Incredible story. I often wonder what it would be like in my state if Cannabis was declared legal. You see, I go to 911 calls. I can count on my hand the number of times I've been called for an emergency that was directly related to Cannabis.
Alcohol, is another story entirely. Depending on the area, there are days that I would run out of fingers and toes counting the number of calls that are a direct consequence of alcohol. That is, I've never been on a call where someone smokes sooo much cannabis that the thought to stab 3 or 4 people becomes an idea worth executing. Or, more simply, someone that decides to smoke sooo much cannabis that they can no longer control their bowels... in public. Perhaps we should discuss the people that decide to smoke sooo much cannabis where driving into stationary objects like people's homes, bars/restaurants and non-stationary objects like pedestrians and other cars is rather common. Obviously, I don't see this happening with Cannabis, but with alcohol...
Then we get to the people that can't afford beer and whiskey so they start drinking listerine or anything with alcohol and need expensive medical treatment. They can't afford medical treatment either, so taxpayers pay for the listerine and then pay for the treatment.
The list goes on and on... spice is really fun. When a new batch like "King Kong Purple" hits the streets, we all warn our families that we will be coming home exhausted from being up all night as the overdoses roll in every 20 minutes. Trying to get a spice OD on the gurney is a treat no EMS person should miss... They are biting, spitting, often uncontrollably vomiting, smashing their heads against anything (Concrete, pavement, ems personnel, sharp objects), kicking, screaming and are more often that not completely nude and covered in mystery fluids. It's a real treat.
We should really legalize Cannabis. My hope is that everyone just uses that instead of the other stuff that is legal. I know that is naive, but I can hope.
I am involved with a company called EazeUp, that also actively pushes for legalization to happen in the US - and I think precisely for reasons similar to the ones you list.
> We should really legalize Cannabis. My hope is that everyone just uses that instead of the other stuff that is legal.
And this is precisely the fear of the huge corporate moneyed law-defining entities that sell and profit from the other highly-destructive, highly-addictive stuff but can't profit as much from an easy and cheap to grow plant.
very insightful comment from "the streets", thank you for it!
I presume we all should accept that majority of population has sometimes the urge to let a bit of steam off (or just get wasted), and rather than fighting the flow, those in power should steer it to as-little-harm-as-possible-to-society scenarios.
You seem oblivious to the fact that alcohol being available just about everywhere, unlike cannabis, is highly correlated to the amount of harm being done.
> Perhaps we should discuss the people that decide to smoke sooo much cannabis where driving into stationary objects like people's homes, bars/restaurants and non-stationary objects like pedestrians and other cars is rather common.
I agree with all your points but this one. I think this may become common if Cannabis were legal in your area. I think it's only uncommon right now because people are using Cannabis in their own homes or someone else's home, for the most part.
I'm from one of such Himalayan villages, though I only seldom go back there now.
One important aspect to consider here is people don't necessarily think of it as illegal or a drug. There isn't really 'police' enforcing anything for the local. The local police station has like 1-2 people who pretty much just hang out and are friends with the locals.
Everyone in the village knows each other (sort of) and it is only the adult (males) that will have access to and make it. Teens and children don't really do it because someone or the other will find out and then they are in trouble, so the system corrects itself pretty quickly. I've never heard of a single case ever of overdose or anything like, though it has ruined the productivity and general health of a very large number of people.
ah, the places like Manali and Malana bring back fond memories from few years back, a month spent in the area. this stuff grows everywhere wild, I mean EVERYWHERE - even in central park in the middle of biggest provincial city. banning this on state level didn't affect consumption, just gave corrupt police a way to extort some proper cash on those poor tourists that got caught. it seemed that within certain altitude band (say 2000-3300m), this flower was at home (seen it also in abundance in nepal on annapurna circuit).
going to India as backpacker for at least several weeks, ideally months is experience out of this world. so intense, so complex, so different and exotic. After 2 months there, memories of my life back in europe seemed no more than memories of a distant surreal dream. it's a harsh and beautiful place full of amazing people. cannot recommend enough.
as for strength, cannot really compare since the stuff is uber-powerful. but so is moroccan and all other.
