weed and cigarettes (obama)

[mp3MaStA88]

alright so i heard all the fuss about obama and the legalization of weed. I do believe this is a great subject for him to take focus on. I agree that weed should be legalized and most definitely taxed. I feel that if weed is legalized then there will be more companies popping up making more jobs for people in the states. This will also assist the food corporations with more people buying their product for the so called "munchies." also if there were an age limit on weed such as 18 (just like cigarettes) then it will be more legitimate. however there will still be kids, like i used to be, that will find ways to get it for example alcohol and cigarettes, kids and teens can get their hands on either of these. but here is my arguement. I feel that cigarettes should be illegal. I do smoke cigarettes and i know it is bad for me with the effect of lung cancer and death. stated here (taken from http://www.nida.nih.gov): Between 1964 and 2004, cigarette smoking caused an estimated 12 million deaths, including 4.1 million deaths from cancer, 5.5 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases, 2.1 million deaths from respiratory diseases.

and here is a list of the 599+ ingredients (http://www.quitsmokingsupport.com/ingredients.htm)

after that said, weed is basically one drug THC derived from cannabus sativa. after a little research on my friend google, i have found out that there are supposedly 400 other chemicals that are in weed.

The only thing i feel and others would agree, that is deadly in smoking weed is the smoke you inhale causing cancer. other than that i have not seen or heard of a single death caused by weed. People pass out with too much THC in their system and i've had that happen to me and another thing is the munchies.

so my arguement is:

should cigarettes become illegal and marijuana legal? you guys decide.

[mfgbypooter]

all drugs should be legalized, with restrictions only on public consumption.

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[drtoker]

I think both should be legal. Your body, your choice. I dont smoke cigs anymore though, quit 10+ years ago, didn't want to pay more then $2 a pack for premium brands.

I do think they should place more strict regulations on what can be put into cigs though, some of that stuff in them is aweful!

[carpefile]

And just as a btw correction, weed smoke has never been linked to cancer. In fact it has been shown to protect against it, the worst medical evidence against weed is that inhaling the smoke can cause chronic bronchitis in heavy users.

[MoonMan]

I can't tell if pooter is just being facetious, but I also believe (in any case) that drugs should be decriminalized and drug users should be treated rather than locked up.

To legalize weed, however, is a pipe dream for the near future. Maybe someday, but I just don't see Obama (or any president) rallying behind a lifestyle choice that is taboo to so many.

[mfgbypooter]

I am totally serious.

Either outlaw alcohol and nicotine, or legalize all drugs.

I choose the right to individual liberty when deciding what I can and cannot consume.

Our laws should reflect the same.

Women who support abortion rights claim it's their body, well the same logic applies here.

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[drtoker]

And just as a btw correction, weed smoke has never been linked to cancer. In fact it has been shown to protect against it, the worst medical evidence against weed is that inhaling the smoke can cause chronic bronchitis in heavy users.

There are no direct links to cancer, but:

Numerous studies have shown marijuana smoke to contain carcinogens and to be an irritant to the lungs. In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which further increases the lungs’ exposure to carcinogenic smoke. Marijuana smokers show dysregulated growth of epithelial cells in their lung tissue, which could lead to cancer;8 however, a recent case-controlled study found no positive associations between marijuana use and lung, upper respiratory, or upper digestive tract cancers.9 Thus, the link between marijuana smoking and these cancers remains unsubstantiated at this time.

I'm not fooling myself, unless you are vaproizing, there are carcinogens, and carcinogens can cause cancer. Buy a vaproizor :)

[mp3MaStA88]

i agree that either legalize all drugs or make them all illegal including cigarettes and all nicotine related substances. hopefully some day soon weed will be legal. it will only benefit this world. mainly the nation. i mean people who grow weed should not be considered criminals because cannabis sativa is a plant and there is nothing wrong with growing plants. people do it everyday. weed is just a substance to "help" a lifestyle.

and sorry about being incorrect about the cancer and weed. i just read that somewhere but i probably mixed it with the bronchitis.

[drtoker]

and sorry about being incorrect about the cancer and weed. i just read that somewhere but i probably mixed it with the bronchitis.

You weren't wrong, just ahead of your time!

http://blogs.usatoday.com/betterlife/2009/02/testicular-canc.html

[carpefile]

You weren't wrong, just ahead of your time!

http://blogs.usatoday.com/betterlife/2009/02/testicular-canc.html

Not so fast....
http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/126559/media_hysterics_about_supposed_cancer_link_nothing _new/

[Burd]

If every thing that was bad for you were illegal, we'd all be eating celery and lettuce. Tell people that cigarettes are bad for them and give them evidence and many will stop.

