Legal marijuana - good or bad? Any personal experience?

[fishonjazz]

Anyone who is against legalizing marijuana is a clown. You may not like it, but people shouldnt be able to regulate people's personal choices to such a far reaching extent. If someone wants to use it for medical purposes and they think it helps them, then who is anyone to call it overvalued? If that person thinks it helps them get through their day, that value is solely up to them.

This.
If I’m watching a jazz game on my couch smoking some pot why would anyone be against that or care at all?
I don’t get it.

 

[fishonjazz]

I think he is saying that the debate is out of proportion with the issue and that the medical benefits are being blown out of proportion in order to justify legalization and wide spread use. To listen to the pro-marajuana community this is some sort of wonder drug and the world would be changed for the better if only it was more readily available and more widely used. IMO most people are better off without pot, even though there are some people who it could/does benefit.

I'm not at all surprised that pot smokers don't agree with this thinking. I wouldn't have agreed with it back when I smoked pot. In retrospect, quitting was a very good decision for me.

I agree that people are probably better off not smoking pot. Or drinking alcohol. Or coffee. Or eating unhealthy food. Or having high risk hobbies (mtn biking, wind surfing, mountain climbing, hunting, rafting, skateboarding etc). Or having unprotected sex. Watching too much porn And lots of other stuff.

Life is full of things that can be bad for you/hurt you. Probably shouldn’t make it all illegal though.

Imo most pot smokers just want to come home from work and smoke a bit and relax. Some people it really helps with real issues.


Legalize it.

 

[fishonjazz]

Those complaining about the smell...... I hate the smell of coffee. I hate that it stains everything. I hate that it’s addicting and people are in bad moods if they don’t get their coffee. I hate all the coffee mugs being left all over at work. The sugar and cream packets. Dirty spoons.
We should make coffee illegal.

I’m just kidding. It’s ridiculous to have one of your reasons to want something to be illegal be because you don’t like the smell.

 

[uncle f]

That is not what the data shows.

Not true. These pot heads do not show you the real research proving exactly the opposite of their claims that it is not addictive, gateway, or amplifies opioid use.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160706114407.htm

 

[fishonjazz]

I hope my daughter never smokes pot. I hope she never needs it to have a good time or to feel better mentally (anxiety, depression) or needs it to alleviate physical pain.
I hope she never drinks alcohol. I hope she never feels the need to do anything that might not be the most healthy. This includes her diet, the relationships she gets into with friends or partners, and everything else.

If she decides she wants to smoke pot and enjoys it or if she believes that it helps her with pain, physically or mentally, then I hope the law don’t **** with her when she makes that choice. Cause that is lame


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[fishonjazz]

Not true. These pot heads do not show you the real research proving exactly the opposite of their claims that it is not addictive, gateway, or amplifies opioid use.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160706114407.htm

I don’t need research. I smoked pot for about 10 years on a regular basis. Had no problems from it at all. Enjoyed it immensely.
Then I had a job interview for a job I really wanted and they required a drug test about 3 weeks from my interview. So I quit using marijuana then and there. It was really easy. No withdrawal symptoms. No sign of any addiction. I just stopped.

I missed it no doubt (still do) but it was not addictive at all for me.

The fact that its illegal is what makes it a gateway drug. How did I get pot? From a drug dealer. Drug dealers have other drugs too. I’m already breaking the law by using weed so why not try some other ****.

Legalize it and it’s no longer a gateway drug. Or less of one anyway.

It was much easier to get In High school than alcohol. But alcohol is legal. Interesting. Maybe legalizing it would make it harder for kids to obtain.


Then there is all the money to be made from weed.

Then there is all the money (and goods) to be made from hemp.

Weed being illegal is incredibly dumb.

 

[uncle f]

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/marijuana-treatment-reduces-severe-epileptic-seizures/


The above is probably the most dramatic example of how one of weed's active ingredients, cannabidiol (CBD), has medicinal value.

