As far as I am concerned pot is no better or worse then alcohol. It should be legalized. If my body is truly my body then why is it my governments business what I do with it?

What are your issues with it? and why?

What makes this such a no-no? Is it worse in your views than alcohol?

Many states and cities have decriminalized it citing a poor enforcement record and imprudent use of police resources.

Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful effects upon social functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit. These withdrawal symptoms begin within about 1 day following abstinence, peak at 2-3 days, and subside within 1 or 2 weeks following drug cessation.

Is Marijuana Addictive or isn't It?
Based on all the information available, the answer is yes and no.

For people with dependency tendencies, the answer is YES. There are too many people in the world who smoke marijuana almost every day to say otherwise. Other people argue that they can take or leave it and have quit for long periods of time. And for those people the answer would probably be NO.

The thing about marijuana is it so subtle. There are places in California where it is legal to possess small quantities for private use. So what's the problem?

The problem with marijuana is, like any other drug, can become the focal point of a person's life. All of a sudden you want to get high before or during anything and everything. Your life begins to revolve around smoking marijuana. Like alcohol, it can be used responsibly and occasionally, or it can get out of control and cause serious problems.

Some people are "addicted" to marijuana and try to rationalize or justify using it. Like any other drug, marijuana can become the focal point of your life.

The Effects of Marijuana Use
THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabis receptors, kicking off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the "high" that users experience when they smoke marijuana. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. The highest density of cannabis receptors are found in parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thoughts, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement.

Not surprisingly, marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. Research has shown that marijuana's adverse impact on learning and memory can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off. As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a suboptimal intellectual level all of the time.

Research into Marijuana Use
Research on the long-term effects of marijuana abuse indicates some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term abuse of other major drugs. For example, cannabinoid withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stress-response system3 and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine. Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse.

Marijuana Use and Mental Health
A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia. Some of these studies have shown age at first use to be a factor, where early use is a marker of vulnerability to later problems. However, at this time, it not clear whether marijuana use causes mental problems, exacerbates them, or is used in attempt to self-medicate symptoms already in existence. Chronic marijuana use, especially in a very young person, may also be a marker of risk for mental illnesses, including addiction, stemming from genetic or environmental vulnerabilities, such as early exposure to stress or violence. At the present time, the strongest evidence links marijuana use and schizophrenia and/or related disorders. High doses of marijuana can produce an acute psychotic reaction, and research suggests that in vulnerable individuals, marijuana use may be a factor that increases risk for the disease.

Research shows that when under the influence of marijuana drivers have been
found to have a harder time following their lane (known as tracking ability). It also
reduces a driver’s ability to perceive changes in the relative speed of other vehicles
and to adjust his/her own speed accordingly.
Marijuana use has been found to increase the reaction time needed to respond to an
emergency decision-making task, such as responding to sudden changes in speed of
the vehicle ahead or to the vehicle’s brake lights. A driver needs to notice
something in order to respond to it and that has to do with the driver’s attention.
Because marijuana use can disturb concentration and short-term memory, a driver
has a harder time paying attention to events and situations on the road.
Marijuana impairment is most severe during what is known as the acute phase,
which typically lasts for up to 60 minutes after smoking. This is followed by postacute
(the phase after the acute one) and residual phases. The residual phase is 150
minutes or more after smoking, during which impairment decreases rapidly. The
degree of impairment during the residual phase depends on the amount consumed.
After smoking a so-called typical dose (about 20 mg) of THC, the residual phase
lasts 2-3 hours.
Regular users have been found to experience less effect from the same dose. Unlike
alcohol, marijuana’s THC concentrations can vary significantly from batch to
batch. The degree of impairment is dose related. Since cannabis is illegal and
unregulated, there is no standardized consumption limit as there is for drinking
alcohol and driving. Using alcohol in combination with marijuana even at low
doses has been shown to produce severe driving impairment and increase the risk of
accidents.
It is the effects of marijuana on driving—not the legal status of pot—that makes its
use illegal both before or while taking control of a motor vehicle.
Sources:
Canadian Public Health Association, Pot and Driving Campaign, 2005
CCSA Cannabis FAQs , March 2003
CCSA Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis, December 2006

