Marijuana - Advice?

[The_root_of_all_evil]

The problem with weed comes down to
a) It's being smoked.
b) It's classed as undesirable.

There's also "c) It turns you into a total slob" but that's something that passes as it's "addictive factor". It's not addictive and it's got a lower toxicity than most drugs.

Smoking has been jumped on recently for "RELEASING CANCER INTO THE AIR" where it's just that it smells (one of our major warning senses) and it gets you high (which always brings out the moral guardians).

The undesirability follows from that and Reefer Madness [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefer_Madness].

The real, and most powerful danger, of marijuana is that it forces you to look at yourself and your environment - and usually you find it lacking. BUT...the depressant stops you doing anything about it. And the reason you're doing weed in the first place? The Environment.

Hence why the less stressful places (Not Aus/UK/US) don't do it as much.

So you get trapped in a cycle of hating yourself. Similarly with no exercise.

Not for me - I tend to work better when stressed - but I can fully understand why some people use it; and as a natural painkiller, it's second to none.

 

[Occam]

It's been in my experience that people who smoke pot are generally not the kind of people I would want to hang out with. Sure they still show up for work, and they still do their jobs, but give it a couple hours to sober up and they're different people. You really can't convince me it's not addictive when they -have- to come in at least a little high and when they sober up they get irritable like they haven't had their nicotine/caffeine fix in a while.

From my perspective it's a sign of weakness.

And in the interest of full disclosure, I'm addicted to caffeine and take -prescription- medication monitored by a -doctor- to level out my angry tendencies.

 

[BakedAlaskan]

As a regular stoner for many years, I find it more upsetting that many of you still can't spell and write properly. I dont see myself as a sack of shit sitting there all day, I have never been out of work in my life. As for the OP, try it or dont, no forum is going to change your mind. Point is, weed doesnt make you stupid, some stupid people smoke weed. Many also write comments in forums about why they hate/fear weed, but honestly, I am more upset by how thick and useless some people are WITHOUT smoking it!

 

[Devil's Due]

Okey, this is coming from a regular marijuana smoker... It is not bad for you. Marijuana has only shown good qualities (I am not talking about excessive use here) with no negative impacts. However, since it has been an integral part in our culture for so long many people have a very negative view on drugs overall.

This is the biggest amount of lies I've heard someone say that wasn't from a political person.

Hi folks, I have a huge problem with weed...

You should, and rightly so. Not because of the reason why it was illegal in the first place in the 1800's (it was a stupid reason at that time), but it turned out to be a good thing. Weed is NOT healthy for you, and in fact, very dangerous. Don't believe me? Look at all the data I've collected from Universities in Australia, United States of America, England, New Zealand, Canada, etc. Don't take any users experience, nor those of a non-user. Take the cold, hard medical facts from all that world that has shown it is bad for you

Spoiler: My evidence. Warning: Large read.

Cannabis Use and Fatal Car Crashes - TRUE



(Deadly Drugged Driving: Drug Use Tied to Fatal Car Crashes)http://www.jsad.com/jsad/article/Drug_and_Alcohol_Involvement_in_Four_Types_of_Fatal_Crashes_OPEN_ACCESS/4590.html

BMJ-British Medical Journal. "Cannabis Almost Doubles Risk Of Fatal Crashes." ScienceDaily, 5 Dec. 2005. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051205115540.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cannabis Use and Cancer - SMOKING: TRUE, INJESTING: FALSE



(Cannabis Use and Risk of Lung Cancer)
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/31/2/280.full?sid=55ff48fe-ccaf-4469-b1dc-9ec4f86fc407

American Chemical Society. "Marijuana Damages DNA And May Cause Cancer, New Test Reveals." ScienceDaily, 15 Jun. 2009. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090615095940.htm

American Chemical Society. "Marijuana Smoke Contains Higher Levels Of Certain Toxins Than Tobacco Smoke." ScienceDaily, 17 Dec. 2007. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071217110328.htm

American Chemical Society. "Growing Evidence Of Marijuana Smoke's Potential Dangers." ScienceDaily, 5 Aug. 2009. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090805110741.htm

Wiley-Blackwell. "How cannabis suppresses immune functions: Cannabis compounds found to trigger unique immune cells which promote cancer growth." ScienceDaily, 24 Nov. 2010. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101124214728.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cannabis Use and Respiratory Problems - TRUE



