Yes...Another Marijuana Thread

[monkeysugar]

I tried it a few years ago, decided it wasn't my thing. I didn't like the feeling it gave me and it went against my personal and professional goals.

You may hate it, you may love it, GREAT! whatever works for you. As long as isn't affecting me or those I give a shit about, I couldn't care less if you do it or not.

I know daily users who are brilliant, and I know users who are complete losers. It all depends on the person I guess, and probably to a large extent, whether they were brilliant or a loser to begin with.

[sprocket]

Cant beleive I'm letting myself get involved in this rathole of a counterproductive thread, but... I cant help it.

Originally posted by MrSelfDestruct

I'd also like to comment on smoking and driving. The inhernt problem is that unlike alcohol, which can be detected with a simple breathalyzer test, there is no reliable way to determine how recently and how much someone has smoked. The only assumption that can be made is that if someone has weed in the car, or has an empty bong with ashes in it, that they have been smoking. If there were a reliable test, I would support legalization with identical restrictions to alcohol in regard to driving.

Your living in a world with this issue right now. Its a problem NOW. Massive amounts of people are high on the road as I'm typing this, just like there are massive amounts of drunk drivers on the road as well. Probably just as many doped up on prescription painkillers or anti-depressants, none of wich are detectable by a breathalizer and are legal. Its actually a normal thing for most pot smokers to light up while driving. I'd venture to say, most moderate to heavy smokers, do so in a car while driving on a regular basis. All you heads reading this know what I'm talking about. Next time your on the road at night, look for that little spark of light that seems to pop up at every stop light in the car next to you. Guess what? They're gettin high.

I'm not trying to get into another legalization argument here, I'm just pointing out that this problem exists already and I dont think legalization would make it worse. Cops are trained to look for the people under the influence of drugs. Breathalizers only catch the drunks (with as many as there are, they still probably only make up a fraction of the amount of people on the road under the influence of a chemical they shouldnt be driving on).

Its my opinion that legalization wouldnt really change much. Police can tell (usually) if someone is on the influence, and believe me, they wont hesitate to take them to jail and get them off the road if they see enough warnings signs. The same DUI laws apply to controlled substances that apply to alcohol. The laws to punish people who drive high are already there. Just because its weed and not alcohol, doesnt mean you wont get a DUI. Just because the breathalizer comes up clean, doesnt mean they wont be able to get you off the road if they consider you a danger to other drivers.

[gnom]

been a smoker for over 2.5 years i think. since then, i've smoked less than once a month .. maybe once every 2 or so. the best way to not get hooked is to just not buy. i'm more a social smoker, i do it to enjoy myself further with company. i rarely smoke it just to get high for no reason .. though it does alieve a lot of stress during midterms and finals

[analog]

Originally posted by tritium
Let me know the next time a KaZaA user attempts to drive his car while under the influence of MP3s and winds up wrapped around a tree.

That's simply asinine.

No one is debating that smoking and driving isn't ok, so don't pretend like that's even a possibility. All responsible people who smoke pot will tell you it's not a good idea, and should be just as illegal as driving under the influence of anything else. Note that I said responsible. There are plenty of stupid morons out there who do whatever they please because they are not responsible people, and that has nothing to do with what they drink, smoke, shoot, huff, snort or swallow. They are just irresponsible idiots, no matter how you cut it.

People need to get off their high-horses, oh i'm sorry i mean sober-horses, and realize that just because you are "never gonna poison [your] body with that trash" doesn't mean i'm not entitled to my opion- or to smoke it all I want.

I especially love when people who can't spell properly or use horribly improper grammar tell me how dumb I am for smoking pot. Makes me chuckle every time, and usually then goes ignored.

[water_boy1999]

I love hearing from non-smokers, partly because of their misconceptions about marijuana usage. Yes, there are plenty of potheads who are lazy, unmotivated, a danger to society when driving, addicted, etc.....heard all the same arguments.

I am happy to be the exception of your beliefs. Great job, awesome friends, buying a house, nice ride, was a nationally ranked athlete, still workout every morning, take care of my responsibilities. I will agree with non-smokers in that it does mellow you out, it does make some lazy, it does impair your judgement, etc....However, I have met many more non-smokers who are just as lazy, just as unmotivated, and are more of a danger to society than your typical pothead.

