http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/05/09/depression.marijuana/index.html

Quote :

"Teenagers who use marijuana put themselves at higher risks for serious mental health problems, including worsening depression, schizophrenia, anxiety and suicide, according to a new White House report."

Quote :

"Depressed teens are more than twice as likely as others to abuse or become dependent on marijuana, it said. And teenagers who use marijuana more than at least once a month are three times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than teenagers who do not use the drug, it said."

I enjoy the illusory correlation and cognitive bias of this article which claims that marijuana causes depression and suicidal thoughts among teens. Is it not more plausible that teens already suffering from suicidal thoughts and depression use marijuana as a form of self-medication; or as an outlet to escape their "troubles". In no way am even pushing that pot helps with these issues but i feel that this article lacks objectivity of true scientific/medical research. The article even lacks any supporting numbers who evidence. Merely "expert" opinion from some guys with a "Dr." in front of their name.

Quote :

"The goal is to "correct the blind spot we've had in our society that's caused more young people to suffer," Director of National Drug Control Policy John Walters said."

Well there is an unbiased source right there! without the war on drugs Mr. Walters would be out of a job.

I could probably write a thesis on how we should BAN emo music because 1 in 2 teens (made up statistic) who listen to emo are depressed. Following i could bring up some past teen suicides where the deceased had emo playing in his CD player/ computer in the hours leading up to his death to support my assertion. EMO music kills! Ban EMO!

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 12:18 PM. Reason : a]

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 12:20 PM. Reason : a]

5/12/2008 12:14:37 PM

/illegal quit crying about it move to amsterdam

5/12/2008 12:20:13 PM

hey now

with that sort of attitude, we'd have to get rid of the abortion threads, too

5/12/2008 12:24:44 PM

because smoking pot is certainly the moral equivalent to ending a life, bet it a ball of cells or a baby.


I can see your point.

5/12/2008 12:27:06 PM

YET ONE IS LEGAL ONE IS NOT

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 12:28 PM. Reason : WHATTA CRAZY WORLD]

5/12/2008 12:27:41 PM

i was going after your weaksauce moral equivalencey.

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 12:29 PM. Reason : .]

5/12/2008 12:29:11 PM

sorry...wasn't debating morals

5/12/2008 12:30:24 PM

no but you morally equated abortion and recreational drug use.

5/12/2008 12:31:27 PM

Quote :

"illegal quit crying about it move to amsterdam "

i don't even smoke anymore. I just believe in a sensible drug policy and am tired of hearing all quasi-scientific research spewed out by gov't funded think tanks on how "pot is evil" and shit. With current regulations a legitimate research organization within the US could not even confirm or refute this articles claim b.c the DEA prevents marijuana from being tested/researched apart from a few gov't selected institutions.

5/12/2008 12:33:01 PM

next time i'll steer it into speed limit semantics or euthanasia

5/12/2008 12:34:02 PM

^^^ No, he was more talking about the illegal=wrong attitude you seem to have.

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 12:34 PM. Reason : ]

5/12/2008 12:34:47 PM

Quote :

"no but you morally equated abortion and recreational drug use."

I'll morally equate the gov't telling me what I can't do with my body.

5/12/2008 12:35:22 PM

If the government says its TRUE it MUST BE!

5/12/2008 12:42:39 PM

^^ and youll morally accept welfare and all other government handouts once you become a junkie.

5/12/2008 1:33:08 PM

the dems and repubs should strike the following deal to end this bullshit

legalize pot in return for alaska to be completely opened up for drilling


1) all the pot heads are happy
2) gas prices are low for all

5/12/2008 1:39:11 PM

How long till we get to watch TRUTH anti-smoking commercials on Pot?

5/12/2008 1:41:53 PM

so what's stopping everybody from smoking pot again?

like i said. let's just make a nice trade between repubs and dems..

open up the oil fields in alaska and we'll let you smoke all the shit you want

5/12/2008 1:43:06 PM

Quote :

"and youll morally accept welfare and all other government handouts once you become a junkie."

Yes, because all drug users are junkies on the welfare system....perfect correlation.

5/12/2008 1:44:09 PM

HAHAHAHAHAH OWNED bigun20! YOU GOT OWNED BY ^!

NOT ALL POTHEADS ARE ON WELFARE! HAHAHAHA, THE FUNNIEST PART IS WHEN YOU DIDN'T SAY 'ALL' AT ALL.

