"Weed" and alcohol (the last legal drug).

H · Newbie Joined: Nov 05, 2006 Posts: 6 Location: NZ

I was just wondering, I don't actually smoke all that much, you know, just every now and then! But even so, I'm very interested in this whole issue, especially the relationship between cannabis and alcohol! I certainly don't think weed is perfect! What is? I was just wondering, I've suffered a great deal as a result of the abuse of alcohol by family members who should know better, and even struggled with alcohol abuse myself! I was just wondering, can anyone tell me why cannabis (though admitedly sometimes harmful) is illegal, when alcohol (which almost killed me, and some of my friends!) is perfectly legal? Is anyone here interested in discussing this apparent paradox?

MrNiceGuyNZ · Forum Moderator Joined: Sep 18, 2005 Posts: 2912

You mention in your title that alcohol is the last legal drug, well its wrong I'm afraid, we still have Nicotine, Caffeine, Nutmeg and Party pills to name a few...

Why are some substances legal while others aren't you ask, well to start with I suggest you do some reading at http://www.jackherer.com/chapters/ and you will see the abundance of uses cannabis has, then look at what is happening in politics with certain groups providing 'grants' (bribes) to our politicians to sway in their direction and it will help answer your question.

Our biggest political opponents are Jim Anderton and Peter Dunne. They receive grants from outfits such as the Tobacco and Alcohol Council to help 'persuade' them to continue their stance on this subject.

Cannabis has so many practical uses in this world and thus has alot of competition from big businesses that would lose profits if it were a legal substance, that includes the pharmaceutical industry.
Since cannabis has a psycho-active effect to it, its one of the main reasons used to keep it illegal.
_________________
A pain free day the marijuana way.

Vote for change, Vote ALCP

H · Newbie Joined: Nov 05, 2006 Posts: 6 Location: NZ

Thanks for your reply! The term "last legal drug" is of course merely a figure of speech, and a good way, surely, of drawing attention to the status of alcohol in our society! You are absolutely right to mention caffeine, nicotine, nutmeg, and so on, I've been addicted to all three at various times, in fact I'm still addicted to caffeine, I can't get up in the morning without it! Terrible! Also nutmeg's some crazy shit! But that's another story, and possibly another forum topic!
Anyway, did you see the article on Sunday (TV3) about the poor man that lost his son due to alcohol abuse? Do you have any thoughts on this? Alcohol-fueled hatred, violence, destruction and so on is actively encouraged in New Zealand, yet why are Kiwi shows like Shortland Street ignoring the negative, destructive effects of this particular mind-altering drug (alcohol), and instead focusing only on the negative effects of Marijuana? (Check out Shortland Street at the moment! There's a character who smokes pot! What's the bet she'll either start stealing, neglecting any children she has, or, worst of all, become "psychotic" as a result of smoking grass and start hearing "voices" and so on!).

Distant · Regular Joined: Nov 04, 2006 Posts: 48 Location: NZ

^ Yeah wouldnt surprise me either

MrNiceGuyNZ · Forum Moderator Joined: Sep 18, 2005 Posts: 2912

Lets lower the drinking age to 18, lets introduce 'lolly' drinks, lets increase advertising for alcohol, the rest speaks for itself.

The message politicians don't want published -

It takes 4 times the amount of alcohol to get drunk to kill you

In 1998 25500 people were hospitalised because of alcohol
In 1998 2770 people were hospitalised because of cannabis where there was also a presence of alcohol

I'm sure these figures would have increased in recent times, but the information I can't obtain, wonder why
_________________
A pain free day the marijuana way.

Vote for change, Vote ALCP

H · Newbie Joined: Nov 05, 2006 Posts: 6 Location: NZ

When politicians are ingesting the drug "ethanol" or whatever it is, in their spare time, over cocktails at the beehive, how can we trust a single word or thought they say in regard to another drug Tetracannabinol or whatever it's called!

humaniterrorist · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:05 am

If you would like to know about the reasons for the prohibition of cannabis, as well as most other drugs, read the book 'the pursuit of oblivion' by richard davenport hinds. Or just read the story of one Harry J Anslinger, the original drug czar. Basically NZ's drug laws were just copies of the draconian and punitive american policies bought in early last century.

It was made illegal by lies, kept illegal by ignorance, and will remain illegal by irrational, illogical reasonings and corruption.

Another book with a good synopsis of cannabis prohibition is Reefer madness by Eric Schlosser (the author of fast food nation)
_________________
If the world was a better place, there would be less bad people, but its not.

XLH · Heavy User Joined: Apr 30, 2006 Posts: 223 Location: NZ

dear H, you ask the same question i hear over and over from young people.
its no wonder they get so appalled when they realise they're very very right to feel theres something very very sucky about that particular hypocrisy, ie. the perils of alcohol vs those of cannabis.

Velocitor · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 4:54 pm

cow · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:58 pm

H · Newbie Joined: Nov 05, 2006 Posts: 6 Location: NZ

Yes, I've tried nutmeg, and yes, it is like sand! In small (and I mean tiny) doses it actually has some health benefits, though I can't remember exactly what these are. All I know is that in larger quantities it is an extremely dangerous hallucinogenic drug, highly toxic, and I strongly advise against it.
The history behind this substance, especially considering it's perfectly legal, is something I think needs some serious study, it is so often overlooked. I've read some very interesting accounts though, of the use of nutmeg, stories of bored, repressed wives in the fifties eating it "for a kick" and so on.


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