Legalize Marijuana?

[502mania]

You totally missed my point on the testing for said drugs.  It wouldn't be feasible to make a DUI arrest based on a test that showed said person could have smoked a joint 3 weeks ago when they obviously are not still under the influence three weeks later.

A person who smoked one time 3 weeks ago is going to show a MUCH lower level, which is measured in nanograms,

True, although, if the person smokes constantly (say, 7 grams a day), it will be close to someone who smokes once a week. if you intake that much thc, it will have a level. that level will be close to someone who smokes occasionally and is high at the time.

[mommysworld]

In my opinion it wouldn't so much be the government that would want mary j to be taxed the hell out of it would be the cigarette and alcohol companies that would force the governments hands. If it is legalized look what the cigarette and alcohol companies have to loose.

[jordandog]

You totally missed my point on the testing for said drugs.  It wouldn't be feasible to make a DUI arrest based on a test that showed said person could have smoked a joint 3 weeks ago when they obviously are not still under the influence three weeks later.

A person who smoked one time 3 weeks ago is going to show a MUCH lower level, which is measured in nanograms,

True, although, if the person smokes constantly (say, 7 grams a day), it will be close to someone who smokes once a week. if you intake that much thc, it will have a level. that level will be close to someone who smokes occasionally and is high at the time.

You missed what I wrote after that:
"A daily user will also show a high level due to buildup, even if they did NOT just smoke, but the results will still show as different and will indicate chronic use vs 'just used'."

Key point being results will show differently and indicate chronic vs just used.
How many drug test have YOU ordered and read, Chase?

[Annella]

Chase, you need to read her previous post completely before answering her again.

Jordon, I  have a question for you.  Someone told me (long time ago) that marijuana is not water soluble, so it stays in your system forever.  Is that true?  Maybe even small traces of it?

Another question:  I have some back problems, and take pain medication sometimes.  How long should I wait before I can drive?  The medication I take doesn't make me sleepy or any of the impaired reflexes or anything.  I wouldn't even know I was on anything.  It only deadens the pain.....nothing else.  If I got stopped, I could pass the reflex test or sobriety or anything like that.  Oh, I need to add.....it is prescription.

[Alyia72]

You totally missed my point on the testing for said drugs.  It wouldn't be feasible to make a DUI arrest based on a test that showed said person could have smoked a joint 3 weeks ago when they obviously are not still under the influence three weeks later.

If a cop stops anyone, notices they have constricted pupils, appear very relaxed, smell no alcohol, notice the person is not passing field sobriety test related to physical movement quite the way they should, and suspect said person is under the influence of something, they can arrest and detain them under the guidelines of 'reasonable suspicion'. They can then do an instant urine test, which you are not correct on as far as the interpretation of it. A person who smoked one time 3 weeks ago is going to show a MUCH lower level, which is measured in nanograms, than someone who WAS high at the time. A daily user will also show a high level due to buildup, even if they did NOT just smoke, but the results will still show as different and will indicate chronic use vs 'just used'. It is ridiculous that you even wrote that because it clearly shows you have NO concept of drug testing and how it works. There is also an instant saliva test which immediately shows residue from marijuana (along with almost every drug out there including alcohol) and those are used both by law enforcement and by hospital personnel after an accident involving anyone thought to be under the influence of marijuana - forget about the alcohol or any other drugs here. If those show up in any test, it is a different ballgame.

So I choose the wrong words to try to get a point across and that means I have no concept of drug testing and how it works... Perhaps if you would have read my whole post and the sentence after the one you quoted you would have understood I was saying it would be difficult to prove that the weed was consumed soon enough to still be impairing the persons judgment.  If it was confusing to you what I was saying why not ask rather than to assume I am an idiot and have no concept of how things work?  My whole point in that post as well as the one before it was that THC effects everyone differently.  As well as the levels of THC in a persons system will vary depending on their size and amount of fat in their body and the amounts that they smoke a heavier(meaning overweight) vs a skinny user both using the same amounts of weed in a given time can show different levels of THC in a urine test.  Regardless I was not saying it was legal or right to drive under the Influence of anything just that with THC its a bit more difficult to prove than with alcohol.  When I said it was not illegal here where I live to be high just to be in possession or intent to sell or posession of paraphernalia  I was not referring to being high while driving.  As for the saliva tests they are not used here where I live and from what I have read online there is only one state as of Sept. 2010 that is even trying to pass legislation to allow these tests to be administered roadside. http://winbackyourlife.org/michigan%E2%80%99s-new-roadside-drug-testing-law/.  

[Annella]

You totally missed my point on the testing for said drugs.  It wouldn't be feasible to make a DUI arrest based on a test that showed said person could have smoked a joint 3 weeks ago when they obviously are not still under the influence three weeks later.