5/12/2008 2:00:40 PM

fucking owned. lol

5/12/2008 2:02:12 PM

^no one was making that correlation.....I am talking to you on a personal basis

you dont want the goverment to try and keep you healthy, but you wouldnt turn down goverment assistance after you make bad decisions.

5/12/2008 2:03:31 PM

Using Rat and Ouervre's logic everyone that has a beer at the bar or buys a 12 pack at food lion must be an alcoholic.

btw i am a strong opponent to increases in gov't funded social programs. so if a pothead fucks up his life its his own damn fault and he must face teh consequences. regardless i think we should be treating those convicted of drug use instead of trying to punish them. "bad timmy for smoking pot; no college student loans for you"

Quote :

" NOT ALL POTHEADS ARE ON WELFARE"

wasn't there a list or something of some rather renowned CEO's and other powerful leaders that were self proclaimed pot heads. I know it is not the best example but i remember watching a 60 mins episode on how the ex-CEO of Berkshire Hathaway used to cruise his yacht out to international waters and smoke lots of pot. I am sure he didn't wait until he made his promotion to C-level executive to start smoking

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 2:15 PM. Reason : a]

5/12/2008 2:09:59 PM

Me on a personal basis? Are you arguing that marijuana was made illegal for health reasons? Surely alcohol and tobacco are more carcinogenic than marijuana (which I actually don't smoke, by the way) and both are physically addictive, while marijuana is not. Marijuana also lacks the ability to kill you from overdosing, which cigarettes and alcohol both have.


I mean, if you don't like the smell of smoke that's fine, I don't either, but don't pull some bullshit saying 'you'll go on welfare if you smoke a joint.' It's as laughable as all of those Chic tracts.

5/12/2008 2:13:18 PM

/illegal quit crying about it move to amsterdam

5/12/2008 2:14:11 PM

Quote :

"both are physically addictive, while marijuana is not."

true although some do become psychologically addicted. Although this can be true of many other activities also video games, eating, drinking (prior to developing true physical dependency), sex, etc

5/12/2008 2:26:09 PM

Psychological addictions are something that you really can't legislate on because you'd be banning everything from TV to watching the sunset.

5/12/2008 2:31:13 PM

SOMEBODY'S GOTTA FILL THE PRISONS

5/12/2008 2:37:35 PM

hahaha, hilarious... liberal weaksauce arguments abound.

Quote :

"Using Rat and Ouervre's logic everyone that has a beer at the bar or buys a 12 pack at food lion must be an alcoholic."

Note: When you have to use everyone or all or none, you've got a pretty weak argument.

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 2:43 PM. Reason : .]

5/12/2008 2:43:48 PM

Quote :

"next time i'll steer it into speed limit semantics or euthanasia"

5/12/2008 2:48:05 PM

Quote :

"Eh. Kids want to do illegal substances when they're teenagers. I'd rather let them have the satisfaction of being a rebel after smoking something harmless like pot instead of jumping straight into coke."

5/12/2008 3:06:52 PM

Quote :

"Psychological addictions are something that you really can't legislate on because you'd be banning everything from TV to watching the sunset."

agreed

Quote :

"hahaha, hilarious... liberal Neo-Con toolbag weaksauce fear-mongering arguments abound rationalizing legislation of morality."

^
Honestly i think comparing pot to coke is comparing apples and oranges. One is a natural plant the other is a man-made artificial substance whose purpose is to concentrate the mind-affecting chemical of the coca leave. The coca leave as a whole is much different then drinking a cup of coffee, whose consumption is somewhat common in S. American countries. Similarly people smoke cigarettes for the effect of nicotine. Concentrating nicotine in a similar manner as cocaine is highly toxic and has been used as a pesticide.

Quote :

"When you have to use everyone or all or none, you've got a pretty weak argument. "

Your debate skills are pretty weak as are your reading comprehension skills. As i used the term "everyone" in a sarcastic manner of describing your typical logical thought process when making assertions against ideas you disagree with. I was merely poking fun at this fallacy of thought rather then actually creating an argument of my own.


SURELY EVERYONE SUPPORTING A SENSIBLE US DRUG POLICY MUST BE A FLAMING LIBERAL, SOCIALIST, HIPPY, UNC FAN, HILLARY SUPPORTING, CARD CARRYING DEMOCRAT

- the typical ouevre response.

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 3:20 PM. Reason : l]

5/12/2008 3:07:34 PM

Quote :

"One is a natural plant the other is a man-made artificial substance whose purpose is to concentrate the mind-affecting chemical of the coca leave."

then don't forget to include pot that has been altered from its natural state for decades now to produce a more potent product.

