Why do people who smoke pot...
By Ashida
@Ashida (1370)
United States
January 18, 2007 9:58am CST
...feel the need to justify smoking it by using "scientific" evidence to claim how it's not a bad as drinking or smoking cigarettes or other drugs?
Personally I don't care what people do in their private lives as long as it doesn't hurt others, but whenever someone who smokes pot wants to get into an intellectual debate about all the positive benefits, it makes me laugh.
Just admit it, you like to get high and you are using science to make that easier and cheaper for you to do.
10 people like this
43 responses
@09196606945 (125)
• Philippines
19 Jan 07
well why bother a debate? its science as you have said right? its not a claim therefore its the truth. its just a plus for them that aside rom being high its also has several therapeutic claims with it. so getting high = getting healed .... let them be aight?
@brickjames (56)
• United States
18 Jan 07
I will be the first to admit it I like to get high.
1 person likes this
@livewire (41)
• United States
21 Jan 07
I believe that pot should be legalized for medicinal purposes. Cancer and AIDS patients could benefit greatly from smoking it. When they cannot keep food or even a pill down from the nausea, smoking pot clearly helps. Not only does it relieve the nausea, but it also increases the appetite. These people are very sick and I do not feel that smoking pot will hurt them at all. In fact, it is probably more helpful to them than all of the other medication the doctors prescribe for them.
1 person likes this
@curried (49)
• South Africa
21 Jan 07
I can honestly say that I don't care at all.
I like to get high and that's that. If they feel the need to give you a justification. Then they are trying to convince themselves.
Some stoners are like a mad person trying to convince himself he is sane.
lol. But yeah. If you get high that's the end of that.
@kabella50 (309)
• United States
18 Jan 07
using science how?weed grows from the ground.It needs nothing extra to use it nor does it require any other chemicals to make it.It grows from the earth.some people have found weed enhances their life in some way and at least it's a peaceful,spiritual experience for many.You have never heard of any one committing a crime on just weed because if weed was all they had,they'd still be home talking about what they were gonna do,before they got high.Every thing in life does not effect all people the same.some people can't take a simple aspirin,so I would never suggest that weed is harmless to all,but I do believe it should not be illegal,it's a plant for gosh sakes.
1 person likes this
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
18 Jan 07
Well I was reading a post on it yesterday in which people were citing all the wonderful things it can do -- how it was less harmful than that and how it's actually good for society and all this pseudo-scientific hokum that to me is intellectually dishonest. I've had these conversations before with people, and it always kinda bugged me, because they were taking science and twisting it to pursue an agenda. it just came across as fake and I lost respect for them.
Anyway, I wasreading this post and got to thinking about why someone would bother arguing in favor of it, and the only reason I could come up with is that they really just want to be able to get stoned without fear of being arrested.
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
21 Jan 07
Maybe people smoke pot because they can't grow Prozac in their yards...
1 person likes this
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
18 Jan 07
I guess my issue is more that no matter what view you take on nearly any subject, you can find evidence to support it. But to hear people talk like the scientific evidence in their favor is irrefutable, is just using science to push an agenda, and to me is intellectally dishonest.
@chattylynn31 (157)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I think they do it because it calms them and it s illegal so it makes them feel dangerous and mabe rebelliou in some way. I think they should legalize it and put high taxes on it.
@nuffsed (1271)
•
18 Jan 07
I grew out of and away from pot in the 80's. That was when such products as "soapbar" and skunk weed became common. Now soapbar is so full of nasty chemicals that you'd have to be crazy ( or ignorant, and many people are), to touch the stuff Skunk weed heralded a whole host of super strong cannabis strains that have become nothing more than distant cousins to the stuff we enjoyed in the 60's and 70's.
Fact is, money took over and greed set in, so what was once a cool and rather harmless rebellious scene, went on to become a major cause of misery and crime, funding the activities of some of the worst human beings on the planet.
Things are moving on though, and cannabis is more likely to be home produced. It is a lot less attractive to criminal syndicates now, due to it's bulk and smell, when compared to powders and chemicals which are ever more popular amongst young Western clubbing communities.
