Chloe's Chronicles

 
 
I recently got caught up in a torrent of tweets on Twitter about why I am against the legalization of Marijuana.  Rather than firing off tiny 140 character squeaks trying to explain my position on this issue, I've decided to concise my thoughts into a blog post. 

First, I believe in freedom of the individual, as long as that person's activities are not harmful to others, or negatively affect society as a whole.  This is obviously why there are laws against assaulting or killing people, walking around in public nude, driving drunk or too fast etc.  

There are certain self-destructive people (alcoholics, smokers) whose actions negatively affect themselves, their family, friends and coworkers, but who are not breaking the law.  Those in favor of legalizing marijuana look at these people and say "See?  Cigarettes and Alcohol are just as bad as, if not worse than Marijuana!"  They think that alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana are somehow interchangeable, and if cigarettes and alcohol are legal, marijuana should be legal too. 

The premise of their argument is flawed, because cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana are three very different things.   

First, I would like to distinguish between cigarettes and alcohol.  Those who smoke tobacco get a short "high" or "buzz" from smoking a cigarette.  It is not significantly mind-altering nor do the effects last much more than a few minutes. 

However, alcohol (like marijuana) is mind-altering, and those who are drunk (or high) behave in ways they would not otherwise behave if they were sober.  This is why there are so many more restrictions on when and where you can purchase alcohol and drink it, and what you can do while drunk.  For instance, you can smoke and drink coffee while driving (or shortly after smoking tobacco and drinking coffee), but you can't drink alcohol and drive.  You can have a smoke during lunch and a cup of coffee in your cubicle at work, but you better not booze up on your lunch break, or you could end up being fired.

I believe the best argument against legalization of Marijuana is Alcohol.  Even with all the laws telling us when and where we can buy it and drink it and what we can and can't do while under the influence of it, it is still a very destructive force in our society.  Alcoholism destroys lives and tears families apart.  Not to mention the individual destruction of the person who is doing the drinking. 

The difference between marijuana and alcohol is that alcohol is good for you in small amounts.  Since alcohol is a beverage, it can be enjoyed in a social setting or with meals more easily and by more people than marijuana.  And since marijuana is most often smoked, it is harmful to your lungs and is not safe in any amount, nor is it a very social substance among adults since most “revelations” experienced while high turn out to be absurdly incoherent in retrospect.

Marijuana is illegal, but it is still used and abused by many people.  It's mind-altering qualities, coupled with the fact that it is addictive, creates a dangerous combination.  I know many who use it are not addicted, just as many who drink are not alcoholics.  But in terms of alcohol, look at how the abuses of the few ripple out and negatively affect the many.  Look at all the people who are injured and die each year from drunk drivers.  Or the families torn apart by addiction.  Alcohol is not inherently evil or destructive (nor is marijuana), but look at how the abuses of the few still manage to create such widespread pain and suffering in our society.  Legalization of marijuana would increase that pain and suffering.  Legalization of marijuana will increase the use and abuse of it.  Which is why I am adamantly against it.  And I'm glad most people in America agree with me.   

I don't want to live in a society where it is acceptable or encouraged to "get high" in order to cope with problems.  Teens will always do things they aren't supposed to like shoplifting, lying to their parents, and "experimenting" with illegal substances such as marijuana.  But most eventually grow out of it, mature, and see how much more richer and enjoyable life can be if they live clean and sober productive lives, dealing with everything that comes their way head-on without running away and trying to "kill the pain".   

*On the issue of Medical Marijuana:  Of course, if there is some property in the marijuana plant that can be extracted and used to create some new wonderful disease curing drug, I'm all for it.  But in terms of using it for "pain relief", you got to be kidding me.  There are so many legal ways to deal with pain.  And the laws in this country are quite flexible in this regard.  Those who truly think they do need it will find a way to get it.  This is still America. 

I have heard some real crazy arguments on Twitter as to why marijuana should be legalized.  Here are some of my favorites:
"Queen Elizabeth smoked pot to cure her menstrual cramps.""Our founding fathers wrote a law ordering farmers to grow hemp.""It would be so great if we legalized it because then the government could tax it.""Advil doesn't work for some people."

MY RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG 3/21/09
I find the comments made by you people who want to decriminalize marijuana very disturbing.  DRUGS (Legal or Illegal) are only Good when used to CURE A DISEASE.  In terms of Pain Killers, they should only be used temporarily and then you get weaned off it.  DRUGS (Legal or Illegal) are ALWAYS Bad when used to “self-medicate”.  It always hides emotional problems that are hiding underneath that need to be fixed, not “numbed”.  This would include legal drugs such as OxyContin. 

