4 ms·

I've got addicts and alcoholics in my family. My cousin died from overdose. I've got close friends who killed themselves with drink. Lots of you do too. Exc

by andyl 13y ago

I've got addicts and alcoholics in my family. My cousin died from overdose. I've got close friends who killed themselves with drink. Lots of you do too. Exciting times? IMHO, the last thing we should celebrate is new ways to get a buzz on. There should be more discussion about how to minimize the incredible damage caused by drugs and alcohol.

nested 13y ago
Not everyone uses cannabis to get their "buzz on".
r0s 13y ago
Far more people die from overeating, where's that crusade?
- tedunangst 13y ago
  Bloomberg was trying...
pdwetz 13y ago
Well, alcohol is a much more dangerous drug. As far as I know, there are no known fatalities from cannabis. It's also not physically addictive (unlike alcohol or nicotine).
- toyg 13y ago
  >It's also not physically addictive (unlike alcohol or nicotine). That's debatable and irrelevant anyway (coffee is addictive, should we ban it?).
  - enkephalin 13y ago
    debatable yes, but not irrelevant. if you want to stop taking your drug of choice, and you're spared from having to cope with physical withdrawal symptoms, then that's a big plus.
  - BillyMaize 13y ago
    Can you support the coffee is addictive comment? I drink coffee daily but have no issues short of a headache if I stop and I don't drink it on the weekends.
    - toyg 13y ago
      You can start with wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine_addiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine_addiction
baby 13y ago
I'd agree with you that a lot of damages are caused by alcohol, but the people need its opium, it's part of living, we have enough rules and laws that are stopping us from enjoying life. Legalization and Education should be done together.
jusben1369 13y ago
We need to get to a more mature place. Yes, drugs are addictive and destructive for a meaningful % of people who use them. Let's legalize, sell, tax, educate, support, provide health facilities vs make illegal, drive up risk, create criminal activity via gangs/syndicates and put young (men) people in jail etc. I'm not thrilled for sex workers and what they go through but I'd rather have it legalized and run by the state than illegal and run by pimps.
bdcravens 13y ago
I have a problem with alcohol. Many friends do not. It's up to me to make the best decision for my life, which is not drink and treatment as necessary, but I shouldn't tell those without the problem that it must be illegal because of my lack of self control. I know plenty of people who do not drink or smoke (cigarettes), despite how legal it is. They have their own reasons (health concern, religion, etc). Laws surrounding intoxication won't change. Intelligent will make the best decision for themselves, whether that's total abstinence or situational abstinence. Those who won't are probably making those same bad choices today, only the costs are greater.
enkephalin 13y ago
There should be more discussion about how to minimize the incredible damage caused by drugs and alcohol. you may not see it as such, but that's exactly what's going on here.
andyhmltn 13y ago
It's not just about 'getting a buzz on.' Personally it helps with creativity and relaxation. It's exciting because suddenly people are starting to realise that we shouldn't be punished for wanting to do something to our own bodies that harms nobody else in anyway shape or form.
ZeroGravitas 13y ago
> I've got addicts and alcoholics in my family. Me too. > My cousin died from overdose. Mine too (and my wife's). > I've got close friends who killed themselves with drink. Thankfully this doesn't apply to me, though not for lack of trying in some cases. But still, this is something to celebrate. Even if it only reduced the impact of drug-trafficking and related gang violence in one South American country, it would be worth celebrating. If it allows countries to de-militerize their police forces, it's a good thing. If it allows countries to save or raise tax money and spend it on social services or return it to taxpayers, it's a good thing. If it stop the selective enforcement of petty laws against outsider groups, then it's a good thing. Getting back to those who themselves suffer from drug dependencies, if legalization of cannabis defunds black-market dealers of other drugs, then it's a good thing. If a users dependency issue is brought to light and treated earlier (which is an explicit aim of the Uruguayan experiment), then that's a good thing. I'm not particularly interested in celebrating "new ways to get a buzz on", but as both our experiences testify, there is nothing new about "people getting a buzz on", even to an extreme, debilitating and deadly extent, what is new is how we deal with that existing reality. So yes, let's celebrate, and support this movement to a more evidence-based response and hope we can move society's approach to these problems forward, even if only one little step at a time.