Marijuana and Mental Health
There is plenty of research to show that marijuana use can cause short lived psychotic episodes which include mild impairment of consciousness, distortion of time sense, a dream like euphoric state, fragmentation of thought processes and auditory and visual
hallucinations. These experiences are usually brief and the person soon returns to normal.
There is evidence from a number of studies that rates of marijuana use are higher among those people with schizophrenia than the general population (about twice as high). Regular marijuana use increases the chance of developing later schizophrenia or a schizophrenia like illness by approximately two to three times.
Research suggests that those who start using marijuana at an early age (under 15) have an increased risk of developing a schizophrenic disorder when compared with those who started using at age 18 or older. Marijuana use is a moderate risk factor in the development of schizophrenia for those who are already vulnerable because of individual or family reasons. Using marijuana can make symptoms and treatment outcomes worse for those who have schizophrenia. Research also shows that marijuana use is a moderate risk factor for developing later depression especially for those who begin using under the age of 18.
Source: The Beckly Foundation Drug Policy Program, Cannabis and Mental Health: Responses to the Emerging Evidence April 2006

If only those poor indigenous "Savages" Had, had these facts !
Why, they might not have lost everything to those "puritan" Europeans !
Thank you, Thank you so much for killing thousands , cramming us off into "forgotten " little corners of the country, and showing us the "error" of our ways !

Ah, another lib ! I swear its just soooo easy !
Look up the name "gall" he was my mothers greatgrandfather

That's a very limited analysis of Native American culture.

Here is some factoids from the Website of Nationwide Treatment Centres for Alcohol and Drug Addictions.

Long-term marijuana abuse can lead to addiction; that is, compulsive drug seeking and abuse despite its known harmful effects upon social functioning in the context of family, school, work, and recreational activities. Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit. These withdrawal symptoms begin within about 1 day following abstinence, peak at 2-3 days, and subside within 1 or 2 weeks following drug cessation.

Myth: Marijuana is Highly Addictive. Long term marijuana users experience physical dependence and withdrawal, and often need professional drug treatment to break their marijuana habits.

Fact: Most people who smoke marijuana smoke it only occasionally. A small minority of Americans - less than 1 percent - smoke marijuana on a daily basis. An even smaller minority develop a dependence on marijuana. Some people who smoke marijuana heavily and frequently stop without difficulty. Others seek help from drug treatment professionals. Marijuana does not cause physical dependence. If people experience withdrawal symptoms at all, they are remarkably mild.

THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabis receptors...

There are currently two known subtypes, CB1[1][2] which is expressed mainly in the brain, but also in the lungs, liver and kidneys and CB2 which is mainly expressed in the immune system and in hematopoietic cells. Mounting evidence suggests that there are novel cannabinoid receptors[3] that is, non-CB1 and non-CB2, which are expressed in endothelial cells and in the CNS. In 2007, the binding of several cannabinoids to a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in the brain was described.[4]

The protein sequences of CB1 and CB2 receptors are about 44% similar.[5] In addition, minor variations in each receptor have been identified. Cannabinoids bind reversibly and stereo-selectively to the cannabinoid receptors. The affinity of an individual cannabinoid to each receptor determines the effect of that cannabinoid. Cannabinoids that bind more selectively to certain receptors are more desirable for medical usage.

Research on the long-term effects of marijuana abuse indicates some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term abuse of other major drugs. For example, cannabinoid withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stress-response system3 and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine. Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse.

A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia. Some of these studies have shown age at first use to be a factor, where early use is a marker of vulnerability to later problems. However, at this time, it not clear whether marijuana use causes mental problems, exacerbates them, or is used in attempt to self-medicate symptoms already in existence. Chronic marijuana use, especially in a very young person, may also be a marker of risk for mental illnesses, including addiction, stemming from genetic or environmental vulnerabilities, such as early exposure to stress or violence. At the present time, the strongest evidence links marijuana use and schizophrenia and/or related disorders. High doses of marijuana can produce an acute psychotic reaction, and research suggests that in vulnerable individuals, marijuana use may be a factor that increases risk for the disease.

Fact: There is no convincing scientific evidence that marijuana causes psychological damage or mental illness in either teenagers or adults. Some marijuana users experience psychological distress following marijuana ingestion, which may include feelings of panic, anxiety, and paranoia. Such experiences can be frightening, but the effects are temporary. With very large doses, marijuana can cause temporary toxic psychosis. This occurs rarely, and almost always when marijuana is eaten rather than smoked. Marijuana does not cause profound changes in people's behavior.

