Why are people against marijuana still, in 2014?

The vast majority of people I know who felt the need to take dangerous drugs took them at the suggestion of their dealer. Legalisation leads to regulation leads to that not happening. All prohibition does is force people to look for other, potentially more dangerous avenues - as was seen in the prohibition of alcohol.

"For the greater good" - what makes anyone the custodian of all values that define "the greater good"? Some people may see drugs and shamanism as a path to spiritual enlightenment, which is to them the "greater good". Applying a sweeping generalisation like that in legislation will never help anyone.

On the other hand, things such as rape and murder have a direct negative impact, while drugs for those so inclined to take them will often either do them with like minded people or in the privacy of their own home. Further, I would not consider it a "right" to damage other people. On the other hand, it is a right to damage oneself (e.g. self flagellation in a religious sense, or BDSM).

 

Legalizing murder =/= Ending drug prohibition.

Banning murder and rape aren't violating anyone's rights because you do not have the right to kill other people in this country and you never will. Murder is not a right. Protecting others is all well and good until the "protector" turns into a tyrant.

 

People cannot be convinced when they have a deep seated opinionated bias that will not change.

Facts often do not change people's mind. Ex: Creationists believing the world is 10,000 years old (science says no) or people choosing to believe Global Warming doesn't exist because they don't think so, people believing vaccinations cause autism because they know better, and the list goes on and on. You cannot convince people whom have no interest in changing their mind; furthermore, people do not seem to care unless they are somehow being directly effected.

Oh and points to Free Hat and pretty much sums up my response to what you said.

Sikhism is the only religion that is directly against Marijuana. Mormonism prohibits anything that alters the human body, but outside of that I am unaware of religions that prohibit it (note: my knowledge on religion is quite limited though.)

 

As far as I am aware from my brief forays in to Buddhism, it required one to give up mind-altering substances, including alcohol.

 

Marihuana makes people lazy, changes your priorities.

 

That's a rather sweeping generalisation. It has helped me a lot with anxiety which resulted in me being more productive.

Did you hear that on the TV or read it in the news? Shame.

 

People do change their minds, followers of most religions are shrinking. Here is the review section of the book "The God Delusion" in amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/God-Delusion-...&sr=1-1&keywords=god+delusion+richard+dawkins
This is just a small portion of the readers and in this particular case you can already find thousands of people who came into reason thanks to the efforts of Richard Dawkins.

Regarding global warming: Here is a link to PGE's website, a large gas manufacturer (Who would have a vested interest on global warming not being true.) recognizing global warming and it's link to human carbon emissions. This is a huge difference and a lot of people's minds have changed about the issue since Al Gore first popularized the subject.

Regarding autism caused by vaccines, I understand that you may find it weird that some people still believe that vaccines are linked to autism. But, before the originally study was disproved, proved to be malicious and caused its author to be banned from the scientific community, this belief was much more common, it was thanks to science that these people changed their minds.

Think about yourself too, did you always think the same way you do now? Or did facts and opinions change the way you think? Of course you did. Now everyone else as a human, has experienced this same kind of thing. Don't give up on changing people's minds, it happens even if you can't always see it.

Speaking from curiosity sprinkled with a bit of skepticism. Have you ever been diagnosed with any anxiety disorder? What kind of anxiety did you have? It is my understanding and experience that weed makes anxiety worse or and can trigger anxiety attacks.

 

I have smoked marijuana for the past Five years on a day to day basis almost. The weed is not the issue people with dependacy problems (me) are the issue. I recently stopped smoking and occassionaly smoke like once a few months and i feel more energized and more clear in my mind. If you can controll yourself from using it to often then its the best way to discover councioussnes

 

Not diagnosed, but I have a lot of social anxiety that seems to evapourate when I'm high and I find I can socialise a lot more, a lot better, and while being a lot more considerate of others. It allows me to enjoy myself a lot more in these situations. I've only ever had one bad trip, and that was caused by anger; I lit up when I was angry and strangely it made it worse when it usually doesn't.

To elaborate: I suffer from depression for which I'm prescribed Zoloft. I'm not sure if the anxiety is a result of it, or if it coincides with it, but it certainly exacerbates the depression. On a bad day I'll be on edge and perhaps even form my own deluded thoughts that someone has slighted me, or that my friends aren't actually friends etc.; since I've been smoking weed on a regular basis that has disappeared and I've been a LOT more comfortable in social situations. As a result of that, I've been feeling a lot less depressed and I'm actually able to get a lot more done because of that.

 

The problem with everything you state is that it in no way addresses a very strong opinionated bias. There are plenty of people who have an opinion and treat it as fact. Whatever you show them, they do not care. Everything I stated was an example of topics where individuals often have strong opinionated biases whom have no interest in changing their outlook. Of course there are examples of an outlook changing.

