Job Discussion Forums

[rj]

[zaneth]

Marijuana use leads to macrame.

Easier to get than alcohol?? Really?

What's more dangerous, smoking a bit, or believing everything that people in authority tell you without making up your own mind?

I have mixed feelings on this topic. I don't use any intoxicants, haven't for years now. But some people I know do and I like them. I find them intelligent and interesting and in many ways wise. We're all wise and stupid in a mix. I would like to see people get beyond drugs and onto a real spiritual path, but I, too, have a hard time seeing a joint as a really major evil, compared to all the other evils out there. A very large percentage of people I respect have at least tried drugs. The best among them got beyond drugs.

[alamuerte]

i think that anyone who does something i don't like should be shot and pissed on.
to be fair, i also think that anyone who does something anyone else doesn't like should be shot and pissed on too.

[johnslat]

Dear alamuerte,
Well, that should take care of any population explosion problem pretty quickly.
Regards,
John
P.S. Although I don't quite see what useful function the urination part plays in the process.

[carpina]

[Laura C]

Well said that last poster! Why isn't there an applause emoticon for moments like these?

Another 2 cents' worth to add, and again from one of kev's posts (don't take it personally kev, I am genuinely enjoying the debate):

If a TEACHER is saying marijuana use is okay (even occasional recreational use) for teenagers, then I'm a little worried about what else he or she may shrug their shoulders about!
[/quote]

I find this a bit OTT. Just because I say that I don't think a kid should get kicked out of school for OCCASIONAL pot use, OUTSIDE school, doesn't mean that I automatically approve of everything else teenagers might do. (And just because I am teaching for a year doesn't mena I have appointed myself the moral guardian of my students.) Again I do tend to think comments like these shows the level of exaggeration often obvious in the anti-drugs brigade. I do actually happen to think I have fairly strong moral standards -- they just apply to more important things than a bit of pot. As I said, I worked with high risk teenagers for three years -- believe me, I know there are many many things more worth getting worked up about than them smoking pot (around 80% of the young women I worked with had suffered rape or sexual abuse while they were children or teenagers -- I was NOT going to yell at them if they smoked a joint. I did advise them if if they were feeling that vulnerable then smoking pot wouldn't be such a good idea for them. I certainly wouldn't have referred them for drugs counselling unless there was evidence of a much bigger problem.).

Let's keep things in perspective!

L

[Bindair Dundat]

[Laura C]

Alcohol does seem to be a greater problem for society; however, if alcohol is not *my* problem but marijuana is, shouldn't I try to do something about it?

BD[/quote]

I do agree with this. However, I think a main part of this debate's tone has been that teenagers should get counselled/expelled/suspended even if their marijuana use is NOT a problem (and I don't mean just by their standards).

I'm going to put my cards fully on the table here: I don't smoke pot now, and haven't for years. But I did, occasionally, as a teenager while in my last year at school. I studied all week, met up with my boyfriend Fri and Sat nights, we saw his friends, drank a few tins of beer (and I do mean a few) and occasionally smoked a joint (and I do mean occasionally). I got 3 A grades in my A levels -- only the second student in the history of our school to do so, got my B.A. and my M.A., worked abroad, did 'worthwhile' charity type work, am a published writer, yadda yadda yadda. Yet, has our school had drugs testing and a draconian policy, I could have got kicked out for having a joint maybe once every six weeks or so. Have I made my point yet??

I certainly agree that teenagers should get more education on drugs. But as I've already said, this needs to be done in the proper way. stating black and white, pot=smack is not the way to go.

L

[kev7161]

I guess we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I am anti-drug and anti-alcohol. I think that using (even marijuana) has the "potential" to cause problems. But I know I'm not going to change other posters minds and that's okay - - that is the nature of debate.

And I don't take offense when people disagree with my opinion except for when certain people (Carprina) word it like this:

"Drug counselling for smoking pot? R u nuts? Luara's right, you're wrong; alcohol's the main problem."

You know, if posters would say things like: 'in my opinion' or 'I disagree' or 'I think, believe, feel . . . ' then the world and this forum would be a much nicer place to live in. Or even a somewhat more civil tone instead of saying something like "you're wrong" would be nice. I'm not "wrong", I just have a different viewpoint than you. If you want to say I'm wrong about something then you should back it up with facts or stats or professional commentary on the subject.

