Well as a musician (mostly former musician) I've met many people who have smoked mariujana/hashish. I must admit I've also tried myself a few times, but like someone else said above I like being in control of my own brain...

But there are many kinds of 'smokers' out there, and generally two kinds that I've experienced: Those who smoke normal joints of weed and get in a real good mood and friendly and peaceful and all that, and then I've seen people who mixes almost no tobacco in their hash (not mariujana), put it in a huge waterpipe, get completely stoned and spend the rest of the day staring into a wall completely out of it, often all alone.

Some of my former musician colleagues who did this latter have later gone to heroin, and some have died (two rather close friends), and some are now either on the streets doing crime to get their drugs or are struggling in different rehab programs. I'm happy to say that one of my closest (former) band-mates has successfully gone back to society with a good job, although he's destined to use a special substitute-for-heroin medicine (can't remember the name) for the rest of his life.

Anyway, regarding the first group of smokers I mentioned, I can honestly say that I believe that if everyone moderated their smoking, and only smoked marihuana/grass/weed and not hash, I firmly believe that there would be no wars on our planet! Then again there would probably not be much else accomplished either, but that's another issue...

Finally regarding the issue of legalization I'm not really sure what would be best.

With legalization there would of course be less crime, since it would be legal. And people would be more open about their smoking and since it was legal they would probably feel better about themselves (clear conscience) and thus be happier and more active in society etc.

With drug use illegal most of us know the issues: Crime, people smoking in secrecy, maybe all alone, getting paranoid and depressed, quit school/job etc.

When I read what I just wrote it seems like a simple choice, but there's probably more to it than that...

Ok....when I was young(er) I tried marijuana....I even had agreenhouse outside my house with a couple og huge plants, really beautiful they were, I very much like the shape of the leaves!

Anyway I prepared it thoroughly...and kept it for a long time in a glass-jar. My husband didn´t really fancy the whole thing but.....well

So I tried it....but it was not the first time though! The first "drug" (except from tobacco and alcohol) I tried was the resin of the cannabis-plant. Now that experience was not very pleasant.....I was totally silenced, could not utter a word, but my mind was all clear ..hmm very odd indeed. It took a long time before I dared to try it again.....but I did and the opposite reaction occured....hmmm that was it .I decided never to try that stuff again

Now then....the leaves, properly roasted mixed with tobacco...was a complete different thing! that was nice.....did not give any side-effects..at least not on me. But I never tried it after tyhose few times when I hsad my own plants.

Since I became a mother I never touched it. I have not felt the desire to either, so it can´t be that addictive..really

Then it´s far worse with cigarrettes!

I regard myself as a liberal person. I think the stuff very well could be leagalized! Like in the Netherlands!

Ok it´s mainly due to my not-so-bad experiences maybe!

ok my 2 cents..

Well, neither am I. Although many people here would bash my head against a wall for saying this I would have to say "yes" on the issue of legalisation. I have done that damn green stuff more than a few times when I was younger, but today I really don't feel some special physical or mental urge to start smoking it again, so and I am not so sure it would be like that with cigarettes...

p.s.: holy C.R.A.P. you won't believe me, but I just found a small ammount of canabis in one of my drawers, unrolled... must be some leftover from the army I forgot about what now ?

This post has been edited by milanius: Apr 27 2006, 06:21 PM

I have so many opinions about this subject that I really don't what to answer. I've got friends who have tried out all kinds of drugs and I know the effect and all that. But as smoking, drinking and such it causes more problems then it does good - But I really haven't looked into this subject much or how it's going in the Netherlands where it's legalized so I'll stay on a yes/no...

Hehe,nice post.

You tryed marijuana without tabbacco? Whoah,now that's strong.......I understand why you're not smoking it anymore.Not to show the kids a bad example,eh?Well i suppoe that when a man\woman comes in a certain age,such things are not needed.......But you agree that it should be legal,and that's my opinion exactly.Why would one forbid an ADULT to buy what he\she needs?

Oh,hello countryman!I just noticed where are you from!I see you have the classic Belgrade ''slack'' attitude about this kind of things.And those Ajs Nigrutin songs are just encouraging it further
And about that you have found in your drowers:God wants you to smoke it....you know it......

No..ehh I did mix it with tobacco! Sorry I was unclear about that! But you are right I don´t really need it....then if I happened to find some...hmm I just might try ..but then again .....I might not!

Well,kids don't have to know just everything.Hmmm...........
Seriusly,i define it as a ''spice for a good mood'' ,IF it's used properly

Yeah! the green stuff is far better than the resin.....the leaves is a lot more tasty....

Foster, Marijuana can settle chronic sickness due to chemo-therapy, it can relieve glaucoma behind the eyes. It's often used to combat anorexia. It can act as a pain reliever for many different types of symptoms. Those are all benefits. here are other benefits, non-medical.

It brings people together of many different backgrounds. It helps broaden your perception. If not in moderation, just like advil, alcohol, or water, it can lead to problems. For instance, a very unhelthy pair of lungs, and an extremely slight chance of lung cancer, but you'd have to smoke marijuana at about the rate that average smoker smokes cigerettes to have the same chance of getting lung cancer as a smoker, and even then not all smokers get lung cancer. Not only that, cigerettes contain things like kerosene, gasoline extracts, arsenic, all in very low doses.