The one legal substance that is recreational is Alcohol.  It has a place in our society.  Wine with dinner.  Champagne on New Years.  A stiff drink with a cigar after dinner.  And I already described all the downsides that come from it (alcoholism, drunk driving), but the MAJORITY of Americans like to drink recreationally, so it is Legal.  You pot smokers are in the minority.  Americans don’t want your drug of choice to be legal because it will negatively affect our society. 

I think it’s sad when people smoke pot to deal with their problems.  But I think it is SICK when they are so in denial about their own Drug Use that they find all these Rationalizations and Excuses for themselves and even turn it into a Cause where they think it is Righteous to want to Legalize Marijuana.  I don’t respect that point of view, I think it is destructive to our country, to our society, to the American Family and the individual.  Do us all a favor, and stop trying to get the Government to make you feel better about your Drug Problem, and go see a psychologist to figure out why you feel the need to smoke marijuana in the first place.

 


Comments

Eric Carmichael

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:18:01

I stopped reading when you said,

"First, I believe in freedom of the individual, as long as that person's activities are not harmful to others, or negatively affect society as a whole."

If you are for freedom, then why make ANY drug illegal? <b>Especially</b> marijuana.

 

Eric

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:40:08

I'll have to give this a read in the morning. My side of our conversation can be read here:
http://www.showmethefacts.org/2009/03/20/combating-ignorance-on-twitter-combating-bisss/

All I can say from scanning over what you have written is, simply, you are wrong. That is not my opinion... it is just fact. Fact backed up by science, logic, and reality. I'm sorry you are so against the idea of marijuana, but you fail at citing any sources which back up your highly fallacious opinions.

I'll read it more in depth tomorrow, though.

 

Eric

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:54:37

I decided to read a bit more before bed... all I have to say is who do you think you are? You make claims as if you have any education in the matter, many of them are ridiculous, such as smoking a cigarette is only mind-altering for a "few minutes". Are you kidding me? Have you no idea how harmful and mind-altering nicotine is?
You seem to have no understanding of how drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) work within the human body. Your entire post as far as I can tell was written purely off the top of your head without any recollection or reference to a single study, fact, or authoritative source.
The real showing sign of your ignorance is how you keep holding onto the idea that if "science" can "extract" the medicinal property out of marijuana, it would be OK. You do realize that science has *already done this*, and the "medicinal property" is the main active ingredient in marijuana, THC. So why is THC inside of plant matter evil, but if science extracts it and puts it into pill form it is suddenly moral?
Do you have any beleifs that don't contradict themselves? Any residue of a cohesive argument?
I was planning on replying to this post personally, but its not worth it. Aside from already covering many of your "points" in my post (which I reference to factual evidence and data), it is obvious to me that not only are you completely ignorant to things you don't agree with, you have no need or want to perform a simple google search to correct yourself. It's lazy and it is insulting to someone like myself who enjoys a stimulating conversation.
Again, I thank you for our original conversation, but it is obvious that you need to grow up and pull your head out of the darkness. It's ok if you don't want to like marijuana, but stop making such childish, baseless, and obviously illogical claims.

 

FightingAnimal

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:35:00

"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.”

You fail the first two.

Now quit telling me how to peacefully live my life. I like to get high. Deal with it. I don't tell you how to live your life, do I?

 

Teahupoo

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 07:36:28

You contradict yourself from the beginning. As with most anti legalization people you merely parrot the same tired old falsehoods that have been around since the 1930s.

Unlike you I will include links to my facts and they will not be links to pro marijuana sites like Hight Times, NORML, or Cannabis Culture.

First, it is has been scientifically and clinically proven that marijuana is not an addictive substance as you stated.

"The recent study comparing marijuana use in San Francisco and Amsterdam is a real blow to the drug warriors. Not only did it show that prohibition does not reduce marijuana use, there were a couple of other very interesting things in the study. The full report is now available online as text and as a pdf with graphs."

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n671/a09.html

http://www.mapinc.org/lib/limited.pdf

This is just one study but there are thousands like it that were NOT conducted by biased government propaganda agencies.

Your argument that it is illegal and that should be reason enough is so lame that it really doesn't even merit addressing but here are just a handful of examples of others things that are illegal:

Florida:
1. Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner.
2. A special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or she shall risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing.
3. If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle.
4. It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit.
5. Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.
6. Any form of sexual contact other than missionary position is a misdomeanor. (This is still a law. There have been several cases of people being brought up on these charges in the past 5 years alone. If the police enter a home with a warrent for some other crime and catch the 'culprits' in action, they can, and are, brought up on those charges.)

http://www.eldar.org/~ben/funny/html/180.html

PROHIBITION does NOT stop the act being prohibited it only creates a criminal environment just like alcohol prohibition did in the 20s and 30s when this country was terrorized by the likes of Al Capone. Now with the Drug War we have Mexican drug gangs and Pablo Escobar.