Those who don't...well, they're fools but not criminals. The government wastes too much time telling people what to do and what not to do with their bodies: from smoking pot to abortion. Leave us alone and let us make our own choices.

[Darkmaverick]

Well I picked a hell of a thread for my first post but I have to point out that weed was made illegal because it threatened the oil and fabric industries. not because of its affects on people, hemp is the biggest threat to major marijuana commercialization. Do you think Exxon or Shell wants another voice in the alternative fuel race? I think not, check it out at http://www.illuminati-news.com/marijuana-conspiracy.htm BTW I do not smoke marijuana nor ever will that dosent mean our government can just lie to use to protect big corperations for more than a century!!!!

[fun4uoc]

Legalizing marijuana, and taxing it and adding fees for its regulation, could add more than a billion dollars a year into California's finances, under a bill proposed by a state assemblyman.
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The bill introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco would regulate marijuana like alcohol. People over 21 years old would be allowed to grow, buy, sell and possess the drug, according to a San Francisco Chronicle story.
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[Mels_Smileys45]

At least the DEA says they will no longer raid medical marijuana dispensaries as long as they follow state laws. Thats a good start.

[1cooldude]

but the local police force will...a cheap version "good" cop/"bad" cop. The society needs to explore some higher scope in existentialism and higher education. Won't happen anytime soon as there are too many retards.

[Mels_Smileys45]

Local cops can't go against state laws unless they want to make some poor sucker rich.

[ConfusedMime]

Ca ca ca cashhh crop!
I also have my doubts that any mainstream influenced president is going to fully legalize cannabis but at least little steps can be made in the right direction. being from california its kind of painful to see the idiocy of wasted funds thrown away on drug war nonsense when the legal sale of cannabis (not just from dispensaries)could easily help boost california out of its pathetic hole.

[labbouchard]

The only thing i feel and others would agree, that is deadly in smoking weed is the smoke you inhale causing cancer.

This claim is ungrounded. Marijuana helps fight and prevent cancer, notably skin, brain and, yes, LUNG cancer. This has been shown in studies as old as 1975.

Here is an interested article that debunks that and other myths, all with government-sponsored studies. Look at #s 4 and 5.

http://www.moleculewear.com/420-10-studies.php

[drtoker]

This claim is ungrounded. Marijuana helps fight and prevent cancer, notably skin, brain and, yes, LUNG cancer. This has been shown in studies as old as 1975.

Here is an interested article that debunks that and other myths, all with government-sponsored studies. Look at #s 4 and 5.

http://www.moleculewear.com/420-10-studies.php

It is not ungrounded. Inhaling any carcinogen over and over will cause cancer eventually, and thats a fact.

The difference is, most cancer thats cause by carcinogens spreads. Cancer from pot smoke, and cancer in pot smokers, seems localized and does not spread (as easily). That is why it has been attempted to use it as a treatment. Of course this is highly debated (no pun intended) but there have been many studies done.

Saying that carcinogens don't cause cancer is idioic. The only way you could say pot smoke isn't bad, is if you aren't smoking it (IE you eat it, or vaporize it, causing no plant material to be burned)

[labbouchard]

I shouldn't have said Marijuana - what I should have said is "THC". I never cleaimed carcinogens don't cause cancer, so that statement is...ungrounded. Carcinogens are simply a catalyst though, they help spread the growth of it. Interpret that as you will. It's still been proven that THC lessens/cures the cancer.

Also, did you know that carcinogens are produced when you bake bread (it's in the crust)? When cooking oil reaches temperatures commonly used when cooking (Olive Oil does at 350 degrees F)? Carcinogens are created all the time by things we do. I think it is great to prevent these things as much as possible. But, the fact that THC balances, or even "overtakes" the negative effects of the carcinogens is noteworthy. Really, isn't health all just a big balancing act?

PS - I do only vape, because I was aware of the carc. issue. You can still create carcinogens when you cook it in things, just not from the actual marijuana.

[aqlo]

This stuff is great

The anointing oil used by Jesus and his disciples contained an ingredient called kaneh-bosem which has since been identified as cannabis extract, according to an article by Chris Bennett in the drugs magazine, High Times, entitled Was Jesus a Stoner? The incense used by Jesus in ceremonies also contained a cannabis extract, suggests Mr Bennett, who quotes scholars to back his claims.

"There can be little doubt about a role for cannabis in Judaic religion," Carl Ruck, professor of classical mythology at Boston University said.

http://www.moleculewear.com/420-jesus-heals.php