5 ms·

What is the scope of Cannabis related costs (such as gov covered rehab, disability from those that did dangerous stuff on drugs, O.D.'s or took something contam

What is the scope of Cannabis related costs (such as gov covered rehab, disability from those that did dangerous stuff on drugs, O.D.'s or took something contaminated, non employment from those that cannot hold a job, what amount of social cannabis is a gateway to heavier stuff, etc.) I know that there are many factors here - legal vs illegal (where any tax is better than no tax) clean vs dirty (where I presume the higher the legality the more likely it is safe), the social advantages and alternatives (where people who have an active social life are more productive), etc.

lotsofpulp 3y ago
I imagine inconsequential compared to societal costs of refined sugar, saturated fats, and alcohol.
- steve76 3y ago
  [dead]
whalesalad 3y ago
> disability from those that did dangerous stuff on drugs, O.D.'s or took something contaminated, non employment from those that cannot hold a job, what amount of social cannabis is a gateway to heavier stuff, etc. Cannabis is really not what you think it is.
- sam_goody 3y ago
  Perhaps, I do not take any recreational drugs, so I might have the wrong mental image. But I do work with teenagers, and have heard from many that blame their lack of class or job stability on marijuana, who complain that they have lost years of their life in a cloud, or that have done stupid stuff because they were either high, or bec. they were stressed out when not high. I know a kid who is a lost cause, and his friends claim he took contaminated drugs; are they wrong? I cannot imagine that it isn't a gateway - its not catchy like LSD, but someone who makes out with friends is surely more likely to try LSD, Meth or Coke, no?! Would love to hear more - I know lots of people who encourage me to try a joint or two! BTW, I saw once a similar comparison of cigarette taxes vs related costs. Surprisingly worthy comparison.
  - whimsicalism 3y ago
    I think there certainly could be productivity/etc. costs from widespread weed legalization, but the way that you mention it in the same breath as LSD, meth, or coke makes me think you think of weed as a much more serious drug than it is. If anything, the primary function weed has as a gateway drug is because people speak so terribly about it (and with LSD in the same breath) that when you try it and realize - oh this is not really scary/terrible in the way it was described, maybe they've been lying about all drugs the whole time? Can't find the studies right now, but there has been evidence of positive societal effects from pot consumption because of how it displaces alcohol.
  - hydrok9 3y ago
    "makes out with friends?" There's no comparison between weed and these other drugs. "Trying a joint or two" has no negative repercussions unless you are prone to paranoia or anxiety. But you are describing teens who are regular users. Teens make bad decisions. Smoking marijuana every day will (can) definitely do the things they told you. Make you slow, only care about smoking, etc. The person who lost their mind either was very sensitive to some mental illness and should not have been doing any drugs, or smoked spice (NOT marijuana). Also "government rehab" would be an absolutely fantastic thing to have for marijuana. There are tons of people with a marijuana habit who are self-medicating (and were before legalization) and one of the points of legalization is to help people NOT abuse the drugs. Unfortunately there is nothing like this where i live, even though cannabis is legal here. Fwiw, in my experience the first ("gateway") drug that kids get into is alcohol.
  - wootland 3y ago
    > I know a kid who is a lost cause, and his friends claim he took contaminated drugs; are they wrong? Yes, they are wrong. There's no such thing as "contaminated" marijuana, that's an urban myth. As far as productivity, it depends on how you look at it. You can be much more creative while using marijuana, it can also be great to boost productivity if you're tired or not in the mood to be creative... It may have you re-examine if you want to overwork, make business your life, climb the corporate ladder... but all of those seem like positive revelations too and a much needed counterbalance to all of the pro-corporate propaganda we all drown in.
titzer 3y ago
As they say, five drunk people start a fight, five high people start a band.
IE6 3y ago
> What is the scope of Cannabis related costs (such as gov covered rehab, disability from those that did dangerous stuff on drugs, O.D.'s or took something contaminated, non employment from those that cannot hold a job, what amount of social cannabis is a gateway to heavier stuff, etc.) You've framed this question as though cannabis is the same as meth or something so the question is a bit bad-faith. I'd suggest researching a bit on the topic if you're actually curious.

lotsofpulp 3y ago

I imagine inconsequential compared to societal costs of refined sugar, saturated fats, and alcohol.

steve76 3y ago
[dead]

whalesalad 3y ago

> disability from those that did dangerous stuff on drugs, O.D.'s or took something contaminated, non employment from those that cannot hold a job, what amount of social cannabis is a gateway to heavier stuff, etc. Cannabis is really not what you think it is.

sam_goody 3y ago
Perhaps, I do not take any recreational drugs, so I might have the wrong mental image. But I do work with teenagers, and have heard from many that blame their lack of class or job stability on marijuana, who complain that they have lost years of their life in a cloud, or that have done stupid stuff because they were either high, or bec. they were stressed out when not high. I know a kid who is a lost cause, and his friends claim he took contaminated drugs; are they wrong? I cannot imagine that it isn't a gateway - its not catchy like LSD, but someone who makes out with friends is surely more likely to try LSD, Meth or Coke, no?! Would love to hear more - I know lots of people who encourage me to try a joint or two! BTW, I saw once a similar comparison of cigarette taxes vs related costs. Surprisingly worthy comparison.
- whimsicalism 3y ago
  I think there certainly could be productivity/etc. costs from widespread weed legalization, but the way that you mention it in the same breath as LSD, meth, or coke makes me think you think of weed as a much more serious drug than it is. If anything, the primary function weed has as a gateway drug is because people speak so terribly about it (and with LSD in the same breath) that when you try it and realize - oh this is not really scary/terrible in the way it was described, maybe they've been lying about all drugs the whole time? Can't find the studies right now, but there has been evidence of positive societal effects from pot consumption because of how it displaces alcohol.
- hydrok9 3y ago
  "makes out with friends?" There's no comparison between weed and these other drugs. "Trying a joint or two" has no negative repercussions unless you are prone to paranoia or anxiety. But you are describing teens who are regular users. Teens make bad decisions. Smoking marijuana every day will (can) definitely do the things they told you. Make you slow, only care about smoking, etc. The person who lost their mind either was very sensitive to some mental illness and should not have been doing any drugs, or smoked spice (NOT marijuana). Also "government rehab" would be an absolutely fantastic thing to have for marijuana. There are tons of people with a marijuana habit who are self-medicating (and were before legalization) and one of the points of legalization is to help people NOT abuse the drugs. Unfortunately there is nothing like this where i live, even though cannabis is legal here. Fwiw, in my experience the first ("gateway") drug that kids get into is alcohol.
- wootland 3y ago
  > I know a kid who is a lost cause, and his friends claim he took contaminated drugs; are they wrong? Yes, they are wrong. There's no such thing as "contaminated" marijuana, that's an urban myth. As far as productivity, it depends on how you look at it. You can be much more creative while using marijuana, it can also be great to boost productivity if you're tired or not in the mood to be creative... It may have you re-examine if you want to overwork, make business your life, climb the corporate ladder... but all of those seem like positive revelations too and a much needed counterbalance to all of the pro-corporate propaganda we all drown in.

titzer 3y ago

As they say, five drunk people start a fight, five high people start a band.

IE6 3y ago

> What is the scope of Cannabis related costs (such as gov covered rehab, disability from those that did dangerous stuff on drugs, O.D.'s or took something contaminated, non employment from those that cannot hold a job, what amount of social cannabis is a gateway to heavier stuff, etc.) You've framed this question as though cannabis is the same as meth or something so the question is a bit bad-faith. I'd suggest researching a bit on the topic if you're actually curious.