From what I personally know of weed, it is definitely not addictive. It has been proven that there are no addictive chemicals or qualities in weed. I am not addicted to it. I do it because I want to. When I don't feel like it, it is simple to put it away for a while until I want to relax and escape reality for a bit. Yes, it is an escape. I like the personal choice I have to escape for a bit. I lead a very ambitious and sometimes stressful life and it feels good to get away from it because it helps me to loosen up.

In short, weed is a personal choice. It effects people differently just as any other personal choice does. Drinking, working out, sex, TV, cigarettes, food, sweets, etc...can all be grouped into the same subject area. They are escapes. They are what people choose to do because, we, as Americans have the right to do whatever the heck we want to. Leave your judgments at the door and come in and relax.

[The_wall]

Wasn't their a study done that showed if you smoke a joint or something your driving actually improved, but if you smoked more it went way down?

I'm not convinced smoking impairs your driving ability all that much. The only study I can remember hearing about this subject was one of those anti pot commercials, which neglected to give you anwers to a lot of questions you might have after hearing the commercial.

[Jack Ruby]

I've been smoking cannabis fairly regulary for about a year and a half. The pattern usually goes like this : buy some, get really stoned every day for about a week, then go three or four weeks without it. Though usually in those 'weed-free' intervals I end up smoking with friends anyway.

Coinicidentally, this week I decided to quit smoking (both tobacco and cannabis) and drinking alcohol for a month. Just to see if I can handle the peer pressure (against which I'm usually pretty resistent) and if I have the character to convice myself not to do something. And also a little bit because I do know a lot of people who do various illegal drugs, and plenty of bright young people who are losing out on many interesting opportunities because of their bad habits & addictions.

Wish me luck.

[NeverBorn]

My take. Do what you want. In fact I encourage you to do things to destroy your bodies so I don't have to deal with your assine opinions. So..do what you want. Cause in the end..I won't have to deal with you. The moment I do have to deal with you, thats when it becomes a problem.

[Jim Kata]

Smoking Pot destroys your body, eating it.....doesn't.

[kl0pper]

Originally posted by The_wall
Wasn't their a study done that showed if you smoke a joint or something your driving actually improved, but if you smoked more it went way down?

yes
the paranoia induced by the pot made them more cautious drivers
they did it with the study with pot, alcohol and a sober control group on a closed circuit
the alcohol group scored lowest
pot group highest (no pun intended)

i wouldnt take it too seriously
they used different drivers in each group
they should have had one group go through the course with each of the three circumstances...

[Jim Kata]

All those tests are bullshit. Everything effects everyone in a different way. My high could be totally different than your high. My tolerance could be totally different than your tolerance which would fuck up the results of a test.
My blue is your yellow. And your black is my white.

Oo Ee Oo Ah Ah Ching Chang WallaWalla Bing Bang.

[kl0pper]

^ yes
thats why they should have tested the same people with each drug on the course

[Derwood]

Originally posted by IC3
...Or do anything Illegal, Still download MP3's. Don't say that's different, Cause Illegal is Illegal.

Hey man, I killed your mom. But you can't say anything, because you download MP3's. Illegal is Illegal, right?

[Kewpie Dan]

i used to be a toker, and now i'm not. that being said...

i'm not here to denounce or support pot. what i do denounce is addiction. pot in and of itself is fine, as long as it is used in moderation. it is when it is being abused that is the problem.

and i'm not just talking about weed, anything pushed to the extreme is problematic. i have known some people who have put their lives on hold over video games. playing video games is not bad, but once it becomes an obsession then we have a problem.

however, with any addiction, i don't care what other people do as long as it doesn't affect other people. be it pot, cigarettes, gambling, etc... once someone's addiction starts hurting other people then there is a problem...

[Memnoch]

While I am personally against all forms of drugs (pot and otherwise) and would never ever in a million years do it myself, I have only one thing to say:

Darwinism.

See you on the other side, folks. Some sooner than others.

