4 ms·

>If cannabis actually caused mental issues why isn't there a huge increase in these problems in CO, CA, WA and OR where it's freely available? I'm not sure leg

>If cannabis actually caused mental issues why isn't there a huge increase in these problems in CO, CA, WA and OR where it's freely available? I'm not sure legalization has increased usage in those places, but if it has, it will take more than a few years to see the effects.

codr4life 10y ago
It has been more than a couple of years in Holland, Portugal and other places. People seem to smoke less when it's legal. And we have enough experience by now to see through the silly propaganda when it comes to health risks. The war on cannabis is about profit and control; there are no health risks to speak of; on the contrary, it helps a lot of people live normal lives without poisoning themselves with stupid chemical cocktails.
- hyperpape 10y ago
  Why should consumption decrease when the substance is legalized? The only real explanation I can think of off the top of my head is if certain types of legalization are really inconvenient (highly regulated sales and coffeehouses, vs. the black market). Prohibition reduced alcohol consumption in the 20s: http://patterico.com/2014/07/28/yes-prohibition-worked-in-terms-of-reducing-alcohol-consumption/ http://patterico.com/2014/07/28/yes-prohibition-worked-in-te.... (I am not asking this to support prohibition. I support legalization of marijuana).
  - shawabawa3 10y ago
    Legalization can increase prices (as illegally grown marijuana obviously has no tax, but may have inflated cost due to risk) It might also make it less cool. Teenages might be less likely to smoke if their parents/teachers/etc do (wild guess)
  - hdctambien 10y ago
    I had a roommate from Amsterdam and he said pot is seen as something kids do. When you grow up and get a job, you stop doing it.
    - hyperpape 10y ago
      But why should that be a result of legalization?
  - CaptSpify 10y ago
    Anecdotally: I hear people complaining that legalizing it "takes the fun out of it". I personally don't understand that, but I guess it's fun to do something rebellious if it's arguably harmless* *(I realize that I'm using the word "harmless" quite loosely here)
sv123 10y ago
Cannabis use among adults in the US has doubled in the last 10 years: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/prevalence-marijuana-use-among-us-adults-doubles-over-past-decade https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/prevalence-mar... I couldn't locate much information with some quick googling, but I don't think rates of schizophrenia have doubled in the same time period.
- Broken_Hippo 10y ago
  Cannabis use might not have actually doubled. According to your link, "The percentage of Americans who reported using marijuana in the past year..." The amount of people reporting increased. It is difficult to tell if actual use increased or if people are just more likely to admit they use it because of decreasing taboos.
simplyluke 10y ago
Yeah it's not like it was hard to get before or currently in the rest of the nation.

codr4life 10y ago

It has been more than a couple of years in Holland, Portugal and other places. People seem to smoke less when it's legal. And we have enough experience by now to see through the silly propaganda when it comes to health risks. The war on cannabis is about profit and control; there are no health risks to speak of; on the contrary, it helps a lot of people live normal lives without poisoning themselves with stupid chemical cocktails.

hyperpape 10y ago
Why should consumption decrease when the substance is legalized? The only real explanation I can think of off the top of my head is if certain types of legalization are really inconvenient (highly regulated sales and coffeehouses, vs. the black market). Prohibition reduced alcohol consumption in the 20s: http://patterico.com/2014/07/28/yes-prohibition-worked-in-terms-of-reducing-alcohol-consumption/ http://patterico.com/2014/07/28/yes-prohibition-worked-in-te.... (I am not asking this to support prohibition. I support legalization of marijuana).
- shawabawa3 10y ago
  Legalization can increase prices (as illegally grown marijuana obviously has no tax, but may have inflated cost due to risk) It might also make it less cool. Teenages might be less likely to smoke if their parents/teachers/etc do (wild guess)
- hdctambien 10y ago
  I had a roommate from Amsterdam and he said pot is seen as something kids do. When you grow up and get a job, you stop doing it.
  - hyperpape 10y ago
    But why should that be a result of legalization?
- CaptSpify 10y ago
  Anecdotally: I hear people complaining that legalizing it "takes the fun out of it". I personally don't understand that, but I guess it's fun to do something rebellious if it's arguably harmless* *(I realize that I'm using the word "harmless" quite loosely here)

sv123 10y ago

Cannabis use among adults in the US has doubled in the last 10 years: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/prevalence-marijuana-use-among-us-adults-doubles-over-past-decade https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/prevalence-mar... I couldn't locate much information with some quick googling, but I don't think rates of schizophrenia have doubled in the same time period.

Broken_Hippo 10y ago
Cannabis use might not have actually doubled. According to your link, "The percentage of Americans who reported using marijuana in the past year..." The amount of people reporting increased. It is difficult to tell if actual use increased or if people are just more likely to admit they use it because of decreasing taboos.

simplyluke 10y ago

Yeah it's not like it was hard to get before or currently in the rest of the nation.