Sarah Palin: Smoking Pot Is No Big Deal

[Al B. Sure!]

Please don't put him on the spot. Some of us know who he is in RL.

As for the OP, I'm of two minds about it. At heart, it seems to me to be a practical issue. Society has every right to lock up pot users, but maybe it is at a point where we cannot as a practical matter lock them up without locking up a large portion of the population. I don't wish to make a large portion of the population into criminals.

What if they are criminals?

And sorry. I didn't mean to put him on the spot.

But as an aside, I've personally witnessed cops purchase weed from dealers before. Kind of messed up but whatever. There are a lot of cops who are straight edges but there are a lot as well who love their petty vices.

[Berzerker]

Society has every right to lock up pot users

then why not other groups, like people who dont smoke pot? Or maybe racial groups... If society has the right, it has the right to lock up anyone and everyone. Yeah, thats the ticket - "society" has the right to lock up people who dont use pot...

[Al B. Sure!]

Whether or not weed being illegal is a good idea or not is a separate issue. As it stands, it is illegal, and the enforcement of law should be undertaken though it's not always.

Here's an aside... what are people's thoughts on other drugs being legal?

Steroids?
HGH?
Heroine?
Cocaine?
Meth?
LSD?

I actually personally think anabolic steroids and HGH should probably be legalized before weed. Anyone have any good reason why steroids even are illegal to begin with? They're not even mind-altering or addictive and are 'productive' as far as illegal drugs go.

[Elok]

Aside from the part where you turn into a raging hyperaggressive sociopath, steroids are just swell

I would say pot should be legal, except there's no way to test quickly for intoxication like there is with alcohol (to my knowledge). So instead the penalties should be altered so that possessors of marijuana are always fined, never jailed. There are too many potheads taking up jail space.

[Al B. Sure!]

Elok:

Find me one study or example that 'roid rage' exists. It doesn't happen. It's 'reefer madness'-esque propaganda.

The only thing is that whereas weed is mind-altering, causes social problems, is addictive (IT CAN BE ADDICTIVE, even if it's psychological. Anyone who knows potheads who smoke all the time and it effects their job and home life knows it's addictive)... none of the same can be said of steroids which also provide clear physical benefits. I'm puzzled that it's even illegal.

It is in no way a societal or social menace... Really, what does it do negative except give the user some acne and weird hair growth? Maybe a slightly higher risk of some kidney problems but a lot of things that are legal can do that.

And what about HGH? Why exactly is that illegal?

It's interesting. Our bodies produce HGH and testosterone naturally yet stimulants that increase production are illegal. Creatine is performance enhancing as well and is naturally produced in our bodies (plus is found in red meat) and supplements exist that increase Creatine levels significantly above what is produced naturally, yet Creatine is perfectly legal and over-the-counter. And what about Cortisone? Also legal.

As far as retarded drug laws, the banning of steroids and HGH has to be at the top of the list. Far above weed.

[Al B. Sure!]

And what about amphetamines (speed)? The US Air Force has been given its pilots speed for decades.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7661838

Today's battleground requires round-the-clock air support. Modern aircraft systems enable tactical aircraft to be flown in all weather conditions, day or night, and for prolonged periods. U.S. Air Force Tactical Air Command (TAC) aircrew who deployed to the Southwest Asia Area of Responsibility (SWA AOR) for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm were retrospectively surveyed to determine the extent and effectiveness of dextroamphetamine use in support of sustained flying operations. Surveys were sent in May 1991 to each tactical squadron that participated in Desert Storm. Of pilots who were surveyed, 65% used amphetamines during the deployment to the SWA AOR and/or during Operation Desert Storm. Pilots who used amphetamines in air operations described it as "occasional." The most frequent indications for amphetamine use were "aircrew fatigue" and "mission type." Of pilots who used amphetamines, 58-61% considered their use beneficial or essential to operations. Dextroamphetamine (5 mg every 4 h) was used effectively and without major side effects in tactical flying operations. Amphetamine use enhanced cockpit performance and flight safety by reducing the effect of fatigue during critical stages of flight.

http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2003/02/57434

But the Defense Department, which distributed millions of amphetamine tablets to troops during World War II, Vietnam and the Gulf War, soldiers on, insisting that they are not only harmless but beneficial.

In a news conference held in connection with Schmidt and Umbach's Article 32 hearing, Dr. Pete Demitry, an Air Force physician and a pilot, claimed that the "Air Force has used (Dexedrine) safely for 60 years" with "no known speed-related mishaps."

The need for speed, Demitry added "is a life-and-death issue for our military."

[Al B. Sure!]

Obviously, it's nothing like speed, but for those who are curious about military supplementation, I took a picture of what comes in our First Strike Rations (type of MRE). I saved this one because I got a kick out of it:





"Do not exceed 2 pieces in 3 hours or more than 10 pieces in 24 hours"

[RGBVideo]

But the Defense Department, which distributed millions of amphetamine tablets to troops during World War II, Vietnam and the Gulf War, soldiers on, insisting that they are not only harmless but beneficial.

well, d'uh. they're beneficial from a military perspective, that's why nazis refined speed variants for this very purpose in the 40s

caffeine has similar effects. how many mg's of caffeine do the chewing gums pictured have?

[Hauldren Collider]

And what about amphetamines (speed)? The US Air Force has been given its pilots speed for decades.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7661838

http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2003/02/57434

Dude. The air force has safety limits. Speed is incredibly dangerous. Consider: Morphine is really dangerous. They sometimes give it to you in hospitals. THIS IS BECAUSE DOCTORS KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. Your average druggie on the street doesn't.

Legalizing marijuana is sort of like legalizing alcohol, to a lesser extent. Marijuana, being less dangerous than cigarettes (but still not good for you!) is relatively popular. Cocaine, meth, crack, heroin, PCP--these are all really really dangerous.

[giblets]

I'm wondering if Big Government Ben wants to outlaw tobacco and alcohol also.

[C0ckney]

[Hauldren Collider]

I'm wondering if Big Government Ben wants to outlaw tobacco and alcohol also.

Frankly, outlawing tobacco, if it were actually enforceable, is not something I'd be terribly opposed to. Given that it IS unenforceable, I think it would be a tremendous waste of resources and require tremendous increases in authority for the government which I am opposed to. But tobacco doesn't actually have any health benefits whereas marijuana and alcohol can have minor health benefits in small doses.

[giblets]

I would say pot should be legal, except there's no way to test quickly for intoxication like there is with alcohol (to my knowledge).

This only matters if driving while high is a danger. What evidence is there for that?

[MrFun]

I don't wish to make a large portion of the population into criminals.

Not even black people?

[Al B. Sure!]

HC:

I'm not arguing that speed should be accessible over the counter. I'm just pointing out that there are positive applications of drugs which are legal and even recommended in some cases. It was a continuation of my point about cortisone vs. steroids/hgh and why the prohibition on steroids is nonsensical.

Again, any thoughts on why steroids and HGH are even illegal to begin with?