Wired Explains the Science of a Paranoid High

[SoyChemist]

In the January issue of Neuropharmacology, which happens to have a marijuana theme, two teams of researchers tried to explain what causes some people to feel relaxed when they smoke weed while others get a paranoid high.

Wired has explained those articles. Check it out!

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/01/chem-lab-the-sc.html

Do you think that there is something in bad weed that causes paranoia and does good weed not have that stuff?

[Purple Banana]

I think a chemical sensitivity definately has something to do with it- people react different ways when they're stoned; other strains can cause completely different effects, so it makes sense that someone can have a higher ratio of paranoia to THC/CBD distribution in the body.

[jimmy8778]

i think it does all just depend on how much thc you get really, cause i think that being paranoid all depends on your mindset before smoking, then you are always a little paranoid, but it isnt noticeable due to the overwhelming feelings and sensations you get, but the more you smoke, the more paranoid you get, and the good feelings and such sort of plateau at a certain point, and the body is naturally supposed to be able to deal with high amounts of stress, but when high you cause more stress upon yourself thusly causing paranoia to set in.

i think the most paranoid ive ever been was a few days ago, some friends and i were taking bong rips, and we finished, then 10 minutes later we do some more hits, and before i knew it i was freaking out, though i was calm going into smoking, so i acted calm, but i got lockjaw, and i just sat around for 3 hours not saying anything, then i started to analyze everything and the role they play in the smoking scene and labeled everyone, but i calmed myself because i knew everything was ok, and i was prepared before smoking.

[McLeodGanja]

Do you think that there is something in bad weed that causes paranoia and does good weed not have that stuff?

I think so. This is why I generally only smoke hash, or occasionally purps. I find the skunks that are around these days do make me a little paranoid.

I think also the political climate today doesn't help either, criminalising people for smoking it, branding us as pariahs.

I'll check that article later.

[poseidon]

Marijuana is a psychedelic drug and I think like most other 'psychedelics' the set and setting theory should apply nicely, though I've never tested it with Marijuana, it did work with stronger psychedelics..

For those of you who don't know what set and setting is, I'd suggest Set and setting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_and_setting) , or google maybe?

[SoyChemist]

You are probably right about setting. One of the papers that the Wired article links to talks about the importance of good lighting.

The article made it to digg!
Digg - Scientists now Understand How Weed Causes Paranoia (http://digg.com/general_sciences/Scientists_now_Understand_How_Weed_Causes_Paranoia )

[.fortune]

im sometimes paranoid driving around even when im not high.

If you followed through my daily drive you'd think i had a couple pounds on me, all signalling and always limit or sometimes 5 under if I got some on me.

A 92 Camaro does stand out tho, so Ive got my reasons for being paranoid...