Journal o the American medical association in January also revealed a study showing marijuana does not cause damage in the lungs. It actually revealed pot smokers as having stronger lungs than non smokers.

It was a study conduced over a span of two decades and 5000 people.

Well to be fair it read that smoking pot showed no significant Lung degradation. Tobacco however clearly showed damage.

HTC has anti inflammatory properties too, which is why it is so good for pain relief.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240146.php?sv=d

What most people here seem to ignore is the fact that marijuana is highly addictive and can make a person want to get on more dangerous drugs such as dope, cocaine or meth. And IT does damage to your brain...take these facts as you want

False assumptions.  I don't smoke marijuana and think boy I wish I could have a line of coke or a hit of heroin.  The reason why it is a "gateway" drug is because it is illegal.  You don't go into a store to buy a pack of cigs or beer and get offered cocaine or heroin at the check out counter do you?  Nope.  However, if you make something illegal then people have to go to a seller which is probably selling other illegal drugs.  Hence the bullshit gateway theory.

I thought I would point out what is happening in Colorado that I have witnessed. I do not smoke often, but know I can smoke with my neighbors openly in their garage without having to hide it. My neighbor is a marijuana dealer who actually wanted the drug to remain illegal so he could continue his black market business. Since it is now legal, he has just been enjoying no longer having to hide his use. It is really refreshing to be completely comfortable partaking in weed on your own property and at your friends property.

My step bro no longer has to hide his use with his pot head friends either.

It has been said that in as little as two months Colorado's almost 600 strong, medical marijuana retailers can be converted to retailers for all those above 21. I cannot wait as I would like to get some THC soda and certain strains I liked back when I had my medical marijuana card.

I plan on growing three plants outdoors in my back yard every year. I have grown before and caring for the plants can bring as much joy if not more than partaking in the drug as infrequently as I do.
Downtown has smelled like weed more and more, and most people seem happy that they can be more open at work about their real beliefs of the drug. We no longer have to hide behind as much stigma, or other people's ignorance.

I am so proud of the people of Colorado and Washington.

You think there is any chance I can come move in with you next year?  I have a good friend that I talk with about moving up to Colorado and after this it makes us want to pack up and move there.  There will be a great exodus from other states to Colorado and Washington.
 

At this point it is hard to say. lol. Keep in touch on my wall.

Yes, I have seen countless amounts of people online instantly saying they are moving to one of the two states. Considering it is at least two more years before any other state can vote legalize it as well. I think it will be quite some years before other states can follow suit. I am completely welcoming to all open minded individuals.

Please provide proof for your bogus claim.

Of people who have used MJ in their lives only 9-10% become chronic users, compared to 15% for alcohol, 17% for cocaine, 23% for heroin and 32% for tobacco.

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/201012/is-marijuana-addictive

Of these MJ is also the easiest to let go of due to being physiological dependence rather than physical, which is why the "withdrawal symptoms" are depression, anxiety and mood swings. Symptoms which are difficult to pin point on MJ use due to widespread depression and anxiety just about everywhere.

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/reading-between-the-headlines/201205/is-marijuana-addictive

Your brain damage claim is also completely bogus. You speak as if it damages everyones brains when the damage was found to occur in the brains of young children who's brains are still developing. Nobody is saying to let 10 & 15 years olds to smoke MJ.

http://m.medicaldaily.com/articles/11417/20120809/marijuana-brain-damage-memory-learning-drug-habit-addiction.htm

Seriously, enough with the bogus speak. Bring proof next time instead of empty claims.

Double post.

I smoke almost daily if I could. If not then no big deal, I have no physical or physiological dependance. I have stopped smoking for months at a time just by deciding to stop for a while to save up some money for other things like vacations or instead donating the money I would have spent on the current hurricane relief funds or cancer walks.

If all these claims were true I should be a useless member to society who can't think well due to brain damage, yet I do my research, bring citations and proof to arguments and don't blindly follow propaganda and fear mongering like the claims of smoking pot being 20x worse than cigarettes because I'm smart enough to know that pot doesn't have the same level of addiction and that nobody smokes 20-40 joints a day, lol.

I'm a very productive, intelligent and charitable contributer to society. So is my father in law who has served this great country of mine in the US Air Force, put his kids through college and enabled them to become members of the medical field working at Stonybrook University Hospital and in Pediatrics. He too enjoys a nice bowl too and has a solid head on his shoulders too.