Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
Sorry about misquoting 12 hours, I was thinking military (where it is 12 hours).
No, I have never smoked weed. Ever. Nor have I driven drunk, had sex with a minor, or shoplifted.
Why? I'm a guy who follows the rules.
I would dissent with your view that society approves weed use, as most surveys still show a majority do not favor decriminalizing it. Since you think I "haven't heard," I assure you I listen most intently.
You feel that weed is of no consequence, but I would beg to differ. I watched friends in High School go down the tubes after they started smoking pot. I know that the flow of drug money causes crime and death, both in America, and south of the border.
You're probably 35 or younger, and in the last 20 years, the popular media has repeatedly portrayed pot as "OK," or acceptable. Your friends have probably used it. As such, you have been cultivated to find it socially acceptable.
I see it as one more avenue of muting or diminishing ambition, intellectual growth, and human potential. That's why I'm against it.
I didn't imply that you were a drug-user or pedohpile...but I'd find it implausible if you say that you've never parked without paying the meter or driven 30 in a 25 school-zone.
I'm older than 35 actually, ex cold-warrior and senior military officer. The use of pot was well-condoned as far back as I can recall which is the 1970's...in fact it was more acceptable in the 70's and 80's then in the 90's and later (war on drugs, public awareness).
I know plenty of folks from high school who turned out just fine despite smoking an occasional joint. I can also think of a few who didn't turn out so good, but those were guys who probably would have found some way to screw up regardless.
Extensive dope smoking is definately bad for you, probably more so than cigarettes. It has all the effects you mentioned. Everything in moderation...
Weed is different from booze in that with prolonged use you do not recover quickly (or at all). I am NOT a proponent of legalization...then you would have pilots, truckers, doctors, etc. going about their business in a slightly impaired manner. Leaving it as a mild misdemeanor is appropriate so you can keep it out of places where it doesn't belong. But if an advertising exec, salesman, or janitor wants to toke up on Saturday night, I don't really care.
I'm sure the majority of americans don't want it legalized either, but I doubt they want to impose draconian penalties on young people who explore their boundaries a bit.
It is true that the wholesale illegal drug industry is a blight on our civilization, and that the pot trade is a small part of that.