[assilem]

I smoke every day. I call it my reverse caffeine. In the morning I drink coffee to wake up and at night I smoke a joint to chill out. I am just as addicted to weed as I am coffee and visa versa.

I have done acid, extacy and weed.
The only one I feel comfortable with and can control is weed.
I am a mother, but my husband & I do not smoke unless the kids are asleep or away with grandparents.
I have never had a bad time on weed and I do not smoke too much, and am very responsible with it.
I am not addicted to it, because I pass it up quite often and it's not anything I need and I can go without.
It's all in the mindset and how you handle it.

[moonstrucksoul]

Originally posted by Memnoch
I have only one thing to say:

Darwinism.

See you on the other side, folks. Some sooner than others.

cool, maybe i can evolve into a giant pot plant and flyman can have his way with me.

[newmanator]

Something that is often brought up is that pot (or anything, really)is relatively safe when used in moderation, with which I almost completely agree. The problem for many is keeping moderation from turning into compulsion. It was a problem for me, and it is (or has been) a problem for people I've known and known of.

When I was 22, I started smoking infrequently as a way of cutting loose and sort of wiping the dust off the chalkboard, so to speak. At first I thought I'd do it maybe once every couple months, which eventually lead to my creating rules like only once a month, which progressed to then once a week, then not before 4:20 in the afternoon, then not tomorrow, but the next day is okay. Since I hadn't experienced high degrees of fun in a while, smoking was a blast. It was an instant party, no matter what I was doing, and I loved it.

Even though I had a strong will, I eventually became addicted, and going out with friends to hang out and smoke became primarily a means of avoiding the guilt that went with smoking alone. Hanging out together while everyone was sober became almost no fun at all, as well as uncomfortable and strange to some degree.

After graduating from college, I smoked daily for a few months, and continued smoking even after starting paralegal school despite desperately wanting to quit. I learned only a fraction of what I would've learned had I abstained, and for that (and many other reasons, mostly health-related), I'm disappointed in myself and wish I hadn't begun smoking in the first place.

Smoking can certainly improve quality of life, and for those who smoke with little to no ill effect for long periods of time, congratulations. I'm happy that it works for you, and I hope you don't end up with health problems down the road. Like almost all of my friends to varying degrees, I suffer from anxiety, and none of us had anxiety and/or panic attacks until after we'd smoked regularly a for a long time. I might sound arrogant, but I don't believe that pot is safe for the majority of people who will use it. Of course, before things got bad, I thought it was groovy, man, and anyone else who had bad experiences with pot were just 1) dumber than me; and 2) had less will power.

[Gotenks]

Thing is, when you talking about such a largely used substance, every persons opinion is their own. I could go on and on about weed all day long, some may find it offensive, some may agree... but i'd rather not stir anything up that's already settled.

One person may get sick off of it, another may get mentally addicted to it (my own brother is mentally addicted to it, and he's still a hard working individual). Saying someone is weak because they smoke isnt right, in some cases it could be true, but your making an assumption about such a vast amount of people that you don't truely have the knowledge OR information to make that statement.

I'm a smoker, I admit it, I only tell people if they ask. I've still gotten jobs, i've still excelled in life. I grow my own so it doesnt hit me in the pocket book. Don't look at me like i'm weak... i'm far from it.

[flamingpeach]

After reading this thread, i really only have one thing to say...

ignorance is contagious

[tritium]

Let's agree to disagree.

So help me, if I' ever in a car collision with someone that is high, they're gonna see my rifle.

[moonstrucksoul]

Originally posted by tritium
So help me, if I' ever in a car collision with someone that is high, they're gonna see my rifle.

what about someone on a cellphone? you gonna shoot them too?

[stevie667]

Originally posted by tritium
Let's agree to disagree.

So help me, if I' ever in a car collision with someone that is high, they're gonna see my rifle.

it won't be his fault, he'll only be going fugging 3 mph.

[nate_dawg]

Originally posted by Kaos
That is an addiction in itself.
And guess what...I'm betting that the marijuana you are getting off the street, isn't just marijuaua. But cut with other chemicals or drugs to get you a better "high."