If you're reading that book you have an interest in your mind being changed. There are also plenty of religious converts and the fact that religion is "shrinking" can further be contributed to the lack of interests younger generations have shown in it. If no new people are joining religions, of course they're going to shrink.

Ok?..

I'm specifically talking about the current anti-vaxer movement where people think they know better then doctors.

No I didn't. My opinions have changed drastically in the last few years, but I am not talking about myself and I am very open to learning new information. This is in no way the case for every individual and you cannot lump every individual together in a massive un-scientific generalization. Even if said generalization was true; their opinion can change on one subject and remain stagnant on another. I can easily look at a family member of mine and know their opinion won't change no matter what data I throw at them because they do not believe it. Their opinion, their belief is wrong based on fact, but they continue to have it. Some people's opinions on varying subjects cannot be changed simply due to their opinionated bias.

I am referring to specific people whom do not care about facts and simply have their opinion and/or are running on the fumes of the past. "Lets just continue doing this because we have been and it hasn't worked, but why not (aka the War on Drugs.)

Weed can be used to treat anxiety, this isn't some random, inaccurate claim. Now, smoking too much in a sitting can lead to an individual being very anxious, paranoid, and even bring on panic attacks. In fact, it's quite common in the first time people smoke to have anxiety due to not knowing how to react to the substance.

Weed relaxes you, it can help with a variety of problems.

 

@ Tmoe, it's cool that we agree that there are both kinds of people exist (those who can change and those who can't), I guess we just digress on the size of each group. But that is irrelevant, because debating over issues would still be worth it, either for those people you'll change their mind or those people who will change yours

It is curious that it can have two completely opposite effects, could the amount of weed consumed be what triggers anxiety while lower quantities will calm you down? As Tmoe suggests?

 

I alluded to this earlier when I mentioned being angry; I've found it also largely depends on mindset. If I smoke a little, I become very chilled out and can go about my day. One time I actually smoked a small bowl and my friend needed something so I had to drive about an hour afterwards and I was completely fine to do so. On the other hand, in a good mindset if I smoke a lot of it in a sitting I can burst in to laughing fits and become couch locked, so to say. If you're sensible you won't smoke too much at once unless you're having a really good time - if you do and you're in a bad mindset it's a bad experience and a waste of weed.

 

I support some of the above comments about it being a gateway drug. I think that it could lead to using something way worse.

 

Out of curiosity, have you ever been involved in drug culture before?

I ask because from my personal experience the majority of people for whom cannabis is a gateway drug only partake of more harmful drugs because of the underworld nature of illegal substances. I believe were it legalised and regulated, it would only be as much of a gateway drug as alcohol and tobacco are, which is to say, it would hardly be one at all.

 

Yeah that's a good point. One of my friends has tried acid, hash etc mostly all from dealers also having them on offer. If they simply weren't an option as the weed was being obtained through legal channels then it would actually serve to reduce the amount of times it actually is used as a gateway drug.

 

Many drugs act as such, having too much of some drugs can kill you (ODing.) Marijuana is not among that class of drugs, but too much can bring on anxiety/paranoia. Another non-death example would be that of cocaine. Before it was labeled as an illegal drug, it was commonly used as a very powerful decongestant (hell FDR used it the night before his Day of Infamy speech.)

Building on what Swan/Goff said, how you get the Marijuana is the gateway. Dealers are more connected to the realm of drugs. They have more to offer and may push harder drugs that open up the area for more profit.

Also, due to lack of legalizaiton/legal distribution system, you may not know what you're getting. This is a huge problem for various drugs.

- Marijuana you don't know the strength (THC content but you can't OD on marijuana and it's not really a big deal.) The problem comes with the potential for marijuana to be laced with other, harder drugs.
- Heroin strength is unknown and increases chance of ODing
- Drugs such as molly can be manufactured with cheap chemicals that replicate the drug, but will kill you

 

I imagine over the next few decades it will start becoming more and more accepted, it has already started happening.
Imo weed should be legal in every country that alcohol is. Alcohol has way stronger effects and side effects compared to weed.

 

There are states in america that have legalized the drug to adults, do you really think its as bad as they let you believe? 11 of our presidents have admitted to smoking it including the past 3.

 

I just think it smells really bad lol, I would never use it but i don't have any problems with other people using it. Sure, legalize it

 

I'm not against it although I have never tried it, nor do I want to. I have many friends who use it on a daily basis, and I am told that for them it was a bit like a gateway drug because they got bored and wanted more. I suppose it depends on the person though.