Sarah Palin: Smoking Pot Is No Big Deal

[Ben Kenobi]

That would still be pissing away money trying to enforce something that can't be enforced.
It wouldn't address the bigger problems

I think it can be enforced. For the most part people don't abuse drugs.

[Ben Kenobi]

Ben: What specific recent events?

Two crack dealers selling crack in my neighbourhood.

[Ben Kenobi]

Big Government Ben rides to the rescue again.

Personally I think enforcement is cheaper than treatment centres, but then that's just me.

Are you suggesting we legalise drugs, all drugs, and stop paying for treatment centres at the same time?

[Ben Kenobi]

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

Perhaps because of the negative health consequences associated with long-term use?

[Al B. Sure!]

Two crack dealers selling crack in my neighbourhood.

So? Welcome to America.

[Ben Kenobi]

So? Welcome to America.

So? This is my neighbourhood. You don't deal crack here.

They were dealing in the ****ing common playground.

[SlowwHand]

Pot is a plant. Man doesn't have to alter it. It's not crack. It was created.

[Al B. Sure!]

Perhaps because of the negative health consequences associated with long-term use?

Oh. You mean like the demonstrated negative long-term health effects of smoking and alcohol?

Believe it or not, there are limited known long-term health effects of steroid usage. Granted, their illegality has prevented significant long term studies but this is what we know:

Anabolic steroids can cause many adverse effects. Most of these side effects are dose-dependent, the most common being elevated blood pressure, especially in those with pre-existing hypertension,[37] and harmful changes in cholesterol levels: some steroids cause an increase in LDL cholesterol and a decrease in HDL cholesterol.[38] Anabolic steroids have been shown to alter fasting blood sugar and glucose tolerance tests.[39] Anabolic steroids such as testosterone also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease[40] or coronary artery disease.[41][42] Acne is fairly common among anabolic steroid users, mostly due to stimulation of the sebaceous glands by increased testosterone levels.[43][44] Conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can accelerate the rate of premature baldness for males who are genetically predisposed, but testosterone itself can produce baldness in females.[45]
High doses of oral anabolic steroid compounds can cause liver damage, as the steroids are metabolized (17α-alkylated) in the digestive system to increase their bioavailability and stability.[46]
There are also sex-specific side effects of anabolic steroids. Development of breast tissue in males, a condition called gynecomastia (which is usually caused by high levels of circulating estradiol), may arise because of increased conversion of testosterone to estradiol by the enzyme aromatase.[47] Reduced sexual function and temporary infertility can also occur in males.[48][49][50] Another male-specific side effect which can occur is testicular atrophy, caused by the suppression of natural testosterone levels, which inhibits production of sperm (most of the mass of the testes is developing sperm). This side effect is temporary: the size of the testicles usually returns to normal within a few weeks of discontinuing anabolic steroid use as normal production of sperm resumes.[51] Female-specific side effects include increases in body hair, deepening of the voice, enlarged clitoris, and temporary decreases in menstrual cycles. When taken during pregnancy, anabolic steroids can affect fetal development by causing the development of male features in the female fetus and female features in the male fetus.[52]
A number of severe side effects can occur if adolescents use anabolic steroids.
For example, the steroids may prematurely stop the lengthening of bones (premature epiphyseal fusion through increased levels of estrogen metabolites), resulting in stunted growth. Other effects include, but are not limited to, accelerated bone maturation, increased frequency and duration of erections, and premature sexual development. Anabolic steroid use in adolescence is also correlated with poorer attitudes related to health.[53]
Other side effects can include alterations in the structure of the heart, such as enlargement and thickening of the left ventricle, which impairs its contraction and relaxation.[54] Possible effects of these alterations in the heart are hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, heart attacks, and sudden cardiac death.[55] These changes are also seen in non-drug using athletes, but steroid use may accelerate this process.[56][57] However, both the connection between changes in the structure of the left ventricle and decreased cardiac function, as well as the connection to steroid use have been disputed.[58][59]

Now, to sum up, it sounds like a laundry list but is actually very limited. Things like testicular atrophy is temporary and the biggest problems associated with steroid use appear to be acne, baldness, and hair growth. Cardiac problems might exist but it should be noted that things like an enlarged heart are common for non-steroid using athletes.

