Posts by Samuel Brown6

James Turner80 said:Look, if they're already attempting to ban nicotine—which feels inevitable given enough time—then why on earth would they move toward legalizing marijuana?

Because it isn't addictive, and it certainly doesn't pose the same health risks as nicotine. 🙂

Joseph Kern11 said:From an economic standpoint, if more people start smoking weed, we're looking at a less efficient and less educated workforce.

The way you generalize is honestly absurd. So, according to you, legalization means absolutely everyone starts smoking? I’m done responding to your posts... your worldview is just too narrow and closed-minded to engage with.

And one more thing: DRUG CARTELS!!!!!!!!

😲

slypuma17 said:Oh, "children"...🙄
I am quoting Kyle Ross56 because I find myself in almost total agreement with him...
The crux of this entire issue is actually the freedom of choice for every individual, which he articulated quite elegantly:
Kyle Ross56 says:

I ask Joseph Kern11 (whether he agrees with the above) and if he would ever surrender his own freedom of choice to someone else?

Honestly, we are spending far too much time on this Joseph Kern11. I suggest we leave him alone so he can focus on studying math; I heard he needs to retake the course just to maintain a 4.8 GPA.

slypuma17 said:The question was directed at Joseph Kern11. If you can't grasp that, perhaps there's a cognitive issue at play...

No, he was quoting him, which explains why the subtext went right over your head...

Joseph Kern11 said:Furthermore, how do you account for the fact that not a single active user claims it's harmful, whereas everyone who quits insists it was damaging and brought nothing but grief? At least I haven't met anyone like that, and I know plenty of people...

Man, I just realized the entire world revolves around you.

YOU KNOW EVERYTHING!! From now on, I’m also against legalization because this man clearly knows everyone and everything, so we should just believe him unconditionally. Hallelujah!

Maybe go back to school and try raising that GPA from a 4.76 to a 4.8...

slypuma17 said:It seems you mean well, and that you don't want anyone else to endure what you went through... BUT! You're operating under the assumption that others are either just like you or at least fundamentally similar, which is WRONG.
Every individual is an outlier, reacting differently to their environment, frustrations, drugs, and so on. Let others make their own choices if they are adults and aren't intellectually impaired. Don't let your good intentions trick you into thinking you have the right to decide someone else's fate...
I am not a passionate smoker, so this matters little to me, but well-meaning attitudes from people like you really throw me off...
Marijuana is illegal simply because someone decided it should be "this way or that way," all under the guise of some supposed concern for one's neighbor... and all these "arguments" are closer to dogma than anything else... whether you believe it or not...

And so what? Because of a few unstable individuals who can be easily swayed by Joe Biden, should someone who only smokes on Sunday afternoons or occasionally after a grueling workday be forced "outside the law"?
Is that acceptable to you?

Exactly, man! That is precisely what I was attempting to write in my previous post, but I was drunk...
😬

Joseph Kern11 said:I believe our current legal approach to marijuana is poorly handled and requires stricter enforcement. While we seem to agree that simple possession shouldn't lead to criminal prosecution, my view is that such individuals should be required to complete an educational program on the risks involved, followed by mandatory periodic testing. In the event of a positive test, there would be no criminal charges, only medical intervention. However, for those distributing any narcotics, penalties must be increased exponentially. For instance, if you deal drugs, you face two years in prison; if caught again, four years; then eight, and so on. Furthermore, if someone is caught with marijuana, their parents should be notified until that individual reaches age 21.
My reasoning regarding the harm caused by marijuana stems from personal experience. When I was using, my GPA hovered around a 3.7; after I quit, it climbed to a 5.0. Based on my own history, the consequences are clear. First, there is the loss of willpower and motivation. I could have maintained a higher GPA while using, but I simply lacked the drive. It becomes a matter of apathy. You lose touch with reality. Then, there is the addiction. I couldn't imagine going out without a joint. My primary focus in life became ensuring I had weed on hand. In the pursuit of marijuana, one encounters questionable characters and falls into bad circles. As they say, you are who you associate with. That path inevitably leads to other narcotics, whose dangers are indisputable. Today, half of the eighth graders in the US are smoking cigarettes; if legalization occurs, that will shift to marijuana. This is my conclusion based on lived experience. Medical professionals also assert that marijuana increases the probability of mental illness, which is particularly perilous for those with a genetic predisposition.
Marijuana is also tied to a specific subculture. Most people who smoke are slackers—at least, that is my impression from knowing others.

There is some truth to that, especially regarding the lowlifes running the trade. But you are viewing this through a completely different lens. There are adults who simply enjoy smoking, people who have finished school (and as I mentioned, it remains illegal for minors to possess it, and dealing to them is severely punished). Regarding drug dealing, I am in agreement that it should be penalized.