To focus on pot for discussion, is to plat into the hands of criminals and bad politicians. It is certain that unadulterated pot, which is readily available in its green form, never harmed anyone in normal use. Harm from overuse can be claimed for every chemical and foodstuff we utilise.
Heroin is pouring out of Afghanistan and into European countries including U.K. Since the Americans took over the output of Afghan poppy fields has multiplied by a factor of eight. I'd rather ignore the smoking of pot altogether, and tackle a real issue, of political corruption on a massive scale allowing opium/heroin trading, that is poisoning societies across Europe and destroying families causing untold crime and violence.
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
19 Jan 07
But it is. Why do you object to using scientific evidence to suppport an argument?
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I think they just try to downplay it so they don't look so bad. In reality, they resemble people with no real purpose but to suck up valuable oxygen.
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Wow, that's a pretty sweeping generalization. You know you've probably included some of the greatest minds, including artists, doctors, businessmen, musicians, and every other occupation in that statement. Where did you get your information about who these people are and what their value is?
1 person likes this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I think that's a very dangerous and uniformed generalization there, Guy. The assumption that anyone who smokes is a waste of oxygen essentially makes the claim that people who smoke are meaningless and shouldn't exist. I hope that's not the intent behind your statement. There's a large difference between a junkie and someone who smokes responsibly. Thousands upon thousands of people smoke responsibly and contribute to society every day.
@rnjanet4 (47)
•
19 Jan 07
Its true about when someone tries to get into a smart convo with you when that person smokes pot im just like sorry buddy u have no clue what ur saying lol. Also i dont really care as long as there not getting other little kids into it cause in my opinon its bad!
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
19 Jan 07
That also goes both ways. The key is an honest desire for the truth.
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Here's a way to prove the benefits. If you have a problem, and then after you smoke, the problem is either better or it's gone, and you notice this consistently, you have proven a benefit.
One thing that has never been proven to me is the benefit in having one person tell another person that a particular treatment isn't working for them even if they feel like it is.
1 person likes this
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Who do you think is better qualified to judge the quality of their life. The person themselves or someone else? Or someone else with an agenda?
I personally know people who function much better when they smoke. It is an extremely effective medication for them. They are able to see the improvement. I am able to see the improvement. It is completely obvious for anyone who is able to set aside their bias and just look at the facts. It angers me when people who never see this feel qualified to pass judgment.
It is their life. Only they can decide whether it is worth it or not.
1 person likes this
@LVTHEPLUMBER (14)
• United States
21 Jan 07
wow that was deep r u going to eat that sandwich?
1 person likes this
@pendragon (3349)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Makes me laugh too, especially after they've smoked a whole lot of it and can't possibly hold an intellectual conversation anymore.
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I think assumptions on either side are incorrect -- I've seen both sides too. Some people seem to function fine -- others who were once pretty bright seem to have difficulty remembering their phone number -- I would say though that any time you tamper with body chemistry -- the side effects are potentially unknown and could be dangerous
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
19 Jan 07
There is nothing positive about smoking pot. In my opinion it is just as bad as drinking. I know people that when they wake up in the morning they smoke pot just to get through the day. Now tell me theres nothing wrong with that.
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Do you also judge people who wake up in the morning and take prescriptions just to get through the day?
1 person likes this
@hunny2pooh (35)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I smoked weed for 4 years for one reson,to bring me out of a panic attack. Fortunally i don't have panice attacks anymore. (except the on ei had when i got my belly button pierced.) SOme peeps do smoke pot to get stoned but there are a few out there that use it for pain,bi-poalr, and panic attacks. I didn't like the feeling it gave me all i knew is my panics or highs would calm very quickly when i did smoke it. And when i did it was a very little amount. Not all pot smokers are "pot heads".
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I agree -- remember I'm not busting on people who do it, I'm jsut tired of hearing propaganda from people who smoke it and claim all these wnderful things except one -- that they enjoy getting high, which to me is the bottom line behind people's arguments in favor of legalization and such.
I'm not attacking the person, just the arguments.