Views on Drinking, Smoking, Ect.

[fistpittingnork]

What some people find the funniest about me, is despite all this, both of my parents are with the Oklahoma County Sheriff Department as deputies.

 

[The_Loose_Cannon]

Hey thanks a lot, I really appreciate it.

I respect your opinion on marijuana being a gateway drug. My opinion on the matter has been stated, and though my opinion parallels the statistics, I have put my own experiences into that opinion. I have no desire to try coke, meth, heroine, etc... I've never tried it, and I've only been offered 1 other drug before in my life and that has been coke, and it was all a misunderstanding. I'm against any drug that is man made. I would try mushrooms, kratom, peyote, opium, etc... Anything that is natural I would at least consider trying, but I really don't have a need to hunt out any of these and try them now. I'll be just as happy if I die an old man and never try a single one. I have done salvia though, which is still legal in most states, but also a natural drug.

If some people choose not to try pot, or if they try it and decide it's not for them, I'll support them 100%. I just don't support the idea that it's a killer, it causes you to snap, people who do it are automatically bad people, etc... You seem to understand that, and I could be wrong, but I'm certain you're not a "pot head", yet you have consideration for the other point of view. Whether you agree or not with my POV, all I ask is that you listen to it shall you decide to discuss it, and respect it for what it is, my opinion.

Being in law enforcement, you're not the only one, BY FAR, who really sees there are more important punishments to hand out besides marijuana punishment. Have you ever heard of LEAP? Law Enforcement Against Prohibition is an organization whose name is pretty self explanatory. Mostly focused on marijuana laws and punishment, but it's coming from two different perspectives. One part of the group just believes there are more important laws to enforce and crimes and criminals to attend to than somebody carrying 1/4 oz of pot in their pocket. The other half understands the real dangers, or the lack thereof I should say, of marijuana. I'm sure theres a mix of the two scattered about as well. Their website is http://leap.cc/

There are few things I feel passionate about, this obviously being one of them. I am a supporter of my local NORML chapter (http://www.norml.org/) as well, and definitely recommend this site for more information on why we fight. Most people who oppose it just think we fight so we can legally sit around all day and space out (as ignorant as that sounds, more people that you would assume actually believe this) and have no consideration for the people in physical pain, people who are going through types of medical treatments that cause loss of appetite, people like me, with asthma, all who really aren't too comfortable with putting man made chemicals into our bodies. Several are steroids, are new to the market so there isn't too much info regarding long-term usage affects, and several other legitimate reasons marijuana should be legalized. Don't get me wrong that, I'm all for punishing a full grown man who is trying to sell bags of pot to a playground full of elementary kids. Hell, I'd want the same punishment if he was trying to sell them ibuprofen.

You seem to agree or respect most of the things I've said, so I appreciate you taking the time to read it all, but more importantly I appreciate your open mind and consideration. Too bad the world is short changed on people like you.

Marijuana for Asthma links:

http://www.rxmarihuana.com/lisa.htm
http://cannabisnews.com/news/7/thread7749.shtml (definitely has some good stories) Some people just don't understand what it's like to have an asthma attack. It's not just being short of breath, there is an all around pressure, a pain, and a panic that cannot be explained with words.

anytime fistPITTINGnork...dont know what possessed me to write "putting" lol.

anyways, youre opinion is based on facts. its knowlegeable information weither its good to smoke pot or bad. pot is 100000000% pure, its grown in nature and theres nothing added. therefore it can be considered hollistic which is why they use it to alieveiate pain for those with medical conditions.

in any event, i respect everyones decisions. i listen to everyone and try to reason (unless its ignorant beyond believe) you have said everything with links, facts and myths and i agree with all of them since they are true BUT unfortunitly the law is the law and we restrict all that is "illegal" drugs, contraband ect. its our job. nothing we can do even if we agree with it or not.

ive never heard of LEAP i guess its not something they have out here in NYC. but its deff a site i will check out in the future


and again, everyone gets respect with me. unless you are an idiot and dont deserve it. thats the one time i will get snappy or bitchy. other than that if someone has different views than me and can stand up for them with educated responses, i will listen intently and care. like i said you are very intellegent and i would tell you the truth if what you were typing was "stupid" which it isnt

 

[fistpittingnork]

LEAP supporters, for the sake of their jobs, aren't and can't be as open as they'd like to be, but for the most part, they do get their point across and that's the least we could hope for.

