Alcohol or Marijuana?

I've only smoked weed once since High School. And I graduated 8 years ago.

I haven't done either for over 20 years but I think pot is safer. We had it approved for medical use this past election but I think it's going to be tied up for a long time.

I had mushrooms, they did that. I didn't like it at all. Do not want to do LSD or any hallucinogen, ever.  I don't do anything anymore. I even quit smoking 3 years ago.

Alcohol, but in moderation.

I like kicking back a few light beers for the weekend. If I'm at a social function, then I probably drink more than I should. It's difficult to keep track of when there's music and discussions going on.

As for marijuana, I did try it once in the past, many moons ago. I remember (vaguely) crawling on the floor and sitting on the toilet for an hour, thinking I had to defecate. Then I fell asleep, LOL! Never again, especially since it's still illegal here where I reside, other than for medicinal purposes.

Marijuana is not physically addictive and in over ten thousand years of recorded history no one has ever died from using it. Compare that fact with the facts of how many people die because of smoking, alcohol abuse, car accidents, obesity and addiction to hard drugs such as heroin and "tik" (chrystal meth) every year.

I have spent the last 39-years of my life researching marijuana - studying everything about it I have been able to get my hands on, reading books about it, watching documentary films about it, talking to people who use it and, shall we say, experimenting with it personally. So I think it is fair to say I know what I am talking about.

As the late IFP MP Mario Oriani-Ambrosin said about medical marijuana in parliament before his death, "it is a crime against against humanity not to allow this" in South Africa legally. As someone who has witnessed first hand how marijuana use has improved quality of life and allieviated pain in friends suffering from cancer and other horrific diseases I can testify with absolute certainty that what he said is 100 % correct. Even the most basic reasearch on the subject will reveal this.

Legalizing marijuana for recreational use is also something we need to do urgently. One only needs to read some of the balanced, non-sensationalized news articles on the internet or watch the delightful and informative documentary ROLLING PAPERS (2015) to see that the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado (one of eight American states where recreational marijuana is legal - with more to follow in the next few months) has had numerous positive effects on the economy and the people's quality of life in this great state (and folk travelling through it) and virtually no negative effects - nobody should drive a car when under the influence of marijuana, but fortunately those drivers that do this drive so slowly they are not a threat to other road users. Of course, now that it is legal and regulated no businesses in Colorado are allowed to sell marijuna (or the many delicious edibles into which it is mixed) to minors, and this is strictly regulated and adhered to.

South African marijuana activist Julian Stobbs has pointed pointed out that the cost to the state for arresting, prosecuting and applying correctional sanctions in respect of each marijuana offender stands at around R240 000. This is money that could be used far more effectively for fighting higher-priority crimes. Legaisation of marijuana would free law enforcement agencies to spend more time clamping down on trafficking in cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs.

I could go on - I have merely touched the tip of the iceberg here, but I am trying to keep this brief, so let me end by suggesting that the naysayers open their minds and inform themselves by reading up on the subject and watching detailed and well reasearched documentary films such as A NORML LIFE (2011), IN POT WE TRUST (2007), THE UNION: THE BUSINESS BEHIND GETTING HIGH (2007), THE CULTURE HIGH (2015), LYNCHING CHARLIE LYNCH (2012), CLEARING THE SMOKE: THE SCIENCE OF CANNABIS (2011), Dr. Sanjay Gupta's special CNN report WEED and 420 - THE DOCUMENTARY (2013). Many of these fine documentaries are freely available on YouTube.

People need to know the shocking truth behind why something that’s so natural as marijuana - with countless health benefits, capable of greatly benefiting our economy, is illegal?” If folk - pro or con - want to be part of the debate over the legalization of marijuana in our country they need to be informed. With all the good information out there, there is no need for ignorance.

I have epilepsy, so i can't drink, but CBD oil has been proven to stop seizures in kids & it was recommended to me & i think it helps. even if they outlaw cannabis, CBD's dont get you high & they can save someones life.

Weed usually made me anxious/paranoid too, so it probably always will, some people never get paranoid from it, why? I don't know. I think drink (NOT hard liquor, because the hard stuff kills the liver faster) kills less brain cells. My reference being cousins who have been long time smokers or drinkers and the smokers seem much more burnt out BUT they had a really good time getting in that condition, lol.

I'm an MJ fan, and a non-drinker after a medical problem.