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What Are Our Reasons That We Choose Not To Use Illegal Drugs

Why have you decided not to use illegal drugs?

  • Because I hear horror stories about addiction to them

    Votes: 12 23.5%
  • Because I know people personally who have suffered from addiction.

    Votes: 17 33.3%
  • Because I am perfectly happy and serene without them (If it ain't broke...)

    Votes: 26 51.0%
  • Because the consequences of their being illegal make life miserable for addicts

    Votes: 8 15.7%
  • Simply because they are illegal

    Votes: 10 19.6%
  • Other (specify in the thread if you would like)

    Votes: 19 37.3%

  • Total voters
    51
Haha, good response but I think you see my point ;)
I see you're point, but I'd sue a Doctor or lawyer that I hired and who I found to be on illegal drugs.

If I found that a Doctor had seriously injured a loved one while under such influence, I'd quite possibly kill him.
 
Mental fortitude and an education on the substance being used can allow you to manipulate the experience in a favorable manner, should something go wrong. Example: A friend of mine had a bad trip on Datura. Through controlled hyperventilation and the application of a moist cloth, he was able to calm himself and transgress beyond the negativity of the trip.

What? Of course he ****ing did, it is a deliriant, it really should be avoided.
 
I find that my knowledge about abstract concepts is lacking. The use of Psilocybin stems from my desire to experience the impossible. You should do some research into Shamanism.
Btw Shamanism is far from just about taking drugs. In fact many mystics consider drugs to be an unstable and quite limited way to explore one's self and the divine. When they are used they are usually used as aid at best.
 
All i can say is if all drugs where legal like you could by them from a local store people would do them who wouldnt otherwise do them.It seems obvous to me.
 
All i can say is if all drugs where legal like you could by them from a local store people would do them who wouldnt otherwise do them.It seems obvous to me.

Obvously. :roll:
 
All i can say is if all drugs where legal like you could by them from a local store people would do them who wouldnt otherwise do them.It seems obvous to me.
You're assuming quite a bit.

In general, research on the relation between perceived risk of detection and punishment and self-reported drug use tends to show that perceived legal risk explains very little of the variance in drug use (MacCoun, 1993). Similarly, studies of the relation between prevalence of drug use and variations in legal penalties for drug use tend to find no relationship. For example, Chaloupka et al. (1998) found, using the Monitoring the Future survey data from 1982 and 1989, that variations in length of prison terms prescribed by state law were unrelated to prevalence or frequency of cocaine or marijuana use by high school seniors. They also found that substantial increases in prescribed fines would have little or no effect. These findings are unsurprising because, under present enforcement conditions, the deterrent effect of criminal sanctions against drug use is attenuated significantly by the low probability of detection for any given violation and even for repeated violations. Other factors, including the perceived benefits of drug use, fear of health-related risks, and informal social controls, may have a more significant influence on decisions about using drugs than legal deterrence. As in the case of underage alcohol and tobacco use, current enforcement may have a stronger effect on where people carry or use drugs, rather than on whether they do so.

Informing America's Policy on Illegal Drugs: What We Don't Know Keeps Hurting Us

Social norms that discourage drug abuse don't have to disappear with the laws.
 
Yes sir. You should read DMT: The Spirit Molecule by Dr. Rick Strassman.

I've listened to Terrence McQuena's (sic?) lecture on the subject. All I can say is it sounds interesting.

Nice avatar btw. Alex Grey is awesome.
 
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The point is still vague, what legal thing are you talking about that has similar effects?

Earlier you stated:
Lets see

-impairment of judgment
-money sink
-short term memory problems
-addictive

How do any of these effects benefit society. It has been my experience that people who smoke marijuana are usually lazy, lack a job (collect unemployment), lack motivation, and lack respect for law.

You may enjoy it personally, but people who care about you pick up the slack and are forced to watch you drag yourself down.

Alcohol has the same effects/problems.
Many (myself included) would say on points;
-impairment of judgment and
-addictive
that alcohol is to a greater degree than weed.
So we natural make the assumption that since you would not approve of other drugs for this reason you would also support an alcohol ban.
 
I smoked weed as a teen and just really hated it. My darling dear on the other hand loved the stuff. He gave it up years ago for family/employment reasons. I've always told him that when he retires I'm going to buy him the biggest joint he's ever had :mrgreen:

Hopefully, it will be legal by then as I really have no idea where I'm going to get it :thinking



Anyway, to address the OP. Making weed, or any other drug, legal isn't going to make me use it. Hell, I can buy a lot of things legally right now that I just never would.....cow tongue or brains..........ICK!
 
