[BenLurkin]

"Like alcohol? So they are the same, kinda?"

Except that it is not the same. The effects of Marijuana are much more insidous. (Sorry for the cut and paste but I gotta get going for the day)

Addictive effects
Marijuana use affects dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in the brain's pleasure producing or reward mechanism, which helps explain its potential for dependency.

Memory impairment
Marijuana use can negatively affect short-term memory, especially memories trying to be recovered during the time when one was using this drug.

Amotivational syndrome
Since testosterone levels are temporarily lowered, users of marijuana don't feel like doing much besides eating and hanging out with the small group of friends with which they are most comfortable.

Disease
Long-term marijuana use can cause irreversible changes in both male and female reproductive organs, such as lowered sperm count in men and altered shape of the uterus in women. Lung cancer, emphysema, and lowered immune system responses, such as decreased white blood cell count, could also result from extended marijuana use.

Mental health
Marijuana increases the risk of developing depression and/or schizophrenia the more that one uses it.

[osideplanner]

Your list of effects on the users of MJ is impressive, but no cigar.

Should the gov outlaw the substance because it has those effects? If so, how are you different than the anti-smoking, anti-soda machine, anti-donut crowd who wants the government to control our diets so that we can be healthy.

Also, I believe your comparison is incomplete. It's rare that the users of MJ demonstrate the violent behavior that drunks display.

The basic question for me, is how far do we want the government to go to control the behavior of the citizenry. I like the libertarian definition: outlaw attacks on others and their property and let the government butt out of the rest. There's a big difference between illegal and bad for you.

[HawaiianGecko]

People that don't think THC effect memory simply can't remember what they forgot about yesterday.

 

[Sir Gawain]

Except that it is not the same. The effects of Marijuana are much more insidous.

Hahahaha you keep going? No one believes that lie anymore. Give it a rest.

[Torie]

Since testosterone levels are temporarily lowered [affected], users of marijuana don't feel like doing much besides eating and hanging out with [one paticular intimate] the small group of friends.

There, that is better, per my experience, as I recall it, in my "dual tasking, it went together like bacon and eggs," recreational days.