Elton John Says Legalizing Marijuana in America and Canada Is “One of the Greatest Mistakes of All Time”
"I maintain that it’s addictive," he said. "It leads to other drugs."
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All I see here is the common kneejerk reaction to anything remotely criticizing marijuana. Elton John is a dry alcoholic and has been supporting other people with substance abuse issues for many years now. To him trivialization of any sort of drug use is negative. Calling it "the greatest mistake" is just some hyperbole to highlight the issue he sees. And he's not wrong in that there are many people, like in this comment section, who act as if there are no negative side effects to consuming cannabis. That is not only wrong but dangerous, because it is a drug and like all drugs it has its downsides that people need to be aware of. Still, personally I think decriminalization was the right thing. But stop acting like cannabis can do no evil.
I believe the risks of cannabis are significantly less than nearly every other recreational drug out there. Hell, I am a huge psychedelic proponent, which in many cases causes less physical damage than most other drugs but also comes with its own list of caveats.
But yeah, I see what you are saying and agree. It is important to understand the correct risks of just about anything in life.
Some dry alcoholics love their soapbox though. I'll occasionally bash alcohol, but I honestly try to keep my opinion to myself unless I am with other recovering alcoholics. (Repetitive negative reinforcement has a place, believe it or not.) What I am saying is that it is easy for someone in perpetual recovery to get a hair preachy. It's a thing. (Also guilty here, btw.)
I would wager marijuana, even eating it rather than smoking, is more harmful than coffee. I'm not totally certain, since I don't drink coffee. I do consume marijuana.
The toxicity level of caffeine is going to be much higher and cause some nasty cardiovascular issues at higher dosages. (I was hospitalized as a teen for a caffeine overdose, actually. It's not a fun time.)
This is a rough estimate, as I didn't send too much time looking, but 1.2g of pure caffeine is enough to cause seizures with an estimate I saw of 5-10 grams to be lethal.
The first result I saw for a lethal dose of THC was 1.2g/kg so for a 180lb (81.6kg) person that is about 100g. (That's a lot of pure THC, btw.)
there are many people [...] who act as if there are no negative side effects to consuming cannabis
Nah, I've had those negative side effects and I know them well, including depression from withdrawal, short term memory lapses and Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome. They sound bad but they don't compare to other drugs in the slightest and in my case are incredibly manageable. None of these are permanent or life-changing and go away within a week after quitting cold turkey, which I've done many many times. Are you sure you're not exaggerating the danger bit?
Yes. Anyone who has experienced physical drug addiction knows that not all drugs/addictions are created equal.
For example, you can literally die from alcohol withdrawal.
If anything, cannabis keeps me sane enough to not need to medicate myself with harder shit to escape this shithole reality.
Just because other things are worse doesn't mean cannabis is good. It's definitely better in comparison, but it's still a far cry from being harmless. That's all I'm saying. I'd argue it should be treated similarly to alcohol, in that you're not allowed to get it as a minor. And THC content should be better regulated, like alcohol content somewhat is. More THC only for adults, for example. It's idiotic to demonize cannabis, especially with alcohol being such a big part of everyday life for so many people. But that doesn't mean it's fine for everybody to consume THC like it's nothing.
What you are describing is legalization. The thing that Elton John is railing against here.
Yes. I disagree with him, but I also understand where he's coming from.
I understand where he is coming from as well, but yes, I disagree with prohibition in general and it's not for political reasons.
The best way to get someone to do something is to tell them they can't do it or they shouldn't do it. It's human nature, especially during youth.
Just because other things are worse doesn’t mean cannabis is good
Sorry I gave you that impression but that's not my point. My comparison is not necessarily meant to paint cannabis as good. (And so what if it did, anyway, what's wrong with that as a fine drug of choice?) I'm saying its side effects are more manageable compared to the side effects of other recreational drugs to the point of them feeling like a minor inconvenience. When I feel bad, I quit cold turkey and it all goes away in a couple of days. That has never failed me (or many people I know who take breaks) in ten-plus years of mixed use. But ask them about cigarettes and they straight-up complain they can't stop.
That's all I'm saying. I would never say that it's for everyone or that it'll be necessarily good for you to consume it in whatever form. I don't actively recommend cannabis. Fine if you do and fine if you don't. But let's not exaggerate the effects.
Edited for clarity.
How are you the only level-headed person in this thread?
The others have smoked too much.😛
Stoners on the internet generally seem to think it's a cure-all.
I smoked last night but even I know it's not good for you. It's an escape. It's likely safer than alcohol... as edibles anyway... but smoking it is likely on par with smoking cigarettes and vaping is going to increase cancer rates too.
I suspect it degrades your ability to recall memory too and that the more you use it the worse it gets, but that's hard to quantify given that our memory seems to get worse as we age anyway.