News that amuses and infuriates me.

[Jason Tandro]

California in two weeks is voting upon whether or not to legalize recreational marijuana. Because now that the Homosexuals can't get married they need something to take the edge off (terrible joke, I apologize).

Anyways, here is how Mexico feels about the whole thing:

"For one thing, President Felipe Calderón, who has expressed frustration with the prospect of a “yes” vote in California as another sign of Americans’ failure to bring their drug consumption under control, has not budged from his staunch opposition to legalization."

Do I even have to explain why that statement enfuriates me? For those of you playing at home, Mexico is responsible for easily 40% of the drugs in the country, maybe more. Their cartels blatantly invade our country and when they get in trouble the Mexican military will assist them, even going so far as to cross our borders! We don't retaliate because we don't see the point opening a war over drugs (and yet we'll start one over non-existant WMDs [sattire]).

And here is this fat Presidente Gordo pigdog telling us that we have a problem with drugs?! He's just ticked off that if we do legalize marijuana it will hurt his country's only export!

[SoulBlazerFan]

I've never smoked pot in my entire life. That being said, if they legalize it, the government can do exactly what it did with alcohol and booze; tax the shit out of it, and make a profit... and yet still tax the hell out of us.

It would kill some of the street drug crime... however I firmly believe it would have a reverse effect. I think since it would be legal it would lose some of it's luster, and, in my opinion, part of the draw of smoking pot is that you're not supposed to do it.

So, I think legalizing it wouldn't help, because I think people would just latch onto harder- and much more dangerous- drugs.

[Flamez]

I think this is pretty much the "If you can't beat em, join em" strategy. As SBF said, they will tax the shit out of it. But even taxed it will still be cheaper then the illegal product available now. Cheaper and safer? if you were a drugo where would you shop?

[Mantaray]

What I really hate about this issue is that people who want it legalized make the excuse that it's "safer" and "healthier" than cigarettes. That's bullsh*t if you ask me, they just want to get high. And all the talk about how it's curing cancer? No, it's just making it worse--making the patients addicted, them using it as an excuse to "make the pain go away" just so they could smoke some more.

Oooh, the heavy rants I could tell on THIS one. (a guy blew a puff of it in my face once T_T 'twas THIS close to setting him on fire with that little glowy stick...)

But really, they used to make cigarettes sound like they were healthier and more essential to life than vitamins and calcium, and just barely a few years ago they found out that cigarettes led to so many health problems. And now they're making weed sound like such a wonderful thing, that the exact same thing will happen once they do legalize it (of course the vast majority would want it...) -_- But none of the governments care, they just want money. Then they'll have it as an excuse to get hysterical about it for the sake "doing something" when it's finally allowed.

And more on topic, what the Mexico president says is true, but he's also being a hypocrite. That is unless he really wants the problem to stop in his country, which I doubt could happen with all the addicted citizens and profit.

[Jason Tandro]

I certainly have no love for pot (anybody who knows about my history understands why). However I simply think Calderon is a fat hypocrit.

And I have to admit that physically speaking marijuana IS safer than cigarettes. It's the mental effect and addiction that is the problem. There is an argument that marijuana is not chemically addictive, and this is also true. But chemical addiction isn't the only kind of addiction.

Psychological addiction is, arguably, much worse. Chemical addiction leads to withdrawal symptoms, sure, but it's much harder to quit something your psyche is accustomed too, especially something that alters your state of mind.

[tay120n64]

I used to think alot like you, sora-mage, but not everything that seems bad is. Really, my only problem with MJ is that its illegal. I've been around a lot of smokers, and I can say I'd rather be around second-hand MJ than tobacco. Cigarette smoke makes my already poor breathing cringe in agony, but for some reason, MJ doesn't. Not to mention that despite being bad for you, it isn't nearly as bad as cigarettes.

And yeah, most (read: all) people that want it legalized just want to get legally high. It's kind of a double-edged issue. Despite the merits MJ has, and despite it being less physically harmful than cigarettes, its hard to side with a substance that encourages lethargic behavior so vehemently.

For the record, I don't smoke. Never have, never will.

[psychokind]

Jason Tandro wrote:

Psychological addiction is, arguably, much worse. Chemical addiction leads to withdrawal symptoms, sure, but it's much harder to quit something your psyche is accustomed too, especially something that alters your state of mind.

the other way round. that's why addiction to alcohol and heroin is so hardcore, and cigarettes can be quit rather easily. if your body is really addicted, you're way beyond psychological addiction anyway, let alone the mass of drugs you have to consume (except heroin).

[Flamez]

Funnily enough, MJ is alot healthier for you then Alcohol is and people high on MJ are alot nicer then drunks

[Jason Tandro]

Flamez wrote:

Funnily enough, MJ is alot healthier for you then Alcohol is and people high on MJ are alot nicer then drunks

Well it varies. I would say, from my experience, people who are high are in better control of themselves than people who are drunk, but I've known people who "the herb" has affected badly.

When my old roommate was depressed about his gf he would smoke weed, but that would only make it worse. It sounds like weed exacerbates any emotion you're feeling.

All I know is drunks and stoners are, again in my experience, unreliable people.

[psychokind]

Jason Tandro wrote:

When my old roommate was depressed about his gf he would smoke weed, but that would only make it worse. It sounds like weed exacerbates any emotion you're feeling.

and that despite the fact that getting drunk is the only way to cure lovesickness!

[Jason Tandro]

psychokind wrote:

Jason Tandro wrote: When my old roommate was depressed about his gf he would smoke weed, but that would only make it worse. It sounds like weed exacerbates any emotion you're feeling. and that despite the fact that getting drunk is the only way to cure lovesickness!

I call bullshit, my friend. There is also fooling around with a girl who you had only recently considered a friend and then realizing when you're done that you don't want a relationship thus destroying your friendship and leading into a downward depressing spiral which causes you to drink- oh, I see what you mean, psychokind!