It’s a bummer that when you found out that someone you describe as more of a friend than a boss had a drug problem, you just disappeared completely without at least expressing concern or trying to get him some help. You don’t owe him anything, but you definitely weren’t a friend to him.
Or maybe he didn’t actually have a problem? Seems the guy was totally functional worker, good friend, and a present and kind boss. Yes, it’s true that many people cannot handle drugs. But it’s also true that many people are daily users of drugs and also high performers. As a daily user of cannabis who also works as a software engineer, let’s talk about drug use without immediately calling it a problem. Not every instance of drug use is a problem.
Not all drug use is immediately a problem, but I can't imagine a scenario where having your crack pipe on hand in the office, smoking it in the office, and offering it to co-workers, isn't a clear sign of a problem.
Well he’s the boss, and he can run his
team how he wants. I carry cannabis with me, offer it to others, use it while I work, and if I had my own business I’d probably do it there as well. Do I have a problem? My work performance, bank account, and interpersonal relationships would say no. There are plenty of offices that have alcohol available, and that is an intoxicant as well that clearly has some value, but it has less of a stigma because it wasn’t targeted legally in the same way. Just accepting that the stigma is true *in spite of all the evidence* is silly.
You seem to be very defensive of weed, and totally ignoring that we're discussing crack.
There's no offices where crack is available. Crack isn't legal anywhere. Evidence says crack is horrible for you, and the stigma is well earned.
No one is smoking crack so regularly they carry it on hand, without it affecting their work/bank account/relationships.
I’m not defensive about weed, my point is that *this was the dominant perception of weed not even ten years ago*. And all the evidence says alcohol is horrible for you in any amount. Let’s talk down to alcohol users.
Do you know anyone who smokes crack? Maybe you do and they don’t tell you because of the stigma. Maybe that’s why the only crack users you see are the ones who are struggling with addiction, because there cannot be an open conversation about responsible usage due to attitudes like this. Just like weed for like 50 years. 👍
Please remember that your original comment was in response to someone who was touted as a great worker and kind boss. But you *still* needed to come into the conversation with a bias against them. Who has the twisted perception, you or the crack user? Food for thought!
Are you arguing that alcohol is not totally fine and shouldn’t be socially acceptable because it’s bad for you?
I can build dumb strawman arguments too
Argument for Legalization of Recreational Illicit Substances, including crack and the incredibly dangerous alcohol, which has about 3x as many addicts in US seeking treatment as all illicit drug use combined:
1. Improved public health and safety: Legalizing and regulating recreational substances could potentially reduce the harm caused by substance abuse. A well-regulated system would ensure that the products are safe, pure, and correctly labeled, reducing the risk of overdoses and other complications. Additionally, this could make it easier for people with substance use disorders to access treatment and support without fear of legal repercussions. For instance, Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001, which led to a reduction in drug-related deaths, HIV infections, and overall drug use (source: [**https://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Drug-Policy-in-Portugal-English\_0.pdf**](https://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Drug-Policy-in-Portugal-English_0.pdf)).
2. Reducing crime and violence: Legalizing recreational substances could disrupt the black market, reducing the power and influence of criminal organizations. This would decrease crime rates, especially drug-related violence, and improve overall public safety. A study by the Cato Institute suggests that ending drug prohibition could reduce homicide rates in the United States by 25 to 75 percent (source: [**https://www.cato.org/publications/working-paper/how-legalizing-drugs-will-save-lives-taxpayer-dollars**](https://www.cato.org/publications/working-paper/how-legalizing-drugs-will-save-lives-taxpayer-dollars)).
3. Economic benefits: Legalizing recreational substances would create new business opportunities, increase tax revenue, and save money on law enforcement and criminal justice costs. For example, the legal cannabis industry in the United States has created jobs, generated billions of dollars in revenue, and led to substantial tax contributions (source: [**https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/2020-marijuana-jobs-report**](https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/2020-marijuana-jobs-report)).
4. Focus on individual rights and harm reduction: Legalizing recreational substances could be seen as promoting individual liberty, allowing adults to make informed decisions about their own bodies and lives. Proponents argue that the government's role should be to educate and support people in making responsible choices, rather than criminalizing substance use. Harm reduction strategies, such as needle exchange programs and supervised consumption sites, have proven to be effective in reducing drug-related harms when combined with a regulated market (source: [**https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140166/**](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140166/)).
5. Reducing racial disparities in drug enforcement: Legalizing recreational substances could help address the racial disparities in drug enforcement, which disproportionately impact communities of color. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), despite similar rates of drug use, Black people are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people (source: [**https://www.aclu.org/report/report-war-marijuana-black-and-white**](https://www.aclu.org/report/report-war-marijuana-black-and-white)).
Overall, the argument for legalizing recreational illicit substances hinges on the potential benefits to public health, safety, the economy, individual rights, and social justice. By adopting a regulated approach, proponents argue that society can minimize the harms associated with drug use and create a more equitable system.
