Posted by deirdrehbrt on January 29, 2006, at 9:24:23
In reply to Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use, posted by Responsible_Citizen on January 28, 2006, at 17:17:56
I used to drink an entire bottle of wine and think I was a fine driver. I was certain I wasn't impaired. I think that's part of the insidious nature of substance use (abuse), we begin to believe that we're not impaired when in fact, we are.
As far as responsible drug use, I think that there are people who can drink responsibly. These are the people who can have 1/2 a glass of wine. I'm the sort who would finish that 12 glass for them. They can buy a bottle of wine at dinner and leave half of it. I cannot. I have to finish all of what there is to drink. I liked other substances because I could drink more with them.
As far as legalizing pot though, I don't know. There was a time when recreational drug use was legal. Maybe we could look at how it affected society then. Those days did give us the writings of Poe, among others.
I don't think that the average user would become addicted, but there is a segment of society who will become so, and who will progress from pot, looking for that better high. Though NORML might say that pot isn't really a stepping-stone drug, none of the people I know who use the harder drugs didn't start with pot.
NORML also speaks about standing against abuse. The problem with this is the same as with alcohol; if someone, like me, is an alcoholic, no amount of preaching or teaching is going to prevent it. If I drink, I'm going to abuse it. If someone is addicted to pot, coke, whatever, if they use, they will abuse. Teaching responsible use isn't going to teach the person who will becomne addicted to use responsibly.
The dream of almost every alcoholic is to drink "normally". I doubt that's any different for any other recreational drug abuser. The sad fact is though, that we aren't "normal", whatever that is.
NORML says that pot should be for adults only, and I agree. The problem is that the more adults that have it, the more children will get it. Cigarettes are for adults only, but there are lots of kids smoking. Alcohol is for adults only, but I've met quite a few people in A.A. who aren't even of legal drinking age yet. If you truly want to keep kids from smoking pot, you certainly aren't going to do so by legalizing it. Kids who want to use will always be able to find an adult to buy for them.
I'm not saying that marajuana shouldn't be legalized, I just think that we should look at arguments critically.
-- Dee
poster:deirdrehbrt
thread:603829
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20051211/msgs/604039.html