by andyl 13y ago

nested 13y ago

Not everyone uses cannabis to get their "buzz on".

r0s 13y ago

Far more people die from overeating, where's that crusade?

tedunangst 13y ago
Bloomberg was trying...

pdwetz 13y ago

Well, alcohol is a much more dangerous drug. As far as I know, there are no known fatalities from cannabis. It's also not physically addictive (unlike alcohol or nicotine).

toyg 13y ago
>It's also not physically addictive (unlike alcohol or nicotine). That's debatable and irrelevant anyway (coffee is addictive, should we ban it?).
- enkephalin 13y ago
  debatable yes, but not irrelevant. if you want to stop taking your drug of choice, and you're spared from having to cope with physical withdrawal symptoms, then that's a big plus.
- BillyMaize 13y ago
  Can you support the coffee is addictive comment? I drink coffee daily but have no issues short of a headache if I stop and I don't drink it on the weekends.
  - toyg 13y ago
    You can start with wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine_addiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine_addiction

baby 13y ago

I'd agree with you that a lot of damages are caused by alcohol, but the people need its opium, it's part of living, we have enough rules and laws that are stopping us from enjoying life. Legalization and Education should be done together.

jusben1369 13y ago

We need to get to a more mature place. Yes, drugs are addictive and destructive for a meaningful % of people who use them. Let's legalize, sell, tax, educate, support, provide health facilities vs make illegal, drive up risk, create criminal activity via gangs/syndicates and put young (men) people in jail etc. I'm not thrilled for sex workers and what they go through but I'd rather have it legalized and run by the state than illegal and run by pimps.

bdcravens 13y ago

I have a problem with alcohol. Many friends do not. It's up to me to make the best decision for my life, which is not drink and treatment as necessary, but I shouldn't tell those without the problem that it must be illegal because of my lack of self control. I know plenty of people who do not drink or smoke (cigarettes), despite how legal it is. They have their own reasons (health concern, religion, etc). Laws surrounding intoxication won't change. Intelligent will make the best decision for themselves, whether that's total abstinence or situational abstinence. Those who won't are probably making those same bad choices today, only the costs are greater.

enkephalin 13y ago

There should be more discussion about how to minimize the incredible damage caused by drugs and alcohol. you may not see it as such, but that's exactly what's going on here.

andyhmltn 13y ago

It's not just about 'getting a buzz on.' Personally it helps with creativity and relaxation. It's exciting because suddenly people are starting to realise that we shouldn't be punished for wanting to do something to our own bodies that harms nobody else in anyway shape or form.

ZeroGravitas 13y ago

> I've got addicts and alcoholics in my family. Me too. > My cousin died from overdose. Mine too (and my wife's). > I've got close friends who killed themselves with drink. Thankfully this doesn't apply to me, though not for lack of trying in some cases. But still, this is something to celebrate. Even if it only reduced the impact of drug-trafficking and related gang violence in one South American country, it would be worth celebrating. If it allows countries to de-militerize their police forces, it's a good thing. If it allows countries to save or raise tax money and spend it on social services or return it to taxpayers, it's a good thing. If it stop the selective enforcement of petty laws against outsider groups, then it's a good thing. Getting back to those who themselves suffer from drug dependencies, if legalization of cannabis defunds black-market dealers of other drugs, then it's a good thing. If a users dependency issue is brought to light and treated earlier (which is an explicit aim of the Uruguayan experiment), then that's a good thing. I'm not particularly interested in celebrating "new ways to get a buzz on", but as both our experiences testify, there is nothing new about "people getting a buzz on", even to an extreme, debilitating and deadly extent, what is new is how we deal with that existing reality. So yes, let's celebrate, and support this movement to a more evidence-based response and hope we can move society's approach to these problems forward, even if only one little step at a time.