marijuana - to be legal in Canada

[Jamie Robertson]

A senate committee was to review Canadian laws governing marijuana, and give a recommendation as to what the laws should be regarding this drug. The general consensus was that the most extreme decision would decriminalize the use of it. But to everyone's surprise, "In its final report, released on Wednesday, the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs says the government should make smoking pot legal, and should wipe clean the records of anyone convicted of possession." for the complete story see here. Not sure of how I feel about this decision yet.
These two sentences worry me a little:
"Scientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a social and public health issue".
- then maybe we should look at our policies regarding alcohol, instead of making marijuana legal? Don't get me wrong, I love my beer, vodka and Canadian Whiskey, but to say something should be legal on the basis that it isn't as bad as something else that is legal?
and "Our current drug laws fund organized crime, they fund terrorist groups around the world"
- this can be translated to "Our current drug laws fund [ someone other than our government ]." Looks like a budget surplus when the wack tobacky hits the market.
Jamie

[Ashish Hareet]

POT LEGAL
YEE HAW

[Jason Menard]

And what would surely follow next would be more prevalent on-the-job drug testing, which probably wouldn't be a bad thing.

[Cindy Glass]

Originally posted by Jamie Robertson:
- then maybe we should look at our policies regarding alcohol,

Been there - done that - didn't work very well AT ALL (see US Prohibition).
It is mostly a question of where to draw the line.

[Jamie Robertson]

Originally posted by Cindy Glass:

Been there - done that - didn't work very well AT ALL (see US Prohibition).
It is mostly a question of where to draw the line.

What I meant was that the line has been drawn for alcohol. Instead of creating a new line for pot, they are saying that pot's "badness" ( for lack of a better term ) is along the same lines as alcohol, so we'll use that line.
Not that this is going to happen soon, as big brother US is whining and threatening us not to legalize it, and the public opinion on this issue is strongly divided.
Jamie

[Paul Stevens]

All the draft dodgers are saying, "Why now!"

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Jamie Robertson:
Not that this is going to happen soon, as big brother US is whining and threatening us not to legalize it, and the public opinion on this issue is strongly divided.

You have to admit we have a stake in it as well. What if the US were the ones to legalize marijuana and Canada decided to keep it illegal. That would have an enormous impact on Canada, vastly increasing the amount of marijuana in circulation in Canada.
------------------
Are you a pothead, Focker?

[Mike Curwen]

In fact, Canada was *this* close to decriminalizing marijuana use as early as 1972.

Pierre Trudeau won the '72 election with a plank in his platform on the decriminilization of pot. Google for 'Canada LeDain Commission' if you want details. The '77 throne speech promised it was 'coming soon'... but by '79 they had signed a UN "Convention on Psychotropic Substances" which upheld the criminal nature of pot.

The very next year, we were all blessed with Nancy Reagan.

For the record, I have never used the stuff, and actually don't really approve of it all that much. But I think it's a bit ridiculous to have cops busting stoners. Aren't there more important things to do with public money? If it's a problem for someone, let it be handled by social safety nets like those in existence for alcohol and gambling (with, of course, the big holes those nets have).

[Anonymous]

Definatelly a way to improve Canada's tourism.

[Cindy Glass]

LOL !

[Rufus BugleWeed]

More drug testing, forget it.
You say I test positive for Cannibis.
Too Bad, So Sad, I went fishing in Canada last week.
Maybe Bugleweed can't show up stoned, but the weekend is partytime.
[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Rufus Bugleweed ]

[Thomas Paul]

They would have to close the border with Canada to keep the stuff out.

[Randall Twede]

i guess Oregon is ahead on this issue. simple possesion is just a fine here now. it is absolutely insane to throw people in jail for smoking a harmless herb.

[Thomas Paul]

Randall, marijuana is not harmless. It causes cancer and causes chromosomal damage. Do you consider alcohol to be harmless? Do you consider tobacco to be harmless? The most important thing right now is that it is illegal and that money spent on it ends up in the hands of terrorists. That should be enough reason for anyone to keep away from it.

[Jason Menard]

Would you want to be working with someone who smokes dope regularly?

