is scary. its scary to think there are that many stupid people out there. ive seen so many peoples lives ruined by drugs, including pot. they get to the point where their whole life is trying to find it and then smoking it, its pathetic.

Drug addiction in itself is the problem, not whatever drug is affiliated.

If you know someone who has a drug addiction, whether alcohol, cigarettes, or illecit drugs, they're derelict and have a problem.

This post is just ignorant.

to say that drug addiction in itself is the problem, and not the drug itself ignorant. thats like saying crack or pcp arent a problem, but addiction to them is. or that alcohol isnt a problem, but drunk driving is. its the result of the substance. every action has a reaction.

Crack and PCP are a problem, regardless of whether the user is addicted to them or not.

But, if someone is trying these types of hardcore drugs, it's more likely an addiction of a weaker drug led them there.

No one goes from sober to smoking crack, 0 to 100, just like that. I agree with what you're saying ... even if someone isn't addicted to crack, if they try it at all, that's a serious problem.

Chances are, though, an addiction to a lesser-drug led them there.

addiction to a lesser drug, such as marijuana.

The whole "gateway drug" thing has been proven wrong so many times it's not even funny. It's like saying "All pedophiles had their first sexual experience with masturbation, so therefore masturbation makes you a pedophile." And yet people still remain stubbornly ignorant about it. Kind of sad the lengths people will go to to try and villainize marijuana.

I see exactly what you mean, and marijuana being a gateway-drug is the best argument it has going against it.

If someone is a casual marijuana-user, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll try anything harder - but it doesn't mean they won't, either. If they try something harder, such as crack, speed, pcp, etc, it's because their addiction got out of hand...

Leading us back to the addictions being the problem, but, on the other hand, I'm sort of forced at a compromise, because if someone tries meth just once, even if they're not addicted, they have a serious problem.

I appreciate your sharp comebacks...

oh really? because personally ive seen it proven correct and on more then one occasion. ill admit smoking pot doesnt mean you will definently go on to do harder drugs, but it increases your chances a lot.

Yeah, pretty much everyone who goes on to do harder drugs starts out with pot. But you can't ignore the vast numbers of people who smoke pot on a regular basis and never touch anything else in their lives, either.

I can agree that drug addiction itself is the real problem. Being addicted to anything isn't good--doesn't matter if it's weed, alcohol, cigarettes, the Internet, whatever. But I don't think you can really blame weed for that when it's not physically addictive (like cigarettes or harder drugs), just psychologically. And anything can be psychologically addictive to someone who enjoys it and is the type to become addicted.

But yeah, that's just my two cents worth.

those people who use it on a regular basis are mentally addicted to it because of their lack of will power, and many people lack will power, which can make it just as addicting as any drug that people become chemically dependant on.

The only reason that Marijuana is a 'gate-way' drug is this:

When someone makes a choice to smoke pot, they are choosing to do something that is completely and utterly against every norm fed to us via the idiot box (TV). Meaning they must be PREDISPOSED to do so, yes? A bit of a rebel of sorts, or whatever the reason may be: They are choosing to break a law, which is the 'hardest' action most people have.

Now, when someone who is predisposed BEFORE POT to be a 'rebel' tries pot, all of the sudden every mistake afterwards is directly related TO pot. It's a lie, it's misdirection.

We may as well start telling people not to go to Hospitals. Based on statistics you have +5000% of death the moment you step foot in a hospital.

But that statistic is based on the fact that sick people go to hospitals, and some don't get better and die (different topic altogether, that's for later). But that doesn't mean the statement before was correct. STATISTICALLY, yes, it makes complete sense.

Realistically? Doesn't make sense at all.

The only thing that people can do to avoid using harder drugs is to educate themselves. I smoke pot. I've tripped balls on acid. I've done mushrooms. I've even done heroin (and smoked the base-resin opium). I've never smoked crack (a drug that never is as good as the 1st time? No thanks), and never done cocaine (I'm not rich enough for that addiction). I've done all these things yet I am not strung out, I'm not burnt-out, I'm not tweaked-out. I AM a pot-head still, but I haven't done another drug (even aspirin) in years.

And speaking of 'other drugs', what did I leave out? Ritalin, Prozac, Valium, Zoloft, Celebrex, Lunesta, and a SWARM of other pharma....er....drugs.

What's the difference? One's organic and the other is chemical. The organic one is illegal, the chemical isn't. Go figure; we make cigarettes more expensive and constantly are 'educating' our children not to smoke, but are they still around? HELL YES, and with 10% more nicotine and tar in each cigarette than 15 years ago (proven fact).

The only difference between a pharm-drug and a street-drug is about 1,000,000$ in lobbying (to get it legal) and marketing (so no one in the world forgets to take it).

And the number one cause of death in America: Heart-Disease/Failure caused by LIVER PROBLEMS. Every pill you've ever taken has taken a year from your liver, and thus from you.

But those pill-companies have lobbyists, and all us pot-heads have is our brains.

So define 'lacking will power'.

I think I can say the best 'act of will' is choosing your own self. It's the most important act of will there is.

Likewise the worst mistake people can ever make is to let other people choose who you are.

And STRAIGHT EDGE YOUTH? You label yourself ignorant with those xXx's. It's easy to draw Xs on your hands with your friends and have a banner to stand under.

It's harder to construct a flag pole, sew a flag, weave a rope, and fight your way all the way to the top of that pole. You've already taken the path of least resistance: You label yourself.

How many of you rely on Coffee to get you going in the morning EVERY morning???

ARGUMENT OVER,.. you're all drug users!!!!

It just happens to be a legal version, and it's clear no one posting here has every smoked the stuff. A counselor said to a friend is it really necessary you do drugs to have fun, and said friend replies. Look I like plain ice cream to but it's a lot better with topping and carmel and other stuff added to it.

When Has BUD ever caused death???

What about alcohol? there are more deaths linked and caused by alcohol then all illegal drugs oh and what about ciggarettes enough said there the main substances that kill are both legal.

Weed a drug? F*CK that. Its organic not a chemical

Mary J 4 LIFE!!

oh so now youre gonna start the personal insults based off of the only thing you know about me? I label myself with those X's to set myself apart from all the drunks and drug addicts in the punk and hardcore scene. its my personal protest, my way of saying yeah i can believe in the same things as you without being some messed up retard that cant even pick themselves up in the pit.

but anyway, youre rambling on, and i really dont feel like addresssing every single point because your basically saying the same things ive seen and heard a million times before. government lies...propaganda...legalize it...weed isnt bad...weed doesnt hurt your body...

bottomline is smoking anything is bad for you, whether it be cigarettes, weed, hookah(so many people think hookah smoke isnt bad for you, but it is), anything. the only reasons cigarettes are still legal in most places are because all those smokers would never stop bitching about it and the tobacco companies would never let it happen.