Comments on: Tuesday Open Thread

By: Akston

Akston — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:49:53 +0000

You would think the socially acceptable views would be the same because the argument for both is they are a stepping stone to something harder.

Very nicely put. LOL.

By: Let's Be Free

Let's Be Free — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:39:33 +0000

You would think the socially acceptable views would be the same because the argument for both is they are a stepping stone to something harder.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:24:14 +0000

It’s all about image. Who uses Viagra? Rich, midle-age white guys (at least, that is what the commercials all show). Who uses maijuana? -Insert media steryotype of looser here-

By: CJS

CJS — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:30:07 +0000

Which is interesting because Marinol is Schedule II. Granted that’s still in a class along with narcotics (heavy restrictions, but available for medical use).

I think it may largely come down to the advertising that seems to support recreational use on one hand, compared to decades of negative propaganda on the other.

By: CJS

CJS — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:09:58 +0000

OTOH, the same could be true about legal (by prescription) narcotics (Oxycontin, morphine, etc.). They face even more scrutiny and are less socially acceptable than marijuana. Of course they are terribly addictive and can lead to overdose, so that may be justified.

So you are comparing the use of two relatively harmless recreational drugs and asking why one is seen as acceptable and one is not. I think there is what you might call inertia behind social acceptance of marijuana as a relatively harmless drug. After years of “refer madness” propaganda, people are slow on the uptake. But the ball seems to have started rolling, and it may be downhill from here. It all seems to have started with Obama’s decision not to raid areas where it is legal – the one good decision out of this administration. Maybe that’s his plan – the country will be broke and we’ll all be out of work but we can get high and forget about it!

By: Brad Warbiany

Brad Warbiany — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:58:24 +0000

Actually, CJS, they have... It's called Marinol. And yes, it's legal and prescribable for the same things that marijuana supposedly doesn't help (as Schedule I, the FDA claims there is "no medical benefit).

By: CJS

CJS — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:49:51 +0000

Because pharmaceutical companies make money off of Viagra and Cialis, and can legally advertise for them.

Find a way to patent marijuana and it will be legalized tomorrow.