LEAP officers are everywhere though. Who knows, even one of your supervisors could be planning a LEAP gathering right now.

I'm not always right with everything that I say, but for the most part I try not to argue unless I have experience or notable proof to back me up.

 

[The_Loose_Cannon]

LEAP supporters, for the sake of their jobs, aren't and can't be as open as they'd like to be, but for the most part, they do get their point across and that's the least we could hope for.

LEAP officers are everywhere though. Who knows, even one of your supervisors could be planning a LEAP gathering right now.

I'm not always right with everything that I say, but for the most part I try not to argue unless I have experience or notable proof to back me up.

as should everyone think the same thing but apparently thats not the case grrrrrrrrrr lol

 

[paintba||er]

Ok, I'll play devil's advocate...

Let's see, benefits of smoking/nicotine:

1) Improves memory and concentration
2) Appetite suppressant
3) Treats symptoms of schizophrenia
4) Reduces risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease
5) Triggers release of endorphines (produces pleasurable sensation in the brain)
6) Helps pay for roads and schools

If you're going to defend the use of alcohol in a responsible manner, then I don't see how you can simply dismiss smoking, provided it is also done in a responsible manner.

This means no throwing butts out the window of your car, never smoking around children, not smoking in places where you're in close proximity to large groups of people, and being respectful enough to put it out if someone asks.

Personal freedom and personal responsibility are things I take very seriously. As such, I find it hard to understand why people are so willing to have laws thrust upon them that limit their freedom to do things that do not harm others.

Oh, that's right, it's because smoking is disgusting, and bad for you, and you can't understand why ANYONE would do it...hate to be cliche here, but it really is a slippery slope. If you support getting rid of cigarettes altogether, and it seems that will be the eventual outcome, what will be the next "evil" to be targeted?

Fatty foods perhaps? As an adult, if I want to eat some greasy KFC, I should be allowed to do so. What business is it of anyone's what I do, smoke, eat or consume as long as I don't harm anyone else in the process? None...that's the answer...no need for discussion...

I'm sure this sounds like a pro-smoking rant, which it was not intended to be...rather a pro freedom rant. And to risk sounding like a conspiracy theorist, the government has purposefully misinformed the public about the facts concerning marijuana for a long time.

Do a little research on compassionate IND...it's not some fringe theory proposed by paranoid guys in tinfoil hats, it's an actual government sanctioned program that used marijuana medicinally, to great positive effect, but was killed for political reasons. (Can't very well fight a war on drugs AND let people know that some drugs are good for them...)

http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2005/02/18/irvRosenbergAndTheCompassi.html

And to threadjack just a little...does the war on drugs seem at odds, at all, with the ads you see on TV every day. You know, the ones where they give you the name of a drug, don't tell you what it's for, but suggest you ask your doctor if it's right for you...

Alcohol is just as much of a drug as marijuana and has FAR greater negative effects...one is illegal, the other is advertised on TV...

I feel this way too. I think all drugs should be legalized and it should be up to the people to decide if they want to use them. I could care less if someone does crack or smokes as long as they don't do it away from other people. I extremely hate it when people come up and blow smoke in your face. If someone does that to me and they don't put it out if asked then they can count on my fist in their face. But its fine if they do it at home enless they have kids then they should go outside. And as far as marijuana being a "gateway drug" I think thats bullshit. The only reason it can lead to other drugs is because it is illegal and chances are the people you get it from also have other drugs. If it was legal and you could go get it from the store like alcohol and tabacco it would be no more of a "gateway drug" than alcohol. People just need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages and see if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. In my case I think that the advantages of Alcohol and Marijuana are worth the risks. But as far as Tabacco and other drugs go I find that they are way to risky for what you get out of them. But everybody has different opinions on what is too risky and what is not. So each individual person needs to assess the situation and make their own decision which needs to be respected by others. At least thats how I feel.