I know next to nothing about this sort of stuff, but when I was in Nepal even the best stuff was incredibly low quality compared to Californian stuff. I think in California, we spend a lot of time cultivating and perfecting cannabis.
Cannabis was a roadside weed in Peking. I was an exchange student there in 1979 and some of the European students gathered bags full of it. Leaves are not very potent by modern standards, but it worked.
Specially the Indian police. There are so fucking many problems in the country to take care of.
PS: Knowing them, most probably they raid these fields only when they want villagers to pay up.
Er. Do you imagine farmers and chefs all wear gloves and hazmat suits while handling the produce that you eat every day?
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. If the idea of a few skin cells disturbs you, you'd better not look too closely into how food handling actually works in the real world.
After some time, I bet there aren't enough loose cells to get into the resin. The first batch may have a bunch, but the 10th batch? Probably not so much....
i know i will get lot of downvotes but still let me say it anyway.
Everytime i see cannabis thread in HN frontpage, i was quite cynical. It is illegal (in most of the places) and consumption of it cause cancer. It is as harmful as tobacco (or might even more).
Still, i see that the way HN user show interest towards cannabis. Why ? Isn't it harmful ? Am i missing something.
> consumption of it cause cancer. It is as harmful as tobacco (or might even more).
This is very strongly debated. There has not yet been enough study to prove or disprove this, partially due to the fact that it's a Schedule I drug in the USA
It will also depend on how you consume it. Smoking is likely to be what puts you at risk the most.
edit: you deserve to be upvoted so people can actually participate in a discussion you seem to genuinely want to have
Being alive is a known cause of cancer. Having a prostate and living long enough is almost like having a contract for cancer. I could go on, but you get the point.
'Smoking' would contribute to cancer. Vaping and eating it would not. And while not completely benign, it's not even close to as harmful as tobacco is. I'd recommend doing some research instead of basing your opinions on old timey reefer madness logic.
eating a cake or two from time to time will not increase your cancer risk in any possible measurable way. burning any plant (or anything for that matter) and inhaling the smoke will put a lot of carcinogens right in your lungs/bloodstream.
I like the way it makes me feel. It's a great way to relax at night after dinner. It also makes me more creative. I come up with cool projects or approach a problem from a different perspective.
Cannabis actually has great potential to treat cancer (it is actively used for this... lots of personal, positive stories...conflicting scientific reports).
It's proven to be medically beneficial (the only known treatment?) for seizures. There are many parents who have moved to Colorado to gain access to CBD (a compound in cannabis) for their epileptic children.
On top of all that, cannabis sales in Colorado just passed $1b. That's a whole lot of tax revenue going to schools, creating jobs, etc.
[+] [-] monkmartinez|10 years ago|reply
Alcohol, is another story entirely. Depending on the area, there are days that I would run out of fingers and toes counting the number of calls that are a direct consequence of alcohol. That is, I've never been on a call where someone smokes sooo much cannabis that the thought to stab 3 or 4 people becomes an idea worth executing. Or, more simply, someone that decides to smoke sooo much cannabis that they can no longer control their bowels... in public. Perhaps we should discuss the people that decide to smoke sooo much cannabis where driving into stationary objects like people's homes, bars/restaurants and non-stationary objects like pedestrians and other cars is rather common. Obviously, I don't see this happening with Cannabis, but with alcohol...
Then we get to the people that can't afford beer and whiskey so they start drinking listerine or anything with alcohol and need expensive medical treatment. They can't afford medical treatment either, so taxpayers pay for the listerine and then pay for the treatment.
The list goes on and on... spice is really fun. When a new batch like "King Kong Purple" hits the streets, we all warn our families that we will be coming home exhausted from being up all night as the overdoses roll in every 20 minutes. Trying to get a spice OD on the gurney is a treat no EMS person should miss... They are biting, spitting, often uncontrollably vomiting, smashing their heads against anything (Concrete, pavement, ems personnel, sharp objects), kicking, screaming and are more often that not completely nude and covered in mystery fluids. It's a real treat.
