Posted on 01/20/2014 7:39:50 AM PST by Biggirl
Those who are hoping the cartels move against legal marijuana are going to be disappointed.
I agree that children should be discouraged from having such social circles.
I still believe that the most persuasive argument against marijuana, to children, and even marijuana users, is that it makes them dull and dim-witted.
Most children and adults want some sharpness and clarity in their lives. To do things, meet people, learn and experience their times. Marijuana just slows things down, so they do less, have less fun, miss out on things, and lead a ‘meh’ kind of life.
This actually makes a great deal of sense, where scare tactics and dire warnings fail.
Ken, I’m not ignoring anything. You might be.
I’m not for nor against the MJ dispensaries. I have no dog on either side.
However, those owning them/managing them, seem to be in a survival battle with the Feds. They are being closed down or threatened to be closed down with the owners being threatened with possible heavy prison sentences.
Again: Why and who benefits from the fed activities against the dispensaries?
Probably the first thing he’s ever said that I agree with!
Or well, there was that one time when he called himself lazy...
Scare tactics? As in, misrepresenting the consequences of "responsible" marijuana use?
Satchmo -- Louis Armstrong -- was well known to be a lifelong pot smoker. Michael Phelphs sure as heck knew his way around a bong (judging by that hilarious clandestine video of him taking a huge toke at some party) long before, and long after he became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time (he's got 22 medals).
Boy, they sure led "meh" lives!
The best way to steer kids away from drug ABUSE is to tell them the truth. The best way to steer kids into doubting your honesty and therefore your wise counsel, is to tell them soft lies such as the one that all social/recreational pot smokers are dullards, while social/recreational drinkers can and do function just fine as long as they're responsible.
The reality is that it has zero to do with the substance, and everything to do with the moral priorities of the user.
.....Yet if my memory is correct, did not the fed a couple of months called for less restrictions on pot, but that is me, I heard that on a morning radio news report.
What do you get when you mix a Muslin and marijuana...BOzo.
I was rebutting the idea that marijuana is an addictive or gateway drug. Not that its “social/recreational” use will foul someone. However, its regular use will indeed do so.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse:
“Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana’s adverse impact on learning and memory persists after the acute effects of the drug wear off. A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence revealed a profound deficit in connections between brain areas responsible for learning and memory. And a large prospective study (following individuals across time) showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost as much as 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38.”
Nanny State PING!
“Yet if my memory is correct, did not the fed a couple of months called for less restrictions on pot, but that is me, I heard that on a morning radio news report.”
Well, President Obozo, the top fed is basically calling for less restrictions on pot based on his admitted personal pot use.
Yet, his thug in charge of the AG office, Holder, has been releasing his pit bulls on the owners, managers and land lords of medical pot dispensaries for two years plus without letting up.
There are POLITICAL INTERESTS at work behind virtually every kind of research. YOU would be doing the young people who look to you for wisdom a favor by consulting your common sense and empirical evidence as much as you consult the research.
I'm sure the research is valuable on many fronts -- but my own real-life experiences with life-long recreational pot smokers (I know quite a few -- I'm from coastal California, what can I say) indicates that if not for the pot, they would have put Stephen Hawkings to shame, because even with their lifelong (since their teens -- and no, not me, but a number of professionals I know very well) recreational pot use, they are a hell of a lot smarter, innovative, and productive than the average professional.
Lying to kids about the consequences of pot and alcohol use is the best way to lose their regard, because the truth will out. And the truth is that what pot does long-term to "chronic users" is misrepresented in the research you cite in your post. You can send me research all you want that peaches will not grow in my particular neighborhood ... as I have seen material that says just that. Fortunately, my peach tree cannot read the research. :^)
And most who are introduced to pot never move beyond it.
Most who are introduced to pot never try it more than a few times (at least, that's what I've seen) because they hate the way it makes them feel, just like most who are introduced to whiskey never take more than a few sips because they hate the way it tastes.
On the other hand, many who were introduced to "Reefer Madness" propaganda have also, apparently, never moved beyond it.
Excellent point!
So, you are certain that your anecdotal information is more accurate than medical and statistical information? Good luck with that. While you might find exceptions to the rule, for the vast majority, what I have said holds true.
Heck, even I know of some exceptions. One young man whose home life was so horrible and fearsome, that he could only function when stoned. (And yes, his home life was intolerable, almost deranged.)
However, recreational use and serious daily use are very far afield. My advice holds true, not to smoke marijuana solely because it makes you dull and slows you down. Life should be better than that.
You cited the National Institute of Drug Abuse as saying: “Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana’s adverse impact on learning and memory persists after the acute effects of the drug wear off. A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence revealed a profound deficit in connections between brain areas responsible for learning and memory. And a large prospective study (following individuals across time) showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost as much as 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38.”
Yefrag, I wrote: I'm sure the research is valuable on many fronts -- but my own real-life experiences with life-long recreational pot smokers (I know quite a few -- I'm from coastal California, what can I say) indicates that [if your research was correct], they would have put Stephen Hawkings to shame [if they'd never smoked pot], because even with their lifelong (since their teens) recreational pot use, they are a hell of a lot smarter, innovative, and productive than the average professional.
Know that these individuals' moderate, if chronic recreational use of pot certainly isn't what made them a lot smarter, more innovative, and more productive than the average professional, in spite of what your vaunted Research promises neither did it make them stupider or slower. It's only because I personally KNOW enough of such people that I'm aware that the research you cite is mistaken; you should be aware of it, too. Like most "research," it supports the conclusion it was grant-funded to reach.
That is quite correct!!! Very far afield!! Very much like a social drinker or someone who has a cocktail or two after work, to the full-blown alcoholic. So much so, that anyone who advocates for outlawing pot, should necessarily advocate for outlawing alcohol with equal fervor and equal conviction, as both drugs in excess do damage, though alcohol is FAR AND AWAY more likely to provoke aggressive, violent behavior that leads to physical abuse and crazy driving. It's stupid to drive if you're high on pot -- it's even STUPIDER and MORE DANGEROUS to drive drunk.
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