 

[The_Loose_Cannon]

I think all drugs should be legalized and it should be up to the people to decide if they want to use them.

absolutely not. then there would be no selfcontrol and no need for a law abiding way of life

people are highly irresponsible and these laws that we enforce are there because we want to restrict them

people need to understand that because something is illegal, its not hard to obtain. its illegal because its BAD for you. weed is considered bad because its mostly used with children and rednecks you see on cops. THATS why its bad you never see the good things that come out of it

in any event, thats very stupid to say. youve NEVER seen what drugs can do to a person and youve never been to a ghetto town before. until you arrest a woman infront of her 7 children all with different fathers whos sooooo f*cked up from coke and she is seriously in the worst condition you will ever see then you seriously can NOT be serious about saying all drugs should be legalized

thats just completely idiotic.....:wtf:

 

[Brawny]

I think it boils down to whether you believe human nature is inherently good or inherently evil. Just my $.02

 

[paintba||er]

in any event, thats very stupid to say. youve NEVER seen what drugs can do to a person and youve never been to a ghetto town before. until you arrest a woman infront of her 7 children all with different fathers whos sooooo f*cked up from coke and she is seriously in the worst condition you will ever see then you seriously can NOT be serious about saying all drugs should be legalized

I do know what drugs can do to someone. Almost all my family and friends have had drug problems. On my entire moms side of the family my one uncle is the only one that hasn't had drug problems. My cousin has been in jail multiple times for drugs and has 3 different kids from different fathers. But I still believe that its their choice. If they decide to do it and they can do it without harming others then let them do it. Nothing in this world is bad, there are only different points of view.

 

[Brawny]

Whoa, youve gotta be the most liberal person ive ever heard of. Yes there are things that are bad too. I'm going to kill you tomorrow and the cawps caint do nuttin bou' it. :shocked:

 

[paintba||er]

Well as bad as that sounds it still isn't bad from everyones perspective. Nothing is good, bad, evil, ect. What one person thinks is evil someone else could think it is good. It sucks having a different opinion of everything than everyone else. Hardly anyone agrees with me on anything but I can't really change the way I think. It causes many people to dislike me. For example I'm watching tv with someone and something comes on and their like "oh those poor little starving african kids" and their all sad but from my view I have never met them and never will so it doesn't affect me so I don't care. I can't change that. But it discusts everyone around me.

 

[PaPeRoRPlAsTiC]

if you drink, smoke, or do any type of drugs, youre just stupid im sorry. all of that stuff is ridiculous, and totally unnecessary in life. im not saying like if you drink wine or a beer with your meal that youre stupid, cuz thats fine, but binging and such is just retarded. "LETS GO DRINK, THROW UP, AND DIE FROM ALCOHOL POISONING WOOOOOOOO!!!!!" smoking is gross, and drugs are illegal, and you really dont need them. if i offend anyone, i dont care, you will get over it. just go get drunk and forget i ever said it. this topic ticks me off, sorry, and i will stand behind my opinions 100%

 

[fistpittingnork]

if you drink, smoke, or do any type of drugs, youre just stupid im sorry. all of that stuff is ridiculous, and totally unnecessary in life. im not saying like if you drink wine or a beer with your meal that youre stupid, cuz thats fine, but binging and such is just retarded. "LETS GO DRINK, THROW UP, AND DIE FROM ALCOHOL POISONING WOOOOOOOO!!!!!" smoking is gross, and drugs are illegal, and you really dont need them. if i offend anyone, i dont care, you will get over it. just go get drunk and forget i ever said it. this topic ticks me off, sorry, and i will stand behind my opinions 100%

Totally unnecessary in life? I agree with you 100% that you don't need coke, meth, speed, etc... under any circumstance. Marijuana is a completely different subject though. There are proven scientific and medicinal facts that marijuana is not harmful to the body, unless you're one of the few allergic to it, and of course by smoking it traditionally, the ashes from the burning marijuana are harmful, rather than the marijuana itself.

