Are Canadians High?

[Thunderball]

Originally posted by Cowboy+Aug 30 2004, 12:10 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Cowboy @ Aug 30 2004, 12:10 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Thunderball@Aug 29 2004, 11:56 PM
I can say I know a couple people who will definitely not reach their intellectual potential because of pot... a little here and there probably won't hurt you, but every day for years will more than likely damage your brain permanently.

Comparing it to Alcohol and Tobacco is a laughably weak excuse, good point DFF. I laugh every time I hear that one. Drinking a glass of wine a day (which IS alcohol) will actually keep you healthy and prolong your life. Marijuana dulls the senses and has a growing effect over time... thats why it takes less to get high the more you smoke it.

But hey, part of living in a free society is letting people make stupid decisions and face the consequences on taxpayer coin. We all try it, we all experiment, and those who rely on it get what's coming, and sadly, with public medicare, we all pay.

Nothing p*sses me off more than a Holier than thou attitude...I garuntee you that you do things that cost the taxpayers money. So don't pretend that you are paying for all the poor saps in the world that have made bad decisions when you haven't. It is not laughable to compare it to Alcohol, or Tobacco. Tobacco cost the taxpayers more dollars. We are not talking about the one glass of wine a day, we are talking about the people who get p*ssed on Friday, Saturday, and maybe a few times during the week. Eating healthy is good for the heart to, why don't you just do that instead of drinking the wine!!!. [/b][/quote]
Who says people don't eat healthy AND drink the wine...

Frankly, we all do things that cost taxpayer's money, but something are must more clearly foolish than others, and that costs the SYSTEM, and EVERYONE involved in it. I never once tried to say that I pay for everyone's stupidity or even a good percentage and excuse me for trying to look at things with a fiscally responsible point of view, cause heaven forbid we be responsible, right??

As for tobacco... like alcohol it is TAXED... which means wine-os and smokers are essentialy paying for the services they will eventually need. Who do chronic pot smokers pay? no one but their dealer. So I think it should either be cracked down on, or legalized, mass-produced, and heavily taxed, like the other two vices that are drawn into question.

Like I said, part of living in a free society is letting people make stupid decisions, and yeah, Joe Citizen pays for it. Thats a fact, not a "Holier than Thou" attitude, so don't even challenge that one. Chronic drinkers and smokers are problems too, no question, but at least their vices are taxed heavily and that is curbing further abuse, at least with cigarettes. If its not deterring, its at least putting forward capital to pay for treatment, so it doesn't solely rely on the community pot.

As for why I didn't use a Tobacco argument, MMF, I'd have to say I was lazy and trying to get by on one example. But one could say a cigar every so often, say bi-weekly is far less harmful than spending an evening in a smoke-filled bar.

Abuse of anything, even food (very true), is harmful, and unless everyone gets a "Minder", we're gonna be prone to acts of gluttony in Alcohol, Tobacco, Pot, Food...you name it.

Welcome to the Dark Side of Freedom. Making things illegal is not going to help anything, but letting things like pot spiral out of control while looking the other way is a poor decision.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by Thunderball@Aug 29 2004, 11:56 PM
Marijuana dulls the senses and has a growing effect over time... thats why it takes less to get high the more you smoke it.

Ha ha ha good one.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by MrMastodonFarm+Aug 30 2004, 06:10 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (MrMastodonFarm @ Aug 30 2004, 06:10 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Displaced Flames fan@Aug 30 2004, 12:04 AM
I assume your brother was fairly young and free of responsibilites at the time?

Nope, the opposite actually. Was a month into a brand new career, had done it before -- like most people in their youth -- but enjoyed some pot every now and then. Not sure about the random drug tests, I will try to find out though. He quit.. just like that. Guess certain things just effect certain people different ways.

I suppose some people just get addicted to certain things however. In North America we are seeing way too many people with real serious food addictions, and I wouldn't label food bad, but I am probably being too vauge.

Sorry to hear about your losses, Scott. [/b][/quote]
Well, let's keep this in perspective....

First off, thanks for the thoughts...but these are old wounds and in the case of my cousin I despise suicide much more than recreational drug use. It's something that I have run the full gammet of emotions with. Not sure where I'm at now. I don't blame drugs though, let's be clear there.

Secondly, I don't look down upon people who use pot recreationally when it doesn't threaten to mess things up for them. I've been around it. I don't turn my nose up at friends and walk away or something. Of course you always run the risk of being arrested and that can screw things up. However, I have always been looked down upon for choosing NOT to smoke pot. Called anything from a wimp to a prude to you name it. It's certainly not the only reason, but I had a nasty case of Asthma all throughout childhood and I know what it's like to not be able to breathe. I choose, then, not to inhale smoke into my lungs....THC or nicotine laced or otherwise.

