For what it's worth the MAJORITY of the people in this thread, from MANY different classes and back grounds appear to agree that something needs to change and it's not the devil weed we're all taught when we were young.
I find this to be critical point. And am pretty sure I started this thread along that line of reasoning, plus have offered this as "way to keep it out of young people hands."
If looking for (ahem) quick fix solution to get it out of kids hands, I feel that nothing will work on that end. But there is long term solution here that amounts to TELL THE TRUTH.
My personal experience was along lines of being told from around age 11 to age 15 that it is 'devil weed' and I really had strong impressions around age 14 and 15 that it led to devil worshipping, that taking it will make you want to jump off building thinking you can fly, that taking it more than once and you'll be a junkie who is barely able to do anything anymore in life. You'll lose motivation and everyone you care about by engaging in this.
It is brainwashing pure and simple, and the reason I believe strongly that it is used by kids is because like many things adult driven, this turns out to be yet another lie being passed on to our offspring. People like outhouse are on deep end and as this thread demonstrates, there is very little to no room for compromise on 'using it with perceived benefits.' Which is where the blatant lie occurs. People like outhouse, myself, and thousands of others didn't partake the many times we apparently did because we were hooked on some substance that has nothing good about it. That's one side of the tale, but it simply comes off as enormous lie when stacked up with reality.
As I've stated before on this thread, the way to overcome the deep seeded issues with this (and all human problems) is to tell the truth about the issue to ourselves. Be as clear as we can about the harms, but also be as clear as we can about perceived benefits, reasons why people partake that is beyond the fear mongering. The second part of this, the one where we're being honest about 'why it is good,' is likely to be one that doesn't happen for while, even if legalized. We don't get to have that sort of talk with alcohol and cigs (both of which are legal) unless we are with users / abusers who haters will say are in denial / lying to themselves. But there is many folks all around us who are moderate users, responsible users, and fun-loving users. Ask any of these people why they use, and it won't be in same vein as abusers who have lost control due to addiction.
Once kids, like all humans, are armed with both facts and honest perceptions of social realities, the ability to ween persons off can be more effective. Mainly because in being this honest, we'd decriminalize as much as humanly possible, and advocate treatment as much as humanly possible, as if we care for each other, rather than are fed up with one another and our addictive issues which do take tolls on civilized society.
Education, honesty and setting a realistic example is ways to have our offspring show up (down the road) as not really desiring to partake in this substance since they then have firmer understanding of what's really involved.
But telling people not to do something that you did not once but umpteen times is not likely to work well, especially if you go overboard in your fear mongering. I truly believe the reason MJ is gateway is not (only) because it is something you get exposed to via illegal trade, but more so because of the deception. After the first toke and rather mellow, fairly tame experience that results, one starts to wonder, 'if they lied to me about this, AND peers I know are doing the heavier stuff, perhaps I've been operating under lie about the other stuff.'
One other point related to everything I've already said is that what western society lacks in substance trials is the shaman like experience. A guide to help one along the path that amounts to using the substance beyond pure speculative entertainment and escape reasons. There will probably never be a guarantee to overcome this issue, but with legalization and honesty around the issue, the chances are much better. I've seen lots of people do stupid stuff on substances, but not because of the substances (not really), but more so because we have absolutely no desire, nor actual experience to become honest teacher on this front, since doing so amounts to criminalization. Which continues to strike me as being extremely short sighted and ongoing realization that these tragic problems are us doing this stuff to ourselves.