Look at hemp. Hemp is a cheaper, and more durable, alternative to cotton for fabrics, paper, rope, etc... Everybody is flipping out over the benefits of soy beans and soy protein (which is grossly overrated, but thats another topic), hemp is the second highest source of protein behind soy, but humans can digest hemp a lot easier. Hemp is a great source for biofuels, even topping corn. It can be grown a lot faster than trees, can make a stronger paper, and cost less to produce. Why am I bringing up hemp? Because obviously it's closest relative is a cannabis plant. Where you find anti-cannabis attitudes, you're likely to find anti-hemp attitudes as well. Two most misunderstood plants.

Like I said, I agree with you for the most part, drug users (I personally don't consider marijuana a form of the common definition of "drug") need some sort of help and support, I don't agree with injecting your veins with man made chemicals, or smoking something that was made in some white trash redneck's basement. I don't agree with you if you're labeling marijuana users as stupid, and saying it's not something thats needed.

Take me for example, like I said earlier in this thread, I am a severe asthmatic. I lived a childhood of doctors appointments, breathing treatments, pills, syrups, inhalors, IV's, shots, allergy tests which have included 20 hypodermic needle injections in my left arm, 20 in my right arm, and 100 in my back, riding in the back of ambulances, spending sometimes up to 3 weeks in a hospital, having collapsed lungs, laying on a bed in the ER, opening my eyes to see several nurses and doctors frantically scrambling around me, watching doctors take my parents out of the room, only to bring them back with tears in their eyes because they've just been informed I may not make it through the night. Do you really know how hard that is to go through? I'm not telling you this to gain your pity, I'm happy with who I am and can honestly say despite all that, I've had the best life and the best family I could ever ask for, so please, don't feel sorry for me. I tell you this because you need to open your mind and look at the big picture, put yourself in someone else's shoes. I can not begin to describe how mentally and physically stressful it is to be a severe asthmatic, how painful and uncomfortable it is to not be able to breathe. If you were in my position and everybody else fighting for legalization, decriminalization, etc... for LEGITIMATE reasons, would you not want the option of helping yourself out, without the risks of side affects of consuming man made chemicals, with 100% natural sources?

I'm forced to carry an albuterol inhalor on me at all times, each time I take a puff I'm inhaling different types of acid, propellants, ethanol, etc... If I'm at home, I have the option of putting just a small pinch of marijuana in the bowl of a vaporizer and inhaling that, which causes no combustion, so there is no smoke, ash, etc.. inhaled, only the psychoactive ingredients, and get the same exact results, plus if I'm having real difficulties breathing, my back and chest ache really bad and become really sore, this helps out with the pain and discomfort that my inhalor just doesn't provide.. Besides the fact that its illegal, do you at least understand my point of view?

I'm not trying to convince you that marijuana is for everyone, I'm not trying to convince you to try it, to pick it up, or tell other people to do the same. It's your decision if you want to try it or not, I'll have just as much respect for you if you never choose to try it, or if you try it and hate it, or if you try it and love it and become a cannabis user. I will not, however, respect your opinion in saying that ALL drug users are stupid and that ALL drugs are NOT needed. I'm sorry, but that is not the case.


Oh, and just in case you're against cannabis because you're religious:

What is the Word of God on the Cannabis plant?

The hemp plant (scientific name: cannabis, slang: marijuana) is one of the many useful herbs "yielding seed after its kind" created and blessed by God on the third day of creation, "and God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:12) He gave hemp for people to use with our free will.

