Pres. Obama Signs The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

[Cbarton]

Ah, the slippery slope mindset. It's how people believe legalizing gay marriage will lead to people marrying ducks.

I've watched this nation sliding down different slopes my entire lifetime.

 

[chicag0]

I guess that statement is relevant... :huh

 

[Cbarton]

How were you taught sex ed?

Believe it or not, our school used film strips (anyone out there remember those?) that were, I kid you not, produced by Walt Disney Production's Educational division.

And no, no shots of Mickey and Minnie or Donald and Daisy having at it. Just described the anatomy and such...

 

[QueenBeeBeeMari]

if you pick up a pack of smokes, and don't know it's bad for you, smoking is the least of your problems.

well said

 

[Cbarton]

I guess that statement is relevant... :huh

If I gave examples, the thread would enter into yet another bout of flaming since I would use the dreaded, horrible (to everyone here, anyway) Judeo-Christian world view that I follow. Just not worth the hassle in this place anymore. I respond, someone 'gets offended', I get 'grounded', etc, etc, etc.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

Here's the thing with weed: It's been around for ages. Just recently, some marijuana was found in an Egyptian excavation. The 2000 year old pot was considered "high grade' by researchers. Seriouly. Google it if you don't believe me. It's not a new thing. Probably been around nearly as long as booze.

At different times throughout history, penalties as harsh as death have been placed on the books to stop it. It's never gonna happen. Some seeds, some soil, and some sun(or a growlight), and ta-da! Happiness in a puff!

Are there side effects? Yeppers. But, as someone intimate with the pharmaceutical industry, You(Hawk) of all people are amply aware of the often dangerous side effects of perfectly legal drugs. Many times far more deadly than the herb.

I just think that the penalties are draconian. If they can't legalize it, they should at least decriminalize it. Make it a fine or something. It's just insane, shit like mandatory sentencing for mellow marijuana smokers.
I'm still amazed at how Micheal Phelps, winner of 14(FOURTEEN!) Olympic Gold Medals went from endorsement golden boy to the scrap heap for a shot of alittle partying. Unbelievable.

 

[chicag0]

In Chicago, if you are caught with anything under an ounce, it's just a fine you get. Cops got better things to do than arrest every hippie, thug, and beatnik with a joint or a blunt in their pocket.

 

[Cbarton]

not necessarily.Those same high school sports stars grow up to use steroids and one was already shown taking a hit from a water pipe.Just because they are involved in after school activities doesn't always prevent them from experimenting with drugs.All children go through the stage of being curious,needing to fit in and be a part of something as well as rebellion.There is no one solution every child is different.Parents just need to be able to sit and calmly talk to their children about drugs and the ill effects it can have on their health and if at all possible show them the future they could possibly have if they choose that lifestyle. It's not a good idea to threaten them with harsh punishment because that just makes them do it behind your back and be sneaky about it.Also just really try and be a part of your kids life and be a positive influence in their life.That's really all you can do.

(1) not every athlete uses steriods. Michael Phelps did something stupid and he's paying the price by losing endorsment deals.

(2) "every child may be different' but the same consistent methods get consistent results. And for some, the threat of punishment actually works, fair lady.

(3) We can agree on involvement. Unfortunatley, too many parents know more about their 401K's than they do their kids.

 

[QueenBeeBeeMari]

I think here in Louisiana if you even have a Marijuana cigarette you go straight to jail for at least 6 months

 

[Cbarton]

Are there side effects? Yeppers. But, as someone intimate with the pharmaceutical industry, You(Hawk) of all people are amply aware of the often dangerous side effects of perfectly legal drugs. Many times far more deadly than the herb.

I'm still amazed at how Micheal Phelps, winner of 14(FOURTEEN!) Olympic Gold Medals went from endorsement golden boy to the scrap heap for a shot of alittle partying. Unbelievable.

Yes, and the reasons the others AREN'T legal is because their side effects are worse than the legal ones, and research has proven that they are not effective for treating ANYTHING SAFELY. The ones that can be used for legitimate medical treat should be used judiciously and carefully, the ones that can't are illegal.

