Establishing 25 as the legal pot consumption age

[Northern Spark]

This might come off as slightly edgy, but I've been renting a room from a 40 year old woman for the past few months. Long and short, I came to find out that she was 420 friendly on accident. Despite that she consistently says things like "when cannabis is legalized, the consumption age should be 25." I understand why she is saying that, but given the fact that she has been a regular consumer of pot for quite some time I can't help but feel like I'm talking to a hypocrite.

Shifting away from that, would you guys feel that establishing 25 as the legal age for cannabis consumption be hypocritical? Would that not be a different form of prohibition, the thing that we've been fighting against for so long? I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall at times. Your thoughts

 

[Trousers]

I write on paper and swim in water.

 

[bluntmassa1]

Alcohol is worse and the age should be 18 people are still not really mature at 18 IMO but they can join the military and their life is ruined completely sure some make it out without problems but how many kids leave with PTSD and wounded? I don't know but a good friend killed himself like a year after getting wounded in Iraq kid died as soon as he joined the army. I'd say the age should be 25 but nobody would join I wanted to join at 18 but I would never join now I don't care how much money they offer until we are invaded I ain't killing anyone for my country.

But the 25 age is just more propaganda that she buys into your brain is still developing they say so then alcohol should not be legal until 25 but that will just create a black market I bought alcohol at like 13 just had to pay extra.

 

[mo841]

25 is to old. if she started before the age of 25 she would be a hypocrite.

 

[charface]

She probably feels it best for a persons brain and body be fully developed
before they partake. Maybe she has some experiences or knows of some that went poorly.

But,
I think if 18 were the age for weed much less alcohol would be consumed and lives saved.

I would say 16 or 14 but that's me being realist.

Pretty sure it will remain 21

Also just because I did something I feel was a mistake and now wish others didn't have to repeat it may make me well meaning as opposed to hypocrite.

I used to drink and drive.
I think you should not.
Because I learned the hard way and I value human life

 

[GreatwhiteNorth]

She probably feels it best for a persons brain and body be fully developed
before they partake. Maybe she has some experiences or knows of some that went poorly.

But,
I think if 18 were the age for weed much less alcohol would be consumed and lives saved.

I would say 16 or 14 but that's me being realist.

Pretty sure it will remain 21

Also just because I did something I feel was a mistake and now wish others didn't have to repeat it may make me well meaning as opposed to hypocrite.

I used to drink and drive.
I think you should not.
Because I learned the hard way and I value human life

+ Rep

 

[Joe Blows Trees]

25 may be a bit old, but there are plenty of irresponsible 21 year olds who drink, which is worse, so I'm guessing 21 will be the chosen age regardless. Really kinda doesn't matter IMHO as most people try alcohol and marijuana well before 18.

 

[farmasensist]

I think the drinking age of 21 is why there are so many alcoholics. If parents could give their teenage kids a few beers for their birthday, they could get used to drinking casually instead of "growing up" then getting shit faced every time they drink unsupervised.

If your responsible enough to hold down a tax paying job you should be able to do whatever you want if your 16 or 60.

 

[charface]

I think the drinking age of 21 is why there are so many alcoholics. If parents could give their teenage kids a few beers for their birthday, they could get used to drinking casually instead of "growing up" then getting shit faced every time they drink unsupervised.

If your responsible enough to hold down a tax paying job you should be able to do whatever you want if your 16 or 60.

I agree with your sentiment but that's not how alcoholism works.
Its not how much or how often or how old you are its how your body and brain react to it.
I wish you could teach alcoholics to drink moderately but for the majority you cant.
1 is too many and 1000 is not enough.

BUT
It don't matter because teens are gonna drink and push boundaries no matter what the legal age is.

I think you are talking about functional alcoholics.
Still a shitty existence but better than skid row.

 

[vro]

The legal age for everything should be 0. Fuck the law

 

[GrowUrOwnDank]

She probably feels it best for a persons brain and body be fully developed
before they partake.

Actually, if you want to trust what is taught in College level psychology there is some truth to that. It has been tested/shown that marijuana consumption can affect the development of the brain. Now, I don't say I believe in this. Nor, do I oppose it. I honestly don't know if it is true or not. Why can't I simply trust scientific evidence right out of the box? Because it has been shown very often that objectivity is skewed. Often results can mirror what a scientists might choose as evidence in the conclusion. As an example. If the scientist is anti-MJ. His results may be skewed by evidence that supports his position and leave out some opposing evidence.

My friend of 25 years were talking the other day. More so about alcohol and we were discussing how over the last 35 years for me. 30 plus years for him. How our bodies react anymore. He is still an everyday high consumption drinker. I drink mostly weekends these days. But, 6 years ago I drank a liter a day and rarely, if ever didn't drink straight whiskey. I told him, sometimes I feel the need to drink anymore, just because I feel all those years, living that lifestyle and drinking that much alcohol has changed the chemistry in my brain. Sometimes I just need to get drunk during the week. Then we talked about the shakes. He was like, didn't understand what I meant by how I used to explain how I had the shakes(tremors) all the time. Because he hasn't progressed to this. Now he has. And I told him, even when you do like I do and only drink weekends most of the time. You will still have the shakes anymore. Because, I also feel the obsessive use of alcohol has permanently affected our nervous systems.

