I'm not against marijuana legalization but

[apples and oranges]

I continue to be highly disappointed in friends and family members who spend all of their time and money smoking pot. Unfortunately, I have a negative opinion of pot users based on what I've seen.

That being said, I think drugs should be legal because the U.S. Government would save a lot of time and money, as well as reduce drug related crimes.

[zipplewrath]

1. I have the same perceptions of vegans

The few I've known were disappointing. The ones Ihave known that have tried and quit seemed a whole lot happier after they stopped.

Not sure what that has to do with anything but.....

[jobycom]

5. Well, you just lost the support of the vegan faction.

:rofl:

[Chan790]

49. How strange, I have the same impression of NASCAR fans.

They're uninspiring, they just want to watch people drive in a circle for 4 hours.

I'm betting it would be more interesting if I was high.

[GodlessBiker]

2. I am more highly disappointed in family members who vote Republican.

Friends who do and tell me don't stay friends for very long.

Smoking pot all day? Eh. Those folks are usually quite harmless.

[jobycom]

8. See, that's the image problem that keeps it illegal.

Most of us have dealt with a pot addict at some point in our lives. They are harmless in that they don't mow down patrons of shopping malls with automatic weapons, maybe, but when you watch your pothead brother harmlessly drain away your parents' retirement because they can't get a higher paying job, you don't think of it as so harmless, so you don't get into the whole "Make it legal" movement. I'm in Texas, I'm surrounded by potheads and Republicans, and while on a national level Republicans are bad, on a personal level they at least buy their own groceries.

Legalization will only happen when the movement can overcome the image of a sweaty-faced slacker turning 30 in his parents' basement smoking weed and stealing all their Cheetos. As you've seen in this country, people are less opposed to war than to personal expense. Sadly.

[drmeow]

10. The reason the movement

can't overcome that image is because successful pot smokers hide their use because of the legal issues.

Just off the top of my head I could name 6 PhDs and 2 JDs who smoked or still smoke pot and that's just thinking about it for about 30 seconds.

[jobycom]

14. True enough, but it still will have to overcome that image. nt

[drmeow]

35. That's not going to

happen until it is legal - except with former smokers. Current smokers have too much to lose.

[Bluenorthwest]

43. Among those I have personally smoked with

I could not count the advanced degrees. That number also includes best selling authors, elected officials, winners of: Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTAS. Holders of gold records, of gold medals for setting records, a person who has been to space. I've personally smoked with dozens of people that the average DUer would know by name, face and reputation, a few who are legends, one or two who are history making in their brilliance.
In the last year, pot smokers I know employed hundreds of people in good jobs. One of them hired more people than any other individual in his field that entire year. Uses a volcano vaporizer.
People from every artistic field, from the very pinnacle of those fields, have passed me a hundred joints. Also from science. Politics (don't ask, 'cause I will not tell). News media, let's not forget the news media!

[GodlessBiker]

11. You haven't seen alcoholics drain away a parent's retirement income?

I think the image of the alcoholic is a lot worse than the image of a potoholic.

I think legalization is now on the cusp because most of the people who smoke it now are not 30 year-olds living in their parent's basement. That's the whole point. People across the board have been exposed to it and have tried it, and see nothing wrong with it. I think you will find the breakdown of the vote to legalize pot along age groups will be stark, with older folks opposing it most because they just have never had the opportunity to try it. Of course, we all know what older folks generally do before anyone else. They die. Accordingly, it is just a matter of time.

[jobycom]

19. Sure, but that's not the main image alcohol has.

People who drink beer are athletic and sociable, people who drink Captain Morgan are clever and inventive, etc. Everyone knows about alcoholics, but the image is that the alcoholics are themselves the problem. Not the case with marijuana, and too many of its advocates post about using it all the time and never having any problems with it. Most non-users who hear that just fall back on their stereotypes and think "Yeah, you're wasted all the time, then, and everyone else pays for it."

That's the image that has to be changed for the majority to care whether it's legal or not. I wouldn't count on die-off, either. My teen-agers friends see potheads as losers and drinkers as fun. People who missed the whole Cheech and Chong era learned that from watching "That 70s Show."

Perception is more important than reality in a democracy. Sucks, but it is.