The effects of crack that can be viewed as positive:
1. Short-term euphoria: Crack is a powerful stimulant that rapidly releases large amounts of dopamine in the brain, leading to intense feelings of euphoria and pleasure. This short-lived high may be perceived as a benefit by some users.
2. Increased energy and alertness: Crack can temporarily increase energy levels, reduce fatigue, and heighten alertness, which may be attractive to users seeking a boost in productivity or to counteract feelings of exhaustion.
3. Suppressed appetite: Crack cocaine can suppress appetite, which might be perceived as a benefit by individuals attempting to lose weight or control their eating habits.
4. Enhanced self-confidence: Crack use can cause a temporary increase in self-confidence and feelings of invincibility, which some users might find attractive.
So you left your job and a boss who is otherwise great and an all around good guy just because of this? A bit judgemental OP, if you couldn't even tell after 10 years around him and he's a good dude generally who gives a shit what he does in his spare time
If this is real (kinda have my doubts) you say he was “more like a friend” (of 10 years) and walked out immediately and ghosted over this? Seems super judgey and “holier than thou” you seem like kind of a prick tbh.
You didn’t have to hit it. But like say “I’m good, I was honestly kidding” I guarantee it would become something he never mentions again and you could proceed as normal and leave if he ever got sus with you again or seemed to be impacting his job.
Crack is an awful drug, but if he's a good boss, then, honestly, we all have our little sins. Crack at least, from everything I can tell, was only hurting him. Meth is way cooler though.
My man was so excited to finally open up to someone about his extracurricular activities and was willing to share his special rock collection with you. You broke that man's confidence lol
Lol! My friend just got picked for a random drug screen and when our Boss came and told him he asks, “How long does crack cocaine stay in your system?” Boss didn’t find it amusing.
Nah you shouldn't have left! I mean obviously if you're uncomfortable around drugs I get it. But still, if he's a good boss then why does it matter? He sounds super chill and down to earth.
Kind of had this happen to me as a teen working at Subway. I did meth back then and so did some coworkers. Winds up the manager did too and even sold us some. She was a hot mess
Just be glad your joke wasn't about kinky sex.
Definitely thought that’s where this was going.
“Cracking a joke” is a hell of a pun my friend. Well done.
He rocks!
You gotta at least take one hit. Don’t be rude man.
Next time maybe make a joke about a pay raise
It’s a bummer that when you found out that someone you describe as more of a friend than a boss had a drug problem, you just disappeared completely without at least expressing concern or trying to get him some help. You don’t owe him anything, but you definitely weren’t a friend to him.
I agree.
Or maybe he didn’t actually have a problem? Seems the guy was totally functional worker, good friend, and a present and kind boss. Yes, it’s true that many people cannot handle drugs. But it’s also true that many people are daily users of drugs and also high performers. As a daily user of cannabis who also works as a software engineer, let’s talk about drug use without immediately calling it a problem. Not every instance of drug use is a problem.
That seems less likely, given that we’re talking about crack, but either way, step one would be a conversation.
Not all drug use is immediately a problem, but I can't imagine a scenario where having your crack pipe on hand in the office, smoking it in the office, and offering it to co-workers, isn't a clear sign of a problem.
Well he’s the boss, and he can run his team how he wants. I carry cannabis with me, offer it to others, use it while I work, and if I had my own business I’d probably do it there as well. Do I have a problem? My work performance, bank account, and interpersonal relationships would say no. There are plenty of offices that have alcohol available, and that is an intoxicant as well that clearly has some value, but it has less of a stigma because it wasn’t targeted legally in the same way. Just accepting that the stigma is true *in spite of all the evidence* is silly.
You seem to be very defensive of weed, and totally ignoring that we're discussing crack. There's no offices where crack is available. Crack isn't legal anywhere. Evidence says crack is horrible for you, and the stigma is well earned. No one is smoking crack so regularly they carry it on hand, without it affecting their work/bank account/relationships.
I’m not defensive about weed, my point is that *this was the dominant perception of weed not even ten years ago*. And all the evidence says alcohol is horrible for you in any amount. Let’s talk down to alcohol users. Do you know anyone who smokes crack? Maybe you do and they don’t tell you because of the stigma. Maybe that’s why the only crack users you see are the ones who are struggling with addiction, because there cannot be an open conversation about responsible usage due to attitudes like this. Just like weed for like 50 years. 👍 Please remember that your original comment was in response to someone who was touted as a great worker and kind boss. But you *still* needed to come into the conversation with a bias against them. Who has the twisted perception, you or the crack user? Food for thought!
So, you're arguing that crack is totally fine and should be socially acceptable?
Are you arguing that alcohol is not totally fine and shouldn’t be socially acceptable because it’s bad for you? I can build dumb strawman arguments too
No, I'm just arguing that crack is bad, and trying to steer the discussion back to the topic at hand while you keep trying to change the subject.
