Why do people say "Wait until you're 18"

[IplayWoW]

I don't understand why people say "Wait until you're 18 to smoke weed, so your brain develops." That doesn't make any sense, your brain isn't fully developed until you're 25. I'm 16, I toke, and I still get A's in school.

[dutch.lover]

I don't agree with the development part, but I agree with the waiting til 18 part (altho i started smoking when i was only 16, almost 17). My reason is that MOST people start doing drugs, or smoking, or drinking or whatever as a result of their peers and NOT because they made a conscious, informed decision to do it. I believe that at the age of 17 or 18 most people are sensible enough to decide the risks/benefits for themselves, and act accordingly. I know this doesn't apply to everyone, some ppl mature early and others late, but in general i think my point is pretty valid.

The brain development shit is bullshit IMO tho. Your brain doesn't fully develop until you are 25 correct, but after that it deteriorates. Mention that next time someone tells you the "wait until you're 18..." shit. Say, "well if you think weed wrecks your brain, you think it's a good idea to enhance it's deterioration?!"

[harris7]

WEll yes, it stops developing when your 25.

But whats more important is that there is No reason to think cannabis or THC affects this development. Some drugs do and some drugs don’t. I believe studies need to be done.

But currently playing it safe isn’t a bad idea. But we must realize that THC is mimicking a naturally occurring substance in our brains. Unlike Caffeine and alcohol or even Tylenol but no one seems to care if that effects your development

[BobBong]

Well...

consider how much you develop from 16-19.. then from 19-25.. which would make more of an impact on your life if something was unknowingly misunderstood, possibly even abused. Same reason there are "legal" ages for alcohol and tobacco as well.

Kids abuse things...

Bob.

[dutch.lover]

Good point Harris, about THC mimicking a natural brain chemical. The shit parents make/cause/let kids consume (ie macdonalds, caffeine, medicine, RITALIN is a huge one it's totally abused by lazy parents wanting to control their kids the easy way) is probably WAY worse than anything cannabis could ever do. More studies do need to be done tho.

[IplayWoW]

I'm 16, and only smoke a couple times a month, so not all kids abuse. Also, I looked up quite a bit of information on the health risks of marijuana before I tried it. I refuse to knowingly consume any substance that is chemically/physically addictive. I saw that it doesn't cause lung cancer and such like tobacco. Also I saw that it's never been a direct cause of death, so I tried it and haven't had any problems with anything related to it since.

[MotleyCrueBoy24]

I'm 16 aswell. I made a concious informed decision to start smoking. No one offered me a joint. I was simply a huge rock and roll and country rock fan. I realized that it was a huge part of the culture and that I would research effects and the health issues. And obviously I found out the truth. And here I am.

[dutch.lover]

I hope I didn't offend you two last posters. Like I said, I was generalizing. I applaud you for actually following thru and researching cannabis while/before using it. More people need to be as critical and informed as you two!!

[harris7]

Well...

consider how much you develop from 16-19.. then from 19-25.. which would make more of an impact on your life if something was unknowingly misunderstood, possibly even abused. Same reason there are "legal" ages for alcohol and tobacco as well.

Kids abuse things...

Bob.

Generally things that are only for us 19+ people. Arenâ??t for our own good, Iâ??ts because old people donâ??t like the thought of it.
Sex, porn, booze, tobacco.

Alcohol isnâ??t under nearly such strict regulation in Europe and guess what, there is much less abuse.

Tobacco is 19+ because no rational person would smoke. Honestly.
It is thought that kids arenâ??t rational, I agree, and will smoke to â??fit inâ?� and so on.
Virtually no one starts smoking after 19.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

they say that because it's politically correct to say that.

nobody wants to give weed to a kid, it's like drinking while you're pregnant. "it PROBABLY won't do anything... but it COULD" kind of thing.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

Virtually no one starts smoking after 19.

I started smoking both tobacco and marijuana at the age of 26.

[Nailhead]

I think it mostly has to do with how society, (at least American society), has grown this thought that people become adults on their 18th birthday, so important decisions should wait for that date. I mean you will have people that throw a sh*t fit if a 17 year old is smoking a cig, as if a year is really going to make much of a difference!

Drugs, alcohol, and sex are never good for someone who is too immature to deal with those things, and because we have been formed to assume people become adults instantaniously on their 18th birthday I think that's why most people say "wait till you're 18 for that".

The only word of caution I'd have is to make sure you don't get side tracked on your goals in life. I'm not blaming mary j for my bad choices in life, but I'm just saying it can make you lazy and if you notice you are caring less and less about your dreams and goals, that is a red flag. At 16 your primary concern should be your future and school, so don't let MJ, or anything else get in the way of that!

[Stoner Shadow Wolf]

i was stupid enough to wait till i was 18...


see, i was still filled with the misinformation of D.A.R.E. and very leery of anything, even aspirin (still hate aspirin), i turned down about 3 or 4 opportunities from the time i was 13, till 18.


long story short, depression led to marijuana.


it helpped, still helps, but damn, i cant stand running out! >.<

[keeko]

the very first time i smoked was my 18th bday, im happy i waited. Mainly because i fell in love with this plant, im sure if i smoked before then i would not have made it out of high school.

[LIP]

I started when i wa 11.

I supose i've always been more mature than other people my age because im an only child and i grew up with adults all around me.

But smoking it didnt make any differnce to my brain, im not stupid, im not paranoid, im not depressed. Im fine.

