21–30 of 64 posts
It's not so much as punishing people for weed but punishing them for knowingly breaking the law right? Maybe locking people up is a bit harsh but people know the consequences no? Maybe we should recognize that there is value in having people in a society follow the rule of law.
It's not so much as punishing people for weed but punishing them for knowingly breaking the law right? Maybe locking people up is a bit harsh but people know the consequences no? Maybe we should recognize that there is value in having people in a society follow the rule of law.
Wow, how brave of them to come out 20 years after this was consensus amongst health professionals.
Curious what's the opinion of the HN community on decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. It seems accepted as an inevitable progress. But seeing the damage alcohol and tobacco does to society, I wonder what good it will bring, except from an economic PoV.
(Anonymous throwaway account because I'm still employed and usually comment from an account from which my identity can be derived) I'm a habitual user with a hereditary predisposition towards addictive behavior. Moving to the Bay Area for work 7 years ago was the best move for my banking account(s) and the worst move for my life overall. The few years in between the move and the ability for me to walk into a store an…
But I'm weak. That initial session turns into another, when the ideas are less forthcoming, and then another, when I am not even functioning at par.
The way it works best is a short limited session, then abstinence for a week.
But I'm weak. My brain doesn't work like that, it just wants more.
My current regime is to lock it in a box with a padlock in it (its illegal here anyway so at least I can't just restock at will) and give someone else the key.
So yeah - pros and cons, but unlimited access definitely does not work for me.
Curious what's the opinion of the HN community on decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. It seems accepted as an inevitable progress. But seeing the damage alcohol and tobacco does to society, I wonder what good it will bring, except from an economic PoV.
The crimanalization of marijuana has already done damage to society that will take generations to repair. I find it very difficult to see how the increase in usage that would follow from legalization would be more damaging than the damage done by prohibition.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Allowing drugs and other vices for the sake of economic prosperity is sad and goes against progress for humanity. I live next door to someone that smokes non-stop everyday and the second-hand smoke pisses me off to no end.
"Something irritates me so I want the irritant taken away and locked in a cage". Your vision of the world is clouded by your own hate. As you are someone who conflates a plant with 'drugs', I strongly recommend you spend some time to understand the issues, understand the really nasty history behind prohibition. Stop and think about how your attitude is trapping humanity in a box. Live a little. Be open to change. Und…
Curious what's the opinion of the HN community on decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. It seems accepted as an inevitable progress. But seeing the damage alcohol and tobacco does to society, I wonder what good it will bring, except from an economic PoV.
The pragmatist thinks it should stay illegal. We know it’s bad for people’s brains, especially developing minds. That’s compounded by the fact that many people think the primary danger from drugs is death, and since it won’t kill you it must be basically harmless.
I’m sure a good portion of us also know people that have become psychologically addicted to it and have wasted a good portion of their lives. I have friends that didn’t do any pot until they went to a state where it was legal, and they decided they liked it enough where they risked bringing some back with them. It seems clear legalization will lead to increased use.
In short, it’s a battle of individual rights vs. what’s best for society. I’m not sure what the answer is. It also seems like a slippery slope - if weed is legal, shouldn’t most other drugs be? If that’s the case, should prescriptions still be necessary for things like stimulants?
Curious what's the opinion of the HN community on decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. It seems accepted as an inevitable progress. But seeing the damage alcohol and tobacco does to society, I wonder what good it will bring, except from an economic PoV.
> It seems accepted as an inevitable progress. I see a pendulum in motion. When Sherlock Holmes was written, we had a very different view on drug use. Back then, it was a capitalist/libertarian utopia, where folks could generally cook up, sell, and use, pretty much anything they could manage. In the early 20th century, abstinence movements got popular, and everything including alcohol was criminalized. Today, we've g…
From everything that I've seen, opioids are the worst, by far. Highest addiction potential, physical withdrawal symptoms, low therapeutic index (easy to overdose), dangerous route of administration (injection), and ultra-potent substances like fentanyl make it even worse.
Meth is bad, crack cocaine is bad, but opioids are worse. The only drug that can compete in harm to society is alcohol, but only because of sheer numbers.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Something irritates me so I want the irritant taken away and locked in a cage". Your vision of the world is clouded by your own hate. As you are someone who conflates a plant with 'drugs', I strongly recommend you spend some time to understand the issues, understand the really nasty history behind prohibition. Stop and think about how your attitude is trapping humanity in a box. Live a little. Be open to change. Und…
All the same, they should not be subjected to the smell of smoke from their neighbors house.