Oh, and you're right about medical drugs, because they're legal, and therefore are regulated, put through studies, tested thoroughly (though occasionally a pill slips out with confounded testing an a whole bunch of people wind up with heart disease) people have figured out the proper dosage of them. Take alcohol, since alcohol is a legal recreational drug. They have determined legal and illegal, and dangeroud blood-alcohol levels. You have to be 21, if you sell alcohol you need a liquor license. They don't have the same regulations on marijuana because it's illegal.

And here's where the profit for the anti-weed lobby come in that you were questioning. Marijuana is competition with alcohol and cigerettes even though it's safer and has far more benefits, this economy is already too invested in alcohol and cigerettes.

Because of so many irresponsible people in the world it would cause far too much damage. So no I don't support it.

I say It should be legalized so at last its trade could be regulated

Oh?
If someone is irresponsible,he\she wil be irresposnible without using marijuana,or alcohol,or whatever.What does that have with use of drugs?

.........just as out dear admin Alexander said.

I think the dutchies have a cool approach to a lot of things....such as Mary Anne and ..well other stuff, not mentionable here but you know what I mean.....Hmm gotta go there soon I reckon!

Oh and another thing.....the trade was mentioned! Yes I agree on that one too! And don´t forget "forbidden fruit " If it were legal it maybe would get the "heat" off it and it would maybe loose some of its charm...

Those of you who smoke should be hoping that it stays illegal....No taxes. Seriously, if it were legalized, it would be taxed horribly. Think of the cigarrette tax.

On the 'forbidden fruit' argument, it really wouldn't help much. Sure, marijuana would lose its charm, but some harder drug would take it all for itself.

In the last topic like this, I was all for the legalization for marijuana, mainly because I don't like the government telling me what I can and can't do with my own body. but, my opinion has changed somewhat.

My brother has been on drugs recently, and it's messed him up pretty bad. He lost his job, dropped out of school, got way in debt, lied to my parents about what he was using his 'lunch money' for, etc. I hate seeing my brother struggle with this (he's trying to quit), and I don't want anyone else to ever have to deal with this. So, basically, no, I hope it is never legalised. The fact that it's illegal has kept me from it, maybe it will keep others away too.

This post has been edited by Dantrag: Apr 27 2006, 08:58 PM

Heh,visit us sometimes in Nederlands,and tell me what you think......I can see it already:Wow a marijuana store!And it's a caffe too!People are relaxed in it,just smoking their joint .you can even see people rolling a blunt on the streets,even openly smoking it,even though it became illegal to smoke it on the streets.And the odd thing is:Nobody will say you anything.People will just pass right beside you even if you're smoking weed!In my original country,i belive they would hang me for such a thing.......

Well as for taxes go,i can get the pack of weed here for 5-10 euro and one pack contains enough material for about 3-4 joints.How's your country?

I'm sorry to hear about your brother.Such things are posible,but it's the same thing with alcohol:If you use it too much,you become an adict.If you use it in moderate dosages,it can be fun.As i sad in my starting post i don't support other types of drugs,only marijuana.It's a light drug,and it can't be dangereus,again i repeat,only if over-used.

This post has been edited by HyPN0: Apr 27 2006, 09:23 PM

It's the US. They tax everything. (It depends on the state, but it's usually high)



Obviously, everything is bad if you do it too much, but it only takes one stupid person to kill or hurt many more when using drugs and alcohol. (especially driving) I'm all for it if it's on your own property and by yourself, but when you bring others into it, that's when it gets bad, and when you don't have as much control of yourself, it's almost impossible to keep it to yourself. Those people that get addicted often have to steal just for their next high. I'd rather protect the innocent bystanding majority than the marijuana smoking minority.

Yeah,i get your point.
As stargelman said,it's stupid to go driving under any narcotic.
What i want to say is that marijuana can be leveled with alcohol,as comes for your personal safety.When it comes to others,well if you're an idiot you will go driving drunk and druged at the same time.Driving under marijuana is a
If you already loaded yourself with alcohol or pot,just call the damn taxi i say.Your life,and lives of others are more important that paying for a ride.

As for your comment of stealing:Well marijuana is a relatively cheap drug,and i think that anybody can afford it without stealing.The real money gets spent on heroin,and similar crap.

This post has been edited by HyPN0: Apr 27 2006, 09:54 PM

I agree totally on the fact that marijuna is on par with alcohol, and could be a fun activity, but I couldn't help but rant about the stupidity of people in general. If we could do away with those drinkers/smokers that bring others into their problems while still keeping the substances legal, I'll be all for it, because that's their business what they smoke or drink,not mine. I have a problem with it when they use their rights to voilate others'.

I know this is a synthesis, but I think what the arguements are boiling down to in the pro section are pretty much "We know its bad, but shouldn't we have the choice?"

Is that about the gist of it?

Danny I´m sorry about your brother! When you have it so close then I suppose it´s quite another business!

I hope he will succeed in quitting the stuff....