A member of my extended family had Huntington's Disease. As the symptoms of that always fatal disease grow worse, angry outbursts become a real problem, something that is hard for other family members/loved ones to live with. Eventually, he made the decision to enter hospice, but, before he did, he obtained a medical marijuana license and he smoked weed daily, because it simply improved his mood. He was easier to be around. He was happier, and if you've ever known anyone with Huntington's, who can really argue with that?

This review of 10,000 marijuana studies disagrees with you.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vo.../14/14263058/marijuana-benefits-harms-medical

@Ron Mexico you always talk about suicide and mental health issues. Guess what pot causes? Both. And it is linked to higher vehicle crashes.

 

[fishonjazz]

This review of 10,000 marijuana studies disagrees with you.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vo.../14/14263058/marijuana-benefits-harms-medical

@Ron Mexico you always talk about suicide and mental health issues. Guess what pot causes? Both. And it is linked to higher vehicle crashes.

I know people with mental health issues that marijuana helps. Prevents suicide.

 

[uncle f]

I know people with mental health issues that marijuana helps. Prevents suicide.

I'm for full legalization. I'm telling you the potheads don't know a damn thing when they quote the little studied and unknown.

Can it help in some instances? Sure. Do some like yourself have good genes resistant to addiction? Yes. Do others? The data clearly says no.

 

[colton]

Curious what does religions say about it? Is it forbidden for mormons, jews or muslims?

Mormons would certainly be discouraged from using it for recreational purposes, and such use would be against the (current, modern interpretation of the) "Word of Wisdom" commandment, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Wisdom.

For medical purposes, it's a much grayer area. Obviously Mormons use drugs medically that would be prohibited by the church for recreational use (opioids, for example). So I suspect most LDS church members and local leaders would be OK with someone using it for legitimate medical purposes--especially if a doctor recommended it. But there's no church policy on it one way or another that I know of. I do recall that the church leaders have come out against a recent proposed law in Utah to legalize medical marijuana, saying that more research needs to be done; see here for example: https://www.deseretnews.com/article...alls-for-more-study-of-medical-marijuana.html.

As a personal example, my wife suffers from chronic pain. If there were any evidence that marijuana would help for her specific condition (which I don't think there is), then both she and I would probably be fine with her trying marijuana to see if it works (assuming the bill in Utah passes). And I'd consider us to be very active, believing LDS church members.

Interestingly enough, and I hadn't thought about this before in this context, the current LDS church president (as of a couple of months ago) is a medical doctor. Obviously retired from that for many years now, but Pres. Nelson was a very highly respected surgeon back in the day. I wonder if that will have any impact on this discussion.

 

[colton]

I do recall that the church leaders have come out against a recent proposed law in Utah to legalize medical marijuana, saying that more research needs to be done; see here for example: https://www.deseretnews.com/article...alls-for-more-study-of-medical-marijuana.html.

Oops, looks like here's a newer statement.

(from https://www.heraldextra.com/news/lo...cle_82a9e3d7-b225-553e-be7d-72dff9a4e021.html)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued a statement Friday evening further clarifying its position on the use of medical marijuana and two bills currently being considered at the Utah State Capitol.

“The Church understands that there are some individuals who may benefit from the medical use of compounds found in marijuana. For that reason, although the Church opposes SB 73, it has raised no objection to SB 89,” the statement reads.

According to the church, the two bills take very different approaches on issues like access, distribution, control and in considering any potential harm of the hallucinogenic compound, THC.

---

Here's the bill that the church doesn't object to, SB 89: https://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/sb0089.html. Yikes, I don't have time to read that right now.

 

[fishonjazz]

Mormons would certainly be discouraged from using it for recreational purposes, and such use would be against the (current, modern interpretation of the) "Word of Wisdom" commandment, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Wisdom.

For medical purposes, it's a much grayer area. Obviously Mormons use drugs medically that would be prohibited by the church for recreational use (opioids, for example). So I suspect most LDS church members and local leaders would be OK with someone using it for legitimate medical purposes--especially if a doctor recommended it. But there's no church policy on it one way or another that I know of. I do recall that the church leaders have come out against a recent proposed law in Utah to legalize medical marijuana, saying that more research needs to be done; see here for example: https://www.deseretnews.com/article...alls-for-more-study-of-medical-marijuana.html.

