Bud leading to panic attack?!

So over the weekend I stayed over at my buddies house, It started on this past Friday (4/30/10). Friday night was great! My cousin and other friends were there and we had a smoke session all that night. Just the next morning (5/01/10 - Saturday) I awoke to my friends and cousin having a wake n' bake session and so of course I wanted in too! My cousin handed me his zong and I took a hit. Now here is something about his zong that you should know about before I start on the rest of my story. It's a dark maroon color and it had a double perc. Now being it a dark colored glass it was hard for me to see how much smoke I was about to inhale and I just woke up with about 4 hours of sleep that night before (major insomniac). As I was taking this hit, I had a feeling that I should stop inhaling so much because I couldn't see how much smoke was crawling up the inside and I was hoping that I only had taken a not so much of a big hit to slowly ease in on me, I like to pace myself freely when I smoke and you'll find out why.

After I had taken this hit, I realized I inhaled way too much, it was way to damn early and I had only 4 hours of sleep ahead of me so I basically screwed myself over. About 5 minutes into this stoney high I started to panic, I suppose you could say I was having a panic attack and I'm pretty damn sure that I was because it lasted 3 hours straight. I started to notice 5 minutes into this high that I was twitching, shaking uncontrollably, I had major cotton mouth (which I know is normal!) and that my heart beat had increased so damn high that I knew that my heart was higher then I was. Also I was just looking at my friends and cousin, they were all just kickin back watching a movie or playing games. I kept asking myself "Why aren't they trippin like I am right now? Why haven't they EVER had an experience like I am right now?"

Now I'm going to let you all in on something.., prior to smoking in the month of April I haven't smoke any marijuana in 8 months! So my tolerance levels are pretty low. Aside that, for the 4 years that I have been smoking marijuana only on more then a few occasions these "panic attacks" have happened rarely and that is if you call that them as to why I'm posting this threat to find some answers. Anyways, usually my highs are really great, great to the point that I'm not tripping out or worried about if my heart is going to give out on me. I usually have a calmed relaxed and happy high 9 times out of 10 :thumbsup:.

Now I enjoy smoking marijuana and obviously as you have just read these "panic attacks" haven't kept me from smoking ever at all, though I would become wary of these attacks to happen at any given time that I decided to smoke. Whether I think about it or not before I light up it still happens so I'm not tripping myself out because I'm thinking about tripping out you see? I'll especially think about this bad trip experience though when anyone offers anything higher and stronger then reggies. So the only conclusion that I have is, maybe my tolerance levels aren't high enough to handle the dandy dank? Through the 4 years of smoking I have never been an everyday smoker, only occasionally (4-5 times a week to a month) it would vary.

Now before ANYONE says anything at all, please remember this. I am not WORRIED about these "attacks" and I'm not scared or having any other negative emotional thoughts. I'm perfectly fine until I get really high and start trippin and then that's when I start thinking about things and start worrying haha Oh and one more thing, these "attacks" happen only at the beginning of the high, any other time I smoke after that "attack" goes away it never comes back and I'm back to my normal calm relaxed happy high :jointsmile:

So please, if you know anything at all (I don't want no nonsense answers) Please let me know, if you have experienced these before tell me your story and what you did to help yourself from not experience anymore of these "attacks" so that maybe I can steer clearly of these in the near future! I feel that I can overcome this somehow and I must do so.

Thanks!

lucky :pimp:

Wow 80 views and not one single person can tell me anything? Marijuana has been around for 10,000 years known to man and I'm the only person with this issue every now and then? Alright then, well I'll figure it out by myself then :thumbsup:

Thanks

it's not a panic attack...It's called "the fear". It can sneek up on experienced pot smokers. The fear lasts for about 10 minutes. The first 10 minutes is a roller coaster ride into the depths of death and the abyss of the unknon. After 10 minutes you come down and mellow out. It's ok we all get it sometimes.

The fear makes its introduction after about a year of smoking grass.

Kyle, you should heed the words of kukulkola. I know all about the Fear. I think it's caused partially by stress and partially by knowledge over others. Like when you've experienced different levels of consciousness or know things about the world that most people don't. Haven't you read or seen Fear and Loathing? That's what it's all about.

But this also means you have become a bona fide member of the counter-culture. So don't worry too much.

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Originally Posted by JohnnyZ

Kyle, you should heed the words of kukulkola. I know all about the Fear. I think it's caused partially by stress and partially by knowledge over others. Like when you've experienced different levels of consciousness or know things about the world that most people don't. Haven't you read or seen Fear and Loathing? That's what it's all about.

But this also means you have become a bona fide member of the counter-culture. So don't worry too much.

