when the herb kicked in and your rig sounds perfect

I don't personally believe that pot is any worse than alcohol, but I am not under the delusion that it is not a drug, nor that it can be addictive. Different people have different tolerances to chemical addiction. Some are very susceptible, and for them pot can be a gateway drug just as alcohol often is. If you "need" it to relax or unwind, you likely have a problem.

Oldhvymec, I agree with much of what you said, but there is a difference between an OCD / addictive personality, and a susceptibility to chemical addiction. I would not be too quick to paint with the same brush.

I think most can agree that senseless punitive laws targeting people that essentially are hurting themselves, only do more harm.  Portugal has shown that as I am sure others will.

My, how fortunate I am to be associated with all of the "Superior" beings an Agon, but, I'm from a different generation, one that considered the fact that some people were born less fortunate than others, and those people need help from those who had the good luck of being born more fortunate.

Interesting, you must be much younger than the average Audiogon user. Younger generations are more altruistic, and share the wealth more.

Longitudinal studies of all cause mortality has shown increased death due to cannabis consumption, however, its usage is far lower than alcohol, and not "mainstream", so comparatively, I am not sure comparisons are easy.


Cannabis, like alcohol is absolutely addictive, but similar to alcohol is not addictive to everyone. I think around 25% is the accepted stat of uses who have some level of problem, which I don't believe is too far off alcohol.

wolf_garcia,

I am concerned that your denial of what is easily Googled, may be an indication of an underlying issue:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33464286/

While there are other studies, smaller in nature that suggest Cannabis is simply an indicator or other issues, many other studies have concluded otherwise, hence to claim that "There are simply zero reliable "longitudinal studies" showing increased death from cannabis use...none. Period."  is troubling.

I clearly said that 25% of users (regular) exhibited some sort of problem, which does not mean addicted. Somewhere around 10% of regular users are identified to have a problematic dependency and 2% to have what would be identified as a chemical addiction.

I am not inclined to tell adults what to do when the only person they are hurting is themselves. We do have a duty of care to our children though, so promoting false information about dangers is breaking that duty of care, especially given the significant body of evidence forming that Cannabis use can cause developmental damage in growing brains, made worse where a predisposition to a mental health issue already exists. We know now that the brain keeps developing till about the age of 25, so caution is a more intelligent course of behavior.

stereo5,

You are not helping your cause. Many drugs are extracts of plants, and other life forms. That it starts as a weed does not negate that it has drugs in it.  That statement is a sign of weakness.

I don't see anyone in this threat extolling the virtues of alcohol consumption as an elixir of life. I think most are aware of the dangers of alcohol, but alcoholics will be the first to say they don't have a problem.  Some success in life is not evidence of never using drugs. Who knows what you could have achieved without, or perhaps the weed is masking an underlying never treated issue.


With odd exception, I don't see anyone suggesting more legal implications for Cannabis use.  What most are saying, is ignore the facts at your own peril. Cannabis is essentially a drug, that is why you smoke it after all, and while it may make you mellow, for some people it becomes a problem, even an addiction, and there is growing evidence of damage to developing brains. Like alcohol, moderation, and be aware of the risk, don't pretend they don't exist.   stereo5, your outbursts, are supporting my argument.