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Actually MDMA is probably the most dangerous drug that people are trying to get legalized. If I had a teenager, I wouldn't be concerned at all if xanax or weed

Actually MDMA is probably the most dangerous drug that people are trying to get legalized. If I had a teenager, I wouldn't be concerned at all if xanax or weed were legal. Plenty of people take these every day and get by just fine. I could totally see a stupid teenager taking MDMA 1-2 times a week for a good time, and then totally frying out their brain as a consequence. Look at what it does: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA#Long-term https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA#Long-term That said, I would still support its legalization as long as it could only be administered in controlled environments.

tyingq 9y ago
That's fair. I have no real personal exposure to MDMA users. I have, though, lots of personal exposure to crack cocaine, opiate, and meth users. There's very few functional addicts. All three are life ruining, if not life ending.
- opportune 9y ago
  I actually have met a few functional opiate addicts in my days, and I know very functional people that take meth on occasion, but which are not addicted to it. That said, I think it's more important to protect the 90% of people that can't use these drugs responsibly than for the remaining 10% of responsible users to be able to enjoy their favorite high.
King-Aaron 9y ago
> Look at what it does: > As of 2015, the long-term effects of MDMA on human brain structure and function have not been fully determined. MDMA in itself isn't as bad as other drugs, as has been mentioned. It's the compounds that it's cut/mixed with that poses most of the immediate dangers. In fact, the therapeutic potential of MDMA is reason enough for it's rescheduling. http://www.maps.org/research/mdma http://www.maps.org/research/mdma
- opportune 9y ago
  That's true in aggregate, but there is still obvious evidence that when taken over long periods, MDMA results in neurodegeneration, and that this is only partially reversible. Serotonergic pathways are especially effected, which is why acute MDMA use causes short-term depressive symptoms (tolerance), and long-term MDMA causes long-term depressive symptoms (neurotoxicity). I'm not saying MDMA is as bad as other drugs, nor that it should be illegal. My cousin's uncle's daughter's brother has taken it several times, and he thinks it definitely has a lot of potential for therapy - can't attest to PTSD, but he can absolutely see it working for couple's counseling. What I'm saying is that it shouldn't be something you can pick up for $5 at the gas station. If MDMA were legal, I would want there to be some pseudofed-like limit to how often you could purchase it (one dose every 3 months is generally considered safe), and I would also want it to be required to take the drug immediately after purchase.
goatsi 9y ago
I see cocaine as a higher risk, due to the long term permanent damage it causes to the heart and the brain. MDMA abuse causes a fairly rapid onset of negative symptoms and a reduction of positive effects that gets most people to stop before they can do too much damage to themselves (the long term impact of heavy MDMA abuse is still uncertain but anecdotal evidence suggests that recovery is possible).

tyingq 9y ago

That's fair. I have no real personal exposure to MDMA users. I have, though, lots of personal exposure to crack cocaine, opiate, and meth users. There's very few functional addicts. All three are life ruining, if not life ending.

opportune 9y ago
I actually have met a few functional opiate addicts in my days, and I know very functional people that take meth on occasion, but which are not addicted to it. That said, I think it's more important to protect the 90% of people that can't use these drugs responsibly than for the remaining 10% of responsible users to be able to enjoy their favorite high.

King-Aaron 9y ago

> Look at what it does: > As of 2015, the long-term effects of MDMA on human brain structure and function have not been fully determined. MDMA in itself isn't as bad as other drugs, as has been mentioned. It's the compounds that it's cut/mixed with that poses most of the immediate dangers. In fact, the therapeutic potential of MDMA is reason enough for it's rescheduling. http://www.maps.org/research/mdma http://www.maps.org/research/mdma

opportune 9y ago
That's true in aggregate, but there is still obvious evidence that when taken over long periods, MDMA results in neurodegeneration, and that this is only partially reversible. Serotonergic pathways are especially effected, which is why acute MDMA use causes short-term depressive symptoms (tolerance), and long-term MDMA causes long-term depressive symptoms (neurotoxicity). I'm not saying MDMA is as bad as other drugs, nor that it should be illegal. My cousin's uncle's daughter's brother has taken it several times, and he thinks it definitely has a lot of potential for therapy - can't attest to PTSD, but he can absolutely see it working for couple's counseling. What I'm saying is that it shouldn't be something you can pick up for $5 at the gas station. If MDMA were legal, I would want there to be some pseudofed-like limit to how often you could purchase it (one dose every 3 months is generally considered safe), and I would also want it to be required to take the drug immediately after purchase.

goatsi 9y ago

I see cocaine as a higher risk, due to the long term permanent damage it causes to the heart and the brain. MDMA abuse causes a fairly rapid onset of negative symptoms and a reduction of positive effects that gets most people to stop before they can do too much damage to themselves (the long term impact of heavy MDMA abuse is still uncertain but anecdotal evidence suggests that recovery is possible).