Marco Rubio Got One Thing Right About Answering The Q: Have You Smoked Pot

[stopbush]

And that is: if you say "no," nobody believes you.

I can attest to that. I'm 59 years old, and I have never smoked pot. When I tell people that, the usual reply is, "oh, c'mon. Why lie about it? Everybody has tried pot at least once."

But the fact is I never have tried it. There are any number of reasons for that, none of them necessarily philosophical.

I would guess that most DUers reading this post don't believe me...which sort of proves Rubio's point that denying you've ever smoked pot just makes people believe you're a liar.

[hlthe2b]

1. Only if they manifest they've never even gotten close to it (and are under age 90)

That's a sheltered existence that I'd have trouble believing...

[stopbush]

4. I didn't say that I've never gotten close to it. I've been offered pot many times, just never did it

There's a difference.

[hlthe2b]

16. I wsn't at all referring to you, but rather the generic example...

I thought use of "they" made that clear, but sorry if not...

[joeybee12]

2. I believe you...I never have, either...nt

[Bennyboy]

3. What's the weather like in "Pleasantville" today?

gray skies, little boxes.......

[stopbush]

6. Thanks for proving my point.

BTW - would you respond the same way were the topic smoking cigars or drinking gin?

[Bennyboy]

12. Yeah, experience is experience and without it

you don't have experience. My experience with pot is a good one, and my experience with gin, cigars is not so good. Without actually expereincing it, how could I know anything about it.

And in the case of mind expansion substances go, if you haven't taken them, you've never had your mind expanded.

it is no coincidence that all but a few of the greatest minds in arts, literature, movies and technology have experience with mind expanding substances.

[stopbush]

15. And many great minds haven't had their minds expanded by drugs.

Your point?

You seem to be getting defensive about this. Why?

BTW - what - exactly - is "mind expansion" when it comes to drugs? How is it different from, say, educating oneself? Being well read? Having a curiosity about the world in general? Learning the nuts and bolts of one's craft and developing that into a personal art?

I spent a lot of years as a performing classical musician. Would "mind expansion" via drugs made me a better or more-creative artist? I don't know, I'm asking.

BTW - I tried gin once. My throat started closing up and I couldn't breathe. Sorta scary. I understand it may be due to the Juniper and the fact that the distillation process for gin isn't as refining as other liquors. Or, may I just have an allergy. Love the smell of gin, tho.

[Bennyboy]

28. It's white port and lemon juice for me!

I hate gin. Cannot stand the smell the taste. Love tequila though.

And in answer to your question I am reminded of a Jerry Garcia quote i read once that went like this "had Jerry Garcia never smoked dope, what would he have become? "The entire senior class wants to thank Mr Garcia for his work on Carousel"?

So yeah, I know one hell of a ton of musicians. The ones that are pushing it get high. The ones that are playing covers in a dingy club are the ones that don't get high. The guys who never got out of the bar scene. Of musicians I can only think of a couple that did not have a cannabis background who were truly groundbreaking. (Frank Zappa and Bruce Springsteen). The rest, all of them, have or had one.

So yeah, you might be more creative, I would bet on it in fact. it is hard to put you finger on, but you can't get there without it.

[snooper2]

5. So just acid and shrooms?

[stopbush]

7. Nope. Never even was in a situation to be offered those things.

I used to love my beer and margaritas, but once we had kids, I ended up being the designated driver. After a while, I lost all cravings and most of my taste for alcohol. I had trouble finishing a single bottle of Stella while watching the Olympics on Sunday.

I'm a cheap date these days.

[giftedgirl77]

9. Shrooms are no joke..

I got chased by a wild boar while hunting for shrooms in FL. At least we are pretty sure it was a boar....

[stopbush]

14. Did you see the boar after you had found and taken the shrooms?

It might have been a cat.

[giftedgirl77]

23. We started out on them...

It's a good thing we didn't run into a panther, I would have tried to bring it home.

[Iggo]

8. I believe you because you gave a straight answer and I have no reason to not believe you.

Rubio danced around so much that I had to guess what he was dancing around.

Guess what I guessed.

[stopbush]

10. You have a point. Politicians are so fearful and gutless at times.

Those times being during their waking hours.

[FSogol]

11. Rubio lies so much, why start believing him now? I believe you. n/t

[malthaussen]

13. I think he got another thing right: "It's irrelevant."

As for believing you, why should I not? I have no evidence to the contrary.

-- Mal

[hlthe2b]

17. I do think it is relevant if fighting for strict anti-pot laws... Just as sexual orientation MIGHT

be relevant if fighting against LGBT rights.


Ordinarily, though, I would agree with you... Neither one is relevant as a general matter.

[malthaussen]

24. But why relevant in that case?

Dunno about you, but there were times in my dissolute youth that I did a few things that ought to have been punished. Does this then disqualify me from arguing for punishment for that act?

Not that smoking pot falls under the rubric of something that ought to have been punished, but I'm talking a general principle, here.

-- Mal

[hlthe2b]

25. I think advocating to punish others for deeds one has done yourself ought to be explained...

If a major lesson was learned that shaped ones' views, that is relevant. Conversely, if one just wants to be an authoritarian ass and inflict punishment on others as the ultimate hypocrisy, that, too, is relevant.

[malthaussen]

27. That'll work.

But perhaps only in the context of legislation about that specific peccadillo, not in the context of general candidacy.

-- Mal

[hlthe2b]

29. As I said, I don't think it is 'generally' relevant...

but, I do believe in exposing hypocrisy and mal-intent.

[unblock]

18. i've never tried pot. people believe me in part because i don't drink or smoke.

i've always been a "straight arrow". i'm not the least bit judging if others make different decisions, but for me, there are a few things i will never do. maybe it's not entirely rational, but most people seem to figure that if i've never even gotten drunk or smoked, i'm probably telling the truth about never trying weed.

[stopbush]

20. Like you, I don't hold it against people if they smoke pot. I'm for legalizing it.

Has nothing to do with my never trying it.

[SamKnause]

19. I believe you.

My sister is 62 and she has never tried cannabis.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

21. He got another thing right: "it's irrelevant". nt

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Rubio is a Republican politician, so I'd never believe anything he said.

If a Democrat took the whole 'I have refused to try it' stance I'd not vote for them in a primary because the fact that they think not trying marijuana is a plus shows me they are not my sort of candidate.

[malthaussen]

26. Guilt by association is a lousy argument.

Good for sarcasm, though.

I agree with your point in the body of the post, though. If somebody thinks taking a stand against mj makes him a better candidate, then he's not the better one for me. But the alternative will likely be worse anyway.

-- Mal

[NoGOPZone]

30. OK, but he shouldn't blame his credibility problems on the question being asked. nt

[Feral Child]

31. I believe you, but

you should qualify your answer with the word "yet".

[Control-Z]

32. I've never made an illegal u-turn

that I know of. So guess I should say I've never intentionally made an illegal u-turn. No one believes me.

[JustAnotherGen]

33. I 100% believe you

But this guy is in my age group.

It was easier for me to buy pot, 4, and x when I was 18 than a six pack of beer if I was back home (went to U on the Canadian border and could buy there at 19).

I have a hard time believing he NEVER took a nip when beer, wine, and liquor was so hard to get ahold of in the late 80's/early 90's with the MADD and SADD stuff out there . . .

There was no mothers against weed or students against X.