Have you smoked marijuana in the last month?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

According to U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 10.725 million Americans – roughly 1 in 20 – have used marijuana in the past month
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18653

[eyesroll]

1. It's been almost nine years for me.

Fall of my junior year in college (1995).

[sniffa]

2. it's been aLmost 6 hours for me

[ZenLefty]

3. I've never tried it.

:shrug:

[kmla]

Me neither.

Don't see the attraction. Never did.

[ret5hd]

4. Unfortunately, my employer requires random tests...

so they have succeeded in turning me into an alcoholic. (just kidding... kinda)

[sniffa]

7. i pass my pee tests

thankfuLLy, they're not random.

[emad]

5. Does "passive" smoking count?

The underground train I was on yesterday stopped in a tunnel for about 15 minutes and the guys next to our compartment lit one up and the air conditioning wasn't working again and...and..and...soon as I eventually got off the train it was straight for a Hagendaz double chock chip......

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. No

[Village Idiot]

8. I'm surprised

that no one has posted the "but I didn't inhale" excuse....:)

[Robroy]

9. For medicinal purposes..

I use it when I'm not feeling well. Unfortunately, I haven't felt well since January 2001.

[woofless]

13. Me too!

I haven't felt well since 1969.

[Delano]

10. What a lovely poll!

Not that I think there is anything wrong mith MJ per se, I can just see the freeps posting the results of this poll and saying "see, almost half the DUers are maggot-infested POTHEADS!"

Thanks for posting this.

bleah.

[salinen]

12. Stoned maggots

what a visual.

[supernova]

14. Who cares what freepers think?

They will troll the DU boards looking for any excuse for hate they see fit. If it's not pot use, it'll be something else, guaranteed. I don't waste my energy trying to get freeper approval.

To answer the poll question, the only thing I smoke is a once a decade cigar.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

15. LOL

I don't give the proverbial rat's ass what the freepers think.

[bubblesby2002]

18. me neither

I don't care what anyone else thinks, I like my little biweekly interludes, thanks.

[Delano]

19. Neither do I but..

the non-political-junkies out there who might otherwise develop an interest in DU are easily put off by such stereotypes. Hell, half of middle America thinks we are nothing but the party of hippies, gays and blacks.

I'm proud that we are inclusive of those folks, I think it's important that people realize that there are liberal democrats ALL OVER THE COUNTRY who are professionals, teachers, auto mechanics - their neighbors, not some scary "other".

[Feanorcurufinwe]

20. Speaking of stereotypes

why do you think pot smokers are all " hippies, gays and blacks" and not "professionals, teachers, auto mechanics " ?


In fact, why would being " hippies, gays and blacks" keep people from being "professionals, teachers, auto mechanics " ?

[Delano]

25. I don't think that at all.

Besides, I was talking about a stereotype of DEMOCRATS, not potsmokers.

As for potsmokers holding down responsible jobs, I'm sure that some do. When I was younger and occasionally indulged, I would not have been able to do so, as it hindered my drive to do anything, and made me forrgetful. If you can function on the stuff, more power to you.

"In fact, why would being " hippies, gays and blacks" keep people from being "professionals, teachers, auto mechanics ""

Huh? Who said that it would? Let's put it this way, it's important for people to know that there are also white, straight, non-drug-using folks in this party. Does that wording work better for you, or would you just prefer that the democratic party strictly cater to gays, hippies and blacks? Such a party would be doomed to irrelevance.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

31. You are welcome to follow the agenda you've set for yourself.

Let's put it this way, it's important for people to know that there are also white, straight, non-drug-using folks in this party.

If you think that is important, work toward it.

Does that wording work better for you,

Whatever words you use to express your ideas are just fine by me.


or would you just prefer that the democratic party strictly cater to gays, hippies and blacks? Such a party would be doomed to irrelevance.

Luckily, the false choice you present is not one that I am called upon to make.

[Delano]

34. Hardly a false choice

Perception is everything in politics. If the democratic party is perceived as only catering to the needs of those groups, it may as well be just that. Perception and appearances matter, as does getting the Bushies out of office.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

56. Not a false choice? Here's the choice you presented:

Let's put it this way, it's important for people to know that there are also white, straight, non-drug-using folks in this party. Does that wording work better for you, or would you just prefer that the democratic party strictly cater to gays, hippies and blacks? Such a party would be doomed to irrelevance.