If a cop stops anyone, notices they have constricted pupils, appear very relaxed, smell no alcohol, notice the person is not passing field sobriety test related to physical movement quite the way they should, and suspect said person is under the influence of something, they can arrest and detain them under the guidelines of 'reasonable suspicion'. They can then do an instant urine test, which you are not correct on as far as the interpretation of it. A person who smoked one time 3 weeks ago is going to show a MUCH lower level, which is measured in nanograms, than someone who WAS high at the time. A daily user will also show a high level due to buildup, even if they did NOT just smoke, but the results will still show as different and will indicate chronic use vs 'just used'. It is ridiculous that you even wrote that because it clearly shows you have NO concept of drug testing and how it works. There is also an instant saliva test which immediately shows residue from marijuana (along with almost every drug out there including alcohol) and those are used both by law enforcement and by hospital personnel after an accident involving anyone thought to be under the influence of marijuana - forget about the alcohol or any other drugs here. If those show up in any test, it is a different ballgame.

So I choose the wrong words to try to get a point across and that means I have no concept of drug testing and how it works... Perhaps if you would have read my whole post and the sentence after the one you quoted you would have understood I was saying it would be difficult to prove that the weed was consumed soon enough to still be impairing the persons judgment.  If it was confusing to you what I was saying why not ask rather than to assume I am an idiot and have no concept of how things work?  My whole point in that post as well as the one before it was that THC effects everyone differently.  As well as the levels of THC in a persons system will vary depending on their size and amount of fat in their body and the amounts that they smoke a heavier(meaning overweight) vs a skinny user both using the same amounts of weed in a given time can show different levels of THC in a urine test.  Regardless I was not saying it was legal or right to drive under the Influence of anything just that with THC its a bit more difficult to prove than with alcohol.  When I said it was not illegal here where I live to be high just to be in possession or intent to sell or posession of paraphernalia  I was not referring to being high while driving.  As for the saliva tests they are not used here where I live and from what I have read online there is only one state as of Sept. 2010 that is even trying to pass legislation to allow these tests to be administered roadside. http://winbackyourlife.org/michigan%E2%80%99s-new-roadside-drug-testing-law/.  

Thank you for your post Alyia72, you answered a couple crucial questions for me.  Especially about the saliva tests.

[jordandog]

You totally missed my point on the testing for said drugs.  It wouldn't be feasible to make a DUI arrest based on a test that showed said person could have smoked a joint 3 weeks ago when they obviously are not still under the influence three weeks later.

If a cop stops anyone, notices they have constricted pupils, appear very relaxed, smell no alcohol, notice the person is not passing field sobriety test related to physical movement quite the way they should, and suspect said person is under the influence of something, they can arrest and detain them under the guidelines of 'reasonable suspicion'. They can then do an instant urine test, which you are not correct on as far as the interpretation of it. A person who smoked one time 3 weeks ago is going to show a MUCH lower level, which is measured in nanograms, than someone who WAS high at the time. A daily user will also show a high level due to buildup, even if they did NOT just smoke, but the results will still show as different and will indicate chronic use vs 'just used'. It is ridiculous that you even wrote that because it clearly shows you have NO concept of drug testing and how it works. There is also an instant saliva test which immediately shows residue from marijuana (along with almost every drug out there including alcohol) and those are used both by law enforcement and by hospital personnel after an accident involving anyone thought to be under the influence of marijuana - forget about the alcohol or any other drugs here. If those show up in any test, it is a different ballgame.

So I choose the wrong words to try to get a point across and that means I have no concept of drug testing and how it works... Perhaps if you would have read my whole post and the sentence after the one you quoted you would have understood I was saying it would be difficult to prove that the weed was consumed soon enough to still be impairing the persons judgment.  If it was confusing to you what I was saying why not ask rather than to assume I am an idiot and have no concept of how things work?  My whole point in that post as well as the one before it was that THC effects everyone differently.  As well as the levels of THC in a persons system will vary depending on their size and amount of fat in their body and the amounts that they smoke a heavier(meaning overweight) vs a skinny user both using the same amounts of weed in a given time can show different levels of THC in a urine test.  Regardless I was not saying it was legal or right to drive under the Influence of anything just that with THC its a bit more difficult to prove than with alcohol.  When I said it was not illegal here where I live to be high just to be in possession or intent to sell or posession of paraphernalia  I was not referring to being high while driving.  As for the saliva tests they are not used here where I live and from what I have read online there is only one state as of Sept. 2010 that is even trying to pass legislation to allow these tests to be administered roadside. http://winbackyourlife.org/michigan%E2%80%99s-new-roadside-drug-testing-law/.  

