OT: Recreational use of Marijuana will be legal in Illinois

[AKfanatic]

It's fair to also say that most those advocating for legalization of Marijuana would not know the difference between pure weed and laced weed until you get a hit.

Legalization leads to the opening of dispensaries. Legalization leads to legitimate grow operations supplying those dispensaries.
Legalization leads to those that purchase marijuana, purchasing it from reputable sources.

When alcohol was illegal there was more risk of death, blindness, multiple other issues from drinking due to the source of that alcohol. Once legal, more reputable sources and regulations severely limited those risks.





Reefer Madness was propaganda.....

[johnnyvann840]

It's fair to also say that most those advocating for legalization of Marijuana would not know the difference between pure weed and laced weed until you get a hit.

Legalization leads to the opening of dispensaries. Legalization leads to legitimate grow operations supplying those dispensaries.
Legalization leads to those that purchase marijuana, purchasing if from reputable sources.

When alcohol was illegal there was more risk of death, blindness, multiple other issues from drinking due to the source of that alcohol. Once legal, more reputable sources and regulations severely limited those risks.





Reefer Madness was propaganda.....

Exactly.

Also, JimmyJammer, you do realize that states with legal medical and recreational have requirements and independent third party testing for impurities, potency of both THC and CBD, as well as terpenes. Product is tested for pesticides, mold, as well as accuracy and labeling requirements for potency levels, type of components (THC and CBD and terps) and warnings. As others have stated, even if your story is true, and I have to question it, wouldn't you agree that having regulatory bodies doing testing of products for impurities and labeling accuracy would help to PREVENT what you are talking about, is a good thing?

Millions of people use cannabis and I have NEVER in my life ever come across or even heard of anybody else I know coming across any "laced marijuana".

[Leslie Forman]

I've always found it humorous how most of the people who are so anti-weed are also typically very pro-gun types. You like shooting guns because it's fun, well so is smoking that devil's lettuce. However, your three-year-old won't accidentally kill themselves with the fully loaded bong you left out on the table.

[League Circles]

It's fair to also say that most those advocating for legalization of Marijuana would not know the difference between pure weed and laced weed until you get a hit.

Legalization leads to the opening of dispensaries. Legalization leads to legitimate grow operations supplying those dispensaries.
Legalization leads to those that purchase marijuana, purchasing if from reputable sources.

When alcohol was illegal there was more risk of death, blindness, multiple other issues from drinking due to the source of that alcohol. Once legal, more reputable sources and regulations severely limited those risks.





Reefer Madness was propaganda.....

Exactly.

Also, JimmyJammer, you do realize that states with legal medical and recreational have requirements and independent third party testing for impurities, potency of both THC and CBD, as well as terpenes. Product is tested for pesticides, mold, as well as accuracy and labeling requirements for potency levels, type of components (THC and CBD and terps) and warnings. As others have stated, even if your story is true, and I have to question it, wouldn't you agree that having regulatory bodies doing testing of products for impurities and labeling accuracy would help to PREVENT what you are talking about, is a good thing?

Millions of people use cannabis and I have NEVER in my life ever come across or even heard of anybody else I know coming across any "laced marijuana".

I really hate to say this about a young person who passed on, but IMO there is a substantially higher chance that their friends lied about intentional drug use (opiates or whatever it was) to cover up what they were doing, lying and saying it was just weed that was "laced" than there is that they actually got laced weed that killed them. Like you, I've never heard of it. It doesn't make much sense from a business perspective for anyone to ever sell "laced" weed.

[gardenofsound]

Legalization leads to the opening of dispensaries. Legalization leads to legitimate grow operations supplying those dispensaries.
Legalization leads to those that purchase marijuana, purchasing if from reputable sources.

When alcohol was illegal there was more risk of death, blindness, multiple other issues from drinking due to the source of that alcohol. Once legal, more reputable sources and regulations severely limited those risks.





Reefer Madness was propaganda.....

Exactly.

Also, JimmyJammer, you do realize that states with legal medical and recreational have requirements and independent third party testing for impurities, potency of both THC and CBD, as well as terpenes. Product is tested for pesticides, mold, as well as accuracy and labeling requirements for potency levels, type of components (THC and CBD and terps) and warnings. As others have stated, even if your story is true, and I have to question it, wouldn't you agree that having regulatory bodies doing testing of products for impurities and labeling accuracy would help to PREVENT what you are talking about, is a good thing?

