Congratulations to Maine, Washington and Colorado

[Chris Brady]

Is this any different from alcohol? Some excessive drinkers act just as you described?

Yes, they can, but it generally takes a lot less marijuana than it does alcohol.  And the substance itself isn't addictive, but the psychological effect it produces is.

[Skynet]

Another good reason to support marijuana:  I've heard of "angry drunks," but never "angry potheads."

[Vekseid]

Or even dealing with people who haven't had their nicotine/caffeine fix.

[SinXAzgard21]

Yes, they can, but it generally takes a lot less marijuana than it does alcohol.  And the substance itself isn't addictive, but the psychological effect it produces is.

So exactly what are you saying?

[Tamhansen]

Okay. Let's use a real world example. The Netherlands have had decriminalised marijuanna for forty years. Yet we are one of the richest, most productive nations in the world. W're the smaller than Rhode Island, we have piss all industry of our own, yet we are one of the most financially powerful nations in the world. Am I saying pot is the cause of this? Hell no, I have never seen anything supporting this. But readily available pot did not hurt our nations ability to work and prosper in any way. Plus, it's made us quite content.

[Stattick]

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that marijuana is a lot more addictive than it's given credit for. But it's still not thought to be terribly addictive as these things go. Probably no more addictive than caffeine. There have been studied cases of marijuana withdrawals in the cases of heavy users (withdrawal lasts around 10 days), so the addiction can be physical. But all in all, it's a far easier addiction to break than opiates or alcohol. And although there are social problems linked to pot use, they're typically less bad than those associated with alcohol use. Pot isn't the greatest thing for society, but it certainly doesn't seem to the boogeyman either. I don't have a problem with it being legalized.

[LunarSage]

Is this any different from alcohol? Some excessive drinkers act just as you described?

No, but last I checked, it was illegal to drive while drunk as well.

[Rozel]

I can see your point there, but often pot addiction and tolerance can lead to abuse of harder substances.

I always giggle when I see this stated about mary-jane. Because it can be said about anything. Stress, is a prime example of a gateway to the use of drugs/alcohol. :P

On the topic of DUI, just because it is legalized doesn't mean laws for being under the influence does not apply still. You can get a DUI for over the counter meds the same as with drugs/alcohol.

I don't think anyone is refuting the addictiveness. :P Just the implications past the addictions.

[Miss Lilly]

I only speak to what I've had experience of, Rozel.

[LunarSage]

I only speak to what I've had experience of, Rozel.

As do I. 

I have rarely met a habitual pot user who wasn't an unmotivated leech.  That's the kicker.  Almost every pot user I've ever met hasn't seemed to care about anything in life except how to get high again.  It's sad.

[Miss Lilly]

I've had the same experience, Lunar.

[Vekseid]

As do I. 

I have rarely met a habitual pot user who wasn't an unmotivated leech.  That's the kicker.  Almost every pot user I've ever met hasn't seemed to care about anything in life except how to get high again.  It's sad.

I've met a boatload of very casual users. Many were more motivated than me.

As for the serious ones... I don't think 'pot' was their problem.

[Secretwriter]

My (now technically ex) uncle married my aunt 19 years ago. Last year they divorced. He is the only true pot addict I know. Both high or sober he is a dickhead. He yells and is emotionally abusive. Its worse when he is sober but so far as I know he hasn't ever hurt anyone to get his weed. Never stolen to get it. Just an all around jerk.  There are exceptions to every rule about additction. Someone disagreed about poker addicts stealing to support their habit. I know alcoholics who have stolen to support their habit. I know people who stole for pot money. They were teens and would have stolen to get a frickin candybar that they didn't have to pay for themselves.  Lumping everyone together because of one person's behavior is irresponsible. It truly depends on the individual. Veks is right too - those that are the serious ones have issues bigger than pot.   

[LunarSage]

I've met a boatload of very casual users. Many were more motivated than me.

As for the serious ones... I don't think 'pot' was their problem.

Well I was talking about serious users.

Are you suggesting that pot may attract people with those types of problems?