FOR
Yale University. "Long-term Marijuana Smoking Leads To Respiratory Complaints." ScienceDaily, 12 Feb. 2007. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070212184119.htm

American Thoracic Society. "Marijuana Worsens COPD Symptoms In Current Cigarette Smokers." ScienceDaily, 21 May 2007. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521145539.htm

(Growing Evidence Of Marijuana Smoke's Potential Dangers)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090805110741.htm
AND
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/tx9000286

(Marijuana Smoking Increases Risk Of COPD For Tobacco Smokers)
http://www.cmaj.ca/content/180/8/814

BMJ Specialty Journals. "Impact On Lungs Of One Cannabis Joint Equal To Up To Five Cigarettes." ScienceDaily, 31 Jul. 2007. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070731085550.htm

AGAINST
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cannabis and Physcotic Illnesses - TRUE



FOR
Cardiff University. "Cannabis Could Increase Risks Of Psychotic Illness By 40 Percent." ScienceDaily, 31 Jul. 2007. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070731125526.htm

McGill University Health Centre. "Cannabis damages young brains more than originally thought, study finds." ScienceDaily, 17 Dec. 2009. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091217115834.htm

BMJ-British Medical Journal. "Cannabis use precedes the onset of psychotic symptoms in young people, study finds." ScienceDaily, 1 Mar. 2011. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301184056.htm

University of Cincinnati. "Marijuana Use Takes Toll On Adolescent Brain Function, Research Finds." ScienceDaily, 14 Oct. 2008. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014111156.htm

(Cannabis Use and Earlier Onset of Psychosis)
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/68/6/555

(Long-Time Cannabis Use Associated With Psychosis)
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/2010.6


AGAINST
Wiley-Blackwell. "Minimal Relationship Between Cannabis And Schizophrenia Or Psychosis, Suggested By New Study." ScienceDaily, 22 Oct. 2009. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091022101538.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cannabis Use and Memory Issues - TRUE



FOR
(Long-Term Cannabis Users May Have Structural Brain Abnormalities)
http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/65/6/694

Nature Medicine. "How Marijuana Causes Memory Deficits." ScienceDaily, 3 Aug. 2009. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803123240.htm
OR
http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v12/n9/full/nn.2369.html

Society for Neuroscience. "Human study shows greater cognitive deficits in marijuana users who start young." ScienceDaily, 16 Nov. 2010. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101116104202.htm


AGAINST
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cannabis Use and Sexual Dysfunction - CONFLICTED



Queen's University. "Cannabis use may worsen sexual dysfunction, rat study suggests." ScienceDaily, 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110222122212.htm

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cannabis Use and "Gateway Drug" - FALSE



University of New Hampshire. "Risk of marijuana's 'gateway effect' overblown, new research shows." ScienceDaily, 2 Sep. 2010. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100902073507.htm

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "No 'Smoking' Gun: Research Indicates Teen Marijuana Use Does Not Predict Drug, Alcohol Abuse." ScienceDaily, 4 Dec. 2006. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061204123422.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cannabis Useage Afffect's Multiple Sclerosis Users Negatively - TRUE



American Academy of Neurology. "Smoking Marijuana Impairs Cognitive Function In MS Patients, Study Shows." ScienceDaily, 13 Feb. 2008. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080213160851.htm

(Marijuana Use May Hurt Intellectual Skills in Multiple Sclerosis Patients)
http://www.neurology.org/content/76/13/1153

Seriously, the fact that people refuse to look at facts and just believe "I haven't gotten cancer yet!" mentality is just shocking. It's practically like those in the pre-1990's who didn't know that smoking caused so much cancer and death and did it all the time. People need to wake up. It's not you should be fearful of the law, or the social rejection you'll get for it, but the fact that you're putting your life in harms way for ignorance.

Marijuana is bad for you. Stay away from it.

 

[Treefingers]

A year later I slapped myself with a fish and decided what was right and wrong on my own.

I agree with this guy. You should slap yourself with a fish.

 

[yookiwooki]

19 years of people drilling it into your head that 'weed is bad because weed is bad' is hard to get around. Similarly, I was raised in Catholic school, and while I now have completely rejected all belief in the supernatural, and stand against a lot of what the church says (homophobia, abstinence) I still feel a lot of guilt for things I do that go against what the church told me to do.

I suggest learning more about the reasons why marijuana was made illegal in the first place. When you find out how much deception, bigotry, and greed went into making it illegal and keeping it illegal, I'm sure you will feel better about the people who use it.