As far as drugs go, these side-effects are very tame, especially considering that the list of side-effects associated with prescription and even over-the-counter drugs is much worse. Even tylenol is linked with liver damage!

And what about HGH? Wikipedia seems to indicate that there are no adverse side effects of HGH. Possibly an increased risk of diabetes.

[Ben Kenobi]

Oh. You mean like the demonstrated negative long-term health effects of smoking and alcohol?

What about them? You are albert the pure.

Believe it or not, there are limited known long-term health effects of steroid usage. Granted, their illegality has prevented significant long term studies but this is what we know:

The cardiac issues are well known. Personally, anything that reliably takes down athletes at a young age, doesn't need to be widely available for distribution.

I've been asked, by a fellow, who's now dead (cardiac issues, funny that) to help him get some of these back in the day. He was 24 when he passed on.

[Al B. Sure!]

The cardiac issues are well known. Personally, anything that reliably takes down athletes at a young age, doesn't need to be widely available for distribution.

I've been asked, by a fellow, who's now dead (cardiac issues, funny that) to help him get some of these back in the day. He was 24 when he passed on.

Reliably? How old is Schwarzenegger? Barry Bonds? Mark McGwire? Find me evidence of one person who has died in which the primary cause of death was steroid usage.

Cardiac problems in the absence of steroids are prevalent among athletes. Look at Gaines Adams. He never tested positive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_heart_syndrome

Athletic heart syndrome, also known as athlete's heart or athletic bradycardia, is a medical syndrome in which the human heart is enlarged due to significant amounts of exercise.

[Al B. Sure!]

And what about HGH, Ben? Why is that illegal?

And what about all the legal drugs that are associated with cardiac arrest and other problems?

From my understanding, multivitamins are associated with more emergency room visits than steroids are.

Here's a stat from the documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster quoted in a review (I'm not sure how to go about corroborating but I'll google around):

Much more surprising are the CDC statistics for deaths related to steroids. In 2007 tobacco accounted for 435,000 deaths, alcohol for 75,000 and steroids for 3. That number floored me only 3 deaths from steroids. Surely something as dangerous as steroids accounted for more than 3 deaths. It must rank high on the cause of ER visits, the #1 cause of ER visits in alcohol, #2 cocaine, #3 marijuana and steroids they rank 142nd as a cause for ER visits.

[Ben Kenobi]

Reliably? How old is Schwarzenegger? Barry Bonds? Mark McGwire? Find me evidence of one person who has died in which the primary cause of death was steroid usage.

This is a terrible argument. Let me guess. Just because some steroid users lived to be 60 doesn't mean that it's safe for you to use.

Cardiac problems in the absence of steroids are prevalent among athletes. Look at Gaines Adams. He never tested positive.

Prevalent? Hardly. Steroid use is endemic, and is a serious problem among athletes.

[Ben Kenobi]

From my understanding, multivitamins are associated with more emergency room visits than steroids are.

Again, another terrible argument.

More people are injured from ladders than sharks. Does that mean ladders are more dangerous than sharks?

[-Jrabbit]

Two crack dealers selling crack in my neighbourhood.

So, if the crack dealers were a half-mile away instead of in your neighborhood, you would favor legalization of marijuana?

Interesting place, the Beniverse...

[Al B. Sure!]

Again, another terrible argument.

More people are injured from ladders than sharks. Does that mean ladders are more dangerous than sharks?

You just said steroid use is endemic, now you're implying it's as rare as encountering a shark. Which one is it, Ben?

Celebrex is associated with heart attacks and strokes
Chantix makes you suicidal

And let's not forget all the drugs that were legal for years but after thousands died from them, were finally yanked off the shelves.

The fact is, EVERY drug can kill SOMEBODY.