God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth.…To you it will be for meat." … And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:29-31) The Bible predicts some herb's prohibition. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall … speak lies in hypocrisy … commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (Paul: 1 Timothy 4:1-3)

The Bible speaks of a special plant. "I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more." (Ezekiel 34:29) A healing plant. On either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare 12 manner of fruits, and yielding her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelations 22:1-2) A gift from God.

How was cannabis used in Biblical times and lands?

Cannabis was used 12 ways: clothing, paper, cord, sails, fishnet, oil, sealant, incense, food, and in ceremony, relaxation and medicine. For so the Lord said unto me, "I will take my rest and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs. For afore harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches." (Isaiah 18:4-5)



Passages from the King James Bible that are relevant
to the legal and moral status of Cannabis sativa, L.

And the earth brought forth grass and herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:12)

God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so." And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Gen. 1:29-31)

(No prohibition of cannabis or any other drug is made in the Ten Commandments: See Ex. 20:1-17)

(Cannabis is mentioned in Ex. 30:23 but King James mistranslated it as 'sweet calamus') :
Moreover, the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even 250 shekels, and of qaneh-bosm [cannabis] 250 shekels, 24 And of cassia 500 shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy anointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. 26 And thous shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick ahd his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28 And the altar of burnt offerings with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. (Exodus 30:22-29)

* As one shekel equals approximately 16.37 grams, this means that the THC from over 9 pounds of flowering cannabis tops were extracted into a hind, about 6.5 litres of oil. The entheogenic effects of such a solution -- even when applied topically -would undoubtedly have been intense.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man and oil to make his face to shineth. (Psalm 104:14-15)

The Lord said unto me, "I will take my rest and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away and cut down the branches. (Is. 18:4-5)

And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. (Ezekiel 34:29)

Jesus: "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." (Matt. 15:11)

One believeth that he may eat all things. Another…eateth herbs. … Let us not, therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Epistle of St. Paul: Romans 14: 2,3,13,14,17)

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereupon thou hast attained. (Paul: 1 Timothy 4:1-6)

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielding her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Rev. 22:1-2)

 

[hiredgoonz]

if you drink, smoke, or do any type of drugs, youre just stupid im sorry. all of that stuff is ridiculous, and totally unnecessary in life. im not saying like if you drink wine or a beer with your meal that youre stupid, cuz thats fine, but binging and such is just retarded. "LETS GO DRINK, THROW UP, AND DIE FROM ALCOHOL POISONING WOOOOOOOO!!!!!" smoking is gross, and drugs are illegal, and you really dont need them. if i offend anyone, i dont care, you will get over it. just go get drunk and forget i ever said it. this topic ticks me off, sorry, and i will stand behind my opinions 100%

Video games are totally unnecessary in life as well...doesn't mean we should ban them...

Facts: Marijuana has proven medicinal value, so does nicotine (to a lesser extent), so does alcohol in moderate quantities...

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, like they say...opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one...and some of them stink...

 

[hiredgoonz]

I think all drugs should be legalized as well...regulated and taxed with the same restrictions as alcohol and tobacco, but again, personal freedom is hugely important to me...

Part of the horrible situation that drugs are associated with is a result of the fact that they are illegal. We have spent countless billions of dollars in the "War on Drugs" and yet the drugs you can buy on the street today are less expensive and purer than they were 10-20 years ago...

So what has this "war" accomplished? It would be different if the government would treat us like grown-ups and be honest about drugs...marijuana is not the same as heroin, mushrooms are not the same as crystal meth, but they are all treated the same when it comes to the law...it's really quite absurd...

I don't buy that people need to be protected from themselves and I don't feel it's the government's job to do so. Murder, rape, theft...crimes committed by one person/entity against another are the things the state has a responsibility to protect the citizenry from...it's rather simple really, the golden rule and all that...

If I'm not harming another living thing, then it's nobody's business what I eat, drink, smoke, put in my body, or watch on TV...

 

[asdfnick]

i dont do anything, i have an edge thing going on. And im studying criminal justice in school so i need to promote self control.