[reggie the dog]

25. i buy my own hash and weed or grow it

and i also did a 50 KM mountain bike ride with with over 1200 feet in climb just after smoking a joint. how is that for your image of a stoner? I also received my MA in the teaching of history when i was 24.... plus i left the usa and moved to france and learned another language and culture. So I am athletic, sociable, clever, inventive, worldly, and i am a great father according to the mother of my child....

[drmeow]

36. That all comes from

advertising. There was a time when smoking cigarettes was considered cool cause of advertising ... the whole basis of the campaigns, in fact. Again, can't happen until it is legal. The image that alcohol had during prohibition was probably as bad as the image of pot now.

[marginlized]

58. I thought Captain Morgan drinkers...

were just cheap sluts with umbrellas in their drinks.

"clever and inventive" ?! Who knew!

[PeaceNikki]

13. The losers to which you refer

would be losers without pot, also. Weed didn't make them losers, you're making excuses for them.

[jobycom]

20. Read the post, why don't you?

I'm not talking about reality, I'm talking about perception. I'm not making excuses for anyone or anything. I'm saying that when people bring up the image that the post I responded to did, of people smoking pot all day long, that's the image they have. That's the image that will have to be changed before you'll convince the majority to accept it.

[PeaceNikki]

21. Or you will all be amazed at the number of ambitious, successful and smart people are smokers

once the legal issues are dealt with.

People you all know, respect and admire perhaps.

[jobycom]

22. What did I say that implied otherwise?

:shrug:

[PeaceNikki]

44. "on a national level Republicans are bad, on a personal level they at least buy their own groceries"

that, for one.

[JuniperLea]

40. Indeed!

I know many professional people who do, and there's not a lazy one in the bunch. I'm sure we'll all be surprised to find out who the pot smokers in our lives are... many, many people are flying under the radar on this issue.

[Le Taz Hot]

54. You say you're not talking about reality

but then go on to talk about your "pothead" brother who drained your parents' savings for his "pot addiction." You can't have it both ways.

[reggie the dog]

23. i buy my own shit

i pay the mortgage, insurance, car payments and I smoke weed several times a day. I do it after i get home from teaching high school and jr high school kids. Mose people I know that smoke work most of the time aside from being laid off every once in a while. they are teachers, civil servants, people who work in a winery... if you are unemployed at least weed helps with the boredom, plus if it were legal people could grow their own and not spend any money on it.

[TheKentuckian]

31. Well, until it is legal there won't be a half million industry commercials with good looking

and athletic people indoctrinating the masses that you too will be cool, clever, hip, happening, and loaded up with the hottest sex partners in the world.

You're essentially saying you and most people cannot overcome your corporate sponsored brainwashing and well continue to believe silly shit until someone programs you otherwise as a consumer for their own profits.

Captain Morgan's isn't going to transform you into a McGyver of fun and parties. Coors silver bullet is not going to bring a love train and the coolest times evah. A shot of Beam is not going to make you discriminating as the Sean Connery version of 007. Colt 45 does not work every time. A Dos Equis is not going to start anyone along the path of being the most interesting person in the world.

Its all fucking nonsense that appeals to visceral senses and pot can to with the same folks doing the adds.

If this is the logic tree we're going to work on then we might as well fold the tents on complex issues with a hell of a lot deeper "marketing".

That image you have is seeded in the mass awareness otherwise folks would be more rational. There is almost no way you don't have more observation of messed up, shiftless, and often enough dangerous drunkards than you do of the slacker pothead that smoked away his family money.

Weed ain't coke. You have to be diligently on it to burn through many stacks in a reasonable time frame. Someone could as easily spend down the nest egg on Applebee's and certainly a Starbucks addict can easily, easily, easily spend more on Vente mochas than a regular smoker does on grass.

[jobycom]

32. I suspect that what you wrote below your second paragraph was important

but since you misread and misrepresented my post and my point, I didn't bother reading it.

[TheKentuckian]

45. You're the one that is talking "changing the image", I addressed your point.

If you can't read a full comment then my supposition that offends is likely proven correct to some degree or another.

You refuse to drill down on your indoctrination, even when it is brought to your attention which makes you a willing participant.

[jobycom]

48. Your comments and assumptions in the second paragraph about what you claim I believe

were so wrong they demonstrated you didn't read my post or any of the responses to it. So I returned the favor.

