What are your thoughts on smoking pot for recreation?

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Azure

Yeah, too many kids do drugs/alcohol just to 'fit in.'

I found drugs and alcohol helped me to 'fit it in.'

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I'd say it does have something to do with it. You said something along the lines of "nearly every person who does hard drugs did marijuana first".

That's probably true, but what of it? They probably drank before that, and smoked cigarettes before that. You can't just say that it's irrelevant. If smoking weed leads to something, drinking booze before that means just as much. It's exactly the same point you are making.

But bla bla bla. I don't buy this gateway business. Some kids are going to try it, others aren't. It has more to do with personality and rebellion than any gateway idea. Some kids are willing to do something they could get in trouble for. The kids who start smoking and drinking earlier were probably doing other things they shouldn't have been doing all along.

Eating Halloween candy in bed, looking at dad's secret magazines, stealing from your sister... Being a "rebel" (though smoking weed hardly qualifies) starts long before you get that first chance to get high.

What does alcohol have to do with marijuana? I never said alcohol use doesn't lead to drug use! So why was the response to my take on the gateway thing about marijuana alcohol related?

sheesh.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Cawz

Your "on the other hand" comment saying that nearly every addict smoked weed first suggested that it is a gateway drug. That was my original post in this thread. I question that theory.

.

Did you read the part before that comment? I'm guessing either you didn't or you were in too much of a hurry to defend marijuana against the gateway theory that you didn't absorb it.

As for prioritizing parental fear, you might want to wait until your a parent to do that. If you're not you can't possibly imagine what will and won't scare you.

The main thing about marijuana and kids for me is that it is illegal. Not a good way to start off life with a possession charge on your record.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

What does alcohol have to do with marijuana? I never said alcohol use doesn't lead to drug use! So why was the response to my take on the gateway thing about marijuana alcohol related?

sheesh.

What does marijuana use have to do with cocaine?

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

What does marijuana use have to do with cocaine?

Ummm, I wasn't responding to a statement about cocaine.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

But bla bla bla. I don't buy this gateway business. Some kids are going to try it, others aren't. It has more to do with personality and rebellion than any gateway idea. Some kids are willing to do something they could get in trouble for. The kids who start smoking and drinking earlier were probably doing other things they shouldn't have been doing all along

From a getting high standpoint maybe, but that's not the whole story.

Whether potheads like it or not weed is illegal, generally involves closed doors and a shady element, and does mess you up.

Booze messes you up too, but doesn't have the other two issues. Your average bartender isn't going to say hey if you liked that drink, try this little pill, or this tiny rock. Guys don't shoot each other over the booze trade. Houses don't often get condemned for being distilleries.

Maybe that's an argument for legalization. I dunno. I do know it's an argument for keeping my kids away if I can. Not in a lock'em up so they never try it kinda way, but still.

[Cawz]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Did you read the part before that comment? I'm guessing either you didn't or you were in too much of a hurry to defend marijuana against the gateway theory that you didn't absorb it.

I read it. I also read "on the other hand", which is the part I responded to.

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

The main thing about marijuana and kids for me is that it is illegal.

Yup, and thats the stupid part. Its not the substance thats bad, its the law against it. Just like prohibition back in the day.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

From a getting high standpoint maybe, but that's not the whole story.

Whether potheads like it or not weed is illegal, generally involves closed doors and a shady element, and does mess you up.

Booze messes you up too, but doesn't have the other two issues. Your average bartender isn't going to say hey if you liked that drink, try this little pill, or this tiny rock. Guys don't shoot each other over the booze trade. Houses don't often get condemned for being distilleries.

Maybe that's an argument for legalization. I dunno. I do know it's an argument for keeping my kids away if I can. Not in a lock'em up so they never try it kinda way, but still.

Very well said. You may be right, that may be an argument for legalization. Doesn't bother me either way, your contention is irrefutable.

[Displaced Flames fan]

[quote=Cawz;1403072]

I read it. I also read "on the other hand", which is the part I responded to.

The two statements went hand in hand. So did me saying that I thought marijuana was not a gateway drug in the first half not stick with you?

Yup, and thats the stupid part. Its not the substance thats bad, its the law against it. Just like prohibition back in the day.

Completely irrelevant. My kid certainly has no business smoking an illegal substance because there might be benefits to its legalization.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Ummm, I wasn't responding to a statement about cocaine.

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

On the other hand, I'm guessing nearly every meth, heroin and cocaine addict has smoked marijuana...and probably smoked it first.

That's what you said. The point is you can add booze to that list as well, but you insist that it is irrelevant. You connect weed with meth, heroine and cocaine, but you are pretty adamant that you can't connect the marijuana to the booze. Why not? I'm not saying anything different than you are.

Underage drinking is illegal too, so the "pot is illegal" argument doesn't change anything.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

That's what you said. The point is you can add booze to that list as well, but you insist that it is irrelevant. You connect weed with meth, heroine and cocaine, but you are pretty adamant that you can't connect the marijuana to the booze. Why not? I'm not saying anything different than you are.

Underage drinking is illegal too, so the "pot is illegal" argument doesn't change anything.

