<p>Weed is a great painkiller</p>
<p>medically it is way more effective than morphine even.</p>
<p>I'm against it. I've never smoked weed, and I never will. I have to say around 80% of my school does it. It should stay illegal, in my opinion. Legalizing it won't do anything.</p>
<p>^ Yes it will. For one, we can stop wasting money on "weed raids". In addition, we would heavily tax it, just like we do cigarettes, thus creating revenue.</p>
<p>@ Reya lol. More spaces in prison for real criminals, less time consumption of police officers and DEA agents so they can deal with better things, increase in revenue through tax (CA Assembly Bill 390, research before posting blatantly one sided posts. Actually just read the thread before posting, I mentioned AB 390 already), harming of dangerous drug cartels.</p>
<p>I think smoking it recreationally is stupid, as is the notion that we are better in a chemically altered state of mind than we are in a normal state of mind. However, in terms of drugs, it is less damaging than many others, although I'm not sure it necessarily can be used responsibly by some. I've never tried it, and have never seen it. The closest I've come is riding my bike past two kids in the forest who were clearly there for the purpose of selling it or exchanging it. I'm not sure how many kids use it; I'd put it at about 50% who have tried, and maybe 20-30% smoke regularly. I think drinking is more popular than smoking weed at my school, although I'm really not sure. I've debated myself on the legalization, and I think that as long as use is regulated - i.e. no use in public places, similar restrictions on operating machinery or water/land vehicles as with alcohol - then it won't become socially an issue. The issue of ruining lives is balanced, because the net increase of people who use it or abuse it as a result of the increased legality and availability will be counteracted by the decrease in people who start using it because it is cool or illegal, and abusive behavior will be more frowned on in general as intelligent use becomes socially accepted. The tax benefits will be good, although I doubt they will be as good as the proponents of legalization continually state in their arguments for such a measure. I'm really opposed to drug use in general (medical purpose notwithstanding), but I think that from a social stability point of view, it would make a bit more sense to let people waste their money on getting high without the risk of being caught and sent to jail for it. The compelling national interest argument in favor of restricting marijuana is not as strong as with other substances, and this lets the benefits of legalization inch over those of criminalization.</p>
<p>a lot of people our age are pretty misinformed about the physical consequences of smoking marijuana due to drug prevention programs and classes that we all (probably) took.</p>
<p>that said, it's expensive, and if used in excess, can affect your life negatively. Like most other things. it's also illegal. If anything, you shouldn't smoke weed because that would be breaking the law.</p>
<p>america is weedaphobic</p>
<p>I agree with the expensive part...</p>
<p>Haven't done it, but I'd rather smoke weed than drink (Weed has less of a possibility of causing vomit)</p>
<p>Haven't done either, and don't plan to for quite some time.</p>
<p>I'm against it.</p>
<p>I will never try it.</p>
<p>A fair share use it.</p>
<p>It should never be legalized.</p>
<p>^Any particular reason why?</p>
<p>When I said legalization won't change anything, I was referring to consumption rates, not its effect on the economy. People are going to smoke it whether or not it's legal. I haven't seen any good come out of peers smoking weed.</p>
<p>^ But part of the reason that there are so many negative effects is because it IS illegal. If it were legal, it would be much safer and more regulated. Yes, people are going to smoke it whether it's legal or illegal, so why not make it legal and make sure it's safe?</p>
<p>Yes, and weed isn't a hallucinogen. I think a lot of people here are misinformed on what being high actually feels like. There is a very good website that explains the effects of it, and I have to agree mostly with what it says:</p>
<p>Erowid</a> Cannabis (Marijuana) Vault</p>
<p>The effect are not nearly as trippy as some of you probably believe. I get stoned at work occasionally with my boss and a few other people there. It makes us all talk about goofy stuff and laugh at each other hysterically. The biggest effect it has on me besides making me laugh is that it tickles my body. I feel like my bones and joints are being tickled, and honestly, it feels pretty good after a day of hard work. It slows time down for me (because I'm a new user); pretty much every physical stimulus you receive is altered. Music tickles my ears and makes me jam, everything tactile impulse I receive makes that area feel ticklish/good. Theres a number of other things, but it does not alter your perception of reality.</p>
<p>I don't have to like it. I've seen what it does to people, and it's not appealing to me. People have changed dramatically over weed. They end up being totally different people after doing it on a regular basis, regardless of legality.</p>
<p>^ I completely agree with that statement. But then again, I know people who smoke responsibly, not more than 2-3 times per month, and have very very successful lives, and are completely themselves. I also know people who drink themselves into oblivion on a nightly basis, and have lost the essence of their character. I think the problem you see in the people you know and love is not a substance use problem, but a substance abuse problem.</p>
<p>Right. But with the risk of it, I'd rather stay away from it altogether. I don't drink, smoke, or do any kind of drugs. I'd rather not risk myself getting out of control.</p>
<p>I'm with you Reya. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. HOWEVER, I do not believe that I should stop others from doing a relatively safe drug (not safe, but safer than alcohol and tobacco).</p>
<p>^ I agree.</p>
<p>Weed is actually not a hallucinogen, it is an analgesic.
and a goo done too. (by good I mean effective)</p>
<p>It's way more effective than morphine (and less addicting too)
Smoking it actually doesn't generate lung problems.</p>
<p>It's a good medication.</p>
<p>yea, i remember reading somewhere that for every 1 opiate receptor in neurons, there are like, 700 canabinoid receptors.</p>
<p>You can't classify it as anything, you can hallucinate if you get really stoned. Stop trying to classify it.</p>