When Marijuana is Less Harmful than Tobacco

Dutch smoking ban to cover coffee shops
Fri Jun 8, 2007 9:22pm BST

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch smoking ban will come into force in July next year for all restaurants and cafes - including coffee shops where cannabis is the top attraction, the government decided on Friday.
"Coffee shops will be treated in the same manner as other catering businesses. They will be smoke-free," Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told NOS television.
"It would have been wrong to move towards a smoke-free catering industry and then make an exception for coffee shops. People would not have understood that."
Establishments will not in fact have to be completely smoke-free. Proprietors will be allowed to set up a separate room or glass partition behind which people can smoke, but customers will not be served there to protect staff.
"Employees should not have to work in an environment were they are constantly exposed to the harmful effects of smoking," Balkenende said after the cabinet's decision on Friday.
Amsterdam's renowned coffee shops, where marijuana can be smoked openly in a relaxed atmosphere, are one of the city's big draws for tourists.
Coffee shop owners argue that the ban only applies to tobacco and is unlikely to hit them hard.
Whilst commonly mixed with tobacco, marijuana can also be smoked on its own, especially in pipes, vaporizers and other contraptions.
Soft drugs are officially banned in the Netherlands but under a policy of tolerance, buyers are allowed to have less than 5 grams of cannabis in their possession.

Well and good you say. In a survey conducted by Cancer Council Victoria, 4 out of 10 smokers admitted that smoke-free venues helped them in their decision to ditch the habit. Let me however, draw your attention to the line that has been typed out in green. Smoking tobacco is banned in eating places, but smoking weed is still allowed.

"Marijuana side effects from an overdose include toxic psychosis including hallucinations, delusions and a loss of self-identification."

"Marijuana side effects include physical problems like breathing difficulties and deteriorating physical abilities. Despite a popular belief, marijuana side effects speed up the heart, blood and breathing rate. The body is taxed more and this speeds up the aging process just like methamphetamines do. The marijuana side effects from this extra exertion on the body include a higher risk for lung cancer, heart attacks and strokes."

Fine, fine, argue what you will about the ban being instituted for the benefit of potential 2nd-hand smokers, that it is about the protection of the innocent, that those who indulge in such habits make a conscious decision to bring destruction onto their own body and the government has no right to interfere apart by managing externalities such as, and that which results from the pollution that such persons wreck on those around them. To me, it is a parallel situation to one where the government does away with cars and big vehicles due to their heavy emissions, allowing only motorcyclists on the roads.

According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), the fatality rate per 100,000 registered motorcycles was 64.88 while the number of fatalities per 100,000 registered passenger cars was only 15.72. Now do the math. Those on motorcycles are essentially accidents waiting to happen. In the same way, the country, although having tried to control the extent of external harm that smoking tobacco creates, continues to advocate both the physical and social ills that come with the consumption of the drug. Above that, by constitution, it acts as a potential agent of destruction to other countries as well, given that many who frequent Amsterdam are tourists who picked up the usage of the drug there.

Now, I am truly thankful that my lungs are safe from second-hand smoke, but unfortunately, my son might end up a psycho-motor moron who lacks entirely in the cognitive department as well.

GTRs

While moving along the busy streets of Singapore today, I came across no less than 3 different GTRs, each sighting being no less than within 5 minutes of each other. I think it is a sign. What exactly it might be a sign of, or for, i have no idea. But I believe it's somewhere along the lines of -Ernest, you should get a GTR. That however, would shatter my grantaurismo dreams, but leave me with 60000 dollars more and a little ahead anyone in a maserati.

Totally inane entry this, but I just felt obliged to share a little about this Japanese wonder here. In case you just just just might be interested, this baby goes from 0 to the century in 3.5 seconds and can hit 193 mph. It has got as well, 480 horses under the bonnet and costs only usd$72000!

Majors, Majors, Majors

So, I was looking at the Undergraduate Academic Bulletin and decided that I will never, for the love of all things sane and beautiful, become an accounting major. Here's a sample of what the course descriptions are like - A 100 Basic Accounting Skills A 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting A 202 Introduction to Managerial Accounting A 305 Accounting for Small and Medium Enterprises A 324 Cost Management A 325 Cost Accounting A 327 Tax Analysis A 329 Taxes and Decision Making A 420 Financial Statement Analysis and Interpretation A 424 Auditing X 301 Communication for Accountants

And here is a sample of a course descripton should anyone have hoped that perhaps it was just the names of the modules that caused them to smash their heads into their keypads in boredom.

A 310 Management Decisions and Financial Reporting (3 cr.) P: A 201 and A 202. Provides students with a thorough understanding of the theoretical foundations underlying financial reporting, the rules used by accountants to measure the effects of business decisions and to report the effects to external parties, the use of judgment in financial reporting, and the transformation of cash flow decisions into accrual-based and cash-based financial statements. Students are expected to develop technical, analytical, and interpretive skills related to economic transactions and accrual-based financial statements. Accounting students should take A 311 and A 312 to satisfy accounting major requirements. Credit not given for both A 310 and A 311 or A 312.

Here are the majors i think i'll be interested in-
1) Business Economics and Public Policy
2)Finance(Sounds a little dead, but the brother disputes that)
3)Management with a co-major in International Business
To a select few who might be bored with their holidays, please feel free to look at the course descriptions. (Yes you in China, i know you're looking desperately for something to do with your time)

The descriptions already look intimidating , so I really wonder what actually having to study them will be like.
Of great importance as well, THEY DID NOT GIVE ME A SINGLE ROOM!!! Gahh. I'm now praying really hard for a nice roomie after hearing all the horror stories from new york.

June

My my, time certainly passes very quickly as a free person! Here's what's up in the month of June

1)The school holidays are here! I don't have to go to school to attempt to educate into the youth of our nation for a whole month! Unfortunately, that also means a total cessation of income for the month. That's alright though, because i'm spending my time planning for and working towards-

2)The ACJC Choir's 20th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service! In the off chance that you are someone who was from the choir reading this space who still has not indicated interest in attending the above-mentioned event, please do come for it! It has been a good one week with great company, hanging out with the jamie and gina everyday for the past week(i'm typing this from na's dining table).

3)Mario Kart is damnnn fun!=)

4)My eye hurts.

5)Mr Obama, congratulations. As a soon-to-be alien in your country, i look forward to the positive changes that you have promised in your campaign. Change we can believe in, and the continuation of brilliant brilliant video games such as grand theft auto

To The Slovakia-bound, With Love

You are in our thoughts and prayers. Do God, College and Country proud!

Not So Sexyback

Enough said.

Seersuckers

After too long a wait, this months issue is FINALLY out! Go get it! The silly thumbi bookstore thing at holland doesn't yet have it for some reason though. You have have have to check out the seeksucker suits. Muchly classy and attractive they are.

On another note together, having returned to class after not being there yesterday, the kids actually said they missed me. Now, everyone together, say awww. Awwww. It's also of great comfort to know that they found the teacher who replaced me to be useless and would rather very much have me take their classes. Ego boost, that.