End of the day. Been drinking since like 12. Consistently since 16. Smoking weed isn't as consistent, nevertheless it is habitual to some. Me. Medicinal is a different matter. As for teens. I always encourage them to handle their business before they pick up these bad habits. Get your degree..... Etc.... Then party down if that's what you wanna do. Kids are different. To many things going on in with chemical changes. Some will be lost anyway. Some will be fine and walk away from it someday. So.....

In conclusion. lol. There really is none. They SHOULD WAIT. But, they will choose. And meet their own consequences, maybe, if any.

You were kinda on point.

 

[Northern Spark]

25 may be a bit old, but there are plenty of irresponsible 21 year olds who drink, which is worse, so I'm guessing 21 will be the chosen age regardless. Really kinda doesn't matter IMHO as most people try alcohol and marijuana well before 18.

I'm right there with you. At the same time that plenty of people who profess themselves as being liberal are arguing for less regulations in regards to prohibition of cannabis, this same argument of establishing 25 as the legal age would be another form of prohibition.

That is one area where I would agree with conservative values. Because so many people are angry about the government telling people what they can or cannot ingest or put into their bodies. And while there is a plethora of studies that have been done with cannabis, there aren't studies that will concretely identify marijuana as being physiologically addictive. I have it argued that cannabis is psychologically addictive, but so are many other substances that aren't schedule 1 substances. Someone could also have a neuroses and be predisposed to have a psychological addiction to something deemed safe for consumption by the general public.

So while 25 is the age that most people have stopped development in their prefrontal cortex. At what point do we as a society allow people to make decisions for themselves? I'm not ranting at anyone here, but our laws are designed to cater to the weakest link of society. I just don't see marijuana directly destroying lives, families, health or society in general. I do however see the direct effects of marijuana prohibition destroying careers, lives and families. When does it stop?

 

[Northern Spark]

Actually, if you want to trust what is taught in College level psychology there is some truth to that. It has been tested/shown that marijuana consumption can affect the development of the brain. Now, I don't say I believe in this. Nor, do I oppose it. I honestly don't know if it is true or not. Why can't I simply trust scientific evidence right out of the box? Because it has been shown very often that objectivity is skewed. Often results can mirror what a scientists might choose as evidence in the conclusion. As an example. If the scientist is anti-MJ. His results may be skewed by evidence that supports his position and leave out some opposing evidence.

My friend of 25 years were talking the other day. More so about alcohol and we were discussing how over the last 35 years for me. 30 plus years for him. How our bodies react anymore. He is still an everyday high consumption drinker. I drink mostly weekends these days. But, 6 years ago I drank a liter a day and rarely, if ever didn't drink straight whiskey. I told him, sometimes I feel the need to drink anymore, just because I feel all those years, living that lifestyle and drinking that much alcohol has changed the chemistry in my brain. Sometimes I just need to get drunk during the week. Then we talked about the shakes. He was like, didn't understand what I meant by how I used to explain how I had the shakes(tremors) all the time. Because he hasn't progressed to this. Now he has. And I told him, even when you do like I do and only drink weekends most of the time. You will still have the shakes anymore. Because, I also feel the obsessive use of alcohol has permanently affected our nervous systems.

End of the day. Been drinking since like 12. Consistently since 16. Smoking weed isn't as consistent, nevertheless it is habitual to some. Me. Medicinal is a different matter. As for teens. I always encourage them to handle their business before they pick up these bad habits. Get your degree..... Etc.... Then party down if that's what you wanna do. Kids are different. To many things going on in with chemical changes. Some will be lost anyway. Some will be fine and walk away from it someday. So.....

In conclusion. lol. There really is none. They SHOULD WAIT. But, they will choose. And meet their own consequences, maybe, if any.

You were kinda on point.

Good points, I think you really hit the nail on the head there. Because Marijuana is still federally illegal, many universities have trouble being able to get permission much less funding to do studies on the affects of cannabis on the human anatomy. And when studies do come out, often times like you said there is a degree of bias inherent to the study. Either that, or the study attempts to answer a very narrow range of questions often focusing on the negatives and completely ignoring the positives of cannabis.

It is important to note that alcohol has a much different effect on the body than cannabis does. Frequent consumption of alcohol can lead to sclerosis of the liver and necrosis of brain tissue. While cannabis (if smoked frequently) can lead to emphysema, that is because of super-heated hydrocarbons. So the affects are likely not the same. Please don't take this as me jumping your case, but if we were to establish the age as 25 before having studies with federal funding, unbiased parameters/hypotheses, and no interference. It just feels like doing so would be a complete knee-jerk reaction.

 

[charface]

It is hard,
It is like we have to punish the majority to TRY to protect the smaller portion of people who will ultimately destroy themselves anyway.

But

I lie people to learn solid coping skills prior to checking out.

 

[curious2garden]

..........snip.......

Frequent consumption of alcohol can lead to sclerosis of the liver and necrosis of brain tissue. While cannabis (if smoked frequently) can lead to emphysema, that is because of super-heated hydrocarbons. So the affects are likely not the same. Please don't take this as me jumping your case, but if we were to establish the age as 25 before having studies with federal funding, unbiased parameters/hypotheses, and no interference. It just feels like doing so would be a complete knee-jerk reaction.

Did you mean Cirrhosis or Perivenular Sclerosis, please disambiguate for me. I'm just curious.

 

[6ohMax]

This is the way I see it....if you're old enough to serve your country.....and carry lethal weapons....you should be able to drink and toke with no repercussion