There's no doubt many people use it recreationally with no negative effects. However, I have seen personally what it has done for the few who seem to get hooked on it and fritter their lives away.
Also, I think many more children will be using it, and I believe it may be physically harmful.
I believe some of the nations, who have legalized it over long periods of time, are the places to look for the downside of legalizing it.
Society is always changing...and not always for the better.
Marijuana-induced psychosis and impaired accidents are a very real thing, and users who haven't gone to the ER or psychiatry for it (yet) will wax poetic about its benefits and how its harmless. Repeated, sustained exposure to it does create an additional pressure on our healthcare system.
However, when you look at how accepted alcohol is and the damaging effects it has on society, marijuana is relatively "safer" in a nutshell. However, it is not risk-free by any means, nor have we seen how it would impact society on a mass scale with increased and regular usage, a very likely scenario of legalization.
Marijuana-induced psychosis and impaired accidents are a very real thing, and users who haven't gone to the ER or psychiatry for it (yet) will wax poetic about its benefits and how its harmless. Repeated, sustained exposure to it does create an additional pressure on our healthcare system.
However, when you look at how accepted alcohol is and the damaging effects it has on society, marijuana is relatively "safer" in a nutshell. However, it is not risk-free by any means, nor have we seen how it would impact society on a mass scale with increased and regular usage, a very likely scenario of legalization.
The psychosis is generally not psychosis and the actual danger is twofold (according to peer reviewed university biopsych research)
1. Between the ages of 18-22 is the most common time for someone to exhibit signs of schizophrenia, usually a longterm debilitating ailment. There is a correlation between cannabis use and schizophrenia being unlocked in genetically susceptible individuals. Meaning those with a family history of psychological illness should stay away from it especially before 25 years old.
2. The human brain changes neuroplasticly (ie physical changes to the cerebral cortex) until around 19-20. Individuals that smoke before this age show lowered IQ because the brain development is altered.
These are the two major negative aspects of cannabis. The rest is situational and debatable. The lazy, stupid unmotivated emotional stoner stereotype is usually a reflection of other lifestyle choices (e.g.sitting on the couch and playing video games all day turns your brain to mush high or not high).
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Then I think of someone I know who quit a well paying job because his company was about to start drug testing. Had kids to support but quit anyways, constantly broke now and working on and off. Intelligent guy, lot of potential but just cannot harness any of it and struggles. Big time smoker who makes horrible decisions.
Oh well, just legalize it and let people live their crappy lives if that's what they choose.
Then I think of someone I know who quit a well paying job because his company was about to start drug testing. Had kids to support but quit anyways, constantly broke now and working on and off. Intelligent guy, lot of potential but just cannot harness any of it and struggles. Big time smoker who makes horrible decisions.
Oh well, just legalize it and let people live their crappy lives if that's what they choose.
There are alcoholics who do the same. Legalize it, make sure we have treatment for people who need help getting over it and take the money away from the criminals.
Using a beer as a comparable is valid. Alcohol is a drug, is legal, and is far more damaging than pot. Just saying it's illegal so keep it illegal just cuz isn't really a substantial point. Being illegal doesn't prevent people from using it.
There is a continuum of drugs which includes everything from caffeine to crack, alcohol included. It is my opinion that alcohol is not as bad as marijuana, and it is my opinion that the line should be drawn between the two.
The rationale behind my opinion is mainly focused on children and young adults below the age of 25. I don't want it to become one iota easier for a 20 year old to get their hands on weed.
I believe for young adults, that in some cases it can be a gateway drug and also that it can lead to a higher likelihood of smoking cigarettes later in life (particulary once someone chooses to stop smoking weed).
The rationale behind my opinion is mainly focused on children and young adults below the age of 25. I don't want it to become one iota easier for a 20 year old to get their hands on weed.
Kids/young adults don't seem to have any issues getting weed right now. It's completely unregulated weed from shady sources. Personally, if I ever have kids and they made the decision to try pot one day, I like to hope they'll be able to get it from a regulated source, rather than a creepy dealer who may or may not try to get them into other things as well.
There is a continuum of drugs which includes everything from caffeine to crack, alcohol included. It is my opinion that alcohol is not as bad as marijuana, and it is my opinion that the line should be drawn between the two.
The rationale behind my opinion is mainly focused on children and young adults below the age of 25. I don't want it to become one iota easier for a 20 year old to get their hands on weed.
I believe for young adults, that in some cases it can be a gateway drug and also that it can lead to a higher likelihood of smoking cigarettes later in life (particulary once someone chooses to stop smoking weed).
I'd bet it becomes harder for kids to get it if it's controlled. Drug dealers don't give a crap who they sell to.
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There is a continuum of drugs which includes everything from caffeine to crack, alcohol included. It is my opinion that alcohol is not as bad as marijuana, and it is my opinion that the line should be drawn between the two.
The rationale behind my opinion is mainly focused on children and young adults below the age of 25. I don't want it to become one iota easier for a 20 year old to get their hands on weed.
I believe for young adults, that in some cases it can be a gateway drug and also that it can lead to a higher likelihood of smoking cigarettes later in life (particulary once someone chooses to stop smoking weed).
So should smoking be illegal?
Where do you get your data from? Leads to smoking later in life? Smoking pot isn't addictive in the sense that tobacco is. And people take pot in many forms, not by just smoking it.
You're entitled to your opinion, but it's not necessarily based on facts. Alcohol is far more damaging to the body and our health care system than pot.
Alcohol can also be linked to violence, for instance. Pot not so much.
Keeping it illegal doesn't make a lot of sense when people do it anyway. Let's face it, it's easy to obtain in Canada and a very common practice.
There is a continuum of drugs which includes everything from caffeine to crack, alcohol included. It is my opinion that alcohol is not as bad as marijuana, and it is my opinion that the line should be drawn between the two.
The rationale behind my opinion is mainly focused on children and young adults below the age of 25. I don't want it to become one iota easier for a 20 year old to get their hands on weed.
I believe for young adults, that in some cases it can be a gateway drug and also that it can lead to a higher likelihood of smoking cigarettes later in life (particulary once someone chooses to stop smoking weed).
You realize your opinion is not based on one shred of solid scientific evidence, right?
