YOUR opinion on (Soft/Hard-) Drugs

[dusqi]

Weed has strong links with developing schizophrenia. I would say that it increases the risk of it, but I know someone would pull me up on the correlational aspect.. and although I've seen a study that establishes the causality, I can't remember where it is, and I'm not going to find it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm against legalising hard drugs, because although in theory it's good that individuals make their own decisions without state interference, people are just really really bad at making good decisions. Especially decisions where drugs are concerned.

[pkr_92]

I don't really care what anyone does, if you want to go out and kill yourself it's your own choice. Just don't do it around me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Agree Fully, Its Your Life Not Mine. Just Don't Kill Anyone Else And Be Stupid In Private.Hard Drugs Should Stay Illegal And Soft Drugs, Well All Drugs Really Depend On Usage. Ill Bet Someone Who Has Done Crystal Meth Once, Is A Lot Less Likely To Die Than Some Rich Kids Who Get Stoned And Drunk Every Weekend, Or More.Lives Shouldn't Be Thrown Away By Drugs But If You Must Do Us All A Favor And Keep It To Yourself.

[Peter]

I don't partake in any drug use at all whatsoever except for the occasional Nyquil to make my night a bit easier in time of need. Here in Nevada there's a question whether or not to legalize one ounce or less of Marijuana for adults over the age of 21. I'm voting yes, here's why.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were 10,000 arrests in this state in the last three years. Equate in there that each of those people required jail time, at least one officer's time to apprehend them and fill out the necessary paperwork, and that it's all taxpayer dollars going into those actions. I think it's a total waste, maybe some real crimes should be solved. It's a worthless effort to even try and fight the war on drugs with soft drugs, because anyone and their mom knows where to get weed. Now, if Marijuana was legalized, there would be licensed retailers who are allowed to sell it, plus a tax that goes back into the economy. It helps to put smalltime dealers out of business by regulating it. Of course there would be stricter punishments for those selling to minors. According to the way the law is planned out, half of the tax dollars made off of Marijuana sales will go back into drug education and treatment, and the other half would go into the state budget for things like education and highways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following that, I think the purpose of psychedelic drugs can be important to some cultures and that when the right person uses them they are incredible for opening the mind to abstract thought. I'm not saying they should be legalized, but I'm not lumping them in the category of hard drugs. Sure, some kids freak out when they're booming on 'shrooms, but some people make world-changing thoughts on them too. For "recreational use" I think they're bad, but if someone takes them in the intention of just exploring their mind, then they might not be so bad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cocaine and it's derivatives are bad, so is Heroin and a bunch of other things. Crystal Meth seems to be the media's drug of choice to rip on, but for totally understandable reasons. The before/after pictures say it all. The worst part about it all is that anyone can make Crystal Meth in their garage and sell it to anyone else, and they can make it anyway they want, and most of the chemicals added are literally poison in their natural forms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So in short: Marijuana=Yes; Psychedelics=Depends; Cocaine, Meth, Heroin, etc.=No.

[Anesthesia]

I'm sure I read in one my textbooks that 1 spliff is the same as smoking 20 cigarettes in terms of tar. But yeah I'm not entirely sure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First of all that isn't true. Secondly, people smoke 20-40 cigarettes a day and maybe one joint a day. Even if it were true they'd be getting less tar.

[sjiskebab5]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But as far as smoking way too much, I think weed is bad. It can cause brain damage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weed is not bad for your brain, if you smoke natural weed it isn't. Some people deal chemical weed. They grew male plants wich dont produce any tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and doesn't makes you stoned. At the end of the process they spray the plant with chemical THC ( tetrahydro......); that's wath i call brain killing weed :roll: .

[darkmage099]

I think weed should be legalised. It is a natural plant, contains no chemicals, and isn't addicting (except perhaps, for the weak minded.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The smoke inhaled is also nowhere near the amount for cigarettes (1 large cone with none wasted doesnt even fill a 1.25L bottle), plus most weed smokers, don't have 20 cones a day like cigarette smokers.

