<p>Anyone who drinks or smokes doesn't deserve to go to college.</p>
<p>nope, didn't start toking till high school, didn't start drinking till college. i got into pot from bob dylan, grateful dead, and my mom's old records. never really liked MTV.</p>
<p>jade, dood, you'd kick out like.....some 75% of college students (especially on the west coast) and like 80% of professors</p>
<p>alcohol tastes bad, makes you lose control of yourself, and messes up your body</p>
<p>pot is a stress reliever, makes you feel great and still have complete control over driving, etc, and doesn't give you headaches/hangovers.</p>
<p>big difference to me. =]</p>
<p>how's the grass in GA trophy?</p>
<p>You're kidding, right JadeLi? Lol</p>
<p>
[quote]
Anyone who drinks or smokes doesn't deserve to go to college.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>College enrollment drops 98%.</p>
<p>I agree with you gatoreng. Since when does drinking/smoking make some one a bad person anyway?</p>
<p>pot is more dangerous in long term. get a beer, get a hangover, get some food or water and that's that. pot has longer term effects. personally i sugest beer</p>
<p>What long term effects does cannabis have?</p>
<p>Both when used in moderation will probably have little effect on a college student. However, I have seen normal kids turn into potheads (slower speech being the most noticeable trait) and kids with ****ed up livers from drinking every day. Moderation is key kids!</p>
<p>That is highly debateable--the US federal government won't authorize/sponsor any unbiased studies, and it won't support the results of any independent studies that show cannabis doesn't cause long term damage.</p>
<p>There have been independent studies linking heavy regular cannabis use in youth with higher rates of schizophrenia.</p>
<p>i've heard that too, but that's like...crazy smoking everyday type results.</p>
<p>also i've heard, and i don't have a link, but i saw this somewhere, that after 1-2 months of complete abstinence you see a complete reversal of brain chemistry to its original state</p>
<p>hmm... i mostly think the opposite of what everyone else seems to think... then again i will legally be able to smoke weed in a year and a half here so it doesn't seem very exciting.</p>
<p>I prefer drinking... i don't really have a reason .... I just do...</p>
<p>btw i thought pot was alot worse for you in comparison to alcohol. The only person I know who has an alcohol problem is a 16 year old who lives down the street who has korsakoff syndrome already... scary shiat...
but i know like 4 people who are the same age as me with severe brain damage and whatnot from smoking too much pot.. anyone ?</p>
<p>Woah, misconceptions about pot must be destroyed.</p>
<p>Mary Jane. So many people are uninformed, misinformed, or just plain ignorant to the many uses of cannabis. I find that even in schools when I review some of their drug information, I really believe it does MORE harm to children than it does good. Keep in mind I'm in high school, and when I get some of these packets on drug use, etc, they are filled with lies and half truths. Let's start with common myths that most people (both old and young) hold about Marijuana:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>It is highly addictive.
False, Marijuana has NO physical addiction properties in its over 400 chemicals in it. In a VERY small percentage of users, mental dependency MAY occur, but there is no such thing as an "addicted" pot head. Anyone who tells you so is LYING.</p></li>
<li><p>Marijuana causes lung cancer.
False, well partially. First off, there has NEVER been a reported case of lung cancer from SOLELY Marijuana use. The plant does contain carcinogens when burned (cancer causing agents), but not only are there more ways than just smoking Marijuana, but Marijuana may prevent cancer itself. Recent studies even suggest that THC (Delta - 9 - tetrahydrocannibols, the main psychoactive ingredient in Marijuana) may INCREASE the the aging of dying cells, lessening the risk of cancerous mutations.</p></li>
<li><p>Marijuana kills.
This is an utterly lie, that was used to outlaw Marijuana use in the first place. Harry Anslinger (head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics during the time it was banned) was found saying, "Smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother". (More on Anslinger and his racism later). There have been NO reported incidents of Marijuana causing users to kill others. On the contrary, alcohol use is found in nearly 65% of all murders.</p></li>
<li><p>Marijuana impairs driving ability and causes highway accidents.
Falseish. Let me explain, in extremely high doses Marijuana can cause impairment of Driving, but generally speaking, most Marijuana users become more cautious when driving. On the contrary, most accidents where users were found to have THC in their system almost ALWAYS had alcohol or other legal medications involved. In fact, low doses of alcohol or even over the counter medication poses far greater risks of accidents than Marijuana use.</p></li>
<li><p>Marijuana kills brain cells/ impairs memory etc.