[TheKentuckian]

51. I read it and the rest of the thread. Perhaps misinterpreted your gist is more accurate.

The image issue is unassailable from the current position of illegal. There will be no multi-million dollar corporate ad campaigns to make weed seem sexy, hip, edgy, and cool like booze enjoys and it is not tolerable to have the expectation that such an image rehab is possible in our current condition and I felt as you were somewhat pushing the establishment meme or at least defending it without looking at the reasons the image disparity exists and is being perpetuated.

I'm sorry if I misread or misunderstood your point and positions.

[JuniperLea]

39. Some people shouldn't smoke pot just like some people shouldn't drink alcohol...

That doesn't make everyone who smokes pot lazy, nor does it make everyone who drinks alcohol an alcoholic.

[Le Taz Hot]

52. LOL!

Since we're going with anecdotal evidence here, I am the antithesis of every stereotype you just laid down. "Pot addict" "Potheads" Interesting terminology. Btw, I've smoked some damned good pot in my day but "drain away your parents' retirement" -- damn! Now that's some good pot!

[jobycom]

3. I think pot use is a waste of time and passion, too, but it shouldn't be illegal.

One of the things advocates are going to have to change is their image, though. When the general public sees someone dressed like a 70s Tommy Chong and slurring in a slow drawl "They should legalize weed, maann," it furthers the stereotypes that keep it illegal. Even worse are the ones who say variants of "I smoke it all the time and it never hurt me." The whole movement needs people in business suits and minivans to say "It's no worse than having a margarita at happy hour, and it shouldn't be the government's choice. Besides, government has better uses for our tax dollars." It needs better PR, in other words.

[reggie the dog]

26. how is it a waste of passion??

case in point, i smoked a joint of thai weed grown by a friend outdoors and then got on my mountain bike and pedaled over 30 miles in which I climbed UP OVER 1200 FEET! i managed that in 2.5 hours, about 12 miles of that ride was dirt and gravel and it rained hard yesterday so it was soft slow going and uphill for most of the dirt track. I prep awesome history classes for my students stoned which incorporate art, views of common people, views of leaders, and diverse points of view and i love talking about politics stoned or not,

[jobycom]

29. Because you could do it better without being stoned.

Although you sound like someone I could hang out with, being a (lapsed) cyclist and history major. :) I've known a lot of stoned people who always swear they can do everything stoned better than when sober. They can't. They just think they can, and any sober person around them can see it. Admittedly they often have more fun doing it stoned, but to me that's still a waste of passion. Just my opinion. But that's why I don't do it, and has nothing to do with what others decide. That's why it should be legal--the individual should get to decide, not the government.

[reggie the dog]

34. i can do it as good either way

and the whole point of biking is to have fun...but my only friend who does not smoke ever is my best riding partner

[Le Taz Hot]

56. A waste of time and passion?

I smoke a pipe load and I get MOTIVATED -- to do housework, work in the garden, work on a remodeling project, etc. No to mention it does wonders for my macrame projects. Despite your protestations about image, I see you actually perpetuating the myth.

[spanone]

4. pfffft

[PeaceNikki]

6. Huh. Know any alcoholics or victims of drunk drivers?

[grantcart]

7. I think it is a lot like alcoholism in that once it is legal you can take it out of the

shadows and deal with it honestly.

Today it is easier for a jr high student to get pot than alcohol.

Hopefully that will change.

I am not a likely pot smoker but would look forward to seeing what it tastes like in my favorite Thai curries.

[drmeow]

9. I sympathize

with your sentiments. Anyone who spends a lot of their time and money on a mind altering substance is a problem. I recently spent an evening with my cousins - all of whom are VERY heavy drinkers. I found it very disturbing. Spending all day drinking (even if it is a weekend) really creeps me out.

On the other hand, I know a decent number of people who treat both alcohol and pot the same way ... as a recreational drug to be used when the person is free of other obligations. When I was a pot smoker that is how I used it - just like someone who has a glass of wine with dinner or occasionally goes to happy hour after work. I (and my friends) would indulge once we had finished our obligations (I managed to maintain almost a 4.0 average in college, complete a masters, and quit smoking about 1 year before getting my PhD - because I did all my school work before getting stoned ... just as I would have done all my school work before relaxing with a glass of wine).