For Phelps, it's all about integrity. Holy Clean Records, Batman! You mean we have to be accountable for our actions??? Heaven forbid (oops, I used the "H" word!)! Michael, whether he likes it or not, is a role model. He allowed himself to be portrayed as an example of what you could do as an athlete by sacrificing, working and training hard, and doing the right things. He has now blown his integrity our the window (literally, it appears) by that action. And now he will have that taint on his record the rest of his career as an Olympic level athlete.

 

[QueenBeeBeeMari]

Yes, and the reasons the others AREN'T legal is because their side effects are worse than the legal ones, and research has proven that they are not effective for treating ANYTHING SAFELY. The ones that can be used for legitimate medical treat should be used judiciously and carefully, the ones that can't are illegal.

For Phelps, it's all about integrity. Holy Clean Records, Batman! You mean we have to be accountable for our actions??? Heaven forbid (oops, I used the "H" word!)! Michael, whether he likes it or not, is a role model. He allowed himself to be portrayed as an example of what you could do as an athlete by sacrificing, working and training hard, and doing the right things. He has now blown his integrity our the window (literally, it appears) by that action. And now he will have that taint on his record the rest of his career as an Olympic level athlete.

I have to disagree with the side effects being worse.Have you seen some of the effects medications can have.Some are even life threatening.Blood clots,Upper Respiratory Infection,Heart Attack,Nausea,sleeplessness,weight gain,constipation all kinds of things.I like to avoid medication if at all possible

 

[kopfhorer1]

Believe it or not, our school used film strips (anyone out there remember those?) that were, I kid you not, produced by Walt Disney Production's Educational division.

And no, no shots of Mickey and Minnie or Donald and Daisy having at it. Just described the anatomy and such...

That's right. If you wanted that, you'd have to go down to your favorite "head shop" and get one of these... (NSFW)

Our sex ed classes featured among other things, 16mm movies from - the United States Navy! (Would you trust the piloting of a battle cruiser to men who didn't know which way to point it? 😀)

I have to disagree with the side effects being worse.Have you seen some of the effects medications can have.Some are even life threatening.Blood clots,Upper Respiratory Infection,Heart Attack,Nausea,sleeplessness,weight gain,constipation all kinds of things.I like to avoid medication if at all possible

Don't forget anorgasmia. Antidepressants like Prozac and Cymbalta and stomach remedies (!) like Zantac have that issue.

Less is definitely more as far as medication (read: pharmaceutical conglomerates' stock-price support vehicles) goes.

 

[ohstalon06]

For Phelps, it's all about integrity. Holy Clean Records, Batman! You mean we have to be accountable for our actions??? Heaven forbid (oops, I used the "H" word!)! Michael, whether he likes it or not, is a role model. He allowed himself to be portrayed as an example of what you could do as an athlete by sacrificing, working and training hard, and doing the right things. He has now blown his integrity our the window (literally, it appears) by that action. And now he will have that taint on his record the rest of his career as an Olympic level athlete.

So you're saying that just cause a guy does something OUTSIDE the actual olympic competition, and you say that taints him? This isn't Manny Ramirez or Rafael Palmeiro, two guys who were caught doing PEDs in season by the drug screening process. Yes Phelps should be held accountable for what he did, but for god sakes people, is ONE photo enough to change an entire opinion of a person when he's done everything by the book basically for his entire life? I honestly think the reaction to the picture was very overblown, mainly again by the Morality Police the same people that brought us Nipplegate, that can't just let a person do as he pleases. They have to do what they want or else basically. I guarantee once things start to heat up for London coming up for 2012, this will be a distant memory.

And to the point of him being a role model....I think Charles Barkley said it best when he said that he wasn't one himself, or that he shouldn't be one.

