The (relative) dangers of marijuana

[Nick]

Yeah, I read about it after making my inquiring post.
I really thought Canada would be the one to lead the pack.

[Nixit]

It is surprising. A good thing though.

[Nixit]

Weed makes you cool with life, you get slow and calm... right?

Now... what drug is the most dangerous drug there is? Alcohol. More people are killed every year as a reslut of alcohol, than any other drug. And now we're not only talking about drinking yourself to death. No. A lot of violence that leads to killings is done by people who normally wouldn't fight or hurt anyone. But alcohol can bring out the worst sides of a person, while weed can not. A lot of people, mostly men, gets a lot more agressive and violent when drinking. I've witnessed it countless times, I'm sure all of you have too. How many of you have seen a fight between people high on weed? If it did happen, I reckon they didn't hurt each other that much? While alcohol actually makes you feel less pain than usual, this adds another dangerous effect to people who gets agressive. They can actually hurt themselves as well as others, tremendously without feeling much until they get sober...

Maybe someone mentioned it already, but I couldn't find it...
The tobacco companies in USA are pretty powerful, right? I'm sure they have a thing or two to say when it comes to discuss if weed should be legal. Think of all the people who would buy weed instead of ordinary cigaretts? Imagine the billions of dollars the tobacco companies would loose on this... Or am I being paranoid?

The only reason why so many people die from it is because so many people drink. It's probably more dangerous than weed, but if as many people that drank smoked heroin or ecstasy or something, those death numbers I expect would be much higher. What you want to find is the proportion to number of users to number of deaths.

[Solutions Maximus]

also, smoking and alcohol are mostly long-time use items. Many people that smoke, smoke for a long time. Many people that drink, drink for a long time. Whereas, marijuana is mostly a drug of the youth. High schoolers, college students, etc. This is the average case. I'm not saying that there are no long-time weed smokers, but usually there isn't.

[Birdsall007]

I heard years ago that along with memory loss, one of the more serious side effects of canabis use is schizophrenia.

This was confirmed the other day on the TV

TV? Well, I can't debate that then.

But seriously, that is one of the most retarded arguments I have heard. Provide some sources for something so serious as this.

OK, here goes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2407027.stm

http://www.mth.kcl.ac.uk/~streater/cannabis.html

http://bipolar.about.com/od/relateddiso ... zo_pot.htm

From what I understand, heavy use is described as more than 50 joints in a year. In the friends that I grew up with, that would be covered in just a few weeks (2 or 3 joints each night, every night and more at the weekend and each getting through between a quarter and a half each week).

I fully understand that nothing conclusive has been shown, but it seems that in general, the medical profession are wary of this drug. Oh and it clearly doesn't happen to everyone, but I guess the question is do you want to risk suffering from this problem?

Oh, and in case you don't get to the third one, this indicates that they excluded people from the group in order to run the test properly.

[Floyd]

Dont want to go into this in any great detail, just to get my view across!

things like weed and marijuana? Why? Why do you smoke them? Why do you even smoke cigarettes? Just for the fun of it? At the expense of your own life? Don't you agree with me that it IS sick?

No... if you'd said "Dont you agree that it can be really really good fun?" then i would have agreed. Who cares about damaged health when you're having such a blast. If anyone my age said to me "Why do you smoke, dont you realize that it mgiht take ten years of your life?" i'd say yes... but it doesn't bother me too much, we might aswell have fun while we're alive, right?

However, cigarrete smoking is not a rational choice. You get no high, and you are still hurting your body.

Not true.. well, it's true your hurting your body, but smoking not giving you a high? why would anyone do it! I think something has to be both Psychological and Physically addictive to truly be addictive. Admitedly in the end (not wanting to overdramatise it) you do end up enjoying your ciggarettes because you need them, but having a smoke is still a nice thing to do.

So, specify then. Saying drugs are bad, but then saying tylenol doesn't count... is being very ambiguous and not very debate worthy.

Bit mean.. there are Drugs your smiley doctor prescribed society friendly paracetemol and then there are Drugs the evil youth corrupting substances pushed upon us by dealers in hoodies serving up on street corners... to anyone that holds the view that skunk is sick is bound to keep the two groups seperate as, infact most of the population probally will.

Nick, of course I am not talking about THOSE drugs!!

Just as they will with Alcohol alcohol will allways be a smiley smiley drug, why? because the prime minister drinks.

Welcome to Halifax mofo! Home of the 11 dollar pack.

Gutted

All of you who are saying drugs are dangerous. LSD has exactly zero addictive effects and no health defects

is that really true? i've done it once and i'm sure it did nothing good for my health (Although it was F-ing good fun)

anything that produces a 'high' - wether it be LSD, crack, skunk, weed, alcohol, sex, even sugar or fat (we all know and can certainly see the addicts for sugar / salt / fat - just look at the popularity of McD's) can be addictive - addiction is as much psychological as it is physiological - hence, a high becomes something you want again - it's a

natural reaction - hence anything that feels good can become addictive.

I agree with this... Mos Def. i think this is the the basis of Addiction.

don't think this forum represents a good cross section of America or of mainstream world views.

Thank You

weed is now class 'C' - which means you can't be arrested for possession, unless it's with intent to supply.

Didn't it get bumped up to class B again, Pre - Election?

I don't believe in flu shots or anything like that. Vaccinations are a maybe in my book...I doubt I would have willingly gotten them

What?! Why?! I'm game for anything that stops me getting nasty desieses (Sp)

Weed makes you cool with life, you get slow and calm... right?

Nah.. Weed just makes you cool, full stop.

Also people should stop bashing Alcohol... Yes it's not very good for you.. yes it can make you act like an idiot.. yes it can also lead to violence... But what else can it lead to? A really really fun time! Alcohol is great fun, and, as much as i love to smoke, i'll allways love to drink just the same.

From what I understand, heavy use is described as more than 50 joints in a year.

This made me laugh

Wow... sorry, that must get boring really quickly, but i had alot of catching up to do!

As I said earlier though...space brownies at my house!

You bake 'em and i'm there! i need to do some unwinding after writing that!

~Laurence~