Millions of people use cannabis and I have NEVER in my life ever come across or even heard of anybody else I know coming across any "laced marijuana".

I really hate to say this about a young person who passed on, but IMO there is a substantially higher chance that their friends lied about intentional drug use (opiates or whatever it was) to cover up what they were doing, lying and saying it was just weed that was "laced" than there is that they actually got laced weed that killed them. Like you, I've never heard of it. It doesn't make much sense from a business perspective for anyone to ever sell "laced" weed.

I mean, it does happen. I've heard about weed laced with PCP. You can sell low grade regs as higher grade to inexperienced/unassuming buyers. Regulation so heavily mitigates this risk that it's a no brainer.

[Ccwatercraft]

I've always found it humorous how most of the people who are so anti-weed are also typically very pro-gun types. You like shooting guns because it's fun, well so is smoking that devil's lettuce. However, your three-year-old won't accidentally kill themselves with the fully loaded bong you left out on the table.

Thats a broad brush. Ive never seen a connection, my experience is certainly different. Notable exception is conceal carry types, they almost never smoke and or drink while packing (legal reasons), but ive hever heard them voice anti weed or alchohol comments, they just don't partake.

[dice]

I've always found it humorous how most of the people who are so anti-weed are also typically very pro-gun types. You like shooting guns because it's fun, well so is smoking that devil's lettuce. However, your three-year-old won't accidentally kill themselves with the fully loaded bong you left out on the table.

the biggest problem with guns in this country is individuals (almost always men) who purchase a gun to be their protector, but end up using their protector to kill themselves when their life goes through a serious rough patch. there is a significant correlation between gun ownership and suicide rate (by any means). that goes for anyone in the household

there was a guy in the 'current affairs' forum on realgm who says he keeps the gun cabinet or whatever at home unlocked because his kids know the consequences will be severe if they take them w/o permission. pretty incredible

[R3AL1TY]

At the end of the day, people will consume or buy whatever they like, but the real issue is making individuals accountable when they harm others with what they like rather than making these things illegal for all just because Johnny wasn't responsible with his possessions.

[9Rodman1]

Had it once or twice years ago and till this day I still feel the mental side effects that come with it (anxiety attacks etc)

Wish I never touched it and wish more people knew that it's not a completely harmless drug

[League Circles]

Had it once or twice years ago and till this day I still feel the mental side effects that come with it (anxiety attacks etc)

Wish I never touched it and wish more people knew that it's not a completely harmless drug

I agree people should be educated that it's not completely harmless, but I would guess it would be difficult to firmly establish a cause and effect impact of trying weed once or twice being responsible for a lifetime of anxiety attacks. Perhaps you were going to have those anyway due to a myriad of factors.

[JimmyJammer]

Had it once or twice years ago and till this day I still feel the mental side effects that come with it (anxiety attacks etc)

Wish I never touched it and wish more people knew that it's not a completely harmless drug

I agree, but many out here are acting as if smoking weed is like eating your bowl of cheerios or your plate of salad. Neglecting the psychotic effects of marijuana is not understanding how it works. Why do you think all the major sports have an anti-marijuana policy? The other side of the argument is, yes it will be legalized. But, wait until the use of marijuana is used against you in the court of law in the aftermath of, for example, a random car accident where someone is badly injured. Carry on bro, it's your world. We need to put a lot more emphasis and allocate more resources in teaching our youngsters about healthier alternatives than self-medicating, and avoid walking around like zombies.

[R3AL1TY]

That's the thing about drugs...not everyone will have just positive side effects, which is why individuals should proceed with caution, be responsible, and educate themselves.

[gardenofsound]

I 100% agree with the need for credible education about the potential negative effects of marijuana use. Up until this point, drug education has been a scorched Earth "fear the boogeyman" curriculum. The problem with that is, once one single mischaracterization is discovered by a teen, the whole thing loses credibility and falls apart like a house of cards.

There's no world in which marijuana is good for you unless there's a legitimate medical need. I enjoy it occasionally because, depending on the strain, it can be anything from relaxing to make for great sleep, to an energizing creativity aide in playing an instrument. That said, I don't need the stuff and often go long amounts of time without having any. And yes, when my tolerance is super low, more than one hit can trigger anxiety for me.

As far as my daughter is concerned, I'm happy that, in theory, it will be harder for her to get her hands on weed in high school than it was for me. And if she happens to get any weed, I'm glad that it will be product subject to quality regulation that, for sure, didn't have any gangs/traffickers in it's supply chain to get to her.

