Wine vs. weed.

[fastfredracing]

That parenting thread has some interesting, and different opinions in it. I can see the logic in both sides of the argument.
I'm curious to hear some of your thoughts on this subject. Seems so many times, the people who are outspoken against the use of marijuana , see no problem with throwing down a six pack after work, or a few glasses of wine with dinner, but instantly label someone who smokes pot as a lazy , video game playing , couch potato who will end up working at subway, and living in moms basement with no real drive in life.
Having known quite a few potheads, and booze hounds in my life, I honestly believe that alcohol in general causes more problems for more people than pot. There are always exceptions to this, and some people just seem to have a natural disposition to addiction, and are going to self destruct , no matter what.
Many people call pot the gateway drug, but I have always felt that liquor is the the real gateway drug. It is most often , the first drug that juveniles have any experience with. It is legal , widely accepted, usually found in the home, advertised on TV etc. I wonder how many people actually tried pot before they took their first drink.
I know successful potheads, and drinkers. I know of guys who's livers are shot at 45 years old from a hard life of drinking, guys with 4 dui's, no license , and their life is a total wreck from the bottle. Would rather spend the weekend in the bar than with their family . Hungover ,and miserable every Saturday. I have also seen the casual pot smoking teen turn to harder drugs later in life, and never look back. Did pot lead them there? or were they headed there the whole time anyhow?
I'd like to hear where you guys stand on this one.

[RWebb]

I stand on the medical research. It shows that pot damages mental abilities in kids, and that wine and beer provide a number of benefits in terms of micronutrients, tho the amt.s you posted seem pretty high.

No, I'm not down on pot use - maybe I'm "down with it."

[bivenator]

I much prefer the company of stoners as opposed to drunks.

In my circle of friends that I know smoke, there are 2 elementary school principals, graphic designer, electrical engineer, sales, construction business owner.

I have some friends who are drinkers only, also with diverse backgrounds.

When the drinkers drink to excess, I find a reason to leave. I haven't ever felt uncomfortable with the stoners.

Pot and booze has never done anybody any good however the exaggeration of the detriments of pot are overdone.

[Rick V]

Pot is not legal IMO because it is almost imposable to tax. I smoked more than my fair share back in the day, loved schrooms and dropped a lot of acid. Liquor was my downfall. Neither one is good in excess and destroys different parts of the body.
Casual pot smoking. I don't see a problem. For someone like me with an addictive personality, it is all good stuff to avoid.

[Noah930]

Re: the other thread, it's not so much the negative effects of both alcohol and MJ, but rather that at the age of 16, both are regarded as illegal. Whether you agree with the law or not (and whether you think pot should be legalized or alcohol prohibition re-instituted), I would not condone nor encourage my 16 year-old child to partake in such an illegal activity--particularly one which could have legal ramifications on future education and employment. To trust that the average 16 year-old is mature enough to make appropriate decisions on alcohol and drug use (in terms of self-regulating how much is OK) is ridiculous, as well.

[Jrboulder]

I don't drink and I don't smoke. I'd much rather go to the shooting range or the track or somewhere like that.

[Buckterrier]

I'm with you Fred at least for adults. And I'm with Mr. Webb for youngsters. I boycott Anheuser Bush products. They are a big contributor to Partnership for a Drug Free America. Talk about the pot, (pun intended), calling the kettle black. The biggest drug peddler in the country. Don't do those drugs do ours, responsibly of course

[aigel]

The big difference IMHO is that pot is smoked solely to get high. Alcohol in moderate quantities can be consumed with dinner and is considered a food item. Pot is not smoked with dinner, not served at restaurants and has no nutritional value.

Pot is illegal, so it has a lot of problems it can bring to the user. (Possession, drug testing at work, combination of drugs and firearms at home etc.)

Pot being illegal also brings a lot of issues with the manufacturing and distribution. No brewer or vintner make an honest living here: Instead you are looking at drug trafficking, gang violence, illegal pot farms ruining public lands and tax dollars being wasted to try to curb these activities.

IMHO pot should be legalized. Then the situation will be significantly different. But it is like the speed limit. As long as it exists, speeding is illegal and should be avoided. And that's the guidance I'd give my kids as well as anyone looking for MHO.

G

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rick V

Pot is not legal IMO because it is almost imposable to tax. I smoked more than my fair share back in the day, loved schrooms and dropped a lot of acid. Liquor was my downfall. Neither one is good in excess and destroys different parts of the body.
Casual pot smoking. I don't see a problem. For someone like me with an addictive personality, it is all good stuff to avoid.

How Marijuana Became Illegal.

[Bill Douglas]

I don't like either.

Edit: What I mean is I don't like either person.

[vas930]

"Pot is not smoked with dinner"
It can be.

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by vas930

"Pot is not smoked with dinner"
It can be.

When smoked before dinner it can lead to some very creative dinner choices.

[McLovin]

I think it's pretty insane the pot is illegal, given all the drugs that are legal, alcohol, etc.

It seems like half our nation is on some kind of hard core prescription narcotic.

Which is "worse" between pot and alcohol, IMO hard to say. They both have their pluses and minuses as far as social or recreational use drugs.

IMO, alcohol is certain a very imperfect social drug. It seems highly addicting to many. It seems hard on a lot of your organs. It takes a long time for your body to get rid of (hangover). It's effects as a feel good drug are somewhat unpredictable (good buzz v. bad buzz).

With pot, I'm not 100% certain that it is good for you, mentally of physically, if used regularly over a long term.

A lot of people argue that alcohol has caused more problems than pot. Well, of course. Pot is illegal and not sold in every store, bar and restaurant in the US, and is not a widely accepted activity. If it becomes legal and widely accepted some day, we'll find out.

Overall, for adults, I'd probably call it a draw between pot and booze as recreational/social drugs.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by Rick V

When smoked before dinner it can lead to some very creative dinner choices.

or when baked into cookies or brownies can be dessert.

[vas930]

Or a butter cake.

[FLYGEEZER]

"For all you do......this Buds for you"

[Zeke]

I'll have one of each, thank you.
I've known a few that did both at the same time. IIRC, they just went to sleep. Like Joe Walsh said, "It's hard to leave when you can't find the door."

I'll bet he knows.

[RWebb]

I always liked Wm F. Buckley's story about how he tried pot.

[imcarthur]

I had something really, really great to add to this thread. But I forgot what it was . . .

Ian

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

I had something really, really great to add to this thread. But I forgot what it was . . .

Ian

Maybe it was this..... You got da DoRiToS man???