# The scourge that is the demon weed **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 4, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860 "2018-01-04T17:54:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/141 "2018-01-07T16:42:29Z")
…taking the middle path here, and lifelong user. Hardly any more, kinda weirds me now, but for 30-40 yrs…24/7/365, work hard play hard etc… Nothing is risk free, but compared to alcohol and other what I call hard drugs, like meth or heroin, cannabis in general is pretty harmless. Some major gray areas though, regarding health. I’m old school, when strains were so much weaker, but even the, chronic users I knew, especially Indica users, seemed to alyways have a cough and just…I dont know…febbleness? haha:cool: Ive been a sativa believer since the 60’s, as lean towards the stimulant side of things. That desire got me in all SORTS of troubles with harder drugs, and sativa (and coffee and donuts) helped me self wean off that bad shit… I also feel that Running Coaches point about overdoses is well taken. People on the edge of things already, can get a push over the edge. Ive always regarded a psychedelic experience as a good thing, but for some people, well its not. Human software does get broken, and not easy to fix. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/142 "2018-01-07T16:48:02Z")
I’ll just add, in terms of “harmfulness,” pot is harmless in any context, USED RESPONSIBLY. People can be stupid at times, so there’s a good argument for regulation. But that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/143 "2018-01-07T16:55:46Z")
We tried to make stupid illegal. Turns out, that’s a stupid idea. So, we’re stuck. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/144 "2018-01-07T16:57:31Z")
I’m trying to make my kids not stupid. The jury is still out on that one. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/145 "2018-01-07T17:00:13Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > I’ll just add, in terms of “harmfulness,” pot is harmless in any context, USED RESPONSIBLY. People can be stupid at times, so there’s a good argument for regulation. But that’s about it. Well, fuck, _strychnine_ is harmless if used responsibly. You sure changed your tune from literally harmless, didn’t you? The first line of responsibility are the ones “preaching the gospel”. Dowd may not have had that experience if she didn’t get the impression that pot is harmless. Acknowledge potential problems and provide sober guidance to the newbies. Admit it’s not for everyone. If it’s so harmless, why are there so many articles on pro-pot sites on avoiding a rookie freakout? ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/146 "2018-01-07T17:17:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Well, fuck, _strychnine_ is harmless if used responsibly. _strychnine_ is by definition, deadly when ingested. To what responsible use case were you referring? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/147 "2018-01-07T17:24:36Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > _strychnine_ is by definition, deadly when ingested. To what responsible use case were you referring? It was commonly used as a stimulant early in the last century. The[winner of the 1904 Olympic Marathon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hicks_(athlete)) was given two small doses in the last few miles. > [@](#): > > Had the race been run under current rules, Hicks would also have been disqualified: his assistants had given him a dose of 1/60 of a grain (roughly 1 mg) of strychnine[3] and some brandy (Remy Martin) because he was flagging badly during the race; the first dose of strychnine did not revive him for long, so he was given another. As a result, he collapsed after crossing the finishing line. Another dose might have been fatal. Strychnine is now forbidden for athletes. It was also present in numerous OTC tonics. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/148 "2018-01-07T17:29:14Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > I’m trying to make my kids not stupid. The jury is still out on that one. With advances in CRISPR technology, there might be hope for them. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/149 "2018-01-07T17:29:50Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It was commonly used as a stimulant early in the last century. Yeah, doctors commonly performed “blood-letting” for various therapeutic purposes in bygone days. Good thing we eventually learned how HARMFUL that was. :rolleyes: Gawd you are a quite the fucking idiot, aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/150 "2018-01-07T17:29:55Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Well, fuck, _strychnine_ is harmless if used responsibly. > You sure changed your tune from literally harmless, didn’t you? > > The first line of responsibility are the ones “preaching the gospel”. Dowd may not have had that experience if she didn’t get the impression that pot is harmless. > > Acknowledge potential problems and provide sober guidance to the newbies. > Admit it’s not for everyone. > If it’s so harmless, why are there so many articles on pro-pot sites on avoiding a rookie freakout? Because it is something new. Anytime you introduce anyone to anything for the first time, it is a good idea to make sure that the person has a good time. And that is the reason for such articles. It is not to protect them from harm, it is to make sure they have a good time. I am a very rare smoker, but I had occasion and reason recently to ingest quite a bit, for me, more than I had done since I was in my 20’s. I was probably OD’ing, in that it was not entirely pleasant for a bit, I was having trouble preventing myself from melding with the couch, but I certainly was not OD’ing in that there was any risk to my health. If that was my first experience with weed, then I may have said that I don’t want to do it again, based solely on that. As I do partake a hit or two on occasion, and did smoke more regularly back in the day, I knew I was fine, and that the unpleasantness would wear off soon enough, which it did. Then the only side effect was that I refused to share the lime flavored tostitos with anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/151 "2018-01-07T17:30:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > With advances in CRISPR technology, there might be hope for them. Lost out in the other thread, so back here for a few cheap shots? ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/152 "2018-01-07T17:38:27Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Well, fuck, _strychnine_ is harmless if used responsibly. > You sure changed your tune from literally harmless, didn’t you? Why does this distinction matter? Nothing is literally harmless. We don’t judge any other subject in such a boolean way. Why does pot have to adhere to a standard that nothing else in the world has to live to for it to be allowed? It’s the hyperbolic way we approach this subject that is the problem and leads to framing it in such absurd ways. We need to knock it off and discuss the reality of the situation rather than creating absurd straw men and jousting them. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/153 "2018-01-07T17:40:55Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > Why does this distinction matter? Nothing is literally harmless. We don’t judge any other subject in such a boolean way. Why does pot have to adhere to a standard that nothing else in the world has to live to for it to be allowed? It’s the hyperbolic way we approach this subject that is the problem and leads to framing it in such absurd ways. > > **We need to knock it off and discuss the reality of the situation rather than creating absurd straw men and jousting them.** That’s what I’ve been _trying_ to do. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/154 "2018-01-07T17:42:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Gawd you are a quite the fucking idiot, aren’t you? why so cranky? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/155 "2018-01-07T17:47:39Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > why so cranky? THC deficiency would be my unqualified diagnosis. Puff, puff, pass. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/156 "2018-01-07T17:58:05Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > why so cranky? Probably caffeine this morning. I am just that way to some extent all the time, no matter what mind-altering substance might be influencing me at the moment. Arguing with idiots is a challenge I accept only grudgingly. It stimulates my crankiness in a good way. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/157 "2018-01-07T18:00:46Z")
sip sip, pass. ---
**Author:** ![AI\_Proofreader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@AI\_Proofreader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AI_Proofreader)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/158 "2018-01-07T18:01:50Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > It’s actually older than that - the very fact that y’all are calling it marijuana (as opposed to cannabis) stems from efforts to use it to demonize, jail and deport Mexican immigrants in the 1930s. > > Everything old is new again. Wait… you’re from France, and you just said “ya’ll.” I love the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/159 "2018-01-07T18:19:06Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > I’m trying to make my kids not stupid. The jury is still out on that one. Your best shot is to focus heavily on their hereditary disadvantages and pray for nullification. Best of luck! ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860/160 "2018-01-07T18:24:18Z")
I like the way this is going. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-scourge-that-is-the-demon-weed/805860.md?page=9)