There have been NO scientific evidence to support this. The experiment that stated this forced a monkey to inhale the equivalent of over 500 joints (if I'm not mistaken), the smoke itself would've destroyed the brain cells, not the chemicals in Marijuana. Studies also show that repeated and chronic use of Marijuana has not caused users to forget or not learn as efficiently as non users. The effects are only temporary when on the plant.</p></li>
<li><p>Marijuana causes laziness/amotivational syndrome.
False. None of the chemicals in Marijuana have been proven to do this, in an experiment where users were made to smoke daily for weeks at a time, when taken off the drug, had the same motivation as non users.</p></li>
<li><p>Marijuana use lowers sperm counts/screws the reproductive system/etc.
No studies have shown this to be true permanently. In high doses in animals, slight changes to the system have been temporary, and in humans almost never.</p></li>
<li><p>Marijuana is a gateway drug.
My favorite one. I like to quote this website because I feel they have phrased it quite eloquently:
Quote:
FACT: Marijuana does not cause people to use hard drugs. What the gateway theory presents as a causal explanation is a statistic association between common and uncommon drugs, an association that changes over time as different drugs increase and decrease in prevalence. Marijuana is the most popular illegal drug in the United States today. Therefore, people who have used less popular drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and LSD, are likely to have also used marijuana. Most marijuana users never use any other illegal drug. Indeed, for the large majority of people, marijuana is a terminus rather than a gateway drug.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>"Well hey, it seems like you are calling Marijuana a miracle drug, hyakku! It had to be outlawed for a reason." Well I'm glad you asked.</p>
<p>Our setting? The 1930's. Our main character? Harry Anslinger.</p>
<p>For those who don't know, Harry anslinger was made Commisioner of Narcotics on January 1, 1932. He was well known friends with the Hearsts (publisher of many newspapers back then. Keep this in mind, you will see why this is important soon enough).</p>
<p>Soon after he goes an intense crusade against Marijuana. Stating it causes violence and killing was soon one of the main reasons that Marijuana should be illegalized. He used false stories and racism to drive this point home. An example of one of his false stories? Look here: <a href="http://www.ukcia.org/potculture/20/lies.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.ukcia.org/potculture/20/lies.html</a></p>
<p>So why did Anslinger hate Marijuana so much? A majority of reasons, racism, political gains, and more. Anslinger needed something to give him prominence, his rise to fame. The Marijuana crusade was it. Here are just a few of his racist and ridiculous comments:</p>
<p>"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others."</p>
<p>"...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races."</p>
<p>"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death."</p>
<p>"You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother."</p>
<p>"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."</p>
<p>"Colored students at the Univ. of Minn. partying with female students (white), smoking [marijuana] and getting their sympathy with stories of racial persecution. Result pregnancy"; or "Two Negros took a girl fourteen years old and kept her for two days under the influence of marijuana. Upon recovery she was found to be suffering from syphilis."</p>
<p>He used the Hearsts to spread these lies and propaganda.(Look at hearsts as those who owned a chain of papers, one of the largest methods of communication back then. Imagine these were all put in the Daily news, new york times, etc, and spread to the general public. His papers allegedly was read by over 20,000,000 people. Considering the population back then, you can see what a massive effect this had on the people). Hearst (along with Pulitzer, his rival), if you don't know, was one of the MAIN factors in starting the Spanish - American war. He used it to gain more sales over his rival by reporting over exaggerated facts and lies in order to sway American favor into the war, and sway it he did. Are you starting to see the type of people you are dealing with? Liars and all around ignoble people.</p>
<p>If thats not enough, Anslinger also knew and helped Joseph McCarthy in his political career. Yes, the same nutjob who caused the Red Scare and led the crusade on "communism". Hmm....are these the people that we should trust? I think not.</p>
<p>Anslinger succeeded in getting Marijuana outlawed with the Marijuana tax act of 1937, and as such many of the myths about Marijuana still live with it.</p>
<hr>
<p>"Well Hyakku, are you saying it is completely danger free?"</p>
<p>Not necessarily. First and foremost, ANYTHING that is overused can be dangerous. Everything in moderation is key. As it is now, there have been no reported deaths from Marijuana, no reports of cancer, etc, but that's not to rule out that its completely free.</p>
<p>HOWEVER, smoking Marijuana is not always necessary. Water filtration systems in bong help clean carcinogens, and vaporizers nearly destory all carcinnogens and harmful chemicals.</p>
<p>What does this have to do with medicine?</p>