A choice between letting people know that there are also white, straight, non-drug-using folks in this party


and strictly cater to gays, hippies and blacks


is not a false choice?



So either we devote our energies to letting people know that there are also white, straight, non-drug-using folks in this party or the democratic party strictly cater(s) to gays, hippies and blacks ???

:wtf:

[Delano]

60. Baddly worded

I meant GIVE THE APPEARANCE of strictly catering to gays, blacks, hippies. I was being lazy there.

But if we give that appearance, the reality will soon follow suit, since Union members, the working poor and other traditional dem constituencies will go elsewhere if we don't show interest in their needs.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

62. The Democratic party does not give the appearance of

strictly catering to gays, blacks, hippies.


At least I don't think so.



Do you?




I also don't think the fact that an anonymous poster on DU posts a poll about pot use gives the Democratic party the appearance of strictly catering to gays, blacks, hippies.

[Delano]

63. So have we achieved anything for the underclass in the last 15 years?

Seems there has been progress for gays and minorities, but in the meantime, welfare is slashed, social security benefits have been threatened, no raise in the minimum wage in ages, unions have been decimated with hardly a peep from the democratic party, but if some people of color aren't served properly at Denny's it's a billion dollar settlement and a media circus.

I'm sure I wouldn't be the only person who thinks the democratic party has ignored the needs of working people in favor of social causes. I think that perception is a big part of the reason for the hemorrhage of working-class whites to the GOP (which of course works AGAINST their interests)

Anyway, I'm getting WAY off the original subject.

Suffice to say, I think it's important that we not let other social issues overly distract the party from it's role as a LABOR party.

[Sophree]

64. I agree with everything you said here, Delano.

And I understand what you're saying.

I still believe we should be the party that stands up for what is right, though.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

65. I agree, your question is totally and completely off topic.

If you want to start a thread asking that question, I will participate.

[Champ]

21. There are professionals, teachers, auto mechanics

and neighbors who smoke marijuana. Most non-political junkies may never discover DU, alot have found DU through their liberal friends, leftwing websites, or even right wing websites, etc. Alot of non political people view the right as extremists, fundamentalists, and other right wing stereoptypes. Marijuana is not that big of a problem, we have had candidates admit to doing it and didn't hurt them very bad politically. Most americans hardly view those who use marijuana recreationally as some "scary" other.

[Delano]

22. Maybe in your neighborhood.

Andd in mine, too. But where my folks live in Texas, there is still a major stigma against pot-smokers. Since the democratic party does NOT endorse legalization at this point, and it's not our job to legitimize potsmoking or remove stigmas against potsmokers, I don't care for the poll. I hope people DO perceive repubs as fundie nutjobs, since a huge proportion of them are, and the libertarian greedheads that make up the rest of the party are just as bad, IMO. I want no truck with the GOP or any of its hypocritical constituencies.

I realize that there are some folks who smoke grass in our party (and I'm sure there are quite a few libertarian greedhead repugs who do to) but advertising it will only make us look less sensible and less "grown up".

[Feanorcurufinwe]

23. Just because someone holds false and stereotypical viewpoints

is not a reason for me to curb my expression in order to keep from offending their sensibilities.

[Delano]

26. Same here.

So I'll say what I want about your damaging pothead poll.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

29. You are free to say anything you want.

One thing I find baffling at DU is the tendency of people, when challenged, or engaged in discussion, to act like you are trying to 'silence' them or keep them from 'saying what they want'

:wtf:


Just because someone disagrees with you and says so, does not mean they are trying to keep you from talking. :eyes:

[Delano]

38. Fair enough.

And I don't want to go do overboard belaboring this with you since it IS , after all, a LOUNGE thread. :)

It's unfair, but I think that there is a delicate line that gays, potsmokers, etc. - socially marginalized groups have to walk - somewhere between closeted and shameful and being shrill, fanatic and overly strident. One that allows more mainstream folks to feel that they are approachable. That is assuming what you want is to bring mainstream opinion over to your way of thinking.

It's a free country (for now) , and you are free to be as fanatical and strident about things as you like.

You are a MJ user who obviously considers it to be a healthful recreational activity in moderation, right? Then you must be aware of the way potsmokers are ALWAYS portrayed in the media, as zoned-out space cadets or worse. (And there are a few like that, I've met them) So how can you blame people for believing in that stereotyped image? And the public advocates of potsmoking don't do much to dispel that image. Dave Chapelle, Snoop Dogg, Black Crowes etc.

