Hi there / Question

Hi there!

I just registered and wanted to say hi. I also have a question: please let me know if I should post it elsewhere instead.

I've only been smoking cannabis for a few months (perhaps a dozen times) and am simply blown away. As recently as the night I first tried it, I was strongly anti-pot and would even encourage a friend of mine to quit. I simply had no idea what it was really was. I had always thought it simply killed brain cells, made one euphoric & disoriented, and otherwise bought into all-drugs-are-bad-period type thinking.

This is where I'm confused though, even by those who do smoke cannabis, it is so often described in mundane terms: it's for "relaxation", for "socializing", it makes you hungry, it makes you "feel good"/"euphoric", etc. My experience on the other hand has been almost exclusively mind-blowing.

With the exception of the first time I smoked (I only got a bit giddy that time), My mind races for over and hour, I've experienced profound time-distortion, profound memory changes (memories from my childhood pop randomly into my head while what I was thinking 4-5 seconds ago alludes me), bizarre associations and magical thinking, bursts of creativity, etc. It genuinely feels like a way of viewing the world as different from sobriety as sleeping is from wakefulness; like a secret 3rd state of consciousness. All very positive I might add, but not what I would describe as "euphoric" or simply "good feeling", closer to simply fascinating. I'll also note that I'm never quite able to relate to this feeling days later. Each time is a pleasant surprise.

The stuff I got a week ago also seems especially potent and it's only taken me 3 tokes to get to this point. Then, several days ago, I smoked 2 full bowls quickly and over the next hour ascended to a state of mind I can't even begin to really describe. I passed several distinct sets of feelings beyond what I've described above and ended up having some kind of full blown "trip" (or whatever).

In brief, I felt quite literally as though I were behind my face, looking out on the world through my face - like a mask. I felt disconnected from my body and as though I was physically in my skull (like I'd receded behind my face). All senses except vision were completely gone and I felt as though I could experience senses I had never had before. I don't quite remember what it really felt like anymore (it's like a memory of a memory), but I distinctly recall reminding myself repeatedly as I was coming down of what I had felt and how important it seemed, so I could remember. Lastly, and most importantly, I had an intense sense of self-enlightenment. All the little problems in my life seemed thoroughly trivial, and more, I could really see things about myself I had never recognized before. It felt like a sudden and intense self-actualization. A complete honesty/recognition.

It's been days and I can still feel this sense of self. Many of my old habits and hangups have disappeared and I seem to approach everything with new eyes. Initially I felt like a completely new person. Though this feeling has dimmed somewhat, I still feel as though I've had some kind of brain-reboot.

Now, I would have assumed that if this kind of thing were even possible via cannabis it would be widely known. Yet, I cannot find mention of these kinds of effects anywhere. The closest I've seen is mention of rare "closed eye visuals" which as I said above, seems mundane by comparison. I still wouldn't call this experience "euphoria". I'd associate that more with the feeling of laughing gas at the dentist. This felt more like some kind of nirvana I had no idea was even possible.

I hope this doesn't come across as silly/over-dramatic. I've honestly tried to portray this as it was.

Anyway. I would really appreciate any thoughts you might have. Is this a normal reaction? Why might common descriptions of the effects of cannabis be so mundane? The disparity between my experiences with pot and what I've read and heard from others is starting to really weird me out....

Thanks!

Welcome to the Board, personnally the only comment I can really add is to try diffrent strains. When I want to just kick back watch tv I stick to the Indica starins, when I want do yard work or work around the house I smoke Sativa. I smoke majority now for the pain I, but when I was younger it was more a social thing. I also was very naive about weed, so started reading more & watching documenties about it. I really liked The Union, Super High Me, a/k/a Tommy Chong to name a few.

... you sound like you're describing some of my initial forays into the wonderful universe of Delta-9-tetrahydracannabinol!

I used to love the 'high' that I got from some of the earlier trips I took, and though I have no doubt that you and I have visited different 'universes' whilst tripping, we've probably moved thru a few of the same ones, too ;)

I would label what you're feeling as euphoria / elation, but I know how inadequate those words can be to describe that feeling. If I could only offer one caution (if there is /any/ to offer at all)... there is an old paradox between those who smoke 'socially / lightly', and those one might call 'chronic'...

Every non-chronic doobie smoker aspires to be 'chronic' some day, able to sit down with Willie Nelson and smoke without going under the table...

...and every chronic wishes the hell that they weren't. Trust me on this.

I went from doing it occasionally, socially, to doing it regularly (but at normal levels), to using it for pain, daily. Somewhere along the line, my tolerance to it reached Chronicus Maximus levels, and so, the unfortunate side effect is that I can not really get 'high' anymore. Even if I stop smoking for a little while (usually because of financial constraint), after that first or second doob 'back', my tolerance reasserts itself quickly. I still feel the elation and calm and peace, but I don't know if I will ever see the 'other universes' again... but I would agree that it enhances creativity (especially for art/music)...

I have a bit of a theory on the 'erb, though, that it is a sacrament from G0D, and one that can bring a person to enlightenment (or at least a box o' twinkies)... The 'Nirvana' you mention is something that I still 'get', no matter how high my tolerance is, and so I continue to pursue the path... and yes, I agree that it can be a life-changing sacrament!