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The fear huh? Well I can't seem to find anything about it, everything that I have come across was people talking about anxiety/panic attacks. Everyone seems to have about the same description about it but at the same time they all have a different story? So what your saying is that these attacks are called the fear? But why am I the only one out of all my friends that has ever ran through this multiple times?

Indeed, I have seen Fear and Loathing.. I own a copy :thumbsup:

I know I shouldn't worry about this uncomfortable experience but it's hard not too for some odd reason and when this comes about every now and then I always tell myself that I have been through this before. Though I have found out what could seem to make me feel better and that is me being productive in some way actively. If I start walking or working on something then I no longer realize that my heart is racing fast and when I am doing something I no longer realize that my body is shaking and so I seem to find myself feeling a little better but in reference to the post ahead of kukulkola, it does not last no 10 minutes but hours to say the least.

Is there anything else that I can learn about this unpleasant experience? I find it scary but interesting at the same time!

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Originally Posted by KyleIsNorml

After I had taken this hit, I realized I inhaled way too much, it was way to damn early and I had only 4 hours of sleep ahead of me so I basically screwed myself over. About 5 minutes into this stoney high I started to panic, I suppose you could say I was having a panic attack and I'm pretty damn sure that I was because it lasted 3 hours straight. I started to notice 5 minutes into this high that I was twitching, shaking uncontrollably, I had major cotton mouth (which I know is normal!) and that my heart beat had increased so damn high that I knew that my heart was higher then I was. Also I was just looking at my friends and cousin, they were all just kickin back watching a movie or playing games. I kept asking myself "Why aren't they trippin like I am right now? Why haven't they EVER had an experience like I am right now?"

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Here's my take FWIW.

When you're not stoned, you spend almost zero time during the day attending to your involuntary muscular action. What I mean by this is unless something goes wrong with the system, your brain just filters it all out as unecessary. When your heart rate gets elevated while you're "sober" you notice it, but it causes no concern normally. Usually the cause is self evident. You just ran, or lifted something heavy, or a hot babe just got on the elevator with you, etc. Your brain acknowledges your increase in heart rate to the level that you become conscious of it, but then forget it since it doesn't signal anything wrong.

When stoned, particularly on very potent weed, a lot of folks experience a rise in heart beat. It's a common side effect. Except now when your brain notices it, there is no readily apparent cause from physical exertion, etc. Because another common affect of weed is increased awareness of your body, you give it much more conscious attention than normally. Combined with paranoia (another side effect) all this can trigger your body's "fight or flight" reaction. Your spasms and an even more elevated heart rate were most likely caused by a shot of adrenaline from this reaction.

What you have to remember is none of it is real. You are not in any real danger. Basically, it's all in your head.

I believe that if you remind yourself that your anxiety is fueled by side effects at the outset, you can ignore it and be just fine. It works for me whenever I feel myself getting anxious.

Otherwise, I recommend only moderate smoking/smoking mids.

Thanks Blazer for your thoughts of wisdom! I really appreciate it :thumbsup:

I don't know if I mentioned this in my first post but I didn't smoke any marijuana for 8 months straight and then just three weeks ago when I got my first chance to start again I didn't smoke any of the lows or mids, I started on the highs because thats all that was available and I wanted to smoke. So another thing I was taking into consideration just a few days ago thinking about all of this was that my tolerance levels went way down in those 8 months and so that must have had a huge factor!

My cousin has a really great connection. Mr. Nice Guy, Big Buddha Cheese, Master Kush, Grape Skunk just to name a few and to be honest I enjoy those kinds of strains because it's not often that I get to smoke anything other then just straight chronic or reggies and possibly I over did it when I took that first huge hit the minute I woke up and not realizing how much of a toke I got. This "attack" as most people call them reminds me of when I got high my very first time 4 years ago, the same thing happened to me.

For the 4 years of smoking I smoked nothing but lows/mids because that was all I could ever afford and now that I think about it whenever some chronic or kush would come through this "attack" would happen! I think it has to do with my tolerance levels! So this probably explains why my friends have never gone through this because they started on the lows to mids to highs and they've been smoking longer then I have and so I can understand why this doesn't happen to them where as it does me because I'm just jumping all over the place smoking all kinds of different strains from lows to highs.

I guess panic attacks happen more frequently when you have not smoked it in awhile or are still a newbie. I haven't had panic attacks for a few years and I prefer to keep it that way.