Those who passed the prohibition of marijuana have the blood on their hands of thousands of people who have died needlessly from this action. The prohibition of marijuana also included the prohibition of hemp which has nothing to do with "getting high" as you call it. Hemp can be used in the production of over Fifty Thousand products including paper, clothing, and fuel. Did you know that the diesel engine was originally created to run on hemp oil? Probably not based on the biased propaganda crap that you have spewed out.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=872

http://govaporize.com/news/the-case-for-a-domestic-marijuana-industry/

Now, let's address your contention that marijuana legalization would increase traffic fatalities, after I get through containing my laughter from such a ridiculous statement.....

Whew! My stomach hurts......

Wow! ..... Okay

First off just as Dr. Ron Paul Stated in his debate on CNN last week which you can see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-729OQfMOA - There are already many millions of people who already drive while under the influence of marijuana and there is no correlation between that and increased culpability in car accidents:

http://www.fcda.org/driving.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/03/990325110700.htm

And here from the NHTSA:

Myth: Marijuana is a major road safety hazard

A growing body of research indicates that marijuana is on balance less of a road hazard than alcohol. Various surveys have found that half or more of fatal drivers have alcohol in their blood, as opposed to 7 - 20% with THC, the major psychoactive component of marijuana (a condition usually indicative of having smoked within the past 2-4 hours).(3) The same studies show that some 70 - 90% of those who are THC-positive also have alcohol in their blood. It therefore appears that marijuana by itself is a minor road safety hazard, though the combination of pot and alcohol is not. Some research has even suggested that low doses of marijuana may sometimes improve driving performance, though this is probably not true in most cases.(4) Two major new studies by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have confirmed marijuana's relative safety compared to alcohol. The first, the most comprehensive drug accident study to date, surveyed blood samples from 1882 drivers killed in car, truck and motorchycle accidents in seven states during 1990-91.(5) Alcohol was found in 51.5% of specimens, as against 17.8% for all other drugs combined. Marijuana, the second most common drug, appeared in just 6.7%. Two-thirds of the marijuana-using drivers also

 

Daniel Girt

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:33:27

That was quite the long article... Reading Chloe's statements, made me want to pull my nose hairs out. Seriously Chloe, I know you think you have put alot of thought into this. And I think its great that you are concerned about public safety...

Please try and look at the big picture here. First off most of your argument is just flat out wrong, as Teahupoo pointed out. Secondly, do you really think you are the first to take this position. Its because of backwards thinking like that, that has kept this outlaw in place.

The fact is that humans have been using the plant since FOREVER until 1930's when they outlawed it. Don't you think that even for a second, that YOU are wrong, and not billions of our ancestors????????????????

 

Teahupoo

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:40:23

This blog didn't give me anywhere NEAR the room I needed, the post above is only about one third of my response. Read the entire thing as well as Chloe's original comment at:

http://govaporize.com/the-case-for-and-against-marijuana-legalization/

Teahupoo


 

John Hubbard

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:57:52

Chloe, though i may disagree with your opinions i won't say that your wrong. I find that i have to assess my own opinions to information i heard from sources... thinking for ones self. I do smoke and prefer this over drinking... drinking makes me feel sick and i do dumb things while intoxicated. So its best to Know what it is that makes us feel as though other drugs are more/less damaging. I have heard through my life that MJ is a gateway drug... The 'gateway' are those who possess and sell more than just Marijuana, other hard drugs(not natural) such as cocaine, meth, and Heroin. These drugs are manufactured to be as strong and as addictive as possible. If during Alcohol prohibition could it makes sense that Alcohol was the original gateway drug. As it stands now the US is sponsoring Mexican drug cartel warfare from the money those drug dealer are getting from those who buy illegal drugs.

 

JToker

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:33:08

This post is an obvious attempt at an intelligent defense for the non-enlightened. Too bad it contains absolutely no evidence, merely speculation. I know first hand Marijuana does not cause vehicle accidents I've driven many times after smoking with no problems. It does not ruin people's lives, I'm top 5% of my class. You do NOT act in a way you do not want to act while high, you may seem to act different but that's simply because you either become more or less sociable. The ONLY side effects besides maybe a little coughing, is you get hungry, happy, and sleepy. That's it. The only reason it isn't legal is because corporate america doesn't want a cheaper competition. And the Government hasn't been smart enough to find a way to make money off of it.

 

JToker

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:37:29

Forgot to add you will not become a criminal from smoking marijuana. And you say you're fine with painkillers as long as you're weened off of them. What if the pain is unable to be cured? Pain killers can harm your body along with unwanted side effects (depends of course on the pill) PLUS you can become addicted. Marijuana can heal pain and is NOT addictive with the only side effect being coughing from the initial inhaling.