You've obviously never smoked weed or dealt with it, and let me tell you, that's absolute bullshit.
What dealer is going to waste THEIR money putting other (read: more expensive) drugs just to give YOU a better high? Sorry, but it's not happening.
I've heard of this happening once, but that was a friend playing a little "joke" on another friend.

As far as how addicting it is? Well, it isn't physically addicting, but it is psychologically addictive. I can attest to that. However, I can function perfectly normal in my life, even though I smoke several times a day most days (and I'm in the top 25% of my class, get all my work homework and whatnot done, have a job, blah blah blah).

Let's look at some other drugs though.......cocaine and methamphetamine for example. I've gotten loaded a time or two, and it IS super addictive (if you're prone to addiction, that is). I have friends who can use it and not crave it at all when its all gone (unfortunately this isn't me). I've also smoked glass a time or two (although I'm not very proud of that one.........) and have friends who are hardcore tweakers. THIS WILL FUCK UP YOUR LIFE. Meth isn't a joke, and it's quite addictive. I'd say I'd be on that path myself if I didn't set a few rules for myself.......

I guess to get to my point, everyone behaves differently under the influence of drugs, and some are more prone to addiction than others. It IS possible to use drugs responsibly, and in moderation (but when it comes to hard drugs, frequent users can throw that word out the window), just like it's possible to do so with alcohol (but that's a whole 'nother story in its' self). As far as the people who've become "messed up" from the drugs, with their psychological ailments and all? They've had those symptoms from the start, drugs just enhance the (physical, psychological, and everyday) problems and stresses that we encounter.

To sum up, people who've never used recreational drugs will never understand, and those who do will try to justify it all over the place. Some people just aren't cut out to handle everything that comes with recreational drug use, and these people should not be using and should seek help if they continue to do so.

[p0thead]

hmm... my username says it all. i'll say it fucks you up. i smoke daily and it makes me freaking lazy! i have a job, a gf ive been w/ for 4 years (who graduated out of a UC), and great friends, but i know i could have accomplished a lot more if i hadn't taken that initial first puff. of course i dont regret anything because i chose this path.

[tritium]

Originally posted by stevie667
it won't be his fault, he'll only be going fugging 3 mph.

Not the potsmokers I know of. I knew a guy named Jon that routinely took his Chevy Berreta out for joyrides on the highway @ 2am. He bragged about how fast he went... I've got more examples if you'd like to hear about them.

Originally posted by moonstrucksoul
what about someone on a cellphone? you gonna shoot them too?

Yes. That's my other overwhelming hatred. Drive the fucking car and put down the fucking phone.

[idiono]

I'll admit I've only read about half the posts in this thread so far, but the general trend I see is that those who are opposed to marijuana use definitely don't have all the facts on marijuana to begin with, and probably never have taken the time or had the interest, for that matter, to become better educated. Yet at the same time I see that proponents of pot smoking could use a little help too. On that note, I'll throw a link out there for everyone to check out. It is a list of facts about marijuana that are documented and cited, and while that doesn't mean it's bulletproof, it carries more weight than a "well I heard.." statistic. I'm willing to bet some of the facts on there will surprise you, whether you smoke weed or not. In any case, I urge everyone on both sides of this controversial issue to take a couple minutes to check it out, and maybe even take some time to click a couple other links on there or to look up more info on this fascinating topic. Turning your back on an issue like this only furthers ignorance, so let's get reading people!

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/marijuan.htm

[kl0pper]

Originally posted by tritium
Not the potsmokers I know of. I knew a guy named Jon that routinely took his Chevy Berreta out for joyrides on the highway @ 2am. He bragged about how fast he went... I've got more examples if you'd like to hear about them.

what does that have to do with pot?

[moonstrucksoul]

Originally posted by Muffin Ass
weed is so good it makes me real horny but i dont get it that often

weed or sex?

[stevie667]

When examining the relationship between marijuana use and violent crime, the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse concluded, "Rather than inducing violent or aggressive behavior through its purported effects of lowering inhibitions, weakening impulse control and heightening aggressive tendencies, marihuana was usually found to inhibit the expression of aggressive impulses by pacifying the user, interfering with muscular coordination, reducing psychomotor activities and generally producing states of drowsiness lethargy, timidity and passivity."

i do have to agree with that link, definatly has the thing nailed on the head. Cannabis is the drug least likely to cause any type of crime while your high, and unless your very badly addicted, or in some serious shit with your dealer, you unlikely to turn to crime to fund it.