[Sophree]

43. That is why the many, many marijuana users

Who are normal, everyday people- from young businessmen to grandmas, SHOULD speak up about it. Smoking cannabis not a shameful thing, nor is it a harmful one.

People are dying in pain because of these misperceptions about cannabis. And THAT is shameful.

If "normal" people don't speak up, perceptions will never change and people like the ones you speak of (in Texas) will continue to be able to force their own twisted version of "morality" on the rest of us.

[Delano]

45. Well, just don't push it it's not an absolute good.

I've know more than a few folks who have frittered much of their lives away on a couch and achieved very little thanks to marijuana. People prone to escapism would rather live in a MJ fog than face real life. It is NOT good for everyone.

But I don't buy the nonsense that it's "dangerous" or a "gateway drug". But for many people it IS a hindrance to a productive life.

[Sophree]

49. Never said it was good for everyone.

That is why it should be up to the adult individual to decide if it is or is not right for them.

on edit:

When I said it wasn't harmful, I meant medically. It isn't medically harmful. I never used an absolute, or that it is always good. My point was that it is not a BAD thing.

[misanthrope]

66. That's not completely right...

...and it's a point that gets old after a while. The drug didn't do a damn thing. The people who made the decisions to smoke it when they knew it was impairing them are to blame, not the marijuana.

That is one of the most trite stereotypes. Here's a story for you:

About a decade back, I was sitting in my apartment one afternoon. I was home between jobs and trying to relax for a couple of hours.

The other two people in the room were my roommate and a buddy. The roommate was shiftless, basically an alcoholic whose daily drinking threatened his health (he was diabetic) and cost him job after job. He was never eager to locate employment either. He was an idiot who, at one point, opened up the abode to a crackhead.

The buddy was another alcoholic who had recently spent a year with no employment, turning down job offers to sit on his ass and let his girlfriend work multiple gigs to support them until a "perfect bartending job" could somehow fall into his lap.

The buddy began talking about smoking pot. He said he quit at his girlfriend's behest, that "she says 'it robs me of my ambition.'"

The roommate chimed up. "Yeah, I had to quit doing that stuff when I was in high school. I wasn't doing anything with my time. I would just get stoned everyday, not want to leave and wouldn't get a job or anything."

I just smiled. Neither could see that they were describing their present behavior, sans THC. So here they were sipping their beers, pointing fingers at some abstract enemy, and denying their responsibility.

And there I was, a near tea-totallin' pot smoker, leaving the pair of "sad sacks" to go to one of my three jobs.

Years later, I got a DUI. As a first offender with no record, I was told to attend classes. At one point, we were told to stand and describe the circumstances that landed each of us in there. I sat and listened as person after person stood and gave some hard luck story. "I'd only had a couple of beers," "I was on cold medicine," excuse after excuse poured from people who not only had previously similar scrapes, but bore characteristics of a variety of addictions.

My turn came. I stood and said, "I drank too much and drove even though I knew I shouldn't. I got caught." I sat down.

The classmates stared askance at me. They seemed shocked.

Reflexively, I thought of that afternoon discourse on marijuana in the years previous.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

51. You should beware of making assumptions without adequate information.

You are a MJ user who obviously considers it to be a healthful recreational activity in moderation, right?

No, I am a DUer who posted the poll question "Have you smoked marijuana in the last month". You have chosen to criticize me for the perception you think it will cause. I've replied that I don't care about the perception it causes. I also don't care how the media portrays pot smokers, or what 'image' pot smokers have. And no, I don't have any interest in 'bringing mainstream opinion over to my way of thinking'.

[DrWeird]

35. Damaging only in the eyes of bigots.

And like people have said before, who cares what they think?

[Hemprus]

48. Amen Brother!!

[Champ]

28. I pretty much agree

I basically disagreed with the fact we should be worried about what the freepers think because they will find any(and I swear ANY) reason to degrade us. Also this part I disagreed with "I think it's important that people realize that there are liberal democrats ALL OVER THE COUNTRY who are professionals, teachers, auto mechanics - their neighbors, not some scary "other"." because it seemed a little bit stereotypical. I agree though it is not our job to legitimize potsmoking or remove stigmas against potsmokers, but I feel people who do smoke pot have a right to challenge those stigmas.

39. also regarding stereotypes

The biggest coke head I ever knew was a Reagan-republican and the manager of a restaurant I worked at.

A lot of freepers smoke pot.

