Op Ed: Smoking rather than Gel, Patch, etc. (apartment, crimes)

[UserNameNotTaken1]

There seems to be a lot of pressure lately to jump on a bandwagon where smoking everywhere is the popular thing to do. Personally, I am sick of this literally and figuratively. I am a student who often cannot find a place to study without being interrupted by drug smoke in the air. If I do not move when that happens, I usually end up getting high off of it and become unable to do my best work, or worse yet start having abnormal thoughts and behaviors which is embarrassing and unfair since I did not bargain for that smoke. Yesterday I overheard someone with young kids on the subway platform say that she doesn't think that her toddler needs a dose of airborne medication such as marijuana or whatever it was.

While I've never been a fan of marijuana smoke or even tobacco smoke visiting me at the wrong time, I am even less of a fan of more serious drugs which often have their smell covered up by marijuana. One of the favorite uses of marijuana by the users I have known has been to cover up the smell of stronger drugs with a marijuana odor.

Personally, I have no issue with a person using marijuana or other drugs/medications as long as they keep it to themselves or share it with those who actually want it. What I cannot stand is when I am forced to take another person's medication/drugs by breathing the air that contains their drug. I wish the "legalize marijuana" crew (or more accurately the, "legalize marijuana in more places" crew) would stop advocating for smoking, and start focusing on gels (which are available), patches (which are available), and possibly edibles. A candy shop with marijuana or THC candy, and other drug candies might not be so bad at all, as long as it stayed in the right hands. This is so that people can have their medication without forcing it on others or accidentally medicating kids.

Amazingly, I recently read articles online and in medical journals from pubmed about various substances, one was estrogen, interacting with marijuana smoke to create psychotic episodes in some people. As a society, I do not think we deserve to have psychotic episodes randomly triggered in people among us. And they do not deserve to be triggered or put in an abnormal state of mind or made to have out-of-character dangerous behavior. And yes, some people do become dangerous in the presence of drug smoke that smells just like marijuana. Those people are not dangerous any other time to the best of my knowledge and are business class professionals.

Sometimes I wonder who is making the most money off of this marijuana legalization, legal establishments, or illegal gangs and drug cartels (one of Mexico's main problems which I wish the USA would help them eliminate). Drug dealers love to target American youth at school, at universities, by having parties and giving out free stuff and offering to sell more. There is enormous peer pressure to jump on this bandwagon and be popular. Yet I feel that this mechanism takes advantage of ignorance or naivety. Obviously, if people are getting addicted to drugs, they will be buying drugs. If one cannot afford drugs, they will find a way to get the money for drugs, which might mean theft or prostitution or other crimes. Stealing, breaking into and ruining property, ruining a sense of safety, spreading diseases, can all be consequences of drug addiction.

If you have ever known an addict, you might be familiar with someone who:

1. Enjoys making others feel stupid.
2. Has difficulty accepting responsibility.
3. Seems far less intelligent than they use to be.
4. Finds every little thing funny and laughs at the same bad jokes over and over, or has anger management issues. etc.

Thus, my opinion is that it is okay to use medications or drugs, but not to abuse them to the extent of addiction. Not okay to force your own medication or marijuana or meth, crack, heroin covered up by marijuana smells on others, even by smoking, especially children.

What I do not understand is why so many people insist on smoking? Is it because it is cheaper to smoke than to use another form? Is it because the media, and drug pushers, are promoting it? Or you want to be like that person on TV, or the admirable person who smokes and only "outcasts" use patches and gels? I guess it would be an effective way of sabotaging a non-smoker by getting them high, but that's not nice at all. Plus, if you really overdo it, and it is a powerful substance like crack, either long term or permanent brain damage might result.

What does everyone else think of this?

[495neighbor]

Who hopes to gain from it? Our government, who will collect taxes on the newly legalized product. Casinos, pot shops and possibly legalized prostitution in Rhode Island, they are happy to make anything taxable without any regard to what kind of society we may become.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

I am a student who often cannot find a place to study without being interrupted by drug smoke in the air. If I do not move when that happens, I usually end up getting high off of it and become unable to do my best work, or worse yet start having abnormal thoughts and behaviors which is embarrassing and unfair since I did not bargain for that smoke.

Nonsense.

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

Yesterday I overheard someone with young kids on the subway platform say that she doesn't think that her toddler needs a dose of airborne medication such as marijuana or whatever it was.

More nonsense.

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

While I've never been a fan of marijuana smoke or even tobacco smoke visiting me at the wrong time, I am even less of a fan of more serious drugs which often have their smell covered up by marijuana. One of the favorite uses of marijuana by the users I have known has been to cover up the smell of stronger drugs with a marijuana odor.

