Why are people so one sided when it comes to cigarettes or marijuana?

Question

Getting a perspective from someone else's point of view. Why do they expect anyone who smokes cigarettes or marijuana to be stupid? Especially with marijuana, I hate it when people tell you it is a terrible thing when they haven't tried it.

I don't understand, I get that it's illegal and everyone bases their opinion on "oh it's illegal, it must be horrible."

Please, tell me your perspective WITHOUT a simple "it's stupid, don't do that ****, you're retarded."

Answer 1

They aren't saying the experience is a terrible thing, they are saying the consequences are a terrible thing.

Answer 2

Because it is a popular public opinion. Tax cigarettes. They are bad for you. Well guess what? So is fast food but I don't see them doubling the price of that - or pop - or sugar. Obesity causes more health problems then smoking. Yes it is bad for you but it is a personal choice. I know I need to quit and I will. I respect other peoples rights not to have to inhale my second hand smoke. I am not stupid. I just got addicted to them when I was too young to know better and now - someday I will have to deal with the pains of quitting.
Really, I think that marijuana should be legalized. I have saw many men whiskey drunk thinking they are ten foot tall and bulletproof but I have never saw someone stoned acting that way. If you smoke it (I don't) you are high for a little bit then come down. It takes a lot longer to sober up when you are drunk. People who choose to smoke it are pretty mellow. They don't get wilder the higher they get. They get sleepy. I'm not against drinking - I just feel that it isn't any better than smoking a joint.
I guess some people feel superior when they judge others for things that society tells us are wrong. Drinking is acceptable. It ruins many lives. Gambling is acceptable. It ruins many lives. Smoking is unacceptable. Hmm, besides the diseases that the surgeon general has warned me about how many lives am I ruining in the process of lighting up.

Answer 3

They're ignorant and they're judging people by what they've been TOLD by the "experts"...not by first hand experience.

Alcohol is legal and in my opinion, it's 10 times worse than pot or cigarettes ever will be. Most people (including myself--but not recently--back in my college days!) drive really, really well while stones. I'm not condoning it or saying it's a good thing--all I'm saying is that they're extra careful. People who are drunk are the exact opposite. When was the last time you heard about someone driving drunk and killing someone else? Probably (realistically) sometime late last week on the evening news. When was the last time you read about someone smoking pot or cigarettes and driving and killing someone? NEVER. Potheads (and I mean that in a loving way of course, lol) don't kill people when they drive--they just get pulled over and searched. Cigarettes *can* kill people, but it's generally over a long period of time, and isn't a guarantee.

Answer 4

People who smoke are not necessarily stupid. Even they know it is hazardous to their health, they still smoke because of its addictive nature (to nicotine). I know several people who've tried to quit. Cigarette smoke stinks, clings to clothing and furniture, and for those who are heavy smokers you can tell by the stains on their fingers and on their breath. Smoking gives some folks premature aging of wrinkles. And for those predisposed to cancer, get lung cancer, mouth/gum or tongue cancer, throat cancer...etc..etc...

Marijuana is the same: smelly, clings to things and you can tell of those who smoke it heavily. For some, toking this stuff can 'dumb' them down, slower their reaction time---pretty dangerous if the person is driving, or not paying attention to traffic and trying to cross the street. For some, it relaxes them--loosen inhibitions, STDs anyone? AIDS? how about unwanted pregnancies?? For some, it makes them very hyperactive, jittery. Not so good if you have a predisposed medical condition that could kill you? arrythmia of the heart...or bipolar disorder or any other mental illness lying dormant that could be triggered by it. The only good thing I see it being used for is for those with terminal illness with a very incidious pain that normal painkillers cannot reach or alleviate.

Answer 5

I don't believe users to necessarily be stupid (some -not all - are, but that's true to varying degrees of any walk of life), but there are very good health reasons why to avoid these and other drugs.