[burlydee]

Smoke weed everyday!

Prohibition failed. Regulation will hurt criminals and make weed (which is already safe - sorry I'll take years of exposure over a couple of blog posts from randoms - no offense) safer. Drug enforcement is often racist and targets poor people far more than rich. Ending the tyranny of the traffic stop, the "I smell weed' excuse, will be a blessing. Law enforcement resources will be freed up to go after people who actually hurt people, instead of boosting stats would low level drug arrests.

People need to be educated about smoking and driving but other than that, I don't think you're going to see a big difference from what life is like now. Illinois will be very much the same.

[_txchilibowl_]

Jimmy, your arguments are bad. The “laced weed” argument has already been debunked. Black market sales is what creates that danger.

As for mixing weed and alcohol, the problem is the alcohol whether the weed is there or not. I smoked weed and drank alcohol together, quite a bit, in my youth. As I got older and it became a risk to my career and required more effort to acquire, I stopped smoking weed.

I kept drinking alcohol. Legal. Socially acceptable. Certainly professionally acceptable in my line of work. Became an alcoholic. Got a physical awhile back for an additional life insurance policy and was rejected because my liver enzymes were approximately 15x the maximum limit at which an insurance company will give you a policy. Because anything over that and you are at too high of a risk for death. I wasn’t 1% over the limit, which still would have denied me the policy. I was 1,500% over the limit. I was commiting incremental suicide through drinking.

But I kept drinking. Read an article that said the liver is resilient and can bounce back from alcohol abuse. That was enough rationalization for me. I could always just quit “later.” Objective medical results, doctors and the insurance industry told me I was quite literally killing myself. I was married and had three young kids. Great career. Plenty to lose. Drinking mattered more.

15 months ago I drove my 10 year old son 11 miles to soccer practice, drunk. I had to have someone drive him home for me because I picked up a bottle of bourbon after I dropped him off and couldn’t walk by the time practice was over and it was time to go back and get him. Two days later I went to rehab, quit drinking and now go to AA once a week and am training to be a volunteer addiction counselor.

There are millions of people with alcoholism stories like mine, many of which have a tragically different ending. Alcoholism is a form of insanity, in the end. You might think other things matter to you, but you’ll risk everything you ever cared about, including your own life, to convince yourself you can keep drinking. Your job. Every relationship you have. Your life. The lives of others. Everything you own. Everything.

Marijuana, objectively, scientifically, does not do any of these things to the human body or mind except in extraordinarily rare instances. On the other hand, excessive and repeated alcohol use will virtually certainly lead to addiction and death. And hopefully only the death of the addict, instead of also a family on their way to the movies getting t-boned by a drunk running a light.

It’s okay that you don’t know what you are talking about. But I do know. And I’m here to inform you of what is true.

Thank you for sharing this and continued success in your recovery, Duck.

[DuckIII]

I agree, but many out here are acting as if smoking weed is like eating your bowl of cheerios or your plate of salad.

That's false. I've not seen one post in this thread in which anyone advocates that people *should* smoke weed.

Neglecting the psychotic effects of marijuana is not understanding how it works. Why do you think all the major sports have an anti-marijuana policy?

First of all, they don't all have the rule. That's another falsehood. The NHL doesn't test, and MLB doesn't punish players who test positive (they attend an awareness program). Secondly, the reason is because its unlawful and therefore bad for the image of the league. Those rules were enacted at a time when the stigma associated with marijuana use was different than it is now.

Additionally, Silver is strongly considering removing it from the banned list in the NBA (this is going to happen) and David Stern has already publicly advocated that it be removed. That damn hippie!

The other side of the argument is, yes it will be legalized. But, wait until the use of marijuana is used against you in the court of law in the aftermath of, for example, a random car accident where someone is badly injured.

This is an observation without meaning. Its true of any intoxicant. Hell, its true of cough medicine. And talking on your phone, texting, etc.

Carry on bro, it's your world. We need to put a lot more emphasis and allocate more resources in teaching our youngsters about healthier alternatives than self-medicating, and avoid walking around like zombies.

No one disagrees with that. Your arguments just aren't good. You basically don't like it. That's fine. It really is. Its all a matter of choice, which is part of the point. But you haven't made a single cogent argument against it.

