Opinions on recreational drug use?

[RedMenace]

I'm pretty much against using narcotics such as nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and the like. But other drugs I'm not so against, I have no problem with people smoking pot, dropping LSD, or tripping on mescaline or peyote. These drugs are unaddictive, are relatively harmless (although still capable of abuse), and do not damage the physical or mental health of the user.

I just don't understand why some of the safe and non-addictive substances such as marijuana and acid are highly illegal, while extremely addictive and body-destroying substances such as tobacco and alcohol is allowed for consumption.

Makes no sense to me.

Any opinions?

[JSLTIGER]

Please tell me that this is a joke...LSD is one of the most dangerous drugs that you can possibly do, because it never really leaves your system. You can have flashbacks to your trip years after you've taken the drug. Marijuana is just as, if not more dangerous than cigarettes as, b/c of their illegality, filters are not a part of the marijuana cigarette. Tripping on anything can make you do things you would not ordinarily do, and can be extremely hazardous to others around you if you are stupid enough to use such things, for example, while operating a motor vehicle.

[Enigma]

Marijuana is just as, if not more dangerous than cigarettes

This is completely false.

[RedMenace]

Originally Posted by JSLTIGER

Please tell me that this is a joke...LSD is one of the most dangerous drugs that you can possibly do, because it never really leaves your system. You can have flashbacks to your trip years after you've taken the drug. Marijuana is just as, if not more dangerous than cigarettes as, b/c of their illegality, filters are not a part of the marijuana cigarette. Tripping on anything can make you do things you would not ordinarily do, and can be extremely hazardous to others around you if you are stupid enough to use such things, for example, while operating a motor vehicle.

Wow, okay, you should read up a little.

I have no idea how marijuana could be more dangerous than cigarettes, considering, you know, marijuana has no physically addictive properties while cigarettes are supposed to be on par with heroin in terms of addiction strength. If you mean that marijuana is more harmful to your lungs, that's untrue. A large percentage of smokers smoke one to two packs of cigarettes a day. I'd say the average pothead smokes a joint a day, probablly much less. Also, marijuana does not need to be smoked. It can ingested orally too, mixed with food or otherwise.

Driving? Sure, driving under the influence of anything should be heavily heavily discouraged, but you should read up, because pot doesn't really present a cause for worry on the roads. Unlike alcohol, cannabis doesn't inhibit risk-taking in an individual, and actually causes them to drive more cautiously, causing them to overcompensate for their intoxication.

LSD is not physically harmful nor is it an addictive substance. Although there are some studies that say that it may worsen your case if you already have a history of mental illnesses, it otherwise presents no risk to yourself, except if you do something stupid while "tripping." Also, the part about LSD staying in your system for the rest of your life is complete and utter BS.

[kiwi_2005]

I would say LSD is harmful the user can become psychotic in longterm use. Cannibis, well i think the worse thing to come out of cannibis is to end up like a type of Cheech & Chong, short term memory, bouts of daydreaming with a strong desire to eat alot :rotfl:

[Chock]

When I was at art college many years ago, I was into grass and LSD for a while (what a surprise - art college), and I can tell you this, I got into them because I believed all that bull**** about it making you more creative and thought it would help me with ideas and stuff . But the truth is, it does nothing of the kind, you are either creative, or you are not, and drugs will certainly not assist you in becoming any moreso.

You can test this theory for yourself (relatively) harmlessly if you play a musical instrument. If you smoke a spliff or two and mess around on your guitar/piano whatever, what you play will sound really cool, and I'm willing to bet you'll think you've come up with a really good riff, but if you tape it and listen to it the next day when straight, it will sound like a load of old crap. This is because of your heightened perception making you think things are there when they are not, which is why people like listening to albums while stoned.