Carpina also said:

"And you did imply that increased marijuana use amongst young people would lead to increased numbers of school massacres."

Yes, I did. And, a couple posts later, I clarified my meaning and even apologized for the confusion:

"As for the reference to "Bowling for Columbine", I didn't mean to imply that those murdering boys were high when they caused the violence, I was just using it as a reference to school violence. For most people in America (and Canada?), Columbine now equals school violence (sadly, for that city). Sorry about the confusion."

If we were having a silly topic about the weather or unusual hair styles, then maybe it would not be as important. But when having a serious discussion (especially when people feel strongly about the topic), I suggest reading ALL the posts before making a statement like Carpina's.


Okay, I'll shut up now.

[Magoo]

Marijuana has been found to cause cerebral impairment in the past few years. Don't know how much you'd need to smoke, though. Alcohol, however, needs very few studies. The majority of domestic violence in the UK is caused by the stuff (I speak as one who is very fond of the fizzy falling over water). I worked in pubs and bars for a number of years; the joke,'Instant a r s e hole-just add alcohol' is spot on. I have scars and broken metacarples to prove it (I was a manager for a few years). I wouldn't defend any drug, but ethynol and nicotine cost the UK Health Service a lot more than marijuana. I was an A&E/ER nurse for 4 years. Believe me-at the weekend, the managers made sure there were plenty of male staff around, just to join the fun. Imagine trying to stop some idiot bleeding to death while he's swinging punches at you. Apparently, nurses are now allowed to swing back. I do hope so

[Laura C]

[quote="kev7161"]I guess we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I am anti-drug and anti-alcohol. quote]

I agree that we must agree to disagree...

I'm a bit disappointed though. Of course you're entitled to be anti-drugs and anti-alcohol, but I'm really surprised that it seems to be so black and white for you, i.e., drugs=bad, all circumstances, all users. I wonder if you would have condoned my getting kicked out of school for occasional weekend smoking, even though I was making straight A's throughout?

Actually, better not answer that, or we'll start all over again...

L

[kev7161]

When my good friend was killed by a drunk driver a few years back, that is when I REALLY became anti-alcohol (I mean, I always had a mild disdain for liquor and people who drank themselves silly, but after that night when I was awoken at 2:30 in the morning with the news . . . )

When another good "friend" borrowed $300 as he was shy on rent money that month and then I found out later the money went for a marijuana (and something else drug-wise, can't remember now) purchase, well that was when I REALLY became anti-drug. By the way, I never got that money back as we parted company soon afterwards.

Can some kids smoke pot and be great students? Of course they can (and have). But, it's a roll of the dice. Not every kid is going to turn out A-OK. If you had kids (or if you do have kids), do you want to take that gamble? If you have students that you love, do you want their future at risk based on whether or not they "may be" affected or they "may not be"? I'm just putting in out there to think about.

Many people have jumped out of airplanes and landed safely on the ground, ready to do it all again. A few here and there have had faulty chutes and simply landed on the ground. If it was an adult wanting to try this (and there was no danger of hurting anyone else), I'd wish them luck and cross my fingers. If it's a minor wanting to do it, I'd certainly counsel them first on the potential dangers and maybe even try to talk them out
of it as a precautionary measure. But life is full of risks - we all have to make (and live with) our decisions and hope for the best outcomes.

[Mark100]

In a perfect world we would all be drug free, love our neighbours, never lie, never cheat, help our fellow man etc.

We do not however live in a perfect world.

Drug usuage is endemic in our society.

Whether it be prescription drugs, tobacco, alcohol or any one of the number of illicit drugs i don't feel that people should be stigmatised by usage of such substances especially if we are talking about recreational usage.
Drug abuse is a more difficult area to deal with but i would take the approach that it is a health problem and not a criminal one and should be dealt with by health professionals.
Drugs of various kinds have been used by many societies over the centuries and have provided a convenient release or escape from reality for many. Indeed they are and have been an important component in many cultural rituals in many different cultures.
Getting back to the original question about whether you have used drugs or not the safe answer would be to say no. If you want to be really smart you could say that you have a drink after work but you do not consider this a problem.

[lagerlout2006]

Take me to your dealer! I like that one.

To the OP question I might make light of it and say "Yes but I don't inhale" or "Of course I do-are you joking?" Then again they wouldn't see the joke in a lot of places.