 

Bryan Myrick

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:50:51

Chloe,
Your argument is well-constructed and the attacks here are propaganda. It is sad that the pro-drug army has hours to spend seeking out and attacking anyone who suggests that there is an innate metaphysical negativity that comes from drug use. It is up to people like you to keep reminding us of the reasons drugs are BAD. The pro-drug folks are always going to be more vocal and I am glad there are people like you to make sure they will never win this debate by default.
Bryan

 

Jaalah

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:09:33

I first became aware of the popularity of drugs in general in High School and it scared me to the point where I thought the world would come to an end in people just losing hope and turning to drugs as a crutch. So I became a Christian, formerly raised agnostic. And while I never got High, I stopped drinking and even that was in moderation. So whether you think marijuana is harmless or not, all I can think of is all the people I grew up with turning to drugs and it makes me sick to my stomach. I think of the drug cartels and broken relationships. I think of the woman I met who used drugs recreationally and went crazy. I think of the us versus them. Splitting our country appart. While I get concerned when a friend of mine drinks a lot, I am more concerned that people don't even try to find something other than drugs to pass the time. I have found spirituality very helpful and even meditate and it has given me much relief for my feelings. While I admit to used to eating too much sugar for a dopamine rush, diet and exercise and meditation is just as helpful for feeling good and a lot healthier than resorting to the "drugs sex and rock and roll" lifestyle that seems to be so popular.

 

Jeffrey Borrowdale

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:43:27

"I believe in freedom of the individual..."

If I don't have the right over what I put into my own body, how free am I?

"...as long as that person's activities are not harmful to others, or negatively affect society as a whole."

So you're in favor of criminalizing junk food and adultery? Junk food has much worse health effects (heart disease, cancer, diabetes) and adultery has much worse social effects (divorce, trauma to children). Don't you see how absurd it is to *criminalize* something because it's unhealthy, or can have bad social effects, or because someone *might* abuse it? I personally know successful, professional people who use or have used marijuana in moderation and are none the worse for wear. Michael Phelps, an Olympiad and star athlete, is a good example. Al Gore and President Obama were even at one time heavy users, but both managed pull it together. Believing in freedom means believing in *personal responsibility.*

 

Jeffrey Borrowdale

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:49:05

"Legalization of marijuana would increase that pain and suffering."

Have you ever considered the pain and suffering caused marijuana prohibition? Criminal records, the cost of an elite college education per year for incarceration, drug gangs, no-knock raids by para-military SWAT teams, unconstitutional searches and seizures, loss of banking privacy, wasted police resources, incarceration costs and general disrespect for the law? These are the same effects alcohol prohibition had.

Most Americans die of cardio-vascular disease and cancer, primarily caused by poor diet, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and stress, not drugs. So why not have a mandatory State-supervised diet, exercise and meditation program? Because it's inconsistent with our founding principles of freedom. So is outlawing a plant.

"...but the MAJORITY of Americans like to drink recreationally, so it is Legal. You pot smokers are in the minority. Americans don’t want your drug of choice to be legal because it will negatively affect our society."

You started out with the freedom of the individual but conclude with the tyranny of the majority. I wonder how you'd feel if the government banned your favorite vice. I'm sure you do something that's not very good for you every once in a while, don't you?

 

Phatlip12

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:30:07

You know, your argument really holds no substance. Overall, you seem to believe Marijuana shouldn't be legalized because it causes "pain and suffering". The problem however is you haven't exactly mentioned HOW it does this. You did hint at a couple things. However, the things you mentioned aren't true.

You mentioned that Marijuana is addicting. However, scientific studies have proved that it is hardly addicting at all as a substance. In fact, it's chemically less addictive than caffeine. People can become psychologically addicted to Marijuana, but a psychological addiction can form over ANYTHING (food, sex, gambling addictions for example).

You also stated Marijuana is dangerous because it's smoked. However, Marijuana doesn't have to be smoked. You can eat Marijuana or use a vaporizer to "smoke" it without causing harm to your lungs. If legalized, THC (the active ingredient in Marijuana) can be extracted and used in ways other than smoking.

The fact of the matter is this. Marijuana is less addicting than both Tobacco and Alcohol. If you don't support Marijuana being legalized you too shouldn't support alcohol or tobacco being legalized. Otherwise, your a hypocrite.

By the way. I'm not just some pot head stoner either. I don't use drugs and hardly even drink.

 

stwood

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:51:25

It wasn't until the advancement of medicine in the 20th century that the true dangers of Marijuana were revealed. I response to annother comment up there...Marijuana DOES hurt people, so his arguement is baseless.

People did a lot of crazy things in the past, doesn't make it right.

 

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