It seems whenever this issue comes up pot proponents peddle (if I can be alliterate :P ) their alcohol is worse arguments. I just wish people would talk about a singular issue. If drunks would like to argue that pot is bad, then by all means trot those arguments out....'Roos hypocrisy statement is something I happen to agree with. I'd like to see users justify habitual use without using those arguments....that's all.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan@Aug 30 2004, 12:40 AM
I despise suicide much more than recreational drug use.

That might be something I agree %100 with you on. But that is another discussion for another day.

[RogerWilco]

Originally posted by calculoso@Aug 30 2004, 05:05 AM
Does it matter where the money from other products goes?

We know that a lot of drug money goes to support terrorism. We know it goes to support mobs, etc.

Why try to minimize it?

You know that? Please tell. Just because I am out of the loop I guess and don't know.

[Displaced Flames fan]

As for the main topic of the original post, it is not my experience that Canada is a nation of potheads. I have roots in both countries and near the border to boot....it's never been insinuated to me.

OF course, production of pot is a different story. Everyone knows that Vancouver has a ton of that. Doesn't make Canada or even BC a bunch of potheads though.

[Cowboy]

I agree with you DFF, I just had a problem with the whole "everybody pays for" through taxes statement by thunderball, I just don't think it is fair when all of us have used our system in some sort of way to benefit them.

[RogerWilco]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan@Aug 30 2004, 05:48 AM
Can anyone who uses marijuana on a daily basis for enjoyment make an argument for it's 'unharmfulness' withouth bringing up other vices?

Just curious.

It's the only answer I've ever seen from regular smokers. It's weak.

I've watched marijuana destroy the lives of 2 people I cared about. It's not harmless.

You are correct, weed is harmful. And the rebuttals of some users are weak. I think the point is that weed in no worse than legal drugs. But in the end they are all bad for us.

[RogerWilco]

Originally posted by Thunderball@Aug 30 2004, 05:56 AM
I can say I know a couple people who will definitely not reach their intellectual potential because of pot... a little here and there probably won't hurt you, but every day for years will more than likely damage your brain permanently.

Comparing it to Alcohol and Tobacco is a laughably weak excuse, good point DFF. I laugh every time I hear that one. Drinking a glass of wine a day (which IS alcohol) will actually keep you healthy and prolong your life. Marijuana dulls the senses and has a growing effect over time... thats why it takes less to get high the more you smoke it.

But hey, part of living in a free society is letting people make stupid decisions and face the consequences on taxpayer coin. We all try it, we all experiment, and those who rely on it get what's coming, and sadly, with public medicare, we all pay.

I can agree that I have not seen any studies that said pot use was good for anything... or I forgot about its therapeutic use as a pain killer for the cornice ill. Yes a glass of wine a day is known to be good for you, but the over use of alcohol is much more rampant than pot use. I think moderation is the key. I always seem to defend pot in conversation for some reason. I don't know why exactly because I tried it a couple of times in collage and don't use it at all now(I was in collage 10 years ago). We can all tell stories about how one thing or the other destroyed some ones life. Drugs come to the forefront most of the time, but normally it wasn't the drugs. It was someone's stupidity that either caused them to use the drug or what they did under the effects of the drug. In more cases then not the dug was alcohol or tobacco.

[RogerWilco]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan+Aug 30 2004, 06:40 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Displaced Flames fan @ Aug 30 2004, 06:40 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Nope, the opposite actually. Was a month into a brand new career, had done it before -- like most people in their youth -- but enjoyed some pot every now and then. Not sure about the random drug tests, I will try to find out though. He quit.. just like that. Guess certain things just effect certain people different ways.

I suppose some people just get addicted to certain things however. In North America we are seeing way too many people with real serious food addictions, and I wouldn't label food bad, but I am probably being too vauge.

Sorry to hear about your losses, Scott.

Well, let's keep this in perspective....

First off, thanks for the thoughts...but these are old wounds and in the case of my cousin I despise suicide much more than recreational drug use. It's something that I have run the full gammet of emotions with. Not sure where I'm at now. I don't blame drugs though, let's be clear there.

Secondly, I don't look down upon people who use pot recreationally when it doesn't threaten to mess things up for them. I've been around it. I don't turn my nose up at friends and walk away or something. Of course you always run the risk of being arrested and that can screw things up. However, I have always been looked down upon for choosing NOT to smoke pot. Called anything from a wimp to a prude to you name it. It's certainly not the only reason, but I had a nasty case of Asthma all throughout childhood and I know what it's like to not be able to breathe. I choose, then, not to inhale smoke into my lungs....THC or nicotine laced or otherwise.