Iverson, Leslie. “Long-term effects of exposure to cannabis.” Current Opinion in Pharmacology 5(2005): 69-72.
Weiser and Noy. “Interpreting the association between cannabis use and increased risk of schizophrenia.” Dialogues in Clincal Neuroscience 1(2005): 81-85.

"Cannabis use will impair but not damage mental health." London Telegraph. 23 January 2006.
Andreasson, S. et al. “Cannabis and Schizophrenia: A Longitudinal study of Swedish Conscripts,” The Lancet 2 (1987): 1483-86.
Degenhardt, Louisa, Wayne Hall and Michael Lynskey. “Testing hypotheses about the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis,” Drug and Alcohol Dependence 71 (2003): 42-4.
Weil, A. “Adverse Reactions to Marijuana: Classification and Suggested Treatment.” New England Journal of Medicine 282 (1970): 997-1000.

THC acts upon specific sites in the brain, called cannabis receptors...
Source: ?

So, if part of my brain is specifically called a "Cannabis Receptor" isn't it safe to assume that my brain is supposed to get Cannabis? Why would it have receptors designed for the task, if they were not to be used?

Research shows that when under the influence of marijuana drivers have been
found to have a harder time following their lane (known as tracking ability). It also
reduces a driver’s ability to perceive changes in the relative speed of other vehicles
and to adjust his/her own speed accordingly.

Fact: There is no compelling evidence that marijuana contributes substantially to traffic accidents and fatalities. At some doses, marijuana affects perception and psychomotor performances- changes which could impair driving ability. However, in driving studies, marijuana produces little or no car-handling impairment- consistently less than produced by low moderate doses of alcohol and many legal medications. In contrast to alcohol, which tends to increase risky driving practices, marijuana tends to make subjects more cautious. Surveys of fatally injured drivers show that when THC is detected in the blood, alcohol is almost always detected as well. For some individuals, marijuana may play a role in bad driving. The overall rate of highway accidents appears not to be significantly affected by marijuana's widespread use in society.

Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. “Legalization: Panacea or Pandora’s Box”. New York. (1995):36.

Swan, Neil. “A Look at Marijuana’s Harmful Effects.” NIDA Notes. 9.2 (1994): 14.

Moskowitz, Herbert and Robert Petersen. Marijuana and Driving: A Review. Rockville: American Council for Drug Education, 1982. 7.

Mann, Peggy. Marijuana Alert. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1985. 265.

To all you "old" 70's Waldos, this stuff that is being cranked out now is more potent and lethal than ever.

Myth: Marijuana Is More Potent Today Than In The Past. Adults who used marijuana in the 1960s and 1970s fail to realize that when today's youth use marijuana they are using a much more dangerous drug.

Fact: When today's youth use marijuana, they are using the same drug used by youth in the 1960s and 1970s. A small number of low-THC samples seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration are used to calculate a dramatic increase in potency. However, these samples were not representative of the marijuana generally available to users during this era. Potency data from the early 1980s to the present are more reliable, and they show no increase in the average THC content of marijuana. Even if marijuana potency were to increase, it would not necessarily make the drug more dangerous. Marijuana that varies quite substantially in potency produces similar psychoactive effects.

King LA, Carpentier C, Griffiths P. “Cannabis potency in Europe.” Addiction. 2005 Jul; 100(7):884-6

Henneberger, Melinda. "Pot Surges Back, But It’s, Like, a Whole New World." New York Times 6 February 1994: E18.

Brown, Lee. “Interview with Lee Brown,” Dallas Morning News 21 May 1995.

Drug Enforcement Administration. U.S. Drug Threat Assessment, 1993. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 1993.

Kleiman, Mark A.R. Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1989. 29.

Bennett, William. Director of National Drug Control Policy, remarks at Conference of Mayors. 23 April 1990.

Myth: Marijuana Can Cause Permanent Mental Illness. Among adolescents, even occasional marijuana use may cause psychological damage. During intoxication, marijuana users become irrational and often behave erratically.

Fact: There is no convincing scientific evidence that marijuana causes psychological damage or mental illness in either teenagers or adults. Some marijuana users experience psychological distress following marijuana ingestion, which may include feelings of panic, anxiety, and paranoia. Such experiences can be frightening, but the effects are temporary. With very large doses, marijuana can cause temporary toxic psychosis. This occurs rarely, and almost always when marijuana is eaten rather than smoked. Marijuana does not cause profound changes in people's behavior.