<p>Well there are thousands with muscular distrophy who suffer from this painful disease daily. Marijuana has been proven to relax the muscles and cause less spasms. Positive? I think so.</p>
<p>Glaucoma patients. Marijuana not only decreases the risk of glaucome, but also helps users cope with it. Positive? I think so.</p>
<p>Recent studies suggest that Marijuana may actually encourage the aging of dying cells, therefore preventing many from ever getting the chance to become tumorous and cause cancer. Positive? I think so.</p>
<p>Patients with cancer that are undergoing chemotherapy often find it hard to maintain and stabilize there metabolism as well as deal with that massive amount of pain. Marijuana not only dulls and helps aid in the process of dealing with pain, but it also increases metabolism helping many cancer patients eat. It also help quell naseau which many chemo patients have.</p>
<p>"Well aren't there synthetic forms of THC?"</p>
<p>Sure, but many users report that often the oral ingestion of the pill itself triggers vomiting, the effect takes much longer to kick rather than when it is smoked, and still gets the user "stoned", it simply takes longer and is less efficient.</p>
<p>There are countless other uses, I'll be happy to answer any other questions.</p>
<p>I haven't even BEGAN to list the economic positives for Marijuana, I'll save that for another time.</p>
<p>Just some final statistics. Thousands are in jail or out of jobs for marijuana possession or use. We spend billions a year in our campain against marijuana, yet we allow PROVEN killers (alcohol and tobacco) to be taxed, and penalize those who choose to take the SAFER route. In the history of Marijuana there has been NO case here Marijuana ALONE has killed ANYONE. Alcohol alone kills 150,000+ a year, NOT including the 50% of high way accidents and 65% of murders that alcohol is involved in. Cigarettes kill 450,000+ a year, not to mention the diseases it causes not only for those who smoke it, but for those who DON'T smoke it. Does this seem right? No, Marijuana was outlawed for racism, economic, and political gain. Don't be fooled, educate yourself, then make your decision. Its time for reform.</p>
<p>Sources:
<a href="http://www.heartbone.com/no_thugs/hja.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.heartbone.com/no_thugs/hja.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/%5B/url%5D">http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/</a>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...st#Hearst_myth%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William...st#Hearst_myth</a>
<a href="http://www.ukcia.org/potculture/20/lies.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.ukcia.org/potculture/20/lies.html</a>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish-American_War%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish-American_War</a>
<a href="http://www.jackherer.com/comparison.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.jackherer.com/comparison.html</a></p>
<p>Knowledge.</p>
<p>You put way too much time into that man...</p>
<p>In the end its a personal thing. In moderation neither is awful for you--do what you want and don't try and force your views on others.</p>
<p>Seriously, I got bored. Maybe I'm just lazy. (see #6)</p>
<p>hyaku, you're a good man. this reminds me, anyone ever see that old flick, reefer madness about, "the dangers of marihuana!" it's hilarious.</p>
<p>I saw reefer madness, and it had the most horrible plot ever. I don't know what the people were thinking when they thought it was a good plot to attack smokers. </p>
<p>As most have said moderation is the key for drinking or smoking.</p>
<p>I came to college dead set on not ever smoking pot. BUT I made a lot of friends who did. I eventually (yes peer pressure) partaked in their experience, and I can say, for one, if you do it responsibly it will NOT effect you academic career. Not everyone does it this way, this is a problem, but if you're smart enough to not let drugs and alcohol get in the way of study you will be fine. I drink about 4 times a week, smoke weed about the same, go to a very competative college, and do very above average. It's all about how you manage time, not what drugs you do. Moderation is indeed the key.</p>
<p>Pot and Alchohol are both negatively looked at, alchohol is more socially accepted, but the sad truth is that MANY people smoke marijuana.... more thany you would ever guess, they just dont talk about it. Its more of a private thing mostly because of the effects it does have on you. </p>
<p>Alchohol makes someone lose their inhibitions, which is why it is definitely more dangerous. Someone, lets say a typically shy or insecure person, could get addicted not only to alchohol, but this effect that it has on them- making them more fun, lively, and outgoing...</p>
<p>To me, that is much more dangerous than what pot does to you</p>
<p>Pot is not legal and it's never going to be. Tobacco is legal because its hard to grow and the companies make profits off of it. If weed were illegal, there would be no market. It can grow virtually everywhere, there would be no reason to buy it in packs or from a store..</p>
<p>Then again I don't think it should be legal. One, it would take away from what pot essentially is! Two, I wouldnt want to see people driving around and living high daily- its a nice thing once in a while, but to be stoned forever is just idiotic...</p>