 

[QueenBeeBeeMari]

So you're saying that just cause a guy does something OUTSIDE the actual olympic competition, and you say that taints him? This isn't Manny Ramirez or Rafael Palmeiro, two guys who were caught doing PEDs in season by the drug screening process. Yes Phelps should be held accountable for what he did, but for god sakes people, is ONE photo enough to change an entire opinion of a person when he's done everything by the book basically for his entire life? I honestly think the reaction to the picture was very overblown, mainly again by the Morality Police the same people that brought us Nipplegate, that can't just let a person do as he pleases. They have to do what they want or else basically. I guarantee once things start to heat up for London coming up for 2012, this will be a distant memory.

And to the point of him being a role model....I think Charles Barkley said it best when he said that he wasn't one himself, or that he shouldn't be one.

In today's age yes,I'm sorry one image,or action can ruin your entire life.There are people who are on parole for one minor drug charge and cannot get not one job because of it.If you have one small thing on your record these days it really messes up your entire life.It is hard enough to get a job without any prior experience much less if you have something on your record.

 

[Cbarton]

So you're saying that just cause a guy does something OUTSIDE the actual olympic competition, and you say that taints him? This isn't Manny Ramirez or Rafael Palmeiro, two guys who were caught doing PEDs in season by the drug screening process. Yes Phelps should be held accountable for what he did, but for god sakes people, is ONE photo enough to change an entire opinion of a person when he's done everything by the book basically for his entire life? I honestly think the reaction to the picture was very overblown, mainly again by the Morality Police the same people that brought us Nipplegate, that can't just let a person do as he pleases. They have to do what they want or else basically. I guarantee once things start to heat up for London coming up for 2012, this will be a distant memory.

And to the point of him being a role model....I think Charles Barkley said it best when he said that he wasn't one himself, or that he shouldn't be one.

When you become a celebrity or famous athlete, people are going emulate you and make you their role models. It comes with the deal, no matter what Mr. Barkley says. It doesn't matter whether you want to or not. Kids will use successful athletes as models of what they became. I remember an interview of Greg Louganis (sp?) during one of the Olympics when he told of a meet he was competing in early in his career. He was a smoker then and had snuck out for a quick puff. Some young kids (12-ish I think he said) saw him smoking and walked up to him asking for some cigarettes from him as well. When he told them it was bad for them and they shouldn't, one of them quickly replied that Greg smoked and he was a champion diver, so if he wanted to be as good as Greg, he needed to start smoking. Greg put his cigarette out and stopping smoking from then on. And yes, I agree with Mr. Barkley that parents should be role models, but kids will pick out others as well.

At every meet Michael Phelps goes to from now on, there will always be whispers about the pic. Don't surprised if rumors start that he is doping with EPO or other drugs. After all, they'll say if he does pot, maybe he uses other drugs. An easy logical conclusion that human nature will create. Personally, I don't think he's that dumb and stupid, but you can't un-pop a balloon.

And, as for Manny, Rafael, A-Rod, Sammy, Barry and the rest, I agree with Bob Costas' take. If they get in the Hall of Fame, there should be a separate section for them and anyone who tests positive says what their records were, but they were on PED's. Personally, I think none should be allowed in.

And in final regards to Michael Phelps, I know what it is like to have your career ruined by a single mistake. It does happen. I resurrected mine. He can with his. My son said he read a report saying the bong pic was PhotoShopped and was originally a pic of him using an oxygen mask, with the bog 'shopped in. I've never seen the alleged photo, so I don't know if his report is accurate or not. I hope Mr. Phelps can overcome this mistake. But, he knows it will always be a part of his legacy. The piranha-like mentality of paparazzi and yellow journalism will make sure of that.

 

[QueenBeeBeeMari]

It's sad too.In other countries people aren't as star struck as they are here.I hope if I ever have kids I can teach them to think for themselves instead of trying to follow the latest ''trend'' or what some famous star is doing.

 

[MistressValerie1]

Anyone who is interested in the disastrous effects of prohibition should read War on Drugs: The Collateral Damage by Radley Balko, and also check the links at the bottom of the page.