 

 

 

So there isn't much of a risk of cancer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is also widely believed that weed can have medical benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accidents arent more likely to happen whilst stoned, its not like being drunk you still have complete control and senses are fine. A friend of mine constantly runs perfect 100m's while stoned, and almost a second faster than he usually would.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But as far as smoking way too much, I think weed is bad. It can cause brain damage. And once someone gets immune to weed, they COULD start trying harder drugs, which IS bad for you. - Again, this is really just the weak minded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe the only reason its illegal is because the government can't tax it. People would just grow their own. This is the reason why cigarettes are legal, the government makes millions and millions of dollars in taxed from cigarette companies. Even though the government knows its bad for everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You're kind of missing the point. The reason weed is usually illegal is because it's a gateway drug. It can lead to harder drugs such as cocaine and crystal meth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To all those who think alcohol should be illegal: what about the France and its wine? What about Panama and their alcohol which is mainly water? I learned that 1 thing of pot = 4 things of cigs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To all those who think that it should be illegal and it's a personal choice: The problem we have is that druggies get other people to drugs and more and more people do drugs. So you have a country who is stoned, and that causes stupidity (you get addicted and that's all you think about). Stupidity of people can cause nuclear war! it cuold happen :anxious: .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just my 3 cents

[Anesthesia]

The reason weed is usually illegal is because it's a gateway drug.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That is BS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interview 100 cocaine/heroin/speed users.

 

 

 

Ask how many of them smoked weed first, note it down.

 

 

 

Ask how many smoked tobacco first, note that down too.

 

 

 

Compare the two numbers.

 

 

 

See that tobacco is more of a gateway drug.

 

 

 

Do the same thing for alcohol.

 

 

 

Do the same for caffeine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marijuana is less of a gateway drug than either tobacco or alcohol, very simple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What about Panama and their alcohol which is mainly water?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newsflash - almost all alcoholic drinks are mainly water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beer - 5% ABV - what's the other 95%? Almost entirely water.

 

 

 

Wine - 12% ABV - what's the other 88%? Almost entirely water.

 

 

 

Liqueurs - 22% ABV - what's the other 78%? Almost entirely water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you get addicted and that's all you think about

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course this doesn't happen with alcohol.

[darkmage099]

 

The reason weed is usually illegal is because it's a gateway drug.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That is BS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interview 100 cocaine/heroin/speed users.

 

 

 

Ask how many of them smoked weed first, note it down.

 

 

 

Ask how many smoked tobacco first, note that down too.

 

 

 

Compare the two numbers.

 

 

 

See that tobacco is more of a gateway drug.

 

 

 

Do the same thing for alcohol.

 

 

 

Do the same for caffeine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marijuana is less of a gateway drug than either tobacco or alcohol, very simple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You wanna note it down for me? I really have to do some research on Jack the Tipper, Spending disad for Draft, and find a bunch of articles from this month for extemp speaches. I better go now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take those numbers you find and put them into proportions with the number of tobacco smokers, alcholics, etc. If you dont get it, I'll do it later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gotta go

[Arcticrunite]

I think drugs should be made legal/illegal based on their addictiveness. Thus, I think cigarettes should be illegal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gotta disagree with you on this one dare, youre saying that things like Alcohol and Cigarettes should be banned while other things like Ecstacy, Methamphetamines, and Cocaine should be legal? Think about that for a second.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hard alcohol (Moonshine, Goose, etc) should be banned, however things like Wine are ok, because wine is healthy for you after all. Cigarettes, Weed, eh im borderline on that. I dont think things like Meth and Coke should be legal no, but im borderline on Cigs and Weed.

[Anesthesia]

 

I think drugs should be made legal/illegal based on their addictiveness. Thus, I think cigarettes should be illegal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gotta disagree with you on this one dare, youre saying that things like Alcohol and Cigarettes should be banned while other things like Ecstacy, Methamphetamines, and Cocaine should be legal? Think about that for a second.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, you think about it for a second. After reading what he wrote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He said that they should be made illegal based on addictiveness. You claimed he said he wanted ecstasy, speed and cocaine to be legal when he actually said the opposite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You claim he wants them to be legal when in actuality he would want them banned based on their addictiveness. Speed & cocaine are some of the most addictive drugs and so he'd want them banned. Read his post.

[assassin_696]

For all the people who say smoking weed isn't that bad, I suppose I agree, but the results from a recent report are quite interesting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's new with cannabis?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A report has just been published by a group of experts in the drugs field (the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs). They were looking at the latest evidence of links between cannabis and mental health, and also whether cannabis is getting stronger. As a result, the government has decided to keep cannabis as a class C drug and not move it up to class B.

 

 

 

What did these experts say about cannabis?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The law puts illegal drugs into three classes: A, B and C - according to the harm that they can do to you and your communities. Class A is the most harmful. Last year cannabis was moved from Class B to Class C because it was considered to be less harmful than other Class B drugs such as speed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They looked at a whole range of evidence and found that:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Cannabis can worsen mental health problems (including schizophrenia) and may even trigger them in some cases.

 

 

 

* Smoking cannabis increases your chance of getting lung diseases (like chronic bronchitis) and may also cause lung cancer.

 

 

 

* Some people can get hooked on cannabis and they experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop.

