Source: Daily Times (Pakistan) Contact: letters@dailytimes.com.pk Website: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk Address: 41-N, Industrial Area, Gulberg Ii, Lahore, Pakistan Fax: 92-42-5878620 Copyright: 2004 Daily Times Source: Agence France-Presse Pubdate: Sunday, April 18, 2004 French smoke J as often as they drink French teenagers are among the biggest consumers of cannabis in Europe, smoking joints as often as they drink alcohol, an official study of thousands of students from 450 high schools released Wednesday showed. By the age of 18, two boys in three and one of every two girls have tried the narcotic — illegal in France — the survey by the French Observatory of Drugs and Drug Use (OFDT) revealed. “By the age of 16, regular consumption of cannabis reaches the level of regular consumption of alcohol,” the authors said. Their questioning of 16,833 students last year showed that, by age 18, 21 percent of boys, and seven percent of girls, were smoking more than 10 joints a month. The number of 16- and 17-year-olds using cannabis at least 10 times a year has tripled over the past decade, according to the study, which is to be incorporated into a Europe-wide report set for publication at the end of the year.
This from a country that has touted itself as having some of the toughest anti-MJ laws in the EU. It really says something that they smoke as often as they drink in Europe, where drinking by teens is far more common than it is here.
So, THAT's what's wrong with the French! Seriously, I know lots of people who smoke weed on a daily basis. For some, it either doesn't effect them all that much or seems to make them mellower. For others, they become total dickheads when they smoke it. To each his own. The one thing I do know is that I have never met anyone who smoked and drank who wasn't far worse off drinking. I used to play with some guys who did both. If they smoked only, they were great. In fact, they could do just about any drug and still be pretty damn good on stage. But, if they drank, they became an instant train wreck.
True enough, but the same can be said for alcohol. My neighbor is a very mellow drunk and when he gets REALLY toasted, tends to fall asleep drooling on the couch. Of course, we all know how alcohol affects some people, specifically the ones who get violent and belligerant. I think that the lesson here is that different drugs affect people different ways and it would behoove us to regulate these substances so that people can find the ones that agree with them. I know several people who seldom drink because they don't like what it does to them, but enjoy toking regularly as their drug of choice. For them, it is far more relaxing than a beer at night and they continue to *gasp* work every day, pay their taxes, raise children, and generally act as responsible members of society. I remember a routine by Bill Hicks (the funniest man I have EVER seen live, by far) where he said: "Not only should pot be legal, I think it should be mandatory. Have you ever seen one of those guys laying on his horn in traffic, [hooooooooonk]? I wish I could pull them over and say "shut up and smoke this, it's the law." They take a couple of hits and cool down, saying "oops, sorry man, I was taking life too seriously." To be fair, I know one person who is not better on stage stoned than drunk, but he has an excuse: pot triggers his narcolepsy!
Personally, I know some guys who become total assholes when they smoke weed, nevermind the ridiculous paranoia they exhibit. I personally think pot should be legal, but I'm not going to smoke it and I definitely would not recommend it to anyone unless it was for medicinal purposes. It isn't that I think it is bad for you necessarily. I just think we self medicate as a society WAY too much. Whether it is pot, alchohol or whatever.
Well, at least the French aren't completely assholes! I do play jazz on the keys and as Jimmy Buffett said: Jimmy Buffett "Pencil Thin Moustache" I admit I enjoy sitting down on the couch in the back of my garage for a post-work out or post-working on cars toke. It relaxes me, gets rid of my tension and Chappelle Show is 800-billion times funnier.
Sadly, most of those folks are actually assholes deep down inside, its just the buzz breaking down their inhibitions. However, I wouldnt want anyone on our highways driving high. People here are crappy enough drivers as it is.
and the french always complain about Holland i think Soft drugs isn't worse then alcohol. more people die in holland because of alcohol then because of soft drugs. i know alot of people who do soft drugs. and when they are stoned i think they aren't more irritating then drunk people. i think soft drugs should be legal. (for the record i do not do drugs and i do not Drink alcohol)
There is already a breathalyzer for pot. If we had a regulated market, DUI would apply to MJ just as alcohol does.