Just look up the personal account of Barry Cooper (Kopbusters), who used to be one of the best Narcs out there! His own transformation began when he started unwinding with his girlfriend, smoking the weed that he used to bust people for. And then, somewhere, he gained enlightenment....

Please keep sharing your thoughts! And try to write a journal of some of your more exotic 'trips'!

Hope to see you around more!

Thanks for your responses!

@Budluv
I suppose I've only had two kinds of pot thus-far, so you are probably right. The first one I had was very similar just far less potent and was more relaxing and physically numbing. The pot I have now is stronger and almost 'not relaxing' really. I can feel the waves of warmth physically, ...but otherwise it's exclusively mental.

@Covert
Thanks for confirming that I'm not crazy! :)

I totally see what you mean about it being a sacrament. I do believe I remember telling a friend several times while high that it was "gods plant" or something similar. I can imagine that if I were a spiritual person I could have interpreted the other night as a religious experience.

I'm concerned about the tolerance you mentioned. I'd gotten this concern the second time I smoked when I fully realized how wonderful this plant is and wanted to ensure that I wasn't going to stop seeing that effect. Is there a rule of thumb for avoiding this tolerance? I'd like to smoke a lot this summer; should I stick to weekends? Never twice in a row? If you were to stop for a period of months would you regain your tolerance? I will likely avoid smoking for large periods of time anyways since the pot causes me to have serious trouble with motivation, linear thinking, and particularly math/reasoning for several days after. As a grad student this would be a big problem if I smoked too often :D.


P.S. I will surely stick around, thanks for the welcome; both of ya

Another quick tolerance question. Twice now I've tried to regain the initial excited high I feel for the first hour (by smoking more, sometimes a lot), after lapsing into a calm stupor, and it's never worked. I seem unable to regain this unless I wait until fully sober the next day. Is that normal? Related to tolerance? A bad idea?

Thanks :)

...from non-smoker of the herb, to irregular smoker of it, to semi-regular smoker of it... :rolleyes:

There are two main strains of our beloved plant, and a few lesser-known strains, as well as endless cross-strains and breeding improvements that are occuring "in the wild", but if you can get a reliable source, alternating between indica (body-stone) and sativa (head-stone) types, or switching it up between radically different (yet high-thc) hybrids can help alleviate symptoms of tolerance, too.

Buuuut...

You're going to get a tolerance of some type, which will, to some degree, limit the 'mindblowing' effects of this wonderful plant. :hippy:

If you want (truly!) to preserve as much of this effect as you can, I would suggest only smoking on weekends. And then, /don't/ try to see how much you can smoke without killing yourself, as this will also help build up what you don't want. Or, if you want to take a 'special' trip, don't smoke for the preceding month. Yeah, month. :(

Either that, or settle in at whatever level you can comfortably budget in your life, know that times with it will be good, times without it will suck but not bad enough to do anything bad over, and on those times when one hasn't smoked in, say, a month (or two! :( ), the first few times back will be reminiscent of the first few times... :D

....aaaaaand... even with low, to medium, to Chronicus Maximus tolerance, every now and then, something new will come along, and kick you on yo' ass, and you will again be At Peace With The Universe... :Tomcat:

{I love those rare times, tho with my tolerance levels, they're usually only obtainable rarely, with friends, and with quantities that you don' wanna know...}:icon506:

Whatever path you chose, young Jedi, always know that this is THE most philosophical of herbs, and, properly used, can lead to levels of introspection only rivalled by Lysergic Acid Diethalamide-25. Or parking yo' ass on a mountaintop and chanting Certain Words for like 25 years. :abduct:

Explore... and write back soon of your travels! I love exploring philosophy. And herb. And philosophy with herb... :cool:

Awww, covert, you're killin' me here.... ;)

From what I've read elsewhere there seems to be no consensus on how tolerance works; it probably depends on the person as well.

I'll probably just end up smoking erratically, somewhat regularly when I'm off school and not so much during the term. I'd probably never smoke more than a few days in a row and can certainly attempt to limit how much I smoke each time. Hopefully I won't build up much of a tolerance.

I doubt moderation will be too bad. I do definitely feel like smoking most days now, but its not really much of an issue to abstain. As much as I'd love to, I can always wait and enjoy some later. :jointsmile:

Thanks for the comments and advice :thumbsup:

:cool: welcome eccentric!

that is about the best description I've heard of the first time I got 'high', too. :stoned: I like your reboot description. :rasta: everything suddenly changes in your mind . .. things that seemed worth getting all stressed out about all of sudden seem hilariously petty, the future is no longer something to dread but is all of sudden something infinately fascinating that you just must start planning out in full detail. and that detail stays with you long after the 'buzz' is gone.

yeah, tolarance is beotch :rastasmoke: but best to take a few months break from time to time anyways. this gets rid of the tolorance and the first buzz after one breaks their fast is just like the first time. :stoned:

To help explain what is happening to you, please read this-

Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (full - 2004)
http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/clinical.pdf

It was just your whole body going "HURRAH!" after finally getting what it needed! :D


Granny :hippy: