;) )

[lungs]

In the UK I believe the police can take you to the nearest station and take a blood sample which will show it up ...

Personally I think anyone who drives drunk or stoned is very very scarey and irresponsible - try to think how you'd feel when you 'sobered up' if you hit someone while driving in that state ...

(sorry but I had to say it, part of being a parent is relentless nagging, you recieve classes in this once you have your first child ;) )


Yep, they can do that here too. But unless there is a burning joint or smoking bowl in the car you rarely see it.

Otherwise I bet a lot of people with red eyes caused by allergies would be hauled down to the station and given a blood test.

And the other thing is, and I'm not sure how it would work, but if you have dope in your system from a few days ago would that count against you? My guess is the person would have to fail the stupid human tricks test. I practice all the time for when the situation arises.