It's irrelevant because it has nothing to do with what I said. Further, I already agreed that it could be put in the category!

Where have I been adamant that you can't connect marijuana to booze??

If you read the first part of the statement you quoted I pointed out that I'm pretty sure most pot users don't go on to harsher drugs. Miss that one?

Your last line is completely confusing. I have no idea what you are referencing.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

It's irrelevant because it has nothing to do with what I said. Further, I already agreed that it could be put in the category!

Where have I been adamant that you can't connect marijuana to booze??

If you read the first part of the statement you quoted I pointed out that I'm pretty sure most pot users don't go on to harsher drugs. Miss that one?

Your last line is completely confusing. I have no idea what you are referencing.

You've said, in exasperation, "what does alcohol have to do with marijuana"? a couple times.

I don't think one has much to do with the other, but you are tying weed to a bunch of other nasty things. It's an inconsistent argument.

Just to sum up, this is how I read what you are saying:

You: "people who take cocaine, meth and heroin definitely tried weed first"

Someone else: "they also tried booze first"

You: "what does booze have to do with it"

Someone else: "booze is a gateway drug too, by your definition"

You: "I wasn't talking about booze"

Someone else: "Yeah, but..."

Sound fair? You probably don't think so, but that's how it looks. If we are going to villify the evil weed, it is hypocritical and perhaps non-sensical to ignore the "gateway" bit about alcohol.

As for my last line, we are treading into "but alcohol is not illegal and weed is, so they are different" territory. They are both illegal for kids, so that doesn't wash. If that isn't something you've said or believe then feel free to ignore it.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Just to sum up, this is how I read what you are saying:

You: "people who take cocaine, meth and heroin definitely tried weed first, but I don't believe that most pot smokers move on to the harsher drugs"

Someone else: "they also tried booze first"

You: "Yes, they most likely did, but what does booze have to do with it"

Someone else: "booze is a gateway drug too, by your definition"

You: "I wasn't talking about booze and I didn't say marijuana was a gateway drug"

Someone else: "Yeah, but..."

Sound fair? You probably don't think so, but that's how it looks. If we are going to villify the evil weed, it is hypocritical and perhaps non-sensical to ignore the "gateway" bit about alcohol.

As for my last line, we are treading into "but alcohol is not illegal and weed is, so they are different" territory. They are both illegal for kids, so that doesn't wash. If that isn't something you've said or believe then feel free to ignore it.

Fixed your interpretation of my posts. You can go back and verify that I did in fact say each of these things, though certainly not verbatim.

The weed being illegal part only came into play when someone said that it was stupid that it was illegal. Whether it should be illegal or not is irrelevant when discussing the pros and cons of use and even moreso when discussing what you should tell your kids about it. Drinking under the age of 21 is also illegal and I certainly would discourage that as well.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Fixed your interpretation of my posts. You can go back and verify that I did in fact say each of these things, though certainly not verbatim.

The weed being illegal part only came into play when someone said that it was stupid that it was illegal. Whether it should be illegal or not is irrelevant when discussing the pros and cons of use and even moreso when discussing what you should tell your kids about it. Drinking under the age of 21 is also illegal and I certainly would discourage that as well.

Alright, fair enough. Can't argue with that. Well, maybe, but I won't.

The thing is is that I drink a lot of booze and I think weed is positively disgusting and wouldn't touch it on a bet. But... I still think drinking is more dangerous than smoking weed. It shouldn't be illegal and it shouldn't have any more a negative connotation than booze does. Neither should the people who use it, but it clearly does. It just seems so hypocritical.

Not exactly original thoughts, I realize that.

Discouraging your kids from boozing and drugging is obviously the only way to go and I doubt anyone has a problem with that. The propaganda and misinformation about marijuana is ridiculous though. And it don't work anyway.

We don't really worry about getting a record for possession here, so that may be different than in Kansas.

Funny thing though -- I had an interesting chit-chat with a cop recently. I was riding shotgun in a car and we got pulled over for expired license plates. This officer took one look at me (and my long hair and beard) and I knew I was in for a little bit of a rough ride. Turns out the car gets towed and he offers to drive me home. He looks at my backpack and says "there isn't anything in there you want to tell me about, is there". I say no. He says "really"? I say no. He says "you wouldn't lie to the police would you"? and I say nope and he says "are you sure there isn't marijuana in there" and I say no and he says "I have to know what is going in my car so you better tell me now" and I say "nothing" and he says "so what is in there" and I say some clothes, a book and he says "you're sure now, I'm doing you a favor" and I say I know what I look like but don't worry about it and he let it go. He the proceeded to drive me home at at least double the speed limit, which was pretty cool.

Nice guy, but he was pretty suspicious of me based on my appearance. He didn't ask the guy who had broken the law a single question not related to the car -- he was wearing Eddie Bauer pants and a plaid shirt.

[Displaced Flames fan]

We are on the same page my friend. I am quite sure that both the short term and long term affects of alcohol abuse far exceed that of marijuana abuse. Both CAN be gateways, but I don't think either can be labeled as such statistically.

What you described happens way too often. I'm actually shocked the guy didn't finally ask to look in your bag.