[crow_daw]

Well, I've smoked weed, and yeah, I loved it. I also love drinking.
But I've only been high twice in my life. I do it very very rarely, obviously. But I do have friends who get fucked up all the time. Quite a few of em, and I can't say that I'm overly proud of any of them. Their actions and decisions are what keep me from becoming a veritable pothead myself. It quells all desire to smoke weed for me.

When examining the relationship between marijuana use and violent crime, the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse concluded, "Rather than inducing violent or aggressive behavior through its purported effects of lowering inhibitions, weakening impulse control and heightening aggressive tendencies, marihuana was usually found to inhibit the expression of aggressive impulses by pacifying the user, interfering with muscular coordination, reducing psychomotor activities and generally producing states of drowsiness lethargy, timidity and passivity."

Source: Shafer, Raymond P., et al, Marihuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding, Ch. III, (Washington DC: National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, 1972).

Why is there an 'H' instead of a 'J'?.................

[Mondak]

A Canadian pot activist? No way!!!

I suppose that is unfair, but I can tell you I am a bit bitter at pot. I have seen so may people ruin their lives on this "non-addictive" drug that I can't stand it.

A couple puffs here and there is a slightly different, but so many times the motivation ( which sometimes is the only real motivation I ever see in these folks ) to be passionate enough to start a thread like this is the only real motivation I ever see.

IC3 - we all clearly like you here and like having you around. I think the reason that you have heard some of the responses you have is that we don't want another person we like go down the tubes and disappear. I honestly think that the folks here on the TFP care. You have seen other threads on what we think about you so I ask you to take a few silent minutes to really reflect on something. Close the door, turn off the lights if you have to and just ask a couple of silent questions.

Why do you feel so passionitly about pot? How would your life be without it? What motivation does someone like me have for asking you to think about these things?

Give it a shot. There is a reason that you feel as strongly as you do. What is behind that reason?

We don't know each other THAT well at this point, but I can tell you I am not some Religious wacko and I really don't want government making ANY decisions for us - pot included. . .

[brinkn1]

Originally posted by twotimesadingo
Nope. Don't ever plan to. And I'll still tell you that it screws you up. Why? Because medical studies show that it negatively impacts brain cells. There's controversy as to whether the brain cells are killed, whether they are put to sleep for such a length of time as to suffer from atrophy and die, or whether they are merely affected for a shorter span of time. But nevertheless, brain cells are affected. I would call that "screw[ing] you up."

With all due respect Twotimesadingo, I would like to see who published the studies claiming the above? I have read countless studies on Marijuana use and none from any credible source has ever attributed marijuana use to anything more than <i>POSSIBLE</i> short term memory loss.

I myself have been smoking since 8th grade summer. I graduated at the top of my class in high school, got 1410 on my SATs, was captain of my math & science teams, won state in science team FOUR times & went to a very respectable college. I know, I know, I sound full of myself. I just want to illustrate that marijuana has not changed my mental capacity or made me retarded.

Also, I've met far more stupid people who DON'T smoke pot, than stupid people who do. Though if you ask me 98% percent of people out there are freaking morons.

Originally posted by sixate
[B]One way we can find out who's right. If weed does increase levels of estrogen, which would give a man more feminine features, you will have man tits in a few years if you don't already. Check back to me when you're 30 if I'm not already right, and I'll shut the fuck up if I'm wrong. Is that a deal? [B]

Sixate I've been smoking for 8 years and I don't have man-tits.

Originally posted by mattevil
my mom's hooked on the shit. You can go on and on about how it's not addictive and such I don't care fact is my mom can't quit even with treatment,my whole family lovingly encouraging her to do so, and finally threat of divorce and me and my brother pretty much disowning her. She went 1 whole month clean and the day after she got her AA chip I caught her smoking in the garage. She's smoked to the point where she has crashed two cars and reverted to being physically and mentally abusive (I suspect pot has precipitated bipolar disorder in her). Evidently she's been smoking for years but only recently has it really gotten bad(she's 50 so menopause has also not helped the matter).