[Secretwriter]

Any intoxicant will. Not just pot. Whatever people can get their hands on. Huffing, weed, stealing pills to get high...  In worse times of my life that was me. Just as I just described. I didn't think of pot first. Instead I went to chemicals. As for the pills they were a preescription of my moms that I had taken before. Pills scare me.

[LunarSage]

Any intoxicant will. Not just pot. Whatever people can get their hands on. Huffing, weed, stealing pills to get high...  In worse times of my life that was me. Just as I just described. I didn't think of pot first. Instead I went to chemicals. As for the pills they were a preescription of my moms that I had taken before. Pills scare me.

Well if that's the case, it would explain why I've met so many unmotivated borderline criminal types who smoke pot.  *nods*

Not that I've never met those who smoke pot but aren't pillheads or criminals.  They've just been in the minority.

It's difficult for me to understand, since I have never abused any substance in my life.  I had the opportunity to try marijuana when I was younger, but I opted to stay clean.  I don't drink, I don't smoke... I'm a boy scout when it comes to substances. 

[Secretwriter]

It being illegal is part of the draw for the criminal types. They also usually use tobacco and alcohol. And serious pornography. And... Well that list continues. Being depressed and looking for something to take the edge off does not equal an explanation to borderline criminals.  Kind of offended by that, Lunar. Thanks. 

[LunarSage]

Did I equate you to being a borderline criminal?  o.O

Not once.

Did I say I've met many of them in my life?  Yes.

You're kind of putting words in my mouth or at the very least taking offense where none lays.   :-\

[Secretwriter]

No, I misunderstood something and took it the wrong way. I do apologize. 

[LunarSage]

No, I misunderstood something and took it the wrong way. I do apologize.

No worries at all.  :-)

It's all good.

I'm actually all for the legalization.  ;D

[Caela]

As do I. 

I have rarely met a habitual pot user who wasn't an unmotivated leech.  That's the kicker.  Almost every pot user I've ever met hasn't seemed to care about anything in life except how to get high again.  It's sad.

I think this depends on what their motivation in smoking it in the first place is. My brothers used to be stoners and but they worked for their money for their next high. Eventually they realized that working dead-end jobs just to pay for their weed wasn't going to actually get them anywhere and, since they both liked money more than being high, they stopped smoking so much and have been working on bettering themselves.

On the flip side, my Mother actually uses it for pain control. She has rhuematoid arthritis in her hands that is so bad some days that she can't even move her fingers...and she has to work on a computer. The pot helps with the pain and to relax the muscles but she's a responsible type of person to begin with so she almost never actually "stoned". She will smoke enough to be able to function but not so much that she is actually getting high. No doubt she gets a bit of a buzz, hard to avoid, but she's not useless and watching TV and eating Cheetos all day.

I think a lot of it comes down to the type of personality you're dealing with. A responsible person isn't likely to stop being responsible just because they can, legally, have a joint now and then and a addictive personality type will find something to be addicted, legal or not.

I'd rather see pot legalized and treated like alcohol/cigarettes. Grow it, sell it, tax and regulate it.

[Callie Del Noire]

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6846855/gay-men-will-marry-your-girlfriends

ZING!

[Caela]

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6846855/gay-men-will-marry-your-girlfriends

ZING!

Too damned funny!!!

[Lux12]

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6846855/gay-men-will-marry-your-girlfriends

ZING!

That is why I support marriage equality... So my gay friends won't marry all the awesome women and doom the rest of us to a life of being single.

Seriously though, that would be the perfect revenge on their part ,especially if every last one of them fit those stereotypes. What scares me is that I think it would work.

[Caela]

That is why I support marriage equality... So my gay friends won't marry all the awesome women and doom the rest of us to a life of being single.

Seriously though, that would be the perfect revenge on their part ,especially if every last one of them fit those stereotypes. What scares me is that I think it would work.

I think the only thing in that video that wouldn't work, is the sex part. Whether they know our secrets or not, eventually you'd notice that your partner isn't really into it.

Of course you could marry the gay man and have the perfect husband otherwise and then you could both have your boyfriends on the side! :D