I dont see how THC and other cannabinols which we have in our brains naturally anyway can cause it to develop slower or differntly to anyone else.

I'd say the age of maturity is 16, by then i'd expect people to be mature enough, although as dutchlover said, that doesnt apply for everyone.

Im glad i started young, im proud of it too.

[mad_nat]

i never actually heard that one before and i started smoking the stuff when i was 15 and loads of people knew.but i remember being told once that even if you smoke weed at 16 once or twice it can really fuck up your brain because its not fully delvopped, never laughed so hard in my life what a load of bull, well am 18 now and i dont seem fucked up to me. As some were talking about people being persuded into doing it most of my lot didrnt smoke it, i did it because i wanted to see what it was like and plus if you tell someone to wait till your 18 or not to do it thats just gonna make people do it more. (not thats its a bad thing to smoke weed at all.)

[LIP]

i never actually heard that one before and i started smoking the stuff when i was 15 and loads of people knew.but i remember being told once that even if you smoke weed at 16 once or twice it can really fuck up your brain because its not fully delvopped, never laughed so hard in my life what a load of bull, well am 18 now and i dont seem fucked up to me. As some were talking about people being persuded into doing it most of my lot didrnt smoke it, i did it because i wanted to see what it was like and plus if you tell someone to wait till your 18 or not to do it thats just gonna make people do it more. (not thats its a bad thing to smoke weed at all.)


Very true.

That's why there'd be no point giving it a legal age if it was legalised, because lets looks at the facts - Kids DO NOT abide by them, kids are going out drinking and smoking cigs... they'd do the same with cannabis, and really, theres nothing wrong with that.

But preferably, for my kids i'd prefer them to only smoke once they're 16.

[420izzle]

Because I said so! (infamous parent answer)

[mfqr]

Because I said so! (infamous parent answer)

That is the answer I've always hated. I remember dealing with my parents, telling me that. Then once I got fed up with it, I would harass them and demand a reasonable reason why, instead of a blind reason such as "because I said so." Anyway, so I started experimenting with substances when I was 17... first alcohol, then Oxycodone/oxycontin. Then I stopped, because I realized I was getting addicted. After that, on my 18th burfday, me and friends experimented with Salvia. After that got boring and uninteresting, I had my first intercourse with Mary Jane (which wasn't too good of an experience, but I decided to try it again). She was great the second time, and I haven't stopped since (I'm 19 now). They say it's a gateway drug (i know, it's bullshit), but it has actually stopped me from using other drugs--how ironic! I don't think it can actually prematurely stop the brain from developing, but for kids who are too immature to use it, it can obviously cause problems, just like any other substance. Good thing it's not physically addictive. Although some people say psychological addiction is worse--it's not... it's just about self-control. I haven't smoked in nearly 3 weeks now... but of course, that's because my friends have not been able to hook me up as of late. It's ok, though.

The legal age shouldn't really matter, since it's not going to stop anyone who is under that age anyway. Alcohol, however, has its obvious reasons why it has a legal age. In fact, alcohol is a lot harder to get for minors than ganja. Hmm :).

[LIP]

Because i said so is the easy way of identifying a bad parent. They have no reason behind saying no, but by saying because i said so their almost forcing their opinion onto their chidl.

[mfqr]

Because i said so is the easy way of identifying a bad parent. They have no reason behind saying no, but by saying because i said so their almost forcing their opinion onto their chidl.

Agreed. They like to say no because they can, and have no reason to back up their decisions. It's stupid. Why say no when you have no reason to?

[LIP]

Agreed. They like to say no because they can, and have no reason to back up their decisions. It's stupid. Why say no when you have no reason to?

Exactly. It's stupid, and can even result in the kid resenting his/her parents.

If parents are going to say no to something explain to the kid why, so he/she understands and doesnt feel as though he/ shes never allowed anything.

[lazy smoker7]

I dont believe in any of this maturity crap.... I mean i believe if thats what you want to do go ahead and do it well unless u want to go around shooting ppl just for fun.(then i may reccomend telling that person not to do it or other stuff that is just as insane). When I was 11 my friend started smoking Cigs and I didnt smoke with him to be "cool" i even said i didnt want to smoke. But eventually i changed my mind and I was like hey light me up a cig because I want to try it. I simply wanted to and its my life and my free will and no one should try to take that away despite the age. And yes shortly after i started smoking cigs i started smoking cannabis which i actually researched and made a decision to start smoking the herb and i went out and looked for it no one ever offered me to smoke herb. My whole smoking period Ive never smoked to fit in or be cool. I simply just do it because I enjoy it.. ALOT :jointsmile: .. Also I would say about 90 percent of my time smoking cannabis ive blazed alone which shows that i dont smoke to be cool. I do regret ever smoking cigs and I am cutting down on them and pretty much not smoking them any more. But I do not ever regret smoking cannabis. So I believe despite what age you are and if you want to smoke herb go ahead and do it if thats what your truley want to do...

[DusanTafari]

Im 16 and straight up will say i abuse it it so cheap here in southern ontario that i smoke pot every day allt he time but im stopping cause my loungs gurgles and Im now a fuckin moron cause im fried 24/7 and yes I started smoking pot cause my friends did, it wasn't to fit in or be cool. but i've knownt hem my entire life, and when they offered to smoke me a joint I said yes. first offer. not forpeer pressure just cause Im liken that and love to fuckin party !!

[peble]

hey i play WOW to bro!!!!
best playing wow when blazed! specially MC! or ZG, spiders and goloms !!! wooo