I did not imply you were an idiot and I also read your entire post. I also did NOT say the instant saliva test would be used roadside. If you read MY post, I said they would/could be administered after arrest and detainment on reasonable suspicion. That means they would be done at the police station (whatever branch did the arrest) and NOT on the spot while on the side of a road. So as far as your comment about only one state doing them roadside that may well be true, but again, had you read my words, I was not speaking on any kind of roadside test. They are used in thousands of workplaces, hospitals, at home test kits, etc., across the country. It is really NOT hard to distinguish if the person was high at the time vs chronic because I stated that those results are very different and also very clear.
I do not know where I said you thought it was okay to drive high because I did not even address that - I would hope everyone felt that way, but they obviously don't.

[jordandog]

Chase, you need to read her previous post completely before answering her again.

Jordon, I  have a question for you.  Someone told me (long time ago) that marijuana is not water soluble, so it stays in your system forever.  Is that true?  Maybe even small traces of it?

Another question:  I have some back problems, and take pain medication sometimes.  How long should I wait before I can drive?  The medication I take doesn't make me sleepy or any of the impaired reflexes or anything.  I wouldn't even know I was on anything.  It only deadens the pain.....nothing else.  If I got stopped, I could pass the reflex test or sobriety or anything like that.  Oh, I need to add.....it is prescription.

I was already in bed (for work tonight) when you posted this, Annella. It is true that marijuana is NOT water soluble, it is stored in fat cells, as Alyia said, and therefore is throughout the body in all the major organs - brain, kidneys, liver. Depending on weight, metabolism, frequency, and quantity of use, it will show up anywhere from 3-90 days in a urine or blood test. In a hair follicle test, the outside window is 3 years. So, it is NOT true that it stays in the system forever. I also addressed the saliva test and what I actually wrote to Alyia in my reply to her. I did NOT say roadside saliva (or urine for that matter) testing is done.

As for the question on your medication? Without knowing what it is, and that is really not a public thing unless you would choose to make it one, I would never presume to answer it. There are just too many factors and I don't want to 'assume' anything and give you an incorrect answer.

[Annella]

Chase, you need to read her previous post completely before answering her again.

Jordon, I  have a question for you.  Someone told me (long time ago) that marijuana is not water soluble, so it stays in your system forever.  Is that true?  Maybe even small traces of it?

Another question:  I have some back problems, and take pain medication sometimes.  How long should I wait before I can drive?  The medication I take doesn't make me sleepy or any of the impaired reflexes or anything.  I wouldn't even know I was on anything.  It only deadens the pain.....nothing else.  If I got stopped, I could pass the reflex test or sobriety or anything like that.  Oh, I need to add.....it is prescription.

I was already in bed (for work tonight) when you posted this, Annella. It is true that marijuana is NOT water soluble, it is stored in fat cells, as Alyia said, and therefore is throughout the body in all the major organs - brain, kidneys, liver. Depending on weight, metabolism, frequency, and quantity of use, it will show up anywhere from 3-90 days in a urine or blood test. In a hair follicle test, the outside window is 3 years. So, it is NOT true that it stays in the system forever. I also addressed the saliva test and what I actually wrote to Alyia in my reply to her. I did NOT say roadside saliva (or urine for that matter) testing is done.

As for the question on your medication? Without knowing what it is, and that is really not a public thing unless you would choose to make it one, I would never presume to answer it. There are just too many factors and I don't want to 'assume' anything and give you an incorrect answer.

It's okay, I'll ask the Doc next time I see him.  I don't drive while taking it, but feel like I could, as I feel no side effects at all from it, it just takes the edge off the pain.  I'm taking a low strength as it is, and not everyday. 

[madeara]

I think marijuana should be legalized for medicinal purposes and should only be used by prescription in cases when the patient is terminally ill.

[anubabs]

ppl are already abusing it even when its not legalized, what do u think would happen when it legal. I know some doctors that will write u proscription for whatever medicine or drug u ask for, and they don't care if its good for u or not.

[bschumacher]

Smoking pot allowed my brother to keep from vomiting his chemo meds and food when he was recovering from Stage 2 colon cancer. Personally, I hate the stuff, but it should be legalized, taxed and regulated like alcohol and cigarettes....just as long as people stay the hell away from me when they smoke it.

[gdphillips25]

no they should not. Would be to many slow drivers.

[armychick09h]

It all comes down to politics in the end. and people who vote. 

[mattymatt79]

I dislike the fact that alcohol is legal, however; pot is not. I wouldn't do it, but I disagree with the fact that there is the government deciding on what I can or can not put into my own body. I feel that they should get their nose out of it and the failing "war on drugs" would be less of an issue if they did such a thing.

Decriminalize it at least, I fail to see how pot is such a drug causes anything more harmful than alcohol. How many deaths are there per year due to alcohol use (dui) compared to drug use?