I don't understand the idea that drug use will rampantly spread as a result of legalization.
Anyone that wants anything can get it now.
If a person is bold, curious, or just plain stupid enough to do meth or crack what makes you think they are smart enough to not do it because it's illegal?
 
If a person is bold, curious, or just plain stupid enough to do meth or crack what makes you think they are smart enough to not do it because it's illegal?

Come on Phoenix don't you know? If we legalize gay marriage more people will instantly become gay!
 
You know what else impairs judgment? Love. Brain imaging shows that the state of infatuation causes a marked decrease in prefrontal cortical activity. I'm a god-damned "loser" and even I have anecdotal evidence about infatuation causing poor judgment. Are we going to outlaw falling in love just because it causes people to make stupid and reckless decisions? Hell, why am I even addressing that bull**** "it impairs judgment" argument? It's just a weak justification for punishing people who've made choices you don't like.

:ranton:
Here's a reality check for you intransigent moral fascists: People are going to self-destruct whether or not you give them your ****ing approbation! You feel indignation at their failings? Good for ****ing you! Now that you've vented your god-damned disapproval, are you going to ameliorate the situation or are you going to be a bunch of ****ing hypocrites who take the course of self-destruction because you can't deal with your emotions like the well-adjusted adults you claim to be? The evidence overwhelmingly states that prohibition exacerbates the misery surrounding drug addiction. Look at the **** that billowed out in the 1930s, for christ's sake! Drug addicts are already ****ed up in the head and have enough difficulty getting themselves back to a normal existence without you self-righteous bastards shoveling more **** at them with fines and jail sentences for actions that victimize nobody but themselves. Oh wait, that's right, it also hurts their family and the people who care about them. Like sending them to jail, fining them for thousands of dollars and preventing them from getting a job doesn't victimize their friends and families more than their drug habits! Why don't you people learn to cope with your disapproval in ways that don't involve kicking people when they are down? You think that stands a snowball's chance in hell of pulling them back from the brink of self-destruction? Is the goal here to make our society even more of a septic ****-hole by punishing people with self-inflicted wounds caused by choices you disagree with, or is it to mitigate the crime and poverty caused by those choices?
:rantoff:
 
Btw Shamanism is far from just about taking drugs. In fact many mystics consider drugs to be an unstable and quite limited way to explore one's self and the divine. When they are used they are usually used as aid at best.

I do not believe I said anything to the contrary. Shamans used most psychedelics for religious ceremonies and healing practices. They also used them to chart the Spirit World.
 
I've listened to Terrence McQuena's (sic?) lecture on the subject. All I can say is it sounds interesting.

Nice avatar btw. Alex Grey is awesome.

Yeah, it is Terrence McKenna. He is basically the DMT poster-boy. It's very fascinating. A lot of people claim to have out of body experiences, communication with sentient beings from other universes, etc.
 
I see you're point, but I'd sue a Doctor or lawyer that I hired and who I found to be on illegal drugs.

If I found that a Doctor had seriously injured a loved one while under such influence, I'd quite possibly kill him.

What? Why would he be on illegal drugs while operating? If marijuana or other illegal substances were made legal, they still could not be ingested by a doctor who was performing any form of operation. Hospitals have zero tolerance for a doctor who has a single drink. This would apply to any substance which impairs judgment or reflexes or cognitive processes.
 
Ah! I thought we were grouping all illegal substances under the umbrella of "illegal drugs".

I have chosen not to do drugs that have major debilitating effects on the body. I am a fan of natural substances(Marijuana, Psilocybin, DMT, Salvia, etc.) that have little to no side effects.

Sure, thats what YOU say about yourself :mrgreen:

All those drugs have side effects, but not as severe as for example heroin.
 
I do not believe I said anything to the contrary. Shamans used most psychedelics for religious ceremonies and healing practices. They also used them to chart the Spirit World.

Shamans are only a small part of mysticism. I was just reminding you that dumping a few shrooms is a very limited and unstable way to really explore oneself and "the spirit world". As a pagan/mystic myself I believe one can do all that better without drugs.
 
Shamans are only a small part of mysticism. I was just reminding you that dumping a few shrooms is a very limited and unstable way to really explore oneself and "the spirit world". As a pagan/mystic myself I believe one can do all that better without drugs.

I would agree with you. I do, however, believe that intentions play a large role in this endeavor. You must have a desire for enlightenment and comprehension of the abstract and the impossible. I simply see psychedelics as a tool.
 
Earlier you stated:


Alcohol has the same effects/problems.
Many (myself included) would say on points;
-impairment of judgment and
-addictive
that alcohol is to a greater degree than weed.
So we natural make the assumption that since you would not approve of other drugs for this reason you would also support an alcohol ban.

My list of effects was by no means comprehensive, look around for some more details.

Here's a good place to start.
 
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