 

 

 

* The strength of the strongest type of cannabis called sinsemilla (or 'skunk') has roughly doubled in the last 10 years. The strength of other types of cannabis, such as resin or weed, has stayed more or less the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So why didn't the government make cannabis a class B drug?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The report says that cannabis is unquestionably harmful, but it is not as harmful as other class B drugs (such as speed). Instead, the government wants to educate young people about the harms associated with cannabis, and remind them that cannabis is illegal.

 

 

 

Read the full report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken from http://www.talktofrank.com which is a great website if you're curious about drugs and their effects. A few more facts about cannabis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some people think that because cannabis is a plant it is harmless, but that's not true.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Cannabis, like tobacco, has chemical 'nasties' which can cause lung disease and cancer with long term or heavy use. Cannabis can make asthma worse.

 

 

 

* And it increases blood pressure so it is a bad idea for anyone with heart problems.

 

 

 

* There is also increasing evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health problems such as schizophrenia. If you have a history of mental health problems or are experiencing paranoia or depression you definitely want to steer clear of cannabis.

 

 

 

* It's estimated that about 10% of users are hooked on cannabis.

 

 

 

* If you smoke it with tobacco you can get hooked on the tobacco.

 

 

 

* Frequent use of cannabis can cut a man's sperm count and suppress ovulation in women. If you are pregnant, smoking cannabis may harm the baby.

 

 

 

* Regular, heavy use makes it harder to learn and concentrate and some people begin to feel tired all the time and can't seem to get motivated.

 

 

 

* Most people will know of a 'dope head' who has dropped out of the real world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most of you will probably have known at least some of this, some of you might dispute this, some of you might agree, but I hope it helps a bit.

[Anesthesia]

Take those numbers you find and put them into proportions with the number of tobacco smokers, alcholics, etc. If you dont get it, I'll do it later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're going to say "look at the proportion of tobacco smokers who went on to do coke" then that's invalid - the number of coke users in the end is still the same, the same number used one drug first and went on to others. Look at the number who used tobacco first and then went to weed - same story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smoking the weed itself had absolutely no influence on whether they wanted to take hard drugs - they had already decided to break the law to smoke it. Because of this making it legal would, if anything, make it less likely for them to continue to harder things as they would not have had to break the law already.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only reason it is a small step between weed and coke is because weed is also illegal. This does not make it a gateway drug.

[GoingUnder]

Ecstasy is illegal.. but u can get this thing called E-extra (i cnt remember what is called, something like that) which is not illegal. wierd huh? Ecstasy-extra.. it keaps you going for like 6 hours and makes you see funny colours. there both kind of the same-ish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i think drug taking is generally bad. but i think people can do them if they want .. just not around those who dont want to participate in this activity.

[darkmage099]

 

Take those numbers you find and put them into proportions with the number of tobacco smokers, alcholics, etc. If you dont get it, I'll do it later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're going to say "look at the proportion of tobacco smokers who went on to do coke" then that's invalid - the number of coke users in the end is still the same, the same number used one drug first and went on to others. Look at the number who used tobacco first and then went to weed - same story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smoking the weed itself had absolutely no influence on whether they wanted to take hard drugs - they had already decided to break the law to smoke it. Because of this making it legal would, if anything, make it less likely for them to continue to harder things as they would not have had to break the law already.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only reason it is a small step between weed and coke is because weed is also illegal. This does not make it a gateway drug.

 

 

 

Okay...but you still agree it's a gateway drug, which is what I'm aruging.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marijuana is less of a gateway drug than either tobacco or alcohol, very simple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just because you might think it's not as much of a gateway drug as otherse doesn't mean my statement about it being a gateway drug is "BS".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link!!! Linky link link link!

[Anesthesia]

Putting it as less of a gateway drug than alcohol or tobacco is as good as it not being a gateway drug when people aren't saying either of them are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You weren't calling either of those gateway drugs so your statement about marijuana being one was BS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure some small percentage of cocaine users had previously taken progesterone - do people call that a gateway drug? No. It is all relative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do not agree it is a gateway drug. That is just a (largely meaningless) name that is thrown around during these arguments and I was using it for the sake of debunking your arguments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The study you cited doesn't even support what you're saying. They say LESS THAN HALF of the twins who smoked marijuana went on to harder drugs! These were people who had already made the decision to use illegal drugs, not been given a legal one then went on to illegal ones.

[issy2]

Ban all. It's not as if they contribute to society.