And even more nonsense.

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

A candy shop with marijuana or THC candy, and other drug candies might not be so bad at all, as long as it stayed in the right hands. This is so that people can have their medication without forcing it on others or accidentally medicating kids.

Edibles are how kids accidentally get high.

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

Amazingly, I recently read articles online and in medical journals from pubmed about various substances, one was estrogen, interacting with marijuana smoke to create psychotic episodes in some people. As a society, I do not think we deserve to have psychotic episodes randomly triggered in people among us. And they do not deserve to be triggered or put in an abnormal state of mind or made to have out-of-character dangerous behavior.

Again, nonsense.

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

And yes, some people do become dangerous in the presence of drug smoke that smells just like marijuana. Those people are not dangerous any other time to the best of my knowledge and are business class professionals.

Even more nonsense.

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

Sometimes I wonder who is making the most money off of this marijuana legalization, legal establishments, or illegal gangs and drug cartels (one of Mexico's main problems which I wish the USA would help them eliminate).

The gov't is making the most money.

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

Drug dealers love to target American youth at school, at universities, by having parties and giving out free stuff and offering to sell more. There is enormous peer pressure to jump on this bandwagon and be popular. Yet I feel that this mechanism takes advantage of ignorance or naivety. Obviously, if people are getting addicted to drugs, they will be buying drugs. If one cannot afford drugs, they will find a way to get the money for drugs, which might mean theft or prostitution or other crimes. Stealing, breaking into and ruining property, ruining a sense of safety, spreading diseases, can all be consequences of drug addiction.

Reefer Madness 2019 edition.

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

Not okay to force your own medication or marijuana or meth, crack, heroin covered up by marijuana smells on others, even by smoking, especially children.

WROR?

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

What I do not understand is why so many people insist on smoking?


....


I guess it would be an effective way of sabotaging a non-smoker by getting them high, but that's not nice at all. Plus, if you really overdo it, and it is a powerful substance like crack, either long term or permanent brain damage might result.

Fake news.

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

What does everyone else think of this?

I don't think I've ever seen more misinformation in one post.

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

What does everyone else think of this?

I think your post is incredibly mis-informed. I also smell it on a regular basis, and not a huge fan of that. Of all the times I have smelled it I have never got high from the smell. I just hate it because it's a bit intrusive, and seems pretty low class to smell like any drugs. I also feel the same when someone is microwaving fish at work, or a loud car stereo.

[Boston_Burbs]

Drug smoke

I will have to use that one!

[miu]

I can sympathize with the OP not wanting to smell marijuana smoke. I don't care for the odour either. And if I was a parent of young children, I wouldn't want my kids smelling pot in public or in common areas. It must be difficult living in an apartment building with a diverse group of tenants.

Surely, marijuana smoking should be covered under the same rules covering tobacco cigarette smoking.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by miu

I can sympathize with the OP not wanting to smell marijuana smoke. I don't care for the odour either. And if I was a parent of young children, I wouldn't want my kids smelling pot in public or in common areas. It must be difficult living in an apartment building with a diverse group of tenants.

Surely, marijuana smoking should be covered under the same rules covering tobacco cigarette smoking.

^^Ditto.

But I suspect the OP was just here to stir up a topic...I notice s/he hasn't returned to this thread!

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by miu

I can sympathize with the OP not wanting to smell marijuana smoke. I don't care for the odour either.

While I like the smell, I certainly understand not wanting to be around it. It can get in your clothes also.

My problem with the OP's post is the crazy talk about getting high from the smell in the air. It's just false.

Originally Posted by miu

And if I was a parent of young children, I wouldn't want my kids smelling pot in public or in common areas.

I completely agree.

Originally Posted by miu

Surely, marijuana smoking should be covered under the same rules covering tobacco cigarette smoking.

I agree again.

[charolastra00]

Originally Posted by UserNameNotTaken1

I am a student who often cannot find a place to study without being interrupted by drug smoke in the air. If I do not move when that happens, I usually end up getting high off of it and become unable to do my best work, or worse yet start having abnormal thoughts and behaviors which is embarrassing and unfair since I did not bargain for that smoke.

This reminds me of when I was 10 and learned I needed glasses. I declared a moratorium on homework until I got glasses because I couldn't possibly see the homework I was perfectly capable of doing the day before.

You're not getting a contact high from the smell of marijuana from a different room. It's not impacting your work, thoughts, or behaviors except for an exaggerated reaction to the smell.

[Gerania]

3. Seems far less intelligent than they use to be.

Tell us more about that.