Tom Toles for November 07, 2014

1,2,3….yeah, nine points.

It looks like the booze business is going up in smoke…

Interesting that DC voted approved legalization by a two-to-one margin, and the so-called liberty-and-small-government party soon to be in control of congress will have to approve it or not. My guess is that they will NOT act according to their supposed principles and heartily endorse the vote and the legalization, but will also be unwilling to openly block it and show themselves up as hypocrites, but will rather try to have it both ways somehow.

There was an interesting analysis of the election yesterday where they noted that, while Republicans swept the elections, the ballot initiatives almost universally favored what are typically considered Democratic issues: minimum wage, health care, legalized pot, gay marriage. So, while they elected Republicans, they want the things Democrats stand for. Huh.

“Who ever thought stoners would set a business model to be capitalized on?”It’s all in how you define “stoner.” I know some adults who occasionally smoke pot who would otherwise be considered responsible adults and are considerate enough not to smoke it in front of me when they invite me over. Conversely, I know others who reenforce every negative “stoner” stereotype.

I lived in Anchorage in 1983; it was legal then, so this is just a loop back to where it was.

Be needed for next 2 years

Some people voted GOP so the government would be in responsible hands while they’re stoned.

Sorry Bruce 4671,Pot is a proven carcinogen. Dopers are in denial like so many people I’ve known were about tobacco (before they all died). Pot also has long term affects on mental functions, especially on juveniles.

Science News had an article, stating that while pot is not as dangerous as some believe, it is not harmless. Unlike most article which get few comments, huge numbers of dopers came out screaming.

Also it is estimated that 10% of pot users do get addicted, psychologically if not physically.

Adverse reactions to prescription drugs kills about 300,000 people a year, marijuana kills: zero. (yes, intoxication is a problem but ever checked out how many stoned on prescription drugs cause vehicle accidents?) If you choke while trying to swallow a brick, marijuana might “klll you”. It DOES work better btw on many conditions than big pharmas offerings. Also nicotine is more addictive than heroin, and marijuana is NOT a “narcotic” like the opioids so physical addiction isn’t there, while as with other non-narcotic drugs, psychological dependence (used “recreationally”) CAN occur in some prone individuals- still nothing like heroin or meth danger.

But, the most dangerous drug affecting America today may well be “TEA”.

Again, there are people here claiming that pot is completely harmless, causing NO deaths at all, and that is NOT so.

“Anyone who uses the product gets stoned. Anyone who gets stoned is a stoner. You’re just talking degrees. All drinkers are not drunks.”You’re lumping together responsible job holding adults who occasionally smoke pot in with jobless layabouts who do nothing but smoke pot, then say the same isn’t true with occasional drinkers and alcoholics. One can use pot recreationally as one does alcohol just as one can be utterly obsessed with it just like raging alcoholics.I’m not interested in locking up someone who recreationally smokes pot in the privacy of their own home than I am someone who gets completely off their face drunk at home.

LOL!! Great ‘point’ Mr. Toles!

It would help your case if you posted a link to some kind of study to back up your claim. Otherwise many people will file away your post right next to the Refer Madness video.

As noted, I still have some reservations on “recreatonal” use of any impairing substance, especially regarding DUII, and psychological impacts on youth (My dad was an alcoholic and hooked on tobacco at age 12, back in 1920. Hmm you could buy heroin and cocaine then too!), but medically and for many other uses, “hemp” and marijuana are extremely valuable, AND beneficial. Can’t say the same for tobacco, and alcohol’s one supposed positive use for fuel, takes more energy and land damage to produce than makes sense cost-benefit wise.

I like a glass of wine with dinner, but got away from booze to get “stoned” years ago. Hooked on tobacco, all those free ciggies the companies so kindly gave us for free in ’Nam. Been on pain pills for decades, some highly addictive and dangerous, but thanks to a change in medicine to vapor ingestion, have basically stopped taking those blessings from big pharma.

Which it IS interesting that medical dispensaries require you to state in writing that you will not drive within 3 hours of “medicating”. How many bars, or pharmacies, require the same for alcohol, or valium/Oxycodone/etc.?