But as I stated, there are adults—legal adults—who just want to smoke, and it is precisely because of them that decriminalization should be considered. I have no desire to get bogged down in complex equations or lengthy academic debates, but in short: try viewing the situation from a perspective other than the "high schooler" viewpoint you currently hold, and remember that I have already emphasized the words MINORS and PROHIBITED.

Do you follow?

Joseph Kern11 said:Try finding me one person who quit weed forever and actually claims it was a great decision. It’s just like people at political rallies claiming certain ideologies are perfect. Every addict insists their habit is fine right up until they hit rock bottom and reality finally catches up with them...

Fine. Now read my post again and give me your actual opinion on decriminalization. Tell me exactly why you think it shouldn't happen—or perhaps you do think it should...

Looking back at some of these threads, I realize we’re all drifting pretty far off topic... We spend our time bickering over the supposed harms of cannabis and other nonsense, yet we haven't actually weighed what would happen if it were decriminalized (since legalization seems a lost cause anyway).

To be clear, when I say "decriminalization," I mean that if you get caught with, say, 30 grams, you wouldn't face arrest. Instead, you might be allowed to grow 4 or 5 plants for personal use—similar to how they handle things in certain parts of Europe—provided you register them. Of course, any action involving minors would still be strictly prohibited.

My thought is—and I suspect most would agree—that initially, a fair number of people would try it once and then move on. Crime rates would likely drop, and the police could focus their resources on dealers peddling much harder substances and tackling more significant issues. It wouldn't make it any more accessible to kids than it already is, but this time, the authorities could actually catch the lowlifes selling to them, if you catch my drift. So, there... I don't see the downside.

People, this is simply a matter of personal choice, just like alcohol. Even though alcohol is arguably more harmful, it's certainly more available to minors. Do I have an issue if tsomeone gets drunk as a pig or cuts back on their drinking? No. I couldn't care less, and I will probably do it myself quite often. Should you really care if I light one up with friends and mess around in my own home or backyard without being aggressive or erratic? I don't think so... 🙂

Joseph Kern11 said:So, smoking unfiltered tobacco doesn't increase lung cancer risk? You're clearly the one losing touch with reality if you can't see through all that smoke...

marijuana doesn't have to be mixed with tobacco😉

Joseph Kern11 said:P.S. Denial is the first sign of addiction.

Let me ask you something then: Are you an addict?

James Turner80 said:Good for you...
How often do you consume?...
I have to say, I am truly impressed by the collective intellect on display here. Everyone is such an expert, openly admitting to using illegal narcotics on a public forum whenever they have a spare moment. Such profound wisdom...

Wait, are you actually suggesting the police are going to come knocking on my door just because I mentioned using "illegal narcotics"? Give me a break... I can't give you an exact number since my usage fluctuates, but let's say a few times a week over the last several months. That would be the average...

Charles Jackson5 said:Well, naturally, if you’re out there in Hell smoking nothing but low-grade weed packed with seeds... just smoke a skunk joint every single day for a week... then go ahead and try to lecture me on science. See how much of a hero you turn out to be... 😉

Fair enough, things haven't exactly been great lately... I try to steer clear of that nonsense as much as possible. I did smoke some high-grade skunk for a few days straight, and honestly, you feel a bit more out of it than usual, but I'll say this: even then, it doesn't touch my ability to judge situations or remember things... On the other hand, whenever I drink, I feel significantly worse, and the hangover lingers much longer. Alcohol literally wrecks my brain and my focus...

James Turner80. said:Anything that creates an addiction qualifies as a drug...

And what exactly makes you think marijuana causes addiction? Wait... are you one of those people who actually got hooked? 😲 😲 I have never experienced any sort of crisis... I would even go so far as to say that I feel more of a crisis after eating a greasy meal and drinking enough beer to make someone think I actually need a prescription... 😬

Just to add my two cents, folks... this entire debate is utterly pointless. Everyone involved here entered the fray armed with pre-existing biases. No matter what anyone writes, you aren't going to sway someone who has already made up their mind, even if they can't formulate a coherent rebuttal. That goes for both sides. You would be better off simply presenting raw facts rather than attempting to force an opinion on others... that’s just how I see things.

Joseph Kern11 said:You are the perfect example of why this "plant" is harmful. Why don't you show me those scientific papers claiming marijuana isn't dangerous? Clearly, you're far more brilliant than all those fools studying at that mediocre medical school, trying to research human biology just to mistakenly claim that marijuana is a harmful narcotic.

The fact that weed made you stupid and lazy is your PERSONAL problem. Personally, I consume quite a bit, yet I am neither dim-witted nor lethargic... if you want a real-world example—like my college exams—I pass them regularly and grasp the material just as well as I did before I started consuming.

Searching for an excuse for your own stupidity and laziness is your issue... 😘

And calling someone a "stoned addict," even on a forum, is pure idiocy and proof of your own lack of intelligence. Get away from that weed... seriously...