As a personal example, my wife suffers from chronic pain. If there were any evidence that marijuana would help for her specific condition (which I don't think there is), then both she and I would probably be fine with her trying marijuana to see if it works (assuming the bill in Utah passes). And I'd consider us to be very active, believing LDS church members.

Interestingly enough, and I hadn't thought about this before in this context, the current LDS church president (as of a couple of months ago) is a medical doctor. Obviously retired from that for many years now, but Pres. Nelson was a very highly respected surgeon back in the day. I wonder if that will have any impact on this discussion.

I think there is a bible passage quoting god that says “I have given you all the seed bearing plants and herbs to use”

At least that’s what cypress hill told me.

Seems that god is for it

 

[Ron Mexico]

This review of 10,000 marijuana studies disagrees with you.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vo.../14/14263058/marijuana-benefits-harms-medical

@Ron Mexico you always talk about suicide and mental health issues. Guess what pot causes? Both. And it is linked to higher vehicle crashes.

I waswo have to see more info on that but regardless even if it does I still don't think it should be banned. Alcohol causes both of those things are well.

I think people need to be educated and aware of the effects of both. But I don't think we need a law to stop being from using it.

 

[Rubashov]

If I’m watching a jazz game on my couch smoking some pot why would anyone be against that or care at all?

Junkie

Those complaining about the smell...... I hate the smell of coffee. I hate that it stains everything. I hate that it’s addicting and people are in bad moods if they don’t get their coffee. I hate all the coffee mugs being left all over at work. The sugar and cream packets. Dirty spoons.
We should make coffee illegal.

I've killed for less.

I don’t need research. I smoked pot for about 10 years on a regular basis. Had no problems from it at all. Enjoyed it immensely.
Then I had a job interview for a job I really wanted and they required a drug test about 3 weeks from my interview. So I quit using marijuana then and there. It was really easy. No withdrawal symptoms. No sign of any addiction. I just stopped.

I missed it no doubt (still do) but it was not addictive at all for me.

I did same thing when i went for a job in the prison service, I also used a diuretic, cause it bonds to your fat cells and can be detected for quite a while in your system if you're a regular smoker.

I know people with mental health issues that marijuana helps. Prevents suicide.

Not super sure about this, I had a mate that suffered a psychotic break from smoking pot, nearly ruined his life. I think some people are susceptible to THC causing psychosis, others aren't and can smoke without problem. I know the synthetic **** that a lot of people use now is much worse, it causes respiratory suppression which can lead to a heart attack and death, we have had a bunch of deaths from it at work, including one that i may have to appear before the coroner for, hopefully not.

 

[Lakers_Slapper]

Why can't people smoke outside?

Similar law as to drinking outside, its public intoxication. You are allowed to carry an open container when you are on the strip, or on freemont street, but outside of that, same laws apply as anywhere else. However you are unable to smoke marijuana on the strip or on freemont street, or anywhere else on public streets. You can only smoke outside if you are on private property, but this excludes apartment complexes, condo communities etc. People still do it, but they heavily enforce it on the strip and on freemont.

 

[Lakers_Slapper]

I agree about this part. As long as it is prescribed by licensed doctor - it should be legal and available for those in need.

Links?

Links? Are you serious right now? Have you made an attempt at all in the last 20 years to educate yourself by reading, or watching the news, even on an occasional basis? I only ask because if you had, you would know that this isn't exactly a debatable topic that relevant today. This is like someone saying that at one time there were big monsters roaming the earth called dinosaurs. And suddenly some guy just like you (probably a cousin, uncle, brother etc) unburies himself from the rock he's been living under and says, "links?"

Watch the news and read once in a while my friend.