Mattevil, I hate to sound insensitive, but pot is NOT the root of your mother's problems. She obviously has a psychological disorder/chemical imbalance. You <i>could</i> try to attribute that to marijuana use, but the fact is that millions of people have psychological disorders, and while I don't have numbers for you, I'd be willing to put money on the idea that a LARGE number of them don't use any drugs whatsoever.

Anyways, hope I didn't offend anyone, but I had to put in my 2 cents.

[tritium]

Originally posted by kl0pper
what does that have to do with pot?

Read the rest of the thread ...

[Luki]

Originally posted by IC3
I love how people who don't smoke Marijuana can say how addicting it is and how it screws you up.

Have you ever smoked Marijuana? (And I don't care about how screwed up your pothead friends are, I am asking you)

Do you even know what the effects are of being high from Marijuana?

It is not physically addictive, You don't crave it like you do a smoke....I don't anyways. I smoke it cause I love the high you get from it.

Don't bitch about people who smoke Marijuana cause it's illegal. I bet the majority of this board who doesn't do drugs or drink...Or do anything Illegal, Still download MP3's. Don't say that's different, Cause Illegal is Illegal.
I have been smoking since I was about 16 or 17..I am 25 now. I graduated from high school, Got a full time job, I now own my car...Have a few other things that I worked hard to get.

But every pot head is a loser, Lazy, No motivation etc etc.

Don't judge every smoker the same way as you judge your friends that smoke.

Gotta go to work, I am anxious to see what kind of reply's I am going to have when I get home.

I have posted against pot on TFP before, and I don't judge others for their pot usage, but my mother was in a state a few years ago that involved a horrible cycle of drugs alcohol and men. I was very mad to find that she has slowly begun to slip back into that. The drugs and alcohol wouldn't be so bad if she didn't abuse them like she does now.

I've said before that I don't care what others do(drugs/alcohol) as long as it doesn't effect me. I personally have not tried it, and I don't find it tempting or inticing so I have no need or want to do so.

I make no judgements on anyone about this topic unless they are my friend and it has begun to rule their lives, otherwise, it's not really hurting anyone.

As for the mp3 comment, I don't do that either....

[moonstrucksoul]

Originally posted by tritium
Yes. That's my other overwhelming hatred. Drive the fucking car and put down the fucking phone.

ok, as long as we are clear on your rage

[mikec]

heh, dayum, opinions are like assholes.....and of course I'll give mine hehe.

everything is a shade of grey. for every responsible drinker, there's a drunk who beats his wife. for every person who likes to partake in a little coke a couple times a year, there's a cheesehead who just drained his family's bank account. for every person who smokes pot and is cool with it, there's some loser who, blah blah blah.

bottom line I think is, people are people, and they're gonna be good or bad regardless of which poison they choose or have in front of them. Some people are just scum, no matter what you do, but does that mean the good people who handle their shit shouldn't be able to partake? Not in my opinion.

I'm almost 30 years old, been smoking buds since I was 18, college educated, married, kids, home, cars, great job, side business, computer geek, etc etc. Drugs haven't negatively affected my life, but I know a lot of people who have been negatively affected. Their personalities couldn't handle it.

One thing that does piss me off though, is alcohol and drug rehab. Why? Cause we're paying for it, through tax dollars. My stepfather is a vietnam vet, and at the Vets hospital, they cleared out the 8th floor of guys who fought for their country, to help out 20 year old heroin addicts. That shit pissed me the fuck off. Want some help ya heroin junkie? Here's a gun and a bullet, aim at head, pull trigger.

Oh, one last thing....anytime I've driven under the influence of marijuana, it has been a good thing, and not because I'm "paranoid" ya knuckleheads, but because instead of being all fired up to get where I'm going, and getting all pissed about sitting in a row of unmoving cars (traffic here is a bitch!!), it's like, oh well, I'll get there when I get there. If I had to choose between booze and buds, I'd take buds in a heartbeat. Alcohol in my eyes is the worst product on the market, responsible for more family trouble and deaths than anything else in this country.

thanks for reading my 2 cents

[izzzzy]

daily smoker thirty five years.