Republicans: Pot is dangerous

“WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Is today's pot more dangerous than the marijuana people smoked back during the Woodstock era? Pot today is said to be 10 to 20 times stronger than it was back then, and 49 percent of high school seniors will have tried it by the time they graduate.

In a CNN poll taken last summer, 34 percent of Republicans said marijuana should be legalized. That is the highest level of support since 1969.

CNN's Paula Zahn spoke with CNN contributer William Bennett, secretary of education under President Reagan and drug czar under President George H. Bush, about the drug and its impact on the nation's kids.

CNN: Where's this pot coming from, this stronger stuff?

BENNETT: Well, this pot is coming from South America. It's coming from Mexico and we're growing some here in the United States. This is very potent marijuana. As they say, this is not your father's marijuana or, for our generation, our friends in college's marijuana, it's 10 to 20 times more powerful. Industrial strength!

The tetrahydrocannabinol, which is the toxic, potent ingredient, really is very, very, very, very, very powerful and that's probably the reason that marijuana leads the list in terms of diagnosis for drug problems among young people. It's the primary diagnosis for drug problems now, because it is so strong and so powerful.

CNN: Well, we should make note that, you know, just about every kid in every different socioeconomic group is trying it. We now have 11 congressional pages who have been dismissed from their duties after marijuana was reportedly found in their Capitol Hill dormitory. These House page jobs are extremely competitive. They're willing to take the risk.

BENNETT: Yes. It turns out to be Republican pages, too. Some helpful Democrat let the press know that these were Republican pages. I mean just to issue a correction, I'm not exactly sure what you said. It's not every kid. There are representatives of every group.

But most kids do not smoke marijuana. Twenty-two percent of our high school seniors use marijuana once a month and by the time a child gets to senior year in high school, about half of our kids have tried it. But 78 percent of kids do not regularly use marijuana and that's still a good thing. Sixty-six percent of the American people are opposed and they should be. It's a dangerous drug.

Look, just in the context of school, we know that marijuana negatively affects concentration, focus, memory and retention. Hello out there? Concentration, focus, memory and retention. If you were in school, arguably, concentration, focus, memory and retention are important things. We have spent a ton of money in this country and made many statements of deep sympathy for Alzheimer's, aging Americans who are getting Alzheimer's. This, marijuana use, brings about, if you will, voluntary Alzheimer's, and worse among young people because of the effects on the brain and on concentration and memory.

It also leads to the use of other drugs, like in the Bush family. Remember Dubya, and his cocaine indiscretions? Now, this is not some casual thing. It is regarded as casual and as a plaything by young people. At the same time, most young people -- another interesting piece of survey data -- say they would like stricter laws against drug use because they would like to be protected from, you know, the temptations that their friends offer. They are asking us to protect them. We need to do a better job.

Stricter drug laws? If you outlaw drugs, only outlaws will have drugs.”

“"... I'm not exactly sure what you said..."

woooops. There goes the short-term memory!

"Twenty-two percent of our high school seniors use marijuana once a month and by the time a child gets to senior year in high school, about half of our kids have tried it."

BILL, You okay dude?


DANG! This new industrial strength 409 -- I mean pot -- sure is skeery. Should I vote a 'straight' Democratic ticket?”

“If it's legalized, will that mean people who have never tried it might be inclined to do so? If use of pot is restricted, as is liquor; 21 yrs. to buy, no driving or operating heavy machinery while using, etc. does that mean our nation's cops will be busier handing out DUIs/DWI's? Will there be overcrowding at 7-11's and fast food places?”

“You're probably right... It takes 10 or 15 minutes to pay for gas since we got the lottery! <G>”

“There is nothing wrong w/pot except the government making it illegal!! MY OPINION!”

“If you can't find happyness in life with out being high, then you got bigger problems than arguing with our governemtn about legalizing a drug that will only make you feel good for so long, then you have to deall with the real world. Don't for get about all the drunk driving colisions in america. Thats right I called them colisions, not accidents, accidents are somthing that happens that you didn't intend to happen. Getting in a car plastered, what the hell do you think will happen? With that said and done, now what do you think will happen when you leagalize another drug that will increas the number of driving deaths. Is it fair to the children that are left parentless because some idiot desided to drive drunk. Now factor in marajuana into the senario, thousands of more deaths a year will occure; THAT CAN BE PROVENTED!”