[Mike Curwen]

Well... as for cancer: http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2002/06/24/Consumers/cancerfries_020624

And I doubt the local pusher in high school is a terrorist. That's a HUGE stretch for me.

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Mike Curwen:
And I doubt the local pusher in high school is a terrorist. That's a HUGE stretch for me.

And where did he get his stash from? And where did his supplier get his stash from? You get the picture.

[Thomas Paul]

Do you think the local pusher might kill someone who invaded his turf? Do you think the local pusher might kill a cop who tried to arrest him? Do you think the local pusher buys marijuana from organized crime and/or terrorists? Do you know? Do you care?

[Thomas Paul]

Originally posted by Mike Curwen:
Well... as for cancer: http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2002/06/24/Consumers/cancerfries_020624

Yes, there are different known carcinogens. And there is a level of risk with each one. The level of risk with marijuana is more than with cigarrettes.

[Rufus BugleWeed]

Why couldn't they isolate the active ingredient and package it as a pill. I bet that would eliminate the carcinogens.
I think I'd rather work with a pot head than a stupid person.

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Rufus Bugleweed:

I think I'd rather work with a pot head than a stupid person.

Isn't that rather like saying "I think I'd rather work with an idiot than a moron"?
But seriously, the "pot head" has made moral and social choices which deem him untrustworthy, posessing poor judgement, somebody who doesn't worry about the consequences of their actions and how they affect others, and generally a person of poor character. In addition, if they are stoned at work, that leads to a whole host of other issues. The worst you can say about the "stupid person" is that they aren't too bright.
-------------------
"Are you a pot head, Focker?" -- Meet the Parents
-------------------

[ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]

[Anthony Villanueva]

Yes. It's almost as bad as lighting a fag.
If I could only quit smoking...

[Dan Chisholm]

Originally posted by Rufus Bugleweed:
Why couldn't they isolate the active ingredient and package it as a pill. I bet that would eliminate the carcinogens.

The active ingredient is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Pharmacology of Tetrahydrocannabinol

[Rufus BugleWeed]

Originally posted by Jason:
But seriously, the "pot head" has made moral and social choices which deem him untrustworthy, posessing poor judgement, somebody who doesn't worry about the consequences of their actions and how they affect others, and generally a person of poor character.

I think pot heads are much easier to deal with than alcoholics.
The government published a movie in the thirties about the killer weed. I think they blamed weed for everything from heroin addiction to supporting communism. Have you been watching it?
Don't you think your being a little harsh - generally of poor moral character?

[Thomas Paul]

The movie you are thinking of, "Reefer Madness" was not a government film. It was put out by a small church group.
A brief history of the film can be found here:
http://www.reefer-madness-movie.com/history.html

[Thomas Paul]

Originally posted by Rufus Bugleweed:
I think pot heads are much easier to deal with than alcoholics.

As long as you have plenty of Oreo cookies around.

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Rufus Bugleweed:
Don't you think your being a little harsh - generally of poor moral character?

Nah, not really. I'm not just picking on the pot heads. I think that generally applies to any substance abuser (possibly with the exception of people who get hooked on substances that were prescribed by a doctor). Alcoholics are worse than someone who hits the weed regularly though, imho. But it's all relative.

[Rufus BugleWeed]

For a long time I thought Huey Lewis's song was I Need a New Truck. It seemed crazy but I liked the beat ( I Need a New Drug ).
The other one that got me was that dance tune Do the Lucky Lady which turned out to be Dude Looks Like a Lady.
Maybe I hang out with too many pot heads.
THC in a pill. Think of the social implications. How many shirts, dresses, pants and seat covers would be saved from seed pops. Somebody somewhere had one go in their eye.
Those butane lighters are dangerous too.
Smokey the Bear, would support it.
Smoking has to increase not only our cancer bill but dentistry too.
Hey, don't get me wrong I wish humanity could do without drugs. On the otherhand, I knew this woman that I liked so much more after she found Prozac.
[ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: Rufus Bugleweed ]

[Mapraputa Is]

Originally posted by Jason Menard:
Isn't that rather like saying "I think I'd rather work with an idiot than a moron"?

