h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I just thought I would add a few more points.

* alcohol causes more car accidents then marijuana.
* alcohol IS addictive while marijuana isn't.
* marijuana DOES NOT cause brain/memory damage. (In fact from personal experience I'd say it randomly brings up old memories I'd never run into sober. I can't say that even the stoned experience is foggy in my memory.

and I would have to emphasize just how harmless it really is compared to other drugs. I've drank, I've swallowed downers, and that stuff really screwed me up. Marijuana had no negative effects on me over the past two years that I've been smoking it.

On a more personal note, though I hate to sound like one of those bad guys your mother told you to stay away from, I do think everyone should probably give it a try. If so many people pay that much money for it and break the law, it's for a reason. And the effects aren't just dizzyness, as I found it described by a certain flyer. People don't pay that much money just to get dizzy.

Im a regular smoker. Been smoking for a couple of years now. And i can say that it does effect my memory. in the way that i often remember the day i smoked as a blur. ANd i often remember them crystal clear.

Good poits about alcohole though. Alcohol makes you loose your mind, not think of your actions, more agressive. Its a weird thing to put on a society, and then put people in jail for smoking a herb.

Okiedokie... Let me clarify:

1) Marijuana doesn't make you lose memory, but while under the influence, your STM (Short term Memory) is affected. It returns to normal after the effective period. STM Loss occurs due to the inability to properly register new memories when under the influence

2) Due to the drug being a creative stimulant and increasing awareness it means you can't concentrate on one thing for too long because your mind wanders onto other subjects quicker than you've been able to finish what you were doing. Also in regards to increased awareness a test was done to see how bad driving was under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. Alcoholics' have lagged reactions and loss of motor control. People high on marijuana instead were more focussed on the road due to the drug increasing alertness. However, this increased awareness of your surroundings has negative effects. Heavy smokers tend to suffer acute paranoia after consistent heavy usage.

3) Agreed that alcohol's evil effects are much worse than the peaceful effects of marijuana.

4) You don't have to smoke marijuana. Vapourising it releases THCs without burning the cellulose walls so you get high without getting stoned and there are no chemicals such as benzene, toluene and naphthalene released. Carbon Monoxide and Tar are greatly reduced. No smoke, only vapour.