"In early November, I got a mild cold. I felt bad for a day, then felt better, then started coughing and didn’t stop coughing for a whole month. As if by way of compensation, the doctor gave me an orange flask of codeine cough syrup. This was a problem for me because I’m a recovering addict. But I didn’t mention this, because I’m a recovering addict. I said to myself: Think of it as medicine."
"I was supposed to take 5 mL every four hours, “as needed.” I knew 5 mL was either one teaspoon or one tablespoon, and this confusion was more or less genuine, but I strategically avoided looking up the answer and chose the larger dose. This led predictably to a drug experience. My eyes turned red, I felt a buzzing sensation, I stumbled and walked into walls, I couldn’t relax enough to pee, I couldn’t speak at the right volume, I craved sugar. I was aware that I was behaving more cheerfully than usual, but I did not experience a feeling of good cheer. My head hurt very much. After four hours, I drank what I judged to be a second tablespoon directly from the flask."
“Smoking marihuana is more fun than drinking beer,
But a friend of ours was captured and they gave him thirty years
Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why
But demonstrations are a drag, besides we’re much too high
And I’m sure it wouldn’t interest anybody
Outside of a small circle of friends”
I am a believer that all recreational drugs should be legalized and regulated by the government.🍻 I don’t think drug prohibition makes much sense and is an incredible waste of both public and private resources.
Most people who die from overdoses do so from unknown quantities of the poison they are ingesting. 🍸Many studies have found most drug users are recreational, addicts are the exception rare than the norm. Moreover with many recreational drugs being prohibited, it encourages abuse rather than safe use.👩 Legal drug use means likely fewer addicts.
Nobody argues that many recreational drugs are detrimental to human health when abused and used for a long period of time. But so are tobacco and alcohol. To say nothing of junk food! 🍬But used recreationally they can be a lot of fun, especially in a social situation. They should be taxed to mitigate many of the potential health downsides and to discourage over consumption.
People say things like heroin and opiods are dangerous and must be banned due to their addictive nature. But I don’t know. Addiction is not only chemical, its as much personality and mental well-being.💊 I think incarceration and aggressive policing of minority communities does far more harm than people who choose to harm themselves.
I certainly support marijuana legalization but I realize there are concerns about the stinky herb when it’s burned.🚬 Intoxicated driving is another concern but I think most people would use it in moderation when they are not going to be motoring and the impact of stoned drivers is much lower than drunk drivers.
Rather than spending billions prosecuting drug users,👮 I would rather see money spent on our communities to make them nicer places to live. More street fairs and movie nights. More recreational opportunities and better parks.🚏 Nicer bus stops and streets with better lighting. Not to mention more low cost and free drug treatment programs for those who are legitimately addicted and just not recreational users.👸👨👴👵
"Canada has become the first wealthy nation in the world to fully legalize marijuana. The Senate approved Bill C-45, also known as the Cannabis Act, on Tuesday. The measure was already approved by the House of Commons, so the Senate’s approval means it’s now set to become law. Canadian and provincial governments are expected to roll out different provisions of the law in the coming weeks and months."
The measure legalizes marijuana possession and sales for adults. Home growing up to four marijuana plants is allowed. The federal government will oversee remaining criminal sanctions (for, say, selling to minors) and the licensing of producers, while provincial governments will manage sales, distribution, and related regulations — as such, provinces will be able to impose tougher rules, such as raising the minimum age. The statute largely follows recommendations made by a federal task force on marijuana legalization. Provinces are expected to need two to three months before retail sales can begin."
"The push to legalize marijuana for recreational use is gaining momentum in New York. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon is pushing for it, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signaled that he is open to it and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has concluded that it is inevitable."