weibullguy

Do you feel the efforts to legalize, or at minimum decriminalize, cannabis will become more difficult under the incoming administration especially considering Jeff Sessions' strong anti-drug stance?

How accurate are the scientific underpinnings of the r/NoFap and r/pornfree movements? As a corollary, how accurate is the information provided on the website YourBrainOnPorn?

But wait, producing aluminum cans generates about twice as much atmospheric carbon as plastic bottles. So your be all, end all regulation just increased, considerably, greenhouse gases.

What about the environmental impact of bauxite mining? Bauxite ore is the ultimate source of those aluminum cans. Bauxite mining is more environmentally damaging than than crude oil extraction. Additionally, most bauxite is mined in third world countries. I guess as long as you feel good sipping a cold one from your aluminum can all that environmental damage in Malaysia doesn't matter.

Aluminum can also cost about 25-30% more than plastic bottles. So, just like I told you, your regulation increased the cost of a Coke at least 25%. Of course, a can of Coke contains one serving, while a plastic bottle of Coke contains 2.5 servings. So now you need a 15 pack instead of a six pack.

Sure, you could make 20oz cans of Coke to replace the 20oz plastic bottles. Of course you can't reseal a can like a bottle so now your forcing consumers to either throw out 60% of the Coke when it goes flat or to drink all 20oz in one sitting. I'm not sure that won't have a positive impact on obesity. I concur most people probably do drink the whole 20oz when it comes in a bottle. But, what about those 2 liter plastic bottles?

I think your aluminum can regulation will, as usual, have an overall negative impact on society and markets. At best the data would indicate, it'll be a wash from a pollution perspective. But, at least we'll get to pay more for the same amount of pollution.

Dr. Gupta,

During the past few months, as the cannabis discussion in the United States has ramped up, I have heard little, if any, discussion of Portugal. While their policy is decriminalization rather than legalization and is not limited to cannabis, the policy has been in effect for over ten years. Granted, ten years is likely not long enough to establish strong correlation, if any exists, between decriminalization and drug-related problems. However, during the past 10+ years, there have been several studies (ESPAD, ECATD, HSBC/WHO, and INME amongst others) which, it seems, would be germane to the discussion here in the United States and elsewhere. I wonder why the media seems to remain silent on the Portuguese experience and the data it is generating rather than mostly anecdotal evidence?

Yeah, because men and women in combat zones have tons of time to rinse their dishes. Sheesh.