I'll chime in on this one,

The first thing you should remember, Kyle, is that this is not particular to you. It happens to a lot of tokers, experienced or inexperienced. When I was about 19, I had been smoking nonstop since I was about 16. I was up in my bedroom late night taking a bong rip of resin. It was the night before I had to get my wisdom teeth out, so I was obviously nervous about it. I took a bong rip and I suddenly felt like I couldn't regain my breath. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest, I thought I had a collapsed lung or something, I was terrified.

Ever since then, I just haven't been able to smoke and get high like I used to. My hypothesis is that I had some underlying concern about my wisdom teeth surgery. When I started taking the bong rips, this concern surfaced. And now, whenever I try to get high, my body associates the high with the panic attack that night.

The way I saw it, there were only a few options to solve this problem. Continue to smoke like I had been doing (24/7) and suffer. Smoke limited amounts and smoke strains on the weaker side. And the most obvious option, quit altogether. So that's what I did, I quit for several years.

I toke every now and then, on occasion. But I still can't take bong rips after bong rips like the good 'ol days. It's usually an itty bitty hit every now and then. And I'm OK with that. This whole ordeal made me realize, I don't have to get high. I used to believe I would smoke the rest of my life, all day everyday. I've since realized it's incredibly tough to live that lifestyle and succeed in the way I strive to succeed.

I always had TERRIBLE grades in high school. Some people can smoke all the time and do well in school, I was not one of those people. Mathematically I didn't even graduate high school. But my teacher struck a deal with me that if I passed her final exam, she'd pass me in the class. I got a D on the exam, but mathematically failed the course. Anyways, I ended up going to a Community College after high school. But like I said above, I had altogether quit smoking weed because of my panic ordeal. Turns out, quitting was the BEST thing to ever happen to me. I got great grades, transferred to a 4 year university, and just graduated this past Saturday with a Bachelors of Science. :)



The point of my story is to learn from your experiences. Trust your body in what it tells you. And don't always think that you 'have' to get high. You can still be a part of this culture that we all love (that's why we post here, right?). But it doesn't mean you have to be a stoner.

you guys are fuckin weird. "The Fear"!! "I can't seen to find anything about it" Did you really scour the internet searching for "The Fear" KYS

withdrawals from otherb shit you are doing, drinking, blow, opiates, hell even cigarettes. Check your blood pressure you probably need an asprin, or atenolol. Get a good cold beer, and chill.

If there's anything I've learned from smoking it's that these feelings will come and go. I've been at the point where I almost stuck an epinephrine pen into the side of my leg because I thought my throat was closing. You learn a lot about yourself in these situations though. In my opinion they make you stronger in that you are seemingly facing a nightmare scenario at times and getting through it allows you to recognize these feelings in the future and become stronger.

I have asthma, terrible environmental allergies, a deadly nut allergy, etc so I've had my fair share of panic attacks. You just have to open up a little dialog with yourself and rationalize the feelings as they come. The increase in heartbeat is obviously not in your head but you have to remind yourself that you aren't having a heart attack. If you legitimize any of your fears it will only reinforce them in the future. It's a mind game really and although scary it's something I think every pot smoker has experienced at least once.

Personally, I smoke to get rid of anxiety...it's been my nature lately to be very anxious and smoking seems to make everything easier. I'm able to titrate it to the point where anxiety is gone and ambition is up. Although, sometimes when I get absolutely ripped I simply eat everything within sight and rub one off in an epic manner. :D

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Originally Posted by Barney Trouble

If there's anything I've learned from smoking it's that these feelings will come and go. I've been at the point where I almost stuck an epinephrine pen into the side of my leg because I thought my throat was closing. You learn a lot about yourself in these situations though. In my opinion they make you stronger in that you are seemingly facing a nightmare scenario at times and getting through it allows you to recognize these feelings in the future and become stronger.

I have asthma, terrible environmental allergies, a deadly nut allergy, etc so I've had my fair share of panic attacks. You just have to open up a little dialog with yourself and rationalize the feelings as they come. The increase in heartbeat is obviously not in your head but you have to remind yourself that you aren't having a heart attack. If you legitimize any of your fears it will only reinforce them in the future. It's a mind game really and although scary it's something I think every pot smoker has experienced at least once.

Personally, I smoke to get rid of anxiety...it's been my nature lately to be very anxious and smoking seems to make everything easier. I'm able to titrate it to the point where anxiety is gone and ambition is up. Although, sometimes when I get absolutely ripped I simply eat everything within sight and rub one off in an epic manner. :D

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So unless we intend to do this job in Reno, we're in Barney.. Barney Rubble? .. trouble! Haha I love Don Cheadle in those movies! Actually the casting and characters in the Ocean's movies is pretty spot on in my opinion. I hope that's what your name is about or else this is awkward..