And to be clear, since I stopped drinking I have stopped all forms of intoxicants. So my position on this has nothing to do with personal preference.

[DuckIII]

Jimmy, your arguments are bad. The “laced weed” argument has already been debunked. Black market sales is what creates that danger.

As for mixing weed and alcohol, the problem is the alcohol whether the weed is there or not. I smoked weed and drank alcohol together, quite a bit, in my youth. As I got older and it became a risk to my career and required more effort to acquire, I stopped smoking weed.

I kept drinking alcohol. Legal. Socially acceptable. Certainly professionally acceptable in my line of work. Became an alcoholic. Got a physical awhile back for an additional life insurance policy and was rejected because my liver enzymes were approximately 15x the maximum limit at which an insurance company will give you a policy. Because anything over that and you are at too high of a risk for death. I wasn’t 1% over the limit, which still would have denied me the policy. I was 1,500% over the limit. I was commiting incremental suicide through drinking.

But I kept drinking. Read an article that said the liver is resilient and can bounce back from alcohol abuse. That was enough rationalization for me. I could always just quit “later.” Objective medical results, doctors and the insurance industry told me I was quite literally killing myself. I was married and had three young kids. Great career. Plenty to lose. Drinking mattered more.

15 months ago I drove my 10 year old son 11 miles to soccer practice, drunk. I had to have someone drive him home for me because I picked up a bottle of bourbon after I dropped him off and couldn’t walk by the time practice was over and it was time to go back and get him. Two days later I went to rehab, quit drinking and now go to AA once a week and am training to be a volunteer addiction counselor.

There are millions of people with alcoholism stories like mine, many of which have a tragically different ending. Alcoholism is a form of insanity, in the end. You might think other things matter to you, but you’ll risk everything you ever cared about, including your own life, to convince yourself you can keep drinking. Your job. Every relationship you have. Your life. The lives of others. Everything you own. Everything.

Marijuana, objectively, scientifically, does not do any of these things to the human body or mind except in extraordinarily rare instances. On the other hand, excessive and repeated alcohol use will virtually certainly lead to addiction and death. And hopefully only the death of the addict, instead of also a family on their way to the movies getting t-boned by a drunk running a light.

It’s okay that you don’t know what you are talking about. But I do know. And I’m here to inform you of what is true.

Thank you for sharing this and continued success in your recovery, Duck.

Thanks! I feel great and life is good.

[DuckIII]

Smoke weed everyday!

Prohibition failed. Regulation will hurt criminals and make weed (which is already safe - sorry I'll take years of exposure over a couple of blog posts from randoms - no offense) safer. Drug enforcement is often racist and targets poor people far more than rich. Ending the tyranny of the traffic stop, the "I smell weed' excuse, will be a blessing. Law enforcement resources will be freed up to go after people who actually hurt people, instead of boosting stats would low level drug arrests.

People need to be educated about smoking and driving but other than that, I don't think you're going to see a big difference from what life is like now. Illinois will be very much the same.

The "I smell weed" traffic stop isn't going away. It will still be illegal to smoke weed in a moving car. Just like you can't have open containers of alcohol, including the passengers. That unfortunate tactic will survive legalization.

[Leslie Forman]

I've always found it humorous how most of the people who are so anti-weed are also typically very pro-gun types. You like shooting guns because it's fun, well so is smoking that devil's lettuce. However, your three-year-old won't accidentally kill themselves with the fully loaded bong you left out on the table.

Thats a broad brush. Ive never seen a connection, my experience is certainly different. Notable exception is conceal carry types, they almost never smoke and or drink while packing (legal reasons), but ive hever heard them voice anti weed or alchohol comments, they just don't partake.

Just look at who voted for it, and who didn't.

It ain't exactly states like Alabama and Mississippi legalizing weed.

[Ccwatercraft]

I've always found it humorous how most of the people who are so anti-weed are also typically very pro-gun types. You like shooting guns because it's fun, well so is smoking that devil's lettuce. However, your three-year-old won't accidentally kill themselves with the fully loaded bong you left out on the table.

Thats a broad brush. Ive never seen a connection, my experience is certainly different. Notable exception is conceal carry types, they almost never smoke and or drink while packing (legal reasons), but ive hever heard them voice anti weed or alchohol comments, they just don't partake.

Just look at who voted for it, and who didn't.

It ain't exactly states like Alabama and Mississippi legalizing weed.

I'll just have to trust that your opinion is infallible, thanks for the enlightenment.