“Not to make light of deaths from drunk driving in any shape or form, but what happened to your usual Republican Personal Responsibility routine?

Oh, I know. Everyone should be Personally Responsible, but only when the State LETS them.

I hearby nominate Iced Tea for Forester and Weed Commissioner.”

“Of course, you'll have to move to Waunakee, Wisconsin after graduation...”

“You can 'ONLY'stop crime by removing the monetary incentive involved with victimless activities.Do yourself a favor and research the cost to you, for having controlled drugs,prostitution
,gambling and others as crime without a victim( oh!the tax payer is the victim).whether legal or not the real change in popularity will be small.Hey!!did you know that the FDA hasn't approved the Pot your chldren are smoking.Does that older friend of your daughter have an "MD" behind his name?”

“POT makes your d!ck weak. Not that I know cuz I don't use drugs.”

“Pots sure are dangerous. I was out with the gas powered string trimmer at 7:00 this morning and one flew right by my head, Must have been going 70 mph. If that hit me it would have did some serious damage....They sure were nice flowers thou.”

“I'll be back in a minute, y'all, gotta bad case of the munchies...”

“I believe George Carlin once said..
"Nobody ever got high and beat their spouse...They may have gotten high and forgot to beat their spouse"

Any drug can be abused and alcohol is a far more dangerous drug then pot.”

“BENNETT: Yes. It turns out to be Republican pages, too. Some helpful Democrat let the press know that these were Republican pages.

This thread is about republican hypocrisy....


AGAIN.”

“Stricter drug laws? If you outlaw drugs, only outlaws will have drugs."

why dontcha feeel this way about guns, TBP?

BUSSSSSTED! ! !! !


dern....dripped rotel in da keyboard agin....”

“I can tell you, first hand, that pot is not any more potent than that available during the woodstock era. I have been a regular user through all of these times. There are some potent varieties avaliable; but there always were.
The "rot your brain" scenario is uuntrue as well. I work in a very high tech field and am considered better at my job than 99% of my peers.
Liberate marijuana!”

“I just can't believe there is still that segment of society that believes that marijuana is a dangerous drug, especially when compared to alchohol and cigarettes. If this applies to any of you,please, please, ask any doctor what are the negative health effects of alchohol and nicotene, then ask the same question of marijuana(only after asking about pot, it really puts them on the spot). It is beyond me why pot is illegal except for paranoid parents in the 1950's trying to blame everything on rock-n-roll. Soon their generation will be gone, and we'll have our pot. I'll smoke it on their f&%king graves!!! It will be legal, and nothing is going to stop that.


P.S. If you had to buy 2% milk from the local crack dealer, then milk would be a gateway drug you idiot.”

“I meant only ask the doctor about the dangerous effects of pot, after asking him/her about the same effects related to alchohol and nicotene. They stutter like a child caught in a lie. It helps if it's the older family type doctors, they'll hate you for it.”

“I love the "Marijuana leads to other drugs" argument. Every study on this has shown that cigarettes lead to pot. But then the politicians aren't making money from pot like they are from cigarettes.”

“Only pathetic losers smoke dope.”

“... in your humble opinion, LOL”

“Donman,I am a"freedom 4 drugs " sort,but would warn you about your stance on the, "leads too" chain.Under the present situation of control,no doubt pot leads to other drugs,dealers have to offer the "next step".this is only another reason for the legallization.”

“Ask the doctor Gordon, or does scientific data mean nothing to you? Perhaps you should try reading the bible,Genesis 2:29, just incase your local preacher has lied to you about pot as well. As far as the "loser" comment, I've always believed the best revenge is living well. I'm living very well right now. I pay taxes, I live in a big house on the hill(paid for),I want for nothing, and I smoke dope. Deal with it; it's going to be legal...tick tock tick tock....lol


P.S. How many potheads in dirty white tank-tops(wifebeaters) have you seen beating their wife and kids, or anyone for that matter? How many drunks have you seen doing that?