Now this all might seem like harmless fun, but anything that messes with your perception can be dangerous, and this is certainly true of hallucinogens such as LSD, and even plain old dope is often laced with more dangerous opiates deliberately, to foster an addiction for it in users. Several people I was at college with, who also got into that stuff, were not quite so fortunate as me, and they really flipped their lids and never came back after taking hallucinogens, and I'm talking about some bright people here, not that taking the drugs was such a bright thing to do, but they literally 'blew a mental fuse' and that was it, game over. They ended up as real basket cases, and as far as I know, still are, and that was well over twenty years ago now. So I consider myself lucky to have not had that happen to me, and that's the truth.

You can trust me on this one, they don't call it dope for nothing.

Chock

[antikristuseke]

While LSD isnt addictive i would call it safe by no means, though i have no problem with alcohol, nicotine or marihuanause.

[Letum]

"Drugs are a health risk."

However, there are some drugs that carry less risk of physical or mental injury than rugby does.

I find it hard to condemn drugs on the basis that they cause physical and /or mental damage
with out condemning rugby, rock climbing, DIY or extreme sports.

"Drugs are linked to crime."

However, just because one takes drugs does not mean that you will commit crime.
The vast majority of drug users are not criminals.
There is also a link between being male and committing crime.

I find it hard to condemn drugs on the basis that they are linked to crime with out
condemning my gender.

"Drugs may cause you to sit at home all day, unwashed doing no work."

Well, yes, I have seen that often enough. However, you can do that with or
without drugs.
I'm told the Internet has similar effects.

"Drugs can be enjoyable."

Can't really argue with that, that's why they are so popular.

"Drugs can be very un-enjoyable."

Can't argue with that either!



___________________________



I don't take drugs for the same reason I don't take part in extreme sports; for me the
benefits do not out weigh the risks.

If someone else wishes to take drugs then I don't see any logical reason to condemn or stop them.

[Skybird]

Talking as an ex-psychologist here. Marihuana can get you into problems if used too much. It is not justified to call it allout safe, just becasue it does not create damage so quickly like heroin. whereas the occasional glas of beer, wine or even hard stuff like whisky does you no harm if not being turned into a regular habit. Fanatic teetotallers for ideologic reasons are doing more harm to their mind. The ideology of totally rejecting alcohol. So the problem is too excessive use, and that is a criteria different for every drug.

The state obviously supports alcohol and tobacco, since he creates a not small tax income by these two. Both also have a very strong industrial lobby.

LSD is not unaddicitve, btw. It can lead you into serious psychological craving, and derange your mind for the rest of your life. "Not damaging physical or mental health of the user" - that is simply wrong, Red Menace. I agree only in so far that with the assessement of such drugs a subtle approach is needed. But always and under all circumstances harmless is none of them. It is a very good idea to make regular consummation of them not a socially agreed norm of life. They should remain to be exceptions.

concerning the often heared argument that things like LSD eventually can "free your mind", I have almost a policy on that, as a former meditation teacher. Even Stanislav Grof, who experimented a lot with LSD and according visions, has replaced the drug with relaxation meditation based on excessive ventilating techniques. No drug ever frees your mind. It may show you things, and you may regard them to be of more or less value, but never does a drug free your mind. For that, you need to choose the other path, so to speak. Granted, it is not as easy as taking a pill, but that is due to lacking knowledge. In truth, it is even easier than swallowing a pill, becasue there is nothing that is to be acchieved. Well, this only as a rejection of that "spiritual" argument on certain drugs, in case it would show up here. There is nothing like a "holiness-pill."

I leave out social context issues of drug consummation, that play an important rule especially amongst young people, and nthat could lead from soft drugs to hard drugs so easily. Which also is a danger factor, of course.

[baggygreen]

Oh yeh, marijuana is perfectly safe. Just ask a friend of mine from back in my school days. Oh thats right, you cant, he's locked away for his and everyone elses safety. Cos marijuana is saaaafe.

He believed all the hype about it being so cool and awesome and no risk whatsoever. problem was he didnt look at the facts. He hasnt socialised with 'normal' society for years because one joint has screwed him up for life.

You want my opinions on recreational drug use... it took the life of a good mate away. I cant express the disgust i feel towards that rubbish. LSD safe??? Mescaline safe??? No friggin drug is "safe". that includes alcohol!