[darkmage099]

Putting it as less of a gateway drug than alcohol or tobacco is as good as it not being a gateway drug when people aren't saying either of them are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You weren't calling either of those gateway drugs so your statement about marijuana being one was BS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure some small percentage of cocaine users had previously taken progesterone - do people call that a gateway drug? No. It is all relative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do not agree it is a gateway drug. That is just a (largely meaningless) name that is thrown around during these arguments and I was using it for the sake of debunking your arguments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The study you cited doesn't even support what you're saying. They say LESS THAN HALF of the twins who smoked marijuana went on to harder drugs! These were people who had already made the decision to use illegal drugs, not been given a legal one then went on to illegal ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just because I didn't say tobacco or alcohol were gateway drugs doesn't mean I don't think they aren't. Just because I didn't even mention either of those doesn't mean you can assume that I don't think they're gateway drugs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe it is a gateway drug. Half the people who smoked it went to harder drugs. That's 50 PERCENT. I don't see how it's not supporting what I'm saying. I never said every single person who smokes pot is going to do cocaine. I don't really think drug users care whether it's legal or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

legal drugs > illegal soft drugs > illegal hard drugs....makes sense to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You still agree it's a gateway drug though. You even said so yourself.

[Anesthesia]

Half the people who smoked it went to harder drugs. That's 50 PERCENT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you even READ the link you posted? It says:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The JAMA study followed 311 sets of identical twins ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Ã

[darkmage099]

 

Half the people who smoked it went to harder drugs. That's 50 PERCENT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you even READ the link you posted? It says:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The JAMA study followed 311 sets of identical twins ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Ã

[Anesthesia]

Using your terminology, all soft drugs are gateway drugs. However, because weed is no more of a gateway drug than others you can't use it as an argument against weed specifically.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can, however, use it as an argument against all drugs and I would agree with you on that. I would be happy to live my life free of recreational drugs.

[darkmage099]

Using your terminology, all soft drugs are gateway drugs. However, because weed is no more of a gateway drug than others you can't use it as an argument against weed specifically.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can, however, use it as an argument against all drugs and I would agree with you on that. I would be happy to live my life free of recreational drugs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You're right. The reason why I was arguing weed specifically was because of the post I was answering. It was more of a generic argument then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(

 

I think weed should be legalised. It is a natural plant, contains no chemicals, and isn't addicting (except perhaps, for the weak minded.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The smoke inhaled is also nowhere near the amount for cigarettes (1 large cone with none wasted doesnt even fill a 1.25L bottle), plus most weed smokers, don't have 20 cones a day like cigarette smokers.

 

 

 

So there isn't much of a risk of cancer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is also widely believed that weed can have medical benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accidents arent more likely to happen whilst stoned, its not like being drunk you still have complete control and senses are fine. A friend of mine constantly runs perfect 100m's while stoned, and almost a second faster than he usually would.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But as far as smoking way too much, I think weed is bad. It can cause brain damage. And once someone gets immune to weed, they COULD start trying harder drugs, which IS bad for you. - Again, this is really just the weak minded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe the only reason its illegal is because the government can't tax it. People would just grow their own. This is the reason why cigarettes are legal, the government makes millions and millions of dollars in taxed from cigarette companies. Even though the government knows its bad for everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You're kind of missing the point. The reason weed is usually illegal is because it's a gateway drug. It can lead to harder drugs such as cocaine and crystal meth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To all those who think alcohol should be illegal: what about the France and its wine? What about Panama and their alcohol which is mainly water? I learned that 1 thing of pot = 4 things of cigs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To all those who think that it should be illegal and it's a personal choice: The problem we have is that druggies get other people to drugs and more and more people do drugs. So you have a country who is stoned, and that causes stupidity (you get addicted and that's all you think about). Stupidity of people can cause nuclear war! it cuold happen :anxious: .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just my 3 cents

).

[BlueLancer]

Ban all. It's not as if they contribute to society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cigarettes and alcohol cause hundreds of thousands of deaths in the USA annually and create enormous healthcare bills, yet they are still being sold. Isn't the tax money the government gets from taxing these products kind of wasted, when you lose hundreds of thousands of your citizens which means they'll never pay another cent of tax which is more valuable?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess the logic lies in availability. If there's no legal alcohol, people will still want to drink it and get it from black markets=more profits to the gangsters and the government gets nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cigarettes are an entirely different issue. It contains hundreds of lethal toxics and has no good side effects (other than arguably lowering your stress level). I'd still rather calm myself down with something else than "legal" poison which is apparently "contributing" to society.

[indy500fan]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the whole "addictivness" argument.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still doesn't change my mind, no one has a right to tell me what I can or can't do to myself.

[darkmage099]

^^LMFAO!!! World of Warcraft!!!!! hahahahahaha. Did you add that yourself?

[indy500fan]

^^lmao!!! World of Warcraft!!!!! hahahahahaha. Did you add that yourself?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heh, I didn't make it, got it off fark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the data is true, someone just added that too it. So it's relevant, and funny. That's what makes it so awesome. :D