It seems whenever this issue comes up pot proponents peddle (if I can be alliterate :P ) their alcohol is worse arguments. I just wish people would talk about a singular issue. If drunks would like to argue that pot is bad, then by all means trot those arguments out....'Roos hypocrisy statement is something I happen to agree with. I'd like to see users justify habitual use without using those arguments....that's all. [/b][/quote]
Displaced, I hear what you are saying. I would imagine that you are fairly young. The part you said that people looked down on you for not using pot (that may be out of context but it was something like that). I don't know, Im 32 and have no peer pressure at this age in some respects (other then the damn I have a more expensive car or bigger back yard garbage). But if you are my age then I don't know what group of people would give you a hard time for making a choice. I don't know. I have a hard time relating to that. Even when I was in collage I had people offering me things I didn't want, and it was never a problem when I refused. It was more in High school when the peer pressure mentality was rampant. Just do what you feel is right, in the end we all make mistakes, don't give others a hard time for it.

[Wookie]

I think it's disgusting.

It makes people stupid, it's bad for your health, and is a dirty habit.

Finally it's illegal. I don't really care how bad alcohol is for people, and the argument that one is worse then the other or vice versa. It's illegal end of story. Until it is legal you're not supposed to be smoking it!

DIRTY HIPPIES!!!

[RogerWilco]

Originally posted by Wookie@Aug 30 2004, 07:43 AM
I think it's disgusting.

It makes people stupid, it's bad for your health, and is a dirty habit.

Finally it's illegal. I don't really care how bad alcohol is for people, and the argument that one is worse then the other or vice versa. It's illegal end of story. Until it is legal you're not supposed to be smoking it!

DIRTY HIPPIES!!!

You are the new "unofficial" spokes person for the RCMP. Congrats. But then again I have no authority to give out that designation.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I'm older than you actually.

I'm never around it now...wouldn't put myself in a situation with a potential to be arrested when I have people depending on me. I was referring to my younger years....late teens early 20's. And being looked down upon didn't sway me an inch in my stance.

[RogerWilco]

Originally posted by Displaced Flames fan@Aug 30 2004, 08:07 AM
I'm older than you actually.

I'm never around it now...wouldn't put myself in a situation with a potential to be arrested when I have people depending on me. I was referring to my younger years....late teens early 20's. And being looked down upon didn't sway me an inch in my stance.

Sorry for painting as younger than me. I guess It all depends on your friends and situation. I always hear the pressure part of it, but have never been in a situation (since high school) that some one said I had to do pot to be part of some kind of group. I may have just been in the wrong place with the understanding type of people. Don't know.

[CrzyCanuck]

I thought this topic was due to the wacko Canucks running around the stadium in Greece carrying that huge flag at the closing ceremonies. They must have been on the BC bud... :P.

Canada does have a repuation, pot heads and gay marrages. What a free liberal place we live in.

Seriously, its not as bad as people think. As with everything, there are people that take some things too far. The guy that gets addicted, the guy that starts to steal to get his next hit... There are many prominent people that use it reguarly that still function in society. And to those that stay right away from it, congrats to you.

I did a paper on the medicinal benefits of pot and it was astounding, everyone who had tried it, felt the benefits. Why wouldn't you want to make your sick friend feel better? And the native people of North American have been smoking since...for a long time...

You think I would be a regular smoker, but maybe 5 times in 27 years.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally posted by Wookie@Aug 30 2004, 01:43 AM
Until it is legal you're not supposed to be smoking it!
DIRTY HIPPIES!!!

Thanks Dad. :P

[troutman]

I used to be a Federal Crown agent in the Okanagan. Almost all of the world famous marijuana grown in BC goes to the US.

[Bill Bumface]

I think you all missed the joke that Mean Mr. Mustard made.

Atleast I hope it was a joke.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by troutman@Aug 30 2004, 03:56 PM
I used to be a Federal Crown agent in the Okanagan. Almost all of the world famous marijuana grown in BC goes to the US.

Some of it on snowmobiles.

A couple of Canadians and a Montanan found out that isn't as sneaky as they thought....currently sitting in the Flathead County Jail.

[habernac]

My uncle is at least partly responsible for me never going near the stuff. He was a smart guy in his youth. Had a bright future ahead of him in the engineering field, was class president in university. Then he decided pot smoking was more important. He's now 55, hasn't had a real job since the 70's. Can't even drive cab anymore because his brain is fried. It's impossible to even have an intelligent conversation with him anymore, he sounds like Tommy Chong and continually gets his thoughts mixed up. A real shame as he isn't a bad guy.