Drugs and choice

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Originally posted by Josh:
But a large part of the reason people dont make informed decisions is because the laws need supporting information so the populace believes in their neccessity. If the right wing conservative governments started desseminating more accurate information people would begin to wonder why the laws are the way they are...

oh no, cant have people thinking for themselves, whatever would happen next?

(and this goes for more than just drugs btw).

Josh

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Isnt it obvius that people do not have the ability to make sound choices? Why else would we have laws against murder and stealing, just to name a few?

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There are no people in this world except people...confusing huh?
So if people do not have the baility ot make choices, then police, armed forces and politicians, who are people, don't have the ability to make choices either???


And even if, say 99% of the population were completely unable to make correct choices, what makes you think that they would consider you (or some other person) as the 1% to make all their decisions for them?

They would, as we all do, think they were the 1% and that you should do as THEY say.


I'm not even going to go into the 'reasons' why we have laws, but it is safe to assume it is for far more more complex reasons than that "people do not have the ability to make sound choices".


It may be time to reflect a lot on what you have said, and how it relates to your own inability to make sound choices, just as much as my lack of the same ability.

We ALL have the ability to make sound choices really, but the trick is being able to tell them apart from the unsound ones we make.

aye...there's the rub!

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The opposite is the case with most, if not all drugs. It is definitly the case with smoking, heroin and alcohol (above a certain level).

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Originally posted by frostypaw:

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The opposite is the case with most, if not all drugs. It is definitly the case with smoking, heroin and alcohol (above a certain level).

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Common mistakes... alcohol's damaging at any level and heroin IS NOT

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Usually smoked as a cigarette or joint, or in a pipe or bong, marijuana has appeared in "blunts" in recent years. These are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and re-filled with marijuana, sometimes in combination with another drug, such as crack. Some users also mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew tea.

The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and problem-solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Health Hazards

Effects of Marijuana on the Brain. Researchers have found that THC changes the way in which sensory information gets into and is acted on by the hippocampus. This is a component of the brain's limbic system that is crucial for learning, memory, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivations. Investigations have shown that THC suppresses neurons in the information-processing system of the hippocampus. In addition, researchers have discovered that learned behaviors, which depend on the hippocampus, also deteriorate.

Effects on the Lungs. Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have. These individuals may have daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds. Continuing to smoke marijuana can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue injured or destroyed by marijuana smoke.

Regardless of the THC content, the amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers. This may be due to marijuana users inhaling more deeply and holding the smoke in the lungs.


Effects of Marijuana Use during Pregnancy. Research has shown that babies born to women who used marijuana during their pregnancies display altered responses to visual stimuli, increased tremulousness, and a high-pitched cry, which may indicate problems with neurological development. During infancy and preschool years, marijuana-exposed children have been observed to have more behavioral problems and to perform tasks of visual perception, language comprehension, sustained attention, and memory more poorly than nonexposed children do. In school, these children are more likely to exhibit deficits in decision-making skills, memory, and the ability to remain attentive.

Effects of Heavy Marijuana Use on Learning and Social Behavior. A study of college students has shown that critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning are impaired among people who use marijuana heavily, even after discontinuing its use for at least 24 hours. Researchers compared 65 "heavy users," who had smoked marijuana a median of 29 of the past 30 days, and 64 "light users," who had smoked a median of 1 of the past 30 days. After a closely monitored 19- to 24-hour period of abstinence from marijuana and other illicit drugs and alcohol, the undergraduates were given several standard tests measuring aspects of attention, memory, and learning. Compared to the light users, heavy marijuana users made more errors and had more difficulty sustaining attention, shifting attention to meet the demands of changes in the environment, and in registering, processing, and using information. The findings suggest that the greater impairment among heavy users is likely due to an alteration of brain activity produced by marijuana.
Longitudinal research on marijuana use among young people below college age indicates those who used have lower achievement than the non-users, more acceptance of deviant behavior, more delinquent behavior and aggression, greater rebelliousness, poorer relationships with parents, and more associations with delinquent and drug-using friends.

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Originally posted by Raymund Phule:
Isnt it obvius that people do not have the ability to make sound choices? Why else would we have laws against murder and stealing, just to name a few?

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Originally posted by mrFlibble:



and a long list of harmful effects is pointless when ALL substances have harmful effects if you have too much or too little, or if they get into your body in the wrong place.

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Originally posted by frostypaw:
but if you're banging on about addiction weed isn't addictive... well barely

certainly never heard of someone having a weed overdose or not being able to give it up

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Originally posted by frostypaw:

OneWheelDave - i'm interested to hear about these weed addicts tho, what happened when they did try and give up? actual ill effects or was it more of a habit than a physical addiction?

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Ohh Mr. Hate himself IE Frosty... actually man, I think that if one is illeagle they all should be. And yes I do drink from time to time.


The reason they should all be illeagle is that they effect your brain and body in a negitive way. They are harmfull end of story.

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Originally posted by Raymund Phule:
Mike, I cant give you a reason, both effect your brain and body in negitive ways.

In fact they should all be illeagle.

Ohh and if you think you are just hurting yourself, why dont you take a look at the "If it doesnt hurt anybody" thread (or whatever I called it).

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Originally posted by frostypaw:
Gotta say mate that "a while later they end up buying some more" doesn't sound like a damaging addiction to me

i mean i like pizza, sometimes i stop eating that as i know it's fatty - and a while later i end up buying some more and eating it with my friends, but i wouldn't call that a bad addiction.

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