Marijuana legalization on 9 state ballots

I spent last week in Colorado Springs, one of the more sensible/conservative cities in the state, and it was worth noting that on a six mile drive to visit friends, I passed no fewer than half a dozen stores selling marijuana in various forms. I don’t know what the body counts are—I’m told the state doesn’t, either—but there’s a lot going on with it.

One correction for Russell Moore is that cannabis is not technically addictive in the way that opiates are—the body does not form a “need” to have it in a way that would result in things like delirium tremens when it is withdrawn. It is certainly an intoxicant that gets a person pretty “stoned” with a very small dose, but it’s not physically addicting.

“Marijuana is a mind-altering (psychoactive) drug, produced by the Cannabis sativa plant.”

“The short-term effects of marijuana include problems with memory and learning, distorted perception, difficulty in thinking and problem-solving, and loss of coordination. The effect of marijuana on perception and coordination are responsible for serious impairments in driving abilities. Long-term chronic marijuana use is associated with Amotivational Syndrome, characterized by apathy, impairment of judgment, memory and concentration, and loss of motivation, ambition and interest in the pursuit of personal goals. High doses of marijuana can result in mental confusion, panic reactions and hallucinations. Researchers have also found an association between marijuana use and an increased risk of depression; an increased risk and earlier onset of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, especially for teens that have a genetic predisposition.”

https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/drug_data_sheets/Marijuana.pdf

I wonder how many who approve of the recreational use of alcohol, disapprove of the recreational use of marijuana?

And I wonder how many teenagers would accept their explanation?

David R. Brumbelow

[David R. Brumbelow] I wonder how many who approve of the recreational use of alcohol, disapprove of the recreational use of marijuana?

And I wonder how many teenagers would accept their explanation?

David R. Brumbelow

[David R. Brumbelow]

I wonder how many who approve of the recreational use of alcohol, disapprove of the recreational use of marijuana?

And I wonder how many teenagers would accept their explanation?

David R. Brumbelow

And I wonder how many who approve of (and indulge in) the recreational use of caffeine, disapprove of the recreational use of cocaine? And I wonder how many people who personally use aspirin disapprove of the use of heroin and fentanyl? And how many bicyclists disapprove of making top fuel dragsters street-legal? How many gun owners would disapprove of the free ownership of hydrogen bombs?

Because obviously, it’s impossible to differentiate things based on the magnitude of their effects.

There is a real question of how the church ought to treat those who use marijuana—I’ve seen a Facebook posting by a pastor encouraging young men to use some of their dope money for a Christian concert—and there is a real question of which drugs, if any, ought to be legally banned. However, illogic like that above does not make our task any easier.

that’s all I saw. I didn’t see him say marijuana = alcohol. He wondered how many who accept alcohol disapprove of marijuana.

–– Mod note: Slightly edited [truncation] ––––

[Mark_Smith]

that’s all I saw. I didn’t see him say marijuana = alcohol. He wondered how many who accept alcohol disapprove of marijuana.

–– Mod note: Slightly edited [truncation] ––––

Start a poll!

Mark, given David’s history here and the second question “and how many teenagers would accept their explanation?”, the point he’s making is pretty clear; that he assumes that use of one “recreational drug” will be used as a pretext for teenagers to use another. If you follow his ad for his book, you can find more examples on his blog where he makes exactly this argument. It’s pretty clear false equivalence and slippery slope fallacy.

Really, if we want to reach out to the 44-49% of adults who have tried dope, we’ve got to do better than this. Maybe start by asking—as i have with those addicted to tobacco—what they like about it. And maybe if there’s something they’re responding to, we might have a better chance of mitigating the side effects if we understand what that is.

There is a difference between supporting the recreational use of the drug, and supporting the decriminalization of the drug. As an advocate of liberty (speech, guns, worship, movement, association, etc.), I advocate for the end of the drug war. As a father, I urge my three sons not to abuse drugs.

I’m about to indulge in a very legal and socially acceptable drug right now. It is physically and psychologically addictive, it stimulates the nervous system and is often used to sharpen focus and artificially stave off the effects of fatigue. If this drug is taken from me, I become nervous, irritable, angry and experience physical effects such as headaches, lethargy, etc. It is a drug which untold millions of Americans are enslaved to. Across this fair land, across the amber waves of grain, millions upon millions of Americans spend a notable proportion of their monthly income to acquire and consume this addictive drug. Of course, I am referring to …

[TylerR]

I’m about to indulge in a very legal and socially acceptable drug right now. It is physically and psychologically addictive, it stimulates the nervous system and is often used to sharpen focus and artificially stave off the effects of fatigue. …

So you are a …. “social” drinker of “beverage” “caffeine” [‘a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine class. It is the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive drug.’] and you use this “mind-altering” drug “recreationally”

Yes. In fact, I am enjoying the after-effects of this drug right now. When I arrive home, I plan to prepare another very strong, concentrated dosage of this drug for my wife and I (e.g. espresso), so we can both enjoy this addictive substance together in the privacy of our own home.

I’m just saying I’m glad I enjoyed something safer than Tyler and his wife are enjoying….I love espresso, but not after five!

Praying for Tyler in his use of a dangerous recreational drug. (I actually knew a girl who put herself in the emergency room with it…but it was Vivarin and not just coffee)

I know several people who use it medicinally. I’m in WA state :) These people are able to use one drug, marijuana, and no longer rely on several others, all with complicated side effects, and receive better results. So, for them, the benefits far outweigh the risks. God knew what He was doing when He created this plant. It makes me laugh when I see people criticize its use and their medicine cabinets are filled with prescription drugs, some of which are also derived from plants. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, medical correspondent, has changed his opinion on the use of this drug after seeing independent medical reports in Europe, and also personal testimonies of people using medical marijuana over pharmaceuticals.. The US’s pharmaceutical drug industry tries to monopolize this industry in the US in favor of the drugs they produce. http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/health/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana/

[TylerR]

I’m about to indulge in a very legal and socially acceptable drug right now. It is physically and psychologically addictive, it stimulates the nervous system and is often used to sharpen focus and artificially stave off the effects of fatigue. If this drug is taken from me, I become nervous, irritable, angry and experience physical effects such as headaches, lethargy, etc. It is a drug which untold millions of Americans are enslaved to. Across this fair land, across the amber waves of grain, millions upon millions of Americans spend a notable proportion of their monthly income to acquire and consume this addictive drug. Of course, I am referring to …

…..although the profits are donated to a local, urban youth ministry.

We are apparently so hooked on this drug that we have installed a “cafe” in the church building (complete with an Italian-manufactured machine to concentrate it into the potent form of the drug known as “espresso”–which Tyler admitted later in this thread that he uses).

Even my pastor is known to use “espresso”–he typically imbibes 2 or 3 “shots” of it prior to preaching three 45-50 minute sermons during our Sunday morning services…..

I find a couple cups of coffee helps me be awake and alert for preaching. However, I recently discovered that thirty pushups forty minutes before morning worship is even better. It really gets the heart pumping and blood circulating.