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View Full Version : (hypothetical) Steroids the same legal status of cigarettes?



bigZ241
06-09-2008, 06:00 PM
Alright, here's my thought/rant.

Over the past few years more and more studies on the effects of steroids have been popping up, showing all the horrible side effects, like hair loss, and mild acne.... We've had HBO do a short, but golden, clip on steroids and there being no fire "despite all the smoke." Better yet, Bigger, Stronger, Faster comes into the scene and presents what I would call a fairly unbiased (although not completely, I think that's impossible) 'documentary' on steroids. All are absolutely tiny steps towards a hopefully more level headed view on AAS.

I work at a downtown bar/club on the weekends, and at the same time as all the above is happening to show the harmlessness of steroids I see literally hundreds of people taking multiple 'smoke breaks' from dancing and drinking. Something that, very similar to steroids, has had many studies published. Difference being there are absolutely no benefits to smoking cigarettes. Yet all I have to do (assuming i smoked) is walk into any gas station and, now due to new legislation, name off a brand name because they aren't allowed to display the boxes of cigarettes.

This all comes down to money changing hands. I understand the cigarette industry is an absolute giant leaving government taking the dirty money but not really being able to change anything. Frankly i doubt they really want to, these new 'cover up' rules are just to keep the other side of the masses thinking government is trying.

So me, the gym goer who has done his research time and time again on the workings of steroids, is scratching his head on why I can go smoke myself to death, but can't buy far less harmless hormones to improve physical attributes.

Why could government not treat them closer to fitness supplements (lets forget about Bill C-51 on this one, that bill isn't going to pass anyways)? Make them like cigarettes, show some ID, be forced to name off some names instead of shopping off the shelf, and pad the government's pockets. Prices would most likely be higher, same as buying off the shelf cigarettes instead of a ziplock bag of 'native' cigarettes. But at the same time a standard could be set for quality and the increase in price would mean very minimal under dosed or under filled product.

I may sound like a broken record, but look at prohibition. Same thing is happening now with steroids across north america.

I want to finish off with two questions. First, am I overlooking any big bad obvious fact (truthfully this train of thought hit me while making dinner, so it's not like i've spent 5 hours doing research)? Is there something I'm missing for this to be hypothetically possible?

Second. What steps would have to be made for something like this to actually happen? I would assume a huge backing of hundreds of thousands of people, then some legislation passed through government in an awfully slow process. Again, I know the minimal on passing law, I'm just curious what it would take for this to happen.

Rant/Thought Over!

Bowlcut
06-09-2008, 06:09 PM
It would take a libertarian in the government to make roids available legally to consenting adults. Somebody who did not want to tell others how to live their life so scratch the current government of Vice cops off your list.

Seth
07-09-2008, 12:15 AM
Well, after watching Bigger, stronger, faster, the obvious conclusion would be that the attitude and position of the public is way too negative to be able to change it in either short or medium term. Steroids represent cheating, crime and health risks for the mass. Even with the new literature disproving the risks, we have yet to see pro-steroid documentaries air on discovery channel during peak hours and be well received by the public. In my opinion, the issue is really in terms of values and not facts; people enjoy hating steroids, it makes them feel like good citizens. It might someday be seen differently, but I personnaly wouldn't hold my breath because logic doesn't run governments. So, I absolutely agree with you, society is upside down on this issue

GTZ3
07-09-2008, 02:08 AM
The ignorant public doesnt HATE steroids because of hairloss or increased LDL ... they HATE steroids because of the good effects. I think that what it comes down to in an insecurity complex that comes through on both ends. People are insecure about their bodies; work hard, eat good, rest, and improve themselves. Sometimes the extra step is taken and steroids get used ... combined with the training and healthy living the AAS user ends up bigger, stronger, faster, and essentially more physically imposing in more than one way (ex, more capable of smashing people, or the Adonis complex in tghe eyes of women). <--- this creates insecurity on the other side of the fence. Dudes mainly, who either dont train period, or do train but arent genetically gifted, or train but dont want to use AAS feel slighted that an athlete (whether pro or rec) is using substances that physically improve your body ... often to limits that simply are unattianably naturally, and this bothers people and causes fear and insecurity.