Iverson, Leslie. “Long-term effects of exposure to cannabis.” Current Opinion in Pharmacology 5(2005): 69-72.
Weiser and Noy. “Interpreting the association between cannabis use and increased risk of schizophrenia.” Dialogues in Clincal Neuroscience 1(2005): 81-85.

"Cannabis use will impair but not damage mental health." London Telegraph. 23 January 2006.

Andreasson, S. et al. “Cannabis and Schizophrenia: A Longitudinal study of Swedish Conscripts,” The Lancet 2 (1987): 1483-86.

Degenhardt, Louisa, Wayne Hall and Michael Lynskey. “Testing hypotheses about the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis,” Drug and Alcohol Dependence 71 (2003): 42-4.

Weil, A. “Adverse Reactions to Marijuana: Classification and Suggested Treatment.” New England Journal of Medicine 282 (1970): 997-1000.

Jesseld you seem to be just as educated as a wet paper bag.

Well I am sure that many people are gonna tear you a new one over your grossly ignorant comments about the Native Americans. About their Cultural advancement, what do you think is so bad about how they were living? Their technology was limited, mainly their technology for war. They ate their food, not starving, they all lived in their own homes (made of skins and wood but did work), not sleeping in cardboard boxes in oil stained streets, they breathed clean air not full of carbon.

I would personally trade my current living with theirs any day of the week.

Now back to marijuana, Native Americans had a different Culture, one of personal responsibility and common sense. When they used drugs (mainly the southern tribes as the Northern ones couldn't grow such crops) they used it rarely, it wasn't nearly as potent as it is now, and it was apart of their Spiritual Culture, this means it was done only during special circumstances that rarely arose. Peyote, that was done very very rarely, usually only once in a Man's life, traveling to the spirit world to be guided into a man. They did use it for other Spiritual reasons but that wouldn't be every Indian, only very small portion of the Native Americans used Peyote outside of becoming a man.

Marijuana's effects on a Human being is all up to their tolerance. So many times I have heard people claim to have experienced the effects of Marijuana and claim that they know what it is like. They take that personal experience and apply it to all people making claims like, "I don't see how anyone could function like that," or "Thank God I wasn't behind the wheel," But these are all from people who have smoked very little. No one tells these people that those who have been smoking for years don't experience that. All they get is a slight buzz, a little bit of some endorphin release. Much like smoking a cigarette.

People love throwing around stats, well here are some: No one ever, anywhere, has died of Marijuana, statistically speaking Water is more Dangerous than Marijuana.

Those who are experienced smokers, after smoking, then drive are better than those who don't smoke while driving. Inclinations towards "road rage" are gone, they let things go a lot easier, Speeding is also reduced and the level of paying attention to the road is increased. It makes sense right? When someone isn't blitzed out of their mind but a little buzzed just doesn't care that the azzhole infront of them cut them off, they don't have the NEED to rush home after work.

Just remember the human body does adjust to any chemical in the body and then compensates. Just because you have smoked before in the past does not mean you have experience of that drug, at least not to its full extent.

About the legality of smoking, and the claims that smoking makes you a worthless zombie are just ignorant. The last three Presidents have admitted to smoking Marijuana, and that was while it was illegal, before Marijuana became illegal it was done among the political elites (Benjamin Franklin anyone?) and those with the power. (Prior to it becoming known to the lower level immigrants and therefore prior to all of the racist discrimination given to Marijuana in order to take down any folks of color) If you disagree just look it up.

It does bother me that so many people go around making uneducated statements. We are on the Internet maybe go to a historically accurate website before going around posting.

*I had a much more educational, logical, and sound argument written before posting this, it got deleted and I don't feel like taking the extra 10 minutes re-writing all of it, this is the gest of it*- Ghost Writer

As far as being a libertarian :,Lets see, accomplishments:
1. Ralph Nader = Rid us of the evil corvair
2. Jessie Ventura=Religious people, weak and stupid
3.Ross Perot, ok, now this one i have to give credit to ! He did warn us of a "Huge sucking sound", It's just i thought he was talking about the economy , not the sounds of "Clinton" in the oval office !

I thought about your " I'm too watered down "statement about my lineage, but even i shouldn't have to point out, without him, i wouldn't be here.(whoops , look who you're talking too !)