We should really legalize Cannabis. My hope is that everyone just uses that instead of the other stuff that is legal. I know that is naive, but I can hope.
[+] [-] Jasamba|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] simonebrunozzi|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] andrei_says_|10 years ago|reply
And this is precisely the fear of the huge corporate moneyed law-defining entities that sell and profit from the other highly-destructive, highly-addictive stuff but can't profit as much from an easy and cheap to grow plant.
[+] [-] saiya-jin|10 years ago|reply
I presume we all should accept that majority of population has sometimes the urge to let a bit of steam off (or just get wasted), and rather than fighting the flow, those in power should steer it to as-little-harm-as-possible-to-society scenarios.
[+] [-] FatalBaboon|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Jtsummers|10 years ago|reply
I agree with all your points but this one. I think this may become common if Cannabis were legal in your area. I think it's only uncommon right now because people are using Cannabis in their own homes or someone else's home, for the most part.
[+] [-] neosat|10 years ago|reply
One important aspect to consider here is people don't necessarily think of it as illegal or a drug. There isn't really 'police' enforcing anything for the local. The local police station has like 1-2 people who pretty much just hang out and are friends with the locals.
Everyone in the village knows each other (sort of) and it is only the adult (males) that will have access to and make it. Teens and children don't really do it because someone or the other will find out and then they are in trouble, so the system corrects itself pretty quickly. I've never heard of a single case ever of overdose or anything like, though it has ruined the productivity and general health of a very large number of people.
[+] [-] blablablksheep|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] whatsoever|10 years ago|reply
Please, can you elaborate on this?
[+] [-] saiya-jin|10 years ago|reply
going to India as backpacker for at least several weeks, ideally months is experience out of this world. so intense, so complex, so different and exotic. After 2 months there, memories of my life back in europe seemed no more than memories of a distant surreal dream. it's a harsh and beautiful place full of amazing people. cannot recommend enough.
as for strength, cannot really compare since the stuff is uber-powerful. but so is moroccan and all other.
[+] [-] edge17|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] peter303|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] tempodox|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] anpat|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] deweerdt|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Carrok|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pjlegato|10 years ago|reply
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. If the idea of a few skin cells disturbs you, you'd better not look too closely into how food handling actually works in the real world.
[+] [-] 1024core|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Jasamba|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pansinghkoder|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] justplay|10 years ago|reply
Everytime i see cannabis thread in HN frontpage, i was quite cynical. It is illegal (in most of the places) and consumption of it cause cancer. It is as harmful as tobacco (or might even more).
Still, i see that the way HN user show interest towards cannabis. Why ? Isn't it harmful ? Am i missing something.
Please enlighten me.
[+] [-] feld|10 years ago|reply
This is very strongly debated. There has not yet been enough study to prove or disprove this, partially due to the fact that it's a Schedule I drug in the USA
It will also depend on how you consume it. Smoking is likely to be what puts you at risk the most.
edit: you deserve to be upvoted so people can actually participate in a discussion you seem to genuinely want to have
[+] [-] monkmartinez|10 years ago|reply
You can't live scared. Just live. Have an upvote.
[+] [-] stronglikedan|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kdamken|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] saiya-jin|10 years ago|reply
bam! enlightened
[+] [-] mycroft-holmes|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pcmaffey|10 years ago|reply
It's proven to be medically beneficial (the only known treatment?) for seizures. There are many parents who have moved to Colorado to gain access to CBD (a compound in cannabis) for their epileptic children.
On top of all that, cannabis sales in Colorado just passed $1b. That's a whole lot of tax revenue going to schools, creating jobs, etc.
[+] [-] eip|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] voxic11|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] turbohz|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] klibertp|10 years ago|reply
No, it isn't.
Next question?
[+] [-] joesmo|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] DiabloD3|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] thatcat|10 years ago|reply
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11538810
[+] [-] aakarpost|10 years ago|reply