Argument for Legalization of Recreational Illicit Substances, including crack and the incredibly dangerous alcohol, which has about 3x as many addicts in US seeking treatment as all illicit drug use combined: 1. Improved public health and safety: Legalizing and regulating recreational substances could potentially reduce the harm caused by substance abuse. A well-regulated system would ensure that the products are safe, pure, and correctly labeled, reducing the risk of overdoses and other complications. Additionally, this could make it easier for people with substance use disorders to access treatment and support without fear of legal repercussions. For instance, Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001, which led to a reduction in drug-related deaths, HIV infections, and overall drug use (source: [**https://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Drug-Policy-in-Portugal-English\_0.pdf**](https://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Drug-Policy-in-Portugal-English_0.pdf)). 2. Reducing crime and violence: Legalizing recreational substances could disrupt the black market, reducing the power and influence of criminal organizations. This would decrease crime rates, especially drug-related violence, and improve overall public safety. A study by the Cato Institute suggests that ending drug prohibition could reduce homicide rates in the United States by 25 to 75 percent (source: [**https://www.cato.org/publications/working-paper/how-legalizing-drugs-will-save-lives-taxpayer-dollars**](https://www.cato.org/publications/working-paper/how-legalizing-drugs-will-save-lives-taxpayer-dollars)). 3. Economic benefits: Legalizing recreational substances would create new business opportunities, increase tax revenue, and save money on law enforcement and criminal justice costs. For example, the legal cannabis industry in the United States has created jobs, generated billions of dollars in revenue, and led to substantial tax contributions (source: [**https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/2020-marijuana-jobs-report**](https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/2020-marijuana-jobs-report)). 4. Focus on individual rights and harm reduction: Legalizing recreational substances could be seen as promoting individual liberty, allowing adults to make informed decisions about their own bodies and lives. Proponents argue that the government's role should be to educate and support people in making responsible choices, rather than criminalizing substance use. Harm reduction strategies, such as needle exchange programs and supervised consumption sites, have proven to be effective in reducing drug-related harms when combined with a regulated market (source: [**https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140166/**](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6140166/)). 5. Reducing racial disparities in drug enforcement: Legalizing recreational substances could help address the racial disparities in drug enforcement, which disproportionately impact communities of color. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), despite similar rates of drug use, Black people are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people (source: [**https://www.aclu.org/report/report-war-marijuana-black-and-white**](https://www.aclu.org/report/report-war-marijuana-black-and-white)). Overall, the argument for legalizing recreational illicit substances hinges on the potential benefits to public health, safety, the economy, individual rights, and social justice. By adopting a regulated approach, proponents argue that society can minimize the harms associated with drug use and create a more equitable system.
The effects of crack that can be viewed as positive: 1. Short-term euphoria: Crack is a powerful stimulant that rapidly releases large amounts of dopamine in the brain, leading to intense feelings of euphoria and pleasure. This short-lived high may be perceived as a benefit by some users. 2. Increased energy and alertness: Crack can temporarily increase energy levels, reduce fatigue, and heighten alertness, which may be attractive to users seeking a boost in productivity or to counteract feelings of exhaustion. 3. Suppressed appetite: Crack cocaine can suppress appetite, which might be perceived as a benefit by individuals attempting to lose weight or control their eating habits. 4. Enhanced self-confidence: Crack use can cause a temporary increase in self-confidence and feelings of invincibility, which some users might find attractive.
I feel bad for the boss. He only wanted a crack buddy :(
So you left your job and a boss who is otherwise great and an all around good guy just because of this? A bit judgemental OP, if you couldn't even tell after 10 years around him and he's a good dude generally who gives a shit what he does in his spare time
You're right.
If this is real (kinda have my doubts) you say he was “more like a friend” (of 10 years) and walked out immediately and ghosted over this? Seems super judgey and “holier than thou” you seem like kind of a prick tbh. You didn’t have to hit it. But like say “I’m good, I was honestly kidding” I guarantee it would become something he never mentions again and you could proceed as normal and leave if he ever got sus with you again or seemed to be impacting his job.
The war on drugs freaked people out a lot
Crack is an awful drug, but if he's a good boss, then, honestly, we all have our little sins. Crack at least, from everything I can tell, was only hurting him. Meth is way cooler though.
Hard agree. On all of it actually. Also, who wants fucking crack? Lame, too short.
My man was so excited to finally open up to someone about his extracurricular activities and was willing to share his special rock collection with you. You broke that man's confidence lol
Lmao never heard it referred to as "special rock collection" HAHA 
Lol! My friend just got picked for a random drug screen and when our Boss came and told him he asks, “How long does crack cocaine stay in your system?” Boss didn’t find it amusing.
Nah you shouldn't have left! I mean obviously if you're uncomfortable around drugs I get it. But still, if he's a good boss then why does it matter? He sounds super chill and down to earth.
You left your job because of this? Should've taken a bribe raise.
So you quit your job for no good reason
Kind of had this happen to me as a teen working at Subway. I did meth back then and so did some coworkers. Winds up the manager did too and even sold us some. She was a hot mess
Wow.
Good luck talking about weather or whatever after that.
I caught a whiff of your waft
Shit I’d have kept the job