There are risks associated with using anything, just like there are risks associated with doing anything at all in life. But there are genuine reasons why so many governments ban "recreational" drugs, why they go to such lengths to catch the criminals who traffic them and sell them.

Redmenace, as far as driving while using cannabis not presenting a worry, of course its a worry - driving too slowly can be just as likely to cause a smash as driving too fast!

Im afraid i really dont see where you're coming from with this whole topic... saying marijuana and acid dont destroy your mind and body??

[Skybird]

BTW, the drug that turns you into an addict the fastest, and for which your body has even physically specialised in enjoying, but which nevertheless does the most severe health damage in Western societies and costs the system more money than aclohol or tobacco - is refined white sugar, and sweets. Think about food habits, and civilisational diseases, to see the danger and hidden costs. They rank in the x dozens of billions.

[DeepSix]

I had a friend in college who smoked a lot of weed. He's probably there still....

I smoke pot occasionaly, its not great quality unfortunately, I think "soap bar" is the term for it, softish brown block of cannabis resin. When I play the Piano after taking it I definately enjoy the music I produce, i've never recorded it to hear the next day cos I never record myself, its an outlet and I enjoy playing it more when stonned than not.

I also enjoy playing poker when stonned, I'm definately a better player at that time. Sex is better when stonned, as the sensations are enhanced.

Whats not so good is socialising, its easier to lie on the couch getting "into" a movie than trying to negotiate the tribes in a local pub.

Because a few good friends are Psychologists i'm aware of cannabis phsychosis, which tends to affect the adolescent more than say someone of my age....but i'm aware of it none the less. I'm also aware of the effects of the tobacco I injest when smoking a joint.

But, you know, in all honesty, man has spent all its existance finding ways to get out of its mind occasionaly, be they shamanic rituals, licking the slime of the back of bull frogs, injesting ground nutmeg for hallucinational effects, fermenting wine, chewing gnat, harvesting tobbacco...even monkeys get high from eating certain rotting , and hence fermented, fruit from the forest floor and sharks like to get high on the richer oxygen content to be found where fresh water meets the sea.

So I get high, I drink beer, I sip wine and i have no guilt, doubts, concerns or worries about it. Why? Because of a thing called "moderation"....personally, you should be free to do what ever you like as long as its in moderation...and thats your responsibility to yourself.

Anyone for a spliff ?

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by kiwi_2005

I would say LSD is harmful the user can become psychotic in longterm use. Cannibis, well i think the worse thing to come out of cannibis is to end up like a type of Cheech & Chong, short term memory, bouts of daydreaming with a strong desire to eat alot

Not exactly what one would call a productive member of society.

LSD is terrible, causing people to jump from skyscrappers, so I can't believe this was even brought up. It makes me question the intentions of the original poster.

Cannibis is also bad. I swear it screws up people minds permanantly. I've seen smart people go dumb on that stuff (no better way to describe it), and it never gets any better, even when they are off of it. Some sort of permanent change in their memory storage. Bad stuff. You could never get me to even try it after what I've seen. As for medical use, I have a different opinion. ANy drug that can help a serious medical condition, regardless of its possible negative effects, should not be banned from doctors prescribing it to treat that condition, period. With this banning mentality, they should ban morphine.

Alc, well, alc has some redeeming properties if you drink beer or wine, but nothing good comes of hard alc. FOr beer and wine, these include restoritive qualities for your colon and longer life! Move on the hard alc, and they can do away with it in my opnion. Seen too many people get screwed up and addicted to the hard stuff.

ANyway, just my 2 cents again, for what it's worth.

-S

[RedMenace]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

LSD is terrible, causing people to jump from skyscrappers, so I can't believe this was even brought up. It makes me question the intentions of the original poster.

-S

What are my intentions then?

While I have heard some gnarly stories about bad LSD trips, including suicides, one must remember that alcohol is responsible for an almost unfathomable amount of death and destruction. Suicide, fatal falls, fights, overdoses. Compared to alcohol, I'd say LSD sounds pretty darn safe.