"True knowledge is realizing the extent of one's own ingnorance."
Confucious.”

“Uncliff, I personally wish the Government would deal with other things (maybe immigration, education, and defense) than what people do in their homes. But as long as the Gov claims that pot is bad because it leads to heroin I'll continue to counter with people that do heroin typically start with a nicotine addiction”

“The truth is THC does not act the same in all people. I used it for years, but in the end it made me sleepy, paranoid, and a bit stupid. It does not do that to everyone; I knew people in college who could smoke pot and actually study. If I did that, I'd have flunked out.

The criminal laws concerning drugs in the US do not work. Prohibition will never work, and the effort is too expensive in both economic and social terms.

The approach taken in many european countries(decriminalization) makes a great deal of sense. Funnel the money saved into treatment for those who can't stop. Driving while intoxicated (whether drugs or alcohol) should remain a serious crime.

Unfortunately, I doubt if our congress will ever have the guts to vote for it (and risk beins seen as "soft on drugs").”

“LOL @ Tilt! just a minor oversight on his part, i'm sure.

yeah gearjunkie, soft in the head is a little more appealing, apparently! ;-)”

“Whiskey:

" P.S. How many potheads in dirty white tank-tops(wifebeaters) have you seen beating their wife and kids, or anyone for that matter? How many drunks have you seen doing that? "

Actually, too many too count. A percentage of the population (15% in some studies) become more violent under the influence of pot. It also lessens inhibitions and effects judgement skills, inducing some normally non-violent people to act in a violent manner. But you are too addlebrained from your drug addiction to understand that.


If realizing the extent of your ignorance is the basis of knowledge, then you really are a pathetic loser with no knowledge at all. You are the reason it is called 'dope'.

Pot smokers in the woods are another reason to carry a weapon while backpacking. Just put a bullet in their brain and do the world a favor.”

“You've lost it. Seek help.”

“Well, tilt, I doubt whiskey, donman, and the other druggies here are capable of seeking help. They are all in self denial and are so brain-damaged they can rationalize anything to themselves.

The only benefit they provide to society is their lifestyle will kill them prematurely. But they will be so stoned they will probably enjoy it.”

“It's awesome that not only can you tell I'm a druggy, but that I also need help!

Gordon is one of my favorite trolls!”

“It's not trolling if it's the truth.”

“Then you're definitely trolling.”

“Jack Daniel's is my drug of choice gordo, but I don't begrudge anybody else theirs. Have you considered getting help for your hostility issues? You're starting to sound like the brainless twit who started this thread. Chill, brother.”

“So now we have an alcoholic jumping in to join Phallus in this discordant chorus of inanities?

No doubt you will provide some more of this cyber-griffonage.”

“Ahh, the comic relief. Gordon, you RULE!!”

“What ever you say Gore-dong”

“Pardon me, your holiness, I didn't realize you're tbp's twin. Now I know better than to take you seriously.
Sheesh!”

“MDMA used to be my drug!

I am happy to say that I am drug free 2 years now”

“8)”

“O.K., I'll bite. What the hell is MDMA?”

“XTC!!!!!!!!!!

8)”

“Voila!”

“Oy!”

“XTC!!!!!”

“Yikes!”

“Good info tilt!!!!!


8)”

“Dang, the worst thing we ever did back in the '60s was drop a tab of acid from time to time, maybe boot a little smack. Now, it's just Jack Black for me, yesssirree, good ole Tennessee sippin' whiskey!
Hey, Gordo, y'old troll, does heroin use lead to hard liquor?”

“So no one is going to challenge dirt worshiper's claim that pot has not become more potent?

Are the scientists lying? How many other long time dope smokers agree?

When I started smoking dope in the 70's, I paid $10.00 for a five finger oz. Smoked a couple joints just to get a little buzz. We rolled big ole fatties too. Now pot is is $40.00 or $50.00 a quarter. Two tokes off a pin joint and folks are stoned for two hours.

I guess drug use is synonomous with lying, but come on... Da #&%!$ is much more potent.”

“Smoke up, BP. I think I'm starting to figure you out, old man.”