Marijuana: 0

[PanzerJaeger]

Yes, people with no vices are usually tediously self-righteous and very boring in my experience. Having no character flaws at all is usually a recipe for a person being utterly un-likeable in my book.

Funny, I find people who feel it necessary to drink or smoke socially to be supremely boring and in need of a crutch to overcome their insecurities.

I've gotten to the point where I would rather play video games at home that get dragged to yet another frat party.

Score. 4 hours with a bunch of guys who suddenly think I'm their best friend telling me about how awesome some other party was, and at the end of the night the possibility to nail some nasty drunk chick.

Now that I'm legal, getting drunk and/or stoned doesn't have the appeal that it once did. Maybe I'm getting too old for that crap. My friends certainly aren't...

[Mikeus Caesar]

Funny, I find people who feel it necessary to drink or smoke socially to be supremely boring and in need of a crutch to overcome their insecurities.

I've gotten to the point where I would rather play video games at home that get dragged to yet another frat party.

Score. 4 hours with a bunch of guys who suddenly think I'm their best friend telling me about how awesome some other party was, and at the end of the night the possibility to nail some nasty drunk chick.

Now that I'm legal, getting drunk and/or stoned doesn't have the appeal that it once did. Maybe I'm getting too old for that crap. My friends certainly aren't...

Maybe you're just friends with the wrong people?

Getting drunk/stoned can be jolly good fun with the right people. Or even person. Hell, each week it's just me and my friend going out drinking, we have a great time together without the need for silly frat boy parties.

[PanzerJaeger]

Maybe you're just friends with the wrong people?

Getting drunk/stoned can be jolly good fun with the right people. Or even person. Hell, each week it's just me and my friend going out drinking, we have a great time together without the need for silly frat boy parties.

Maybe you're right.

[HoreTore]

I have to say, whether marijuana is legal or not isn't something I care about at all... Not even the slightest.

I can't see a single good reason why I should even contemplate giving a rats arse about this subject.

Heck, we've already got the glorious scotch!

[Idaho]

The fact that cannabis isn't particularly dangerous means that it isn't important to legalise it.

Crack and heroin need to be legalised, controlled and regulated because the prohibition of them creates a situation where thousands of users die every year, families are broken up, prisons are stuffed full and gangsters are rolling in money. Sort it out humanity

[Whacker]

So my take is thus:

Yeah, I smoked a bunch when I was younger. Yes, it does slow you down mentally. Yes, it can cause memory loss. Is it any more dangerous than cigarettes? My reading has led me to believe no, in terms of the various substances ingested from it, and being a carcinogen.

As an individual, I really could care less if people want to do it on their own personal time. I don't view it as any worse that alcohol or cigarettes in terms of real and potential damage one can do to oneself and to others directly and indirectly. It's just something I enjoyed doing because of the feeling it gave me, quit absolute cold turkey after a 10 second decision, and never had any regrets or problems doing so (ie. I was not remotely addicted). In short, I just grew out of it.

This next bit is a kinda tricky, and I'm still not sure I have a good solution or final opinion yet, but...

As a businessman and employer, I can't help but want the ability to discriminate based on drug usage. The simple reason is because it does affect performance. Sorry, but one is not going to be able to go out and smoke a bowl on break, then come back in and be as productive as they once were. Weed makes you tired, mellow, gives you the munchies, etc. Other drugs have other effects but it all boils down to being able to concentrate and get the job at hand done. Of course this isn't a 100% airtight argument, some things affect people differently, but I firmly believe that at it's core my argument is solid, re: productivity. Now this does conflict somewhat with my "I don't care if you do it in the privacy of your own home", and this is where I haven't been able to entirely resolve those two. Most businesses have policies against drug usage; come in to work drunk or hopped up on something, and you'll get escorted out the door, and I'm fine with this. So it would seem that the break-even point here is that what you do on your own time at home is off limits to an employer, but if you come into work under the influence of something, then all bets are off and you're risking your job in doing so. /shrug

[Ice]

As a businessman and employer, I can't help but want the ability to discriminate based on drug usage. The simple reason is because it does affect performance. Sorry, but one is not going to be able to go out and smoke a bowl on break, then come back in and be as productive as they once were. Weed makes you tired, mellow, gives you the munchies, etc. Other drugs have other effects but it all boils down to being able to concentrate and get the job at hand done. Of course this isn't a 100% airtight argument, some things affect people differently, but I firmly believe that at it's core my argument is solid, re: productivity. Now this does conflict somewhat with my "I don't care if you do it in the privacy of your own home", and this is where I haven't been able to entirely resolve those two. Most businesses have policies against drug usage; come in to work drunk or hopped up on something, and you'll get escorted out the door, and I'm fine with this. So it would seem that the break-even point here is that what you do on your own time at home is off limits to an employer, but if you come into work under the influence of something, then all bets are off and you're risking your job in doing so. /shrug

Problem with this, Whacker, is that drug tests can often pick up weed residue in your saliva or urine when are you aren't even high. If you smoke a bowl before you go to sleep, and come in to work to get drug tested, even orally, you are most likely going to fail. IMHO, a new test is needed to protect people's privacy and give a more accurate read out.

[LittleGrizzly]

I would agree with that, drug prohibition just creates a favourable situation for the gangsters, crack and heroin are where most of the money and crime is generated from whereas weed is probably a minor issue compared..

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I would agree with that, drug prohibition just creates a favourable situation for the gangsters, crack and heroin are where most of the money and crime is generated from whereas weed is probably a minor issue compared..

So are you saying we should legalize cocaine and heroin?

[Fragony]

The fact that cannabis isn't particularly dangerous means that it isn't important to legalise it.

Fresh and not fruity at all, never thought of it like that.