Here are some facts about it: (Take this with a grain of salt and do your own research. I'm not a historian, political scientist, or a lawyer)

1)In first half of the 20th century weed prohibition was a way for southern law enforcement to incarcerate the black and hispanic population and remove these 'undesirables' from the community.

2)Hemp, a cousin of weed that dosen't make you high, was also make illegal by politicians receiving financial 'campaign support' from the paper industry, who didn't want the competition. It is still illegal.

3)Harsh drug laws are a good way of keeping prison populations high, and privately owned prisons are one of the fastest growing industries in the USA. Again, lots of money going to politicians for 'campaign support.'

4)In the 1970s, drug prohibition was used to persecute anti-war activists. Like point 1) but substitute blacks/hispanics with hippies.

5)Drug testing is a very profitable industry because many, many government jobs, or government sponsored projects require it. Again, 'campaign contributions' keep it this way.

 

[Jacklin]

make sure you have some junk food around you and friends at a party

otherwise continue to be a beta neckbeard loser

 

[MaxwellEdison]

Most people I know are like that because they use the law to judge what's right in some slight subconscious way.

Realize that you disagree with the law here, and make an effort to think your morality through I suppose.

 

[MrLlamaLlama]

In the same way I believe I should be able to smoke weed in my own house without fear of prosecution, I believe you should have the right to your reservations about weed, or any drug. People can throw legalisation arguments around all day, but it doesn't matter if you still don't agree, legal or not. If I don't want to do something I won't, regardless of it's legality.

And, for the love of the holy mother of Jesus Christ do not smoke weed. This is not a generalisation - anyone else is free to do as they please. The tension I predict you will experience will just further deepen your resentment for drugs and amplify the negative aspects of your relationship. When you smoke weed, and a notion of paranoia sets into your brain without you dispelling it, it can get incredibly horrible. I got it when I was 15 or whatever when I first took it, and I've had it a bit more recently than that (now 20).

Tldr: As equally as people are saying you should be open to other's amicability (is that a word?) with marijuana, they should be open to your... de-amicability?

 

[justnotcricket]

It's the *smoking* part that gets me.

Taking it in pill form for an illness? Fine.

Smoking is gross and poisons the smoker and everyone around them. If someone enjoys smoking weed away from others who don't, I have no problem with it (up until the point where they render themselves a medical or psychiatric burden on the taxpayer, I suppose). If they inescapably pollute my environment with it, I dislike them and their selfish, toxic habit very much. I don't care which is 'worse' (tobacco or weed) - they're both disgusting and can stay the hell away from me.

Stick to your guns - you don't have to like it - but respect people who are indulging in their habit in a way that doesn't negatively affect others. As for the situation with your girlfriend, stop being paranoid. If you've asked her to stop, and she says she has stopped, then you should either take her word for it (and be pleased that your girlfriend cares enough about your views to stop) and move on, or separate from her before the paranoia destroys your relationship.

Sorry if I've been a bit blunt in this post =P

 

[Pharsalus]

Interesting perspective. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with the stuff. I like doing it, satisfying the urge to gratify myself, but I'm not always thrilled when I'm on it, and I can look at a good sized list of bad events in my life that were direct consequences of using. Don't do it, it's not the be all end all of fun, but as far as things to be addicted to it really is a little healthier than the legal alternatives.

 

[The_Echo]

snip

I've got a similar problem.

I was generally indifferent on the whole thing. I mean, I thought it was gross, and I generally didn't want myself around it for various societal reasons, like its illegality, but in concept it wasn't a big deal to me.

But then, the first time I was ever in proximity to [a very small amount of] weed, I just froze up. I was with a girl at the time, who smoked, and we were at her friend's house. The only thing that kept me from straight-up legging it was that she had left her jacket at my house, so she would have to come back and that conversation would have been a little weird. When I say 'froze up,' I mean gone. I couldn't even think, let alone speak or move. I don't know what happened.

Anyway, my advice to you is... I don't really know. I've just sort of embraced this facet of myself. I can't really tell you how else to work it out.

 

[wolf92]

If it's not your think, then it's not your thing. No need to really explain it

 

[mooncalf]

So you're squicked by it! An emotional reaction you recognise as being seperate from logic and reason. Fair enough, dude, I dunno if you even have a problem, I mean if you can already draw the line between what you feel and what you know, that's pretty well adjusted. It's okay to have personal tastes, you don't have to like it.