This is tangenial to the topic under discussion, but what exactly is the difference between "an idiot and a moron"? I need it for translation:
"The other secret of Big Macs is that you can have an IQ that hovers somewhere between "idiot" and "moron"
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000024.html

[Rufus BugleWeed]

This is meaningless drivel, no?
Big Mac's were better thirty years ago, Hostess Cupcakes too. Your comrade Shura posted about lard a short while back. Somebody told me they made them take the lard out of Hostess Cupcakes. Big Mac's are better with extra secret sauce, IMHO. My brother claims there is a correlation between how bad it is for you and how good it is.
Any Map, to answer your question, if I remember correctly an moron has the IQ of your mean 12 year old. I suspect an idiot's IQ is less.
The point the author makes in your article, makes poorly I might add, is that the process of making a Big Mac is so controlled and deterministic that anybody can make a nominal Big Mac. The author is crazy though. Running the grill at a McDonalds at lunch time is like trying to juggle four balls.

[Randall Twede]

as far as im concerned this conversation demonstrates the effectiveness of government brainwashing. as far as carcinogens go, 1 gram of marijuana lasts longer than an ounce of tobacco.
rufus,
they have isolated it and it is prescribed to people with glaucoma.
i have found it is a healing herb in general as well. it is especially helpful for depression.
if it wasnt illegal, no one would buy it from "terrorists". think of the tax revenue as well!
anyway, everyone is set i their opinion on this subject and there is convincing anyone to change their opinion. so

[pamchau]

I always thought the difference between an idiot and a moron is not so much their IQ, but that idiots run the country and morons vote for them! And both eat Big Macs!

[Jason Menard]

Mental deficiency, that is IQs below 80, used to be subdivided into a few different classifications.

IQ Range	Classification
70-80	Borderline deficiency
50-69	Moron
20-49	Imbecile
below 20	Idiot

Therefore an idiot was considered somebody with an IQ below 20, and a moron was somebody who had an IQ between 50-69. Modern slang usage however makes the two terms interchangeable.

[ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Randall Twede:
anyway, everyone is set i their opinion on this subject and there is convincing anyone to change their opinion. so

Actually Randle, I have no problem with the legal medical usage. I have also considered the benefits of making it legal, and there are some very convincing reasons to legalize it. I just feel that the social costs outweigh the benefits.
I have worked in drug free environments (you know, where people are subject to drug testing) since 1988, and I have to say that it's a nice feeling knowing you aren't working next to somebody whose faculties may be impaired by narcotics.

[ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by pamchau:
I always thought the difference between an idiot and a moron is not so much their IQ, but that idiots run the country and morons vote for them! And both eat Big Macs!

LOL

[Thomas Paul]

Originally posted by Randall Twede:
if it wasnt illegal, no one would buy it from "terrorists". think of the tax revenue as well!

So then work to make it legal but meanwhile don't use it.

[Mapraputa Is]

Thank you, everybody and especially Jason!

[Thomas Paul]

Originally posted by Jason Menard:
Mental deficiency, that is IQs below 80, used to be subdivided into a few different classifications.

You should note that all these terms are considered offensive today. Referring to a person who is developmentally disabled as a "moron" or "idiot" is as offensive as calling a black person a "nigger".

[Mapraputa Is]

Um, now I am confused.
"Moron" was translated as "ram" (or"sheep", not sure how to translate back, but it's an animal and unfortunately it is nothing but an offensive slang, whereas "moron", if I understand right, is both an offense and a medical term. Then, they think that " to use the technical terms" is a joke! Is it a joke? I thought it is not!

[Jason Menard]

Moron as it relates to a particular IQ range is pretty much archaic, although the sentence you showed us was actually referring to the IQ range, albeit in an insulting way, most of the time however it is strictly an insult with no technical meaning implied.
For example if I were to say "Hey you anonymous moron!", or "Hey you anonymous idiot!", the meanings would for all intents be identical.
Yes Map, if there is anything you want to know about insulting someone in English, I think I am qualified to help you out.
[ September 14, 2002: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]