The pencil pushers dont care that youve got ance, a receeding hairline, or bad cholesterol - they hate that you fill your shirt out, and are capable of throwing them on their heads, and that their wife would rather be ****ing you - not him.

Banning AAS isnt to protect users, its in place to protect the mental fragility of an insecure general public.

Seth
07-09-2008, 08:25 AM
You make a really good point GTZ. When we see someone who was lucky or has an edge on us we all become hating and jealous. An edge much like the one that kid we all knew in school who's father was rich had, or the one a steroid use has. A nice combination of hate and fear. We can clearly see that jealousy during Joe Biden's achieve that was show during Bigger, stronger, faster. It's not rhetoric we see against steroids, its hate, fear and jealousy

bigZ241
07-09-2008, 03:19 PM
To me I still can't get over the cigarette side of things. Steroids aren't made more legal because of public jealousy and fear. So make them legal, there's a whole host of problems they help, and all those pencil pushers can put on a few pounds for their adulteress wives.

To me the situation should be flipped. Cigarettes should be hated for actually causing problems, and steroids made socially acceptable. It just seems funny how everything sides with money and human health is thrown to the wind. It's a scary thought to me.

guest
07-09-2008, 03:39 PM
great post bigZ241. right on point.

Bowlcut
07-09-2008, 07:55 PM
Hypocrisy is endemic in our society. We have vice taxes on tobacco but nothing on coke? One causes diabetes and obesity, and the other causes cancers among many things. Yet we decide that we tax one group and vilify smokers as if they were rapists yet the 400lbs excuse for life can freely munch away on doritos washed down with Coca-Cola.

The one argument for the banning of steroids is the health side effects, but in comparison of all the dumb and dangerous stuff that is legal this argument is not only dubious, but paternalistic.

In the end we are all ****ed because our "free" healthcare funded by your taxes will be paying for all these peoples bills and we are left with no choice in the matter of our own health.

nisser
07-09-2008, 08:15 PM
It's never gonna happen!! sorry

bigZ241
08-09-2008, 08:17 AM
Oh I ostracize the 400lbs like I do smokers, don't you worry! lol.

With a society that is so built around "doing things to your body" I don't see why steroids fell outside the big bubble. I could go get pec implants or any slew of plastic surgury (with whatever risks that brings about), I could use synthol without fear of the law, I can lie in a tanning bed and get skin cancer all I want, I can smoke my lungs silly, drink away my brain cells, I can get poison injected straight into my body (botox), I can even go sky diving;i feel this is pretty safe, but obviously there's something to jumping out of a plane and relying on some fabric.

But I want to go to the gym with some hormonal help, and I'm breaking the law...

Also, for the mention of taxing users of other addictions (don't even get me started on caffeine and it's addictiveness). I would be fine with a AAS tax if it meant I could get pharm grade stuff just about anywhere. Heck I would be ok if I had to go take a 40hour class on steroids so I could get 'licensed' to buy them for personal use.

I just really don't think that it would be terribly hard to setup a method for over the counter steroid sales. The government would have a new method for getting our money, and we would happily pay it for love of our sport. Who really is winning with this steroid ban???

One last thing, glad to see so much talk going on in here!

Bowlcut
08-09-2008, 09:18 PM
Want to know what is completely ridiculous and outrageous?
I as at a new doc today and I am not his only HRT patient, however I am the only one who is not transsexual aka transgendered aka what ever they want to be called.

I am an open minded person and I could care less what people perceive themselves to be. If somebody born a woman thinks they are a man and wants to take testosterone to feel better I am fine with that.

BUT if one wants to take testosterone because it makes them feel better and are am already a man they are vilified by society as cheaters or juice monkeys, and not to mention that no doctor would prescribe HGH or test to a bber on grounds they were unsatisfied with their body.

We just have to accept that life is full of hypocrisy and lets Harper does not get elected to a majority because I know if he does there will be a crack down on AAS, weed, and everything that makes life sooooo amazing.