 

[TakeyB0y2]

Here's a 100% legitimate reason for you NOT to do weed. It's an end-all-arguments, universal reason that will work no matter what the other person's argument is:

It's illegal.

There you have it. Even if your friends might not have gotten in trouble with it, who knows. Maybe the law might catch on to you in some way or another. Not wanting to have to face legal ramifications is a perfect and most definitely understandable reason. Because honestly, who wants a criminal record, right? It's already hard enough to find a damn job these days, why tack on another hurdle.

 

[Treblaine]

Quite frankly... weed is old Fashioned. My parents smoked weed, hell even my Granddad smoked weed back in the 1960's and if I have to hear again about how you "had to be there to understand" makes me think it's like a joke that was never really funny for the reasons people like to admit.

And as with all things old fashioned, we have taken it too far. Weed seem to be mutating from a casual soft drug into a hard drug. These chronic and skunk varieties defeat the purpose of what weed is SUPPOSED to be about, like how you'd enjoy a perfectly chilled beer you might enjoy a spliff. But this endless drive for stronger and stronger varieties regardless of the blend or aroma just shows what weed smoking is today:

Just another Drug Habit.

It's nothing but the pursuit of empty and meaningless highs, they're not different from kids sniffing glue.

So it was my parents catty enthusiasm for the doobie in contrast with the way it's used today has completely turned me off. To spite how liberal the police are with it I want it about as much as I want to dress like this guy:

God damn hippies. Now THEY know how to ruin people's fun! The truth is THEY are the man now.

 

[brainslurper]

The only thing that bothers me is when people start saying how it isn't bad for you and stuff. It isn't as addictive as tobacco, but YOU ARE STILL BREATHING SMOKE INTO YOUR LUNGS!

 

[isometry]

Here's a 100% legitimate reason for you NOT to do weed. It's an end-all-arguments, universal reason that will work no matter what the other person's argument is:

It's illegal.

There you have it. Even if your friends might not have gotten in trouble with it, who knows. Maybe the law might catch on to you in some way or another. Not wanting to have to face legal ramifications is a perfect and most definitely understandable reason. Because honestly, who wants a criminal record, right? It's already hard enough to find a damn job these days, why tack on another hurdle.

Laws on the books are not a substitute for a legitimate argument. Unless you think, for example, appealing to segregation laws in the 1950s would have been a "100% legitimate" excuse for racism.

Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying "If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so." Indeed if a man cannot support his views by any other way than appealing to laws, then he is not only logically bankrupt, but has failed in his basic human obligation to do justice.

 

[brainslurper]

The only thing that bothers me is when people start saying how it isn't bad for you and stuff. It isn't as addictive as tobacco, but YOU ARE STILL BREATHING SMOKE INTO YOUR LUNGS!

exactly. any type of smoke in your lungs is bad. plus, weed is addictive. i forgot what study it was but i believe it said there is a 14% chance to become addicted to weed.

so in order for weed to be said non-addictive then it has to be 0%

NO MAN THE SMOKE WASHES OUT ALL THE BAD VIBES MAN PUT THERE BY THE CORPORATIONN

 

[Treblaine]

Here's a 100% legitimate reason for you NOT to do weed. It's an end-all-arguments, universal reason that will work no matter what the other person's argument is:

It's illegal.

That argument only works for people who never ever, not-ever, break the law.

That includes piracy, littering, libel, riding a bicycle on the pavement, drinking while driving (I don't mean drunk, I means sipping coffee from a mug while driving). And even cyberbullying which is in fact a crime now in so many jurisdictions to spite it being broad enough to include trolling. Even failing to wear a seatbelt or driving a car while allowing a passenger to not wear a seatbelt.

And it's undermined even more by how in so many jurisdictions the use and consumption of Cannabis has actually been decriminalised, it is a controlled substance but it is not a crime to have some on your possession. It will be confiscated unless it is such a quantity to indicate you are a dealer. So there isn't actually a legal reason to avoid weed. Not to mention how in California you can legally obtain weed by complaining to doctors, etc.

And of course, not all laws are right just because they are law. It used to be a crime to help a slave escape from their master, the law is clearly wrong there and is it really an argument to turn an escaped slave over to the authorities just because the law says so?

The legal angle is I'm afraid not a rock-solid basis for abstinence. Especially for a crime that can be so minor and is so hard to detect.