Do you think those hillbillies who grow weed as a cash crop are Democrats? Unlikely.

There was a whole wave of frat boy acid heads following the Grateful Dead ten years ago. I bet a lot of them aren't Democrats either.

So, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[catzies]

32. NO SHIT! HE JUST SAID THIS ON THE AIR -- RUSH IS READING

DU RIGHT NOW!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1599631

[Delano]

41. SEE!

Point made! Rush reaches millions more people than we ever could, and I guarantee he will not be reading MY comments. They would run against the stereotype of dems he wants to promote.

There are a certain number of people in his audience who will be put off dems by this alone, and little things like this DO add up.

(sigh)

In case you are reading this, Pigman, BITE ME!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

47. It's called free speech

if Rush wants to read my comments on the air, fine. If you want to get bent out of shape about it, that's fine, too.


If you are really concerned about how many of Rush Limbaugh's listeners are 'put off dems' -- perhaps you'd like to share what YOU are smoking, lol.

[Delano]

59. I don't care so much about the dittoheads

But there are also casual listeners who consider themselves "moderates".


Probably not as many now as 5 years ago - it was probably more fun to hear him bash a popular prez who also seemed like a fun guy, than it is to hear him desperately spin & prop up an illegitimate fascistic regime and its failed war.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

61. I personally am in favor of the free flow of information

I don't think secrecy or deception will help make the world a better place. If 42% of the respondents to a poll on DU say they smoked pot in the last month, I don't believe any harm will come from that information being known. You seem to believe that will somehow hurt the Democratic cause. I don't agree. I don't think that in order for moderates to vote Democratic they have to remain ignorant of how many respondents on a DU poll say they smoked pot in the last month.

[democracyindanger]

52. In case you forgot...

RUSH IS A FUCKING DRUG-ADDLED HYPOCRITE FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES.

So who gives a shit what he says? His listeners are too far gone to save anyway, let them drown in their ignorance.

[Delano]

57. 12 Years ago...

I was a Limbaugh listener and a dittohead.

Nobody is too far gone.

[Sophree]

53. Little things to you.

Big things to people who live in pain so that you may live up to appearances.

(sigh)

[w13rd0]

33. Thing is...

...if the same poll were posted on FR and the respondants answered truthfully, you'd get the same results. Difference is, we're honest about it.

[truthspeaker]

44. you're right, let's pretend to be who we're not so other people like us

[southpaw]

11. Haven't smoked in nearly a year and a half... nt

[WillyT]

16. "Dave's Not Here, Man!"

:bliss:

:hi:

[SarahB]

17. Not even close

It's been some time for me and I was never anything close to a regular user to begin with. Frankly, I need my brain unclouded right now completely and totally. Chemicals are just a distraction that I don't need.

[Commendatori]

24. Not in 23 years.

[mac56]

27. Stopped during the second Reagan presidency.

Of course, it was a survival tactic during the Reagan years.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

30. In the past 12 hours, you say??......................

[VOX]

36. What what was was the the question question??

:evilgrin:

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[TXlib]

55. I knew it! DU GrovelBot's a stoner!

[Hemprus]

40. I haven't...

but if I could I would. I made a choice that it wasn't more important to me than my marriage and family. I smoked for years, quit for years, started again, but never had a problem with the day to day operations in my life. The biggest draw back is that it is illegal and when raising a family that is a big dis-tractor. I seem to have a burst of energy when I smoke. I can't sit still, it's like nervous energy. I would only do a one hitter several time a day for the therapeutic effects, he he. It's better than drinking!:hippie: :evilgrin:

[GirlinContempt]

42. Naw, but only because

as I started to get older, it just made me fall asleep. Seems like kinda a waste in my case.
However, the first goverment-run grow op is just a few miles from my home :)

[Canuckistanian]

46. I'm an addict....

I need to have it every three years!

[Emboldened Chimp]

50. Been over ten years for me...

I don't like it.

[scarlet_owl]

54. Smoked it yesterday.

And I'll probably smoke it again tonight. One of my favorite things to do is get stoned with my mother-in-law and watch the ferrets play. I'll tell you, ferrets are the most hilarious things in the world when you're stoned.

[Hemprus]

58. Hasn't anyone every seen the PBS show that ...

showed the history of MJ. Part of the reason that MJ was made illegal was that Black people smoke it and once illegal it was used as a way to keep Black people controlled. It was just another thing to hold over their heads. IMO alcohol has more effects to destroy lives than MJ does.