Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

So, which is worse, weed or whiskey? Well, the studies are complete; the results are in and the data has been crunched. I was surprised by the conclusions:

https://amp.businessinsider.com/alcohol-marijuana-which-worse-health-2017-11

The number of deaths from marijuana overdose was a particular eye-opener. Go figure.

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

Hey Larry - I live in California. Zero deaths due to weed alone does not surprise me at all.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

So, I wonder who sponsored this study, the article does not say. I recall a news story in 2014, seems that 2 young men died in Germany due to the use of marijuana. I recall that both young men were under 30. CBS and Time (http://time.com/10372/marijuana-deaths-german-study/) carried the news... the medical examiners looked for other causes of death and concluded that both men die due to cardiovascular complications caused mainly by smoking marijuana. I also recall a younger (between 30 and 40) woman who died in the UK from affects of weed (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10606932/Mother-thought-to-be-first-woman-in-Britain-to-die-from-cannabis-poisoning.html). So, what I am thinking, perhaps considering weed as the cause of death is not mainstream and corners are trained to look at the cause elsewhere. I don't think that we have data to support the zero death rate as proposed by marijuana supporters. I also doubt that information on vehicle accidents were included in the study. If you think about it, anything that makes you vomit or cough your lungs out... your body may be telling you something important. I do not condemn the use of marijuana or even a shot of whiskey in moderation. But, addictive personalities do not do anything in moderation.

The article was interesting, but I still would not encourage anyone to smoke weed as I do not encourage anyone to get drunk.

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

I haven't touched it in over 30 years, don't feel the need to. It just really bothers me that there are people out there who think they can tell me what drugs I am allowed to use and what drugs I am not allowed to use. I'd be very interested to see where they think they derive the authority or power to do that from and on what basis these decisions are made. Marijuana is classified as a 'schedule 1' drug by the Federal Government, meaning that it has no accepted medical use, along with LSD (acid), PCPy (angel dust) and many others. Here's the list:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Schedule_I_drugs_%28US%29

Interestingly, the United States Pharmacopeia listed marijuana in 1850 as a treatment for neuralgia, tetanus, typhus, cholera, rabies, dysentery, alcoholism, opiate addiction, anthrax, leprosy, incontinence, snakebite, gout, convulsive disorders, tonsillitis, insanity, excessive menstrual bleeding, and uterine bleeding, yet it is added to a list of drugs that have no accepted medical use in 1970. Of course, since that time, 29 States, plus the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and lastly the District of Columbia, as of April 2017, have clearly found medicinal uses for marijuana, since it has been legalized for those purposes in those States / territories, and for unlimited uses in a few of those.

When is the Federal Government going to get out of our lives and leave our personal decisions... Well, personal?

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

People have a lot of emotions over drug use of any kind.

Take a look at what happened in Portugal, where they de-criminalized ALL drugs.
It might surprise you.

http://mic.com/articles/110344/14-years-after-portugal-decriminalized-all-drugs-here-s-what-s-happening#.FNOqmc5tj

Bad Bob Loc: Virginia

Then we have "The War on Drugs" and all the money we have wasted.

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

"Perhaps it is a national failing, but I prefer moderate hope and some likelihood of success to the dream of perfection and the promise of failure." Well said.

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

Operative word being "wasted". Nobody knows exactly how much has been wasted on this ridiculous 'war on drugs' because nobody can even come to a definitive appraisal of what the money is being wasted on. For instance, everyone can agree that police anti-drug activities are an expense, but what about the people locked up in prisons for possession or use? Are they not also an expense? What about the businesses who lost good employees because of incarceration for possession? How do you quantify that loss? The list is very long and extremely difficult to put numbers to. I'd estimate the final cost of the 'war on drugs' in the $trillions. Easily.

Bad Bob Loc: Virginia

Plus destroying families and adding to welfare. Why would anybody flip burgers when they can make $500 a day selling dope. Legalize it, tax it, control it like booze, pay the rehab and stop making rich thugs and drug kings in South America.

Larry the Legend Loc: Not hiding in Milton

Careful there, Bob. You're starting to make sense and you know how government hates it when people make sense.... Like the good Judge said, "It's dangerous to be right when the government is wrong".

atomikmom Loc: Burien, Washington

I would rather be in a room with Weed smokers, than risk my Life with a Bunch of Boozers!!, now to me that's a Death Wish!!!!!. Thank you!!!!.

karpenter Loc: Headin' Fer Da Hills !!

I've Heard Other Studies Over The Years Of The Damaging Health Effects Of Mary-Jane
The Chemical Components Aren't Good For You
And The Long Term Useage Effects In Other Areas

But That's Nothing To Me
I Quit Before I Was 21
And Was Happy To Work Where Drug Screens Were In Use

That Said,
I Went On A Fishing Week-End With A Toker
The Fishing Part Was Great !!
It Was Being Trapped For The 4hr Drive
(To AND From)
And The Over-Nite Camp That Reminded Me Why I Stopped
I Never Took Him Again, And Haven't Seen Him In Years

I'm Not Saying The Excessive Indulgence Of Alcohol At One Time Isn't Dangerous
Being Plastered Is Bad News All Around

But I Never Knew Anyone Using Drugs Whose Goal Wasn't To Get Wasted
Maybe It Was Just The Circles I Knew

Weasel Loc: In the Great State Of Indiana!!

Alcohol & Marijuana ~ Which is better?

iFrank Loc: San Antonio

God made weed, man made booze, who will you trust? Just don't smoke, and or don't drink alcohol. Both are the beginning for those who can't moderate them.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

G*d also created bed bugs, mosquitoes, poison ivy, Nerium Oleander (very dangerous), Water Hemlock (can kill you within hours), Rosary Pea (Abrin, the rosary pea poison is much more poisonous than ricin), English Yew and a host of other poisonous plants. But, he blessed the making of beer and wine. Just saying.