5/12/2008 3:19:49 PM

Quote :

"Honestly i think comparing pot to coke is comparing apples and oranges."

I do too, I wasn't trying to compare them.

5/12/2008 3:25:30 PM

^not to mention everything we buy in the grocery store has been altered in one way or another.

5/12/2008 3:25:52 PM

I hate the argument that pot is "natural" and thus ok to put in your body. By that rationale, I should be in the clear to smoke poison ivy and do shots of rattlesnake venom.

5/12/2008 3:28:33 PM

^there are a few TWW users that should do that anyway...

5/12/2008 3:30:38 PM

.

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 3:37 PM. Reason : eh]

5/12/2008 3:37:03 PM

Mr. Joshua

You are in the clear to smoke poison ivy and do shots of rattlesnake venom. (Yikes!) The only laws that really matter--i.e. nature's, the argument goes--will take their due course if you choose to exercise your freedom to do either of those tremendously stupid things. You'll die to the sound of laughter in the ER, of course, but no government is going to slap metal bracelets on your wrists for being stupid.

Who'se saying it's "ok" to put in your body purely because it's natural that isn't some combination of:

1) grossly uninformed,
2) vegan,
3) lazy,
4) douchenozzle.



[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 3:50 PM. Reason : .]

5/12/2008 3:48:44 PM

I agree, I was speaking to logical aspect not the legal one.

5/12/2008 3:52:51 PM

nm

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 3:54 PM. Reason : nm]

5/12/2008 3:53:49 PM

Quote :

"I hate the argument that pot is "natural" and thus ok to put in your body. By that rationale, I should be in the clear to smoke poison ivy and do shots of rattlesnake venom."

Actually my intent in this thread which has been thrown off by rat and ourever was not necessarily to debate legalizing pot. More it was to point out gov't use of propraganda to reinforce its position w/o using credible evidence but merely drawing false conclusion using sham research.

5/12/2008 4:43:45 PM

I think that's what most people who argue for the "it's natural" argue for. Not that it's still a smart thing to do because it grows in nature. Just that the government outlawed a plant. A fucking plant that used to grow everywhere and has been used medicinally for thousands of years. God forbid some people get some stress relief out of something simple they can grow in their backyards. No, we'll make you shill out an arm and a leg to get these pills that we can physically addict you with.

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 4:50 PM. Reason : ]

5/12/2008 4:49:33 PM

true dat. The pharm industry would hate for pot to be legal; and "coincidentally" they are HEAVY contributors to the campaigns of our beloved politicians.

5/12/2008 4:56:43 PM

true, the legalization of pot = more revenue needed for healthcare.

no wonder they don't to legalize it. they'd rather you find the pot on your own the hard way instead of selling it to you just to cause problems down the road they'd have to pay for with tax dollars

what more of an excuse for propaganda do you need? get a brain?

5/12/2008 5:24:09 PM

It's not exactly a slippery slope to suggest that the government ought outlaw unhealthy addictive foods to save money on healthcare costs. America's dirtiest little domestic secret is the percentage of home foreclosures that result not from subprime loans, but from unforeseen medical expenses.

Just food for thought.

Also...



"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."

History...LOL

5/12/2008 5:34:39 PM

its stuff like that pic which is why i want obama to win so bad.....cause it would make me happy to see the racists pissed off

5/12/2008 5:35:57 PM

Quote :

"the legalization of pot = more revenue made through excise taxes, income taxes of productive citizens who would otherwise be in jail solely for drug crimes, less money spent on the futile war on drugs needed for healthcare"

your argument may be legit for some drugs but what would the healthcare costs be for pot?? I am guessing perhaps it may be for increased rehab counseling for those who find themselves psychologically addicted; assuming though that hoards of people that currently don't smoke would run to the marijuana cafe upon it turning legal.

5/12/2008 5:37:24 PM

^ And you could use excise taxes to pay for that.

A note for our OMFbama fans: According to his campaign, dope should still put you in jail. Even though everyone knows he was cool with it back in the day.

5/12/2008 5:39:40 PM

Bush did blow and i do not hold this against him. Everyone does stupid shit growing up. Politics is just all about hypocrisy and being fucking PC

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 5:41 PM. Reason : l]

[Edited on May 12, 2008 at 5:41 PM. Reason : l]

5/12/2008 5:40:31 PM

How do Bush's failures credit OMFbama's column?

5/12/2008 5:43:02 PM