My point is that there are always people who misuse substances. You probably don't know the people who don't misuse pot because they don't let on - you aren't a smoker so they don't do that with you. Don't judge all pot users by the behavior of some misusers - the vast majority of them are the same as alcohol users.

[reggie the dog]

28. what is a lot of money?

I get stoned about 5 times a day on average, I work, i raise my daughter, i am an avid mountain bike rider, and i spend about 20 euros (27 dollars) a week on hash or weed. That is about the same cost as someone who smokes half a pack a day of cigs. I have not touched alcohol for over 10 years and tobacco for over 13 years and rarely if ever drink coffee so my total weekly costs of feeding my head is 20 EUROS! many people spend more than that on a combination of drink, tobacco, and coffee..

[drmeow]

37. I think you meant

to reply to the OP rather than my reply.

[sabrina 1]

12. I think all World Leaders, especially the war-mongering kind

along with their military generals, should be put on a regimen of a daily overdose of Marijuana.

If they spent all their time and money (even ours as it would cost us a lot less than the wars they now spend it on) smoking pot, there would be peace in the world!

And yes, it should be legal.

Although seeing all those pot-smoking war-mongers in jail, might be worth keeping it illegal until we get them all safely locked up.

[meow mix]

15. funny cause all the ones i know work thier asses off

and they dont like alcohol because it makes hangovers and makes them feel bad for more workin the next day.


what a bs post. -rec forever god im sick of this crap republican bs

[CrownPrinceBandar]

17. BINGO!..........

There are still folks out here that can moderate their recreational behavior and not let it consume them, and all their time and money.

[krabigirl]

47. I agree.

[FreeState]

16. I feel the same way about my friends that drink wine

I continue to be highly disappointed in friends and family members who spend all of their time and money drinking wine. Unfortunately, I have a negative opinion of drinkers based on what I've seen.

That being said, I think wine should be legal because the U.S. Government would save a lot of time and money, as well as reduce alcohol related crimes.

[Cal33]

18. And you missed out mentioning another very important reason, the medical one.

Pot eases the pain of certain terminally ill people, when they
no longer respond to the effects of present-day pain-killers.
Reagan refused them even that. His followers continue this
philosophy even today! Of course, they don't know what
they're doing. They never did.

[Soral]

24. Past 3 presidents all smoked... only 1 did cocaine.

Its not smoking pot that is bad, it is the environment around it.

Example... watch boardwalk empire, and compare alcohol prohibition to marijuana prohibition.

[B Calm]

27. I wonder how people would react if they started giving jail time to

people who drive and text on their cell phone.

[Arkansas Granny]

30. The pot smokers I know are responsible people who take care of

their families and smoke marijuana for recreation. It does not interfere with their jobs, control their lives or deplete their resources.

[county worker]

33. Voting one way or the other will not change anything you posted about.

We don't need to be spending money prosecuting and incarcerating people for pot. That is the issue. They will use it no matter what you want or don't want.

[JuniperLea]

38. I know a hell of a lot of pot heads...

And I don't know anyone who is as lazy as you describe. Most of the people I know are professionals... many are six-figure professionals. And there's not a lazy one in the bunch.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

41. That's their fault, not pot's.

[Stuckinthebush]

42. Legalize it and tax it

Good way to raise revenue.

[krabigirl]

46. none of your business. are you pure as snow?

[WorseBeforeBetter]

50. Masters level landscape architect, DC lawyer, retired social worker,

tech writer, and Ph.D. economist -- that's my pot-smoking circle. If your friends and family members didn't have pot available to them, chances are they'd find something else to spend all their time and money on.

[SammyWinstonJack]

53. -1

:eyes:

[great white snark]

55. I dislike the fact that it finances cartels and gangs.

I suppose the answer to that is to grow it yourself.

[AndrewP]

57. Lots of people waste a lot of time doing a lot of things

One of my High School friends spends his disposable income (Plus some) on comic books. I never understood anyone doing that after the age of 6.

Viva la difference

Marijuana should be legal for many reasons.

[Bullet1987]

59. You have to look at the bigger picture when it comes to marijuana though

It's more about the system it has created and the money being wasted to maintain that system that could be better spent elsewhere.