 

[Keefe]

I agree that people are probably better off not smoking pot. Or drinking alcohol. Or coffee. Or eating unhealthy food. Or having high risk hobbies (mtn biking, wind surfing, mountain climbing, hunting, rafting, skateboarding etc). Or having unprotected sex. Watching too much porn And lots of other stuff.

Life is full of things that can be bad for you/hurt you. Probably shouldn’t make it all illegal though.

Imo most pot smokers just want to come home from work and smoke a bit and relax. Some people it really helps with real issues.


Legalize it.

Uh, what?

Too much porn?

No such thing.

 

[Keefe]

One of my buddies and his wife smoke up almost every night. Sort of pathetic to me that people need to do that to come back down and normalize things. I just don’t get it.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

My friends and I smoked in high school and college. Most of us stopped, including one friend who was a dealer and a very heavy user. He's now a general contractor and runs a very successful business. Two of my best friends continued using it regularly (or at least, semi-regularly). One of them is a trust-funder who never needed to earn a dime in his life, and never has. The other hasn't ever been able to figure out how to make ends meet. Several of us have suggested to him that he ought to give life a shot without the pot, but he won't. He talks like all of the pro-legalization posters here. IMO, he has no clue what a negative impact pot has had on his life. He has a brother who was so similar to him in high school that people who didn't know them well often mistook one for the other. Today that brother owns a very well-known franchise businesses on the Wasatch Front.

People roll out all sorts of studies and arguments for legalizing pot, but none of them are ever going to be more impactful for me than what I've seen with my own eyes.

 

[Red]

Regarding people decreasing opioid use or regarding medicinal value?

It's not a black-and-white issue. There's decent evidence of some benefit for some things such as neuropathic pain, but there are many drugs that are not approved by the FDA that have benefit, too, but nobody is worked up on those. Imagine if Tylenol were somehow discontinued tomorrow. Despite it's wide use, I doubt you'd see as large of an uproar. I think the argument defaults to the moral argument: many people view it as wrong and so they oppose it, while other people are so turned off by people opposing it for moral reasons that they support it harder as if it now has a greater medicinal value because of its opposition.

I'm really not on either side of that argument, and I think hearing that someone opposes a lot of the specifics on medical application, that it ruffles a lot of feathers by mere fact that any opposition is associated with everyone who's making a moral stand.

In any case, my argument is on the idea that people would consume less opioids with the legalization is wishful thinking. There may be some reduction, but people really overestimate how easy it is for people to give up their opioids, even the vast majority of people who "aren't abusing them."


Right, I'm not saying there isn't value, but I think the value can be overstated (that's not to say that there aren't situations in which there is even a significant amount of benefit), just as the value of medical care in general can be overstated, or the value of many drugs on the market that are very common but don't actually contribute much to improved outcomes, or the value for essential oils -- there's benefit to all of the above (but what that benefit is, how significant it is, and what its application is are totally different discussions).

Huntington's is a perfect example: it's incredibly rare. A lot of the big pushes for medicinal value cite examples of incredibly rare scenarios, with the resulting legislative agenda being a much different application.

Anyway, my beef is that because of marijuana's place and perception in society, it has elevated its debate on its effectiveness to such a level that is significantly out of proportion with its application and benefits, but I don't think that's a very real discussion that's able to be had because it too easily falls back on a moral dichotomy.

Well, cancer is certainly not rare. And it does seem to really help with the side effects of chemo, in particular nausea.

http://www.newsweek.com/2015/07/31/keep-toke-alive-356032.html

As the article states, the majority of oncologists support its use in cancer therapy.

Personally, I've used it recreationally for over 50 years. Pretty much in moderation, only a now and then thing at this stage. Back in my college days, a lot more, but that was the 60's, when its use first really exploded.

I read an article yesterday where some dispensary owners in states where recreational pot is legal are actually concerned that Sessions will try and apply the administration's new emphasis on the death penalty for drug dealers to themselves. I can't imagine it, really.

On the other hand, Attorney General Sessions is still living in the era of "reefer madness" where his attitude is concerned. And he did say "good people don't smoke marijuana", which is an extremely ignorant thing to say.