Also I have athsma and environmental allergies too dude! You aren't alone. Except this weekend in rained insane in my area, basement floods and the like. It seemed to wash away a lot of the spring dust and mould and pollen.


Kyle dude.. how are you holding out? Let's have an update here homie don't leave us worried!

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Originally Posted by BlueBlazer

Here's my take FWIW.

When you're not stoned, you spend almost zero time during the day attending to your involuntary muscular action. What I mean by this is unless something goes wrong with the system, your brain just filters it all out as unecessary. When your heart rate gets elevated while you're "sober" you notice it, but it causes no concern normally. Usually the cause is self evident. You just ran, or lifted something heavy, or a hot babe just got on the elevator with you, etc. Your brain acknowledges your increase in heart rate to the level that you become conscious of it, but then forget it since it doesn't signal anything wrong.

When stoned, particularly on very potent weed, a lot of folks experience a rise in heart beat. It's a common side effect. Except now when your brain notices it, there is no readily apparent cause from physical exertion, etc. Because another common affect of weed is increased awareness of your body, you give it much more conscious attention than normally. Combined with paranoia (another side effect) all this can trigger your body's "fight or flight" reaction. Your spasms and an even more elevated heart rate were most likely caused by a shot of adrenaline from this reaction.

What you have to remember is none of it is real. You are not in any real danger. Basically, it's all in your head.

I believe that if you remind yourself that your anxiety is fueled by side effects at the outset, you can ignore it and be just fine. It works for me whenever I feel myself getting anxious.

Otherwise, I recommend only moderate smoking/smoking mids.

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Verry true i had to quit smoking at one time because i had a verry sever anxiety attack since then ive learned how to control it. just tell ur body to relax when ur stoned, and tell ur self over and over everything is cool

The mind is so powerful. The power of the mind to influence actual physical processes in the body is why placebos actually reduce symptoms.

I read about an experiment where a hypnotized test subject was touched with an ice cube, but told it was a hot poker. The test subject actually developed a blister in the shape of where the ice cube touched the skin.

I also saw first hand a friend's worry lead to an inexplicable rash covering his entire body. When that worry was alleviated, the rash disappeared right before our eyes, like the death transformation in those old wolfman movies.

The mind is like a hot car. You have to steer it and watch how hard you push on the accelerator or else you lose control of it . . .

Trust me, I've crashed mine into a wall a time or two. :D

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Originally Posted by BlueBlazer

Trust me, I've crashed mine into a wall a time or two. :D

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You look it!

Just kidding. ;)

BlueBlazer my friend, you always have the best anecdotal stories. You would make quite a coffee table book.

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Originally Posted by pepurr

You look it!

Just kidding. ;)

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lol, Guess I led with my chin on that one. :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by JohnnyZ

BlueBlazer my friend, you always have the best anecdotal stories. You would make quite a coffee table book.

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Thank you Johnny. One thing wretched old farts have in abundance is stories . . . :D

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Originally Posted by JohnnyZ

I hope that's what your name is about or else this is awkward..

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haha, yes and no...it's an obscure reference to a boston radio program, but i did have that scene of ocean's 11 in mind when i signed up

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Originally Posted by JohnnyZ

Also I have athsma and environmental allergies too dude! You aren't alone. Except this weekend in rained insane in my area, basement floods and the like. It seemed to wash away a lot of the spring dust and mould and pollen.

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glad to know i'm not the only one! smoking doesn't really bother me but i occasionally break out in hives when i handle it. i actually experimented and rubbed some kif into my skin and sure enough...big hives. whatever i'm allergic to must be destroyed during combustion.... :jointsmile:

Its just a tolerance thing. Pot is not a sedative like many think its actually somewhat of a psychedelic stimulant. If you smoke potent herb with no tolerance, a panic, or anxiety attack is very normal. Hallucinations, inability to sleep are also symptons that can happen with low tolerance, potent herb.
I have friends that don't smoke ever and get bad attacks when they do. I also had to quit for a year and when i started i had them bad. I just kept toking and they went away. I do still get them here and there although rarely and I smoke everyday. Sometimes it sneaks up on me though
If your having anxiety and pot makes it worse its just pulling that issue to the forefront of your brain and making you deal with it imo. Keep toking and it will work itself out or try a less potent strain.

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Originally Posted by Barney Trouble

glad to know i'm not the only one! smoking doesn't really bother me but i occasionally break out in hives when i handle it. i actually experimented and rubbed some kif into my skin and sure enough...big hives. whatever i'm allergic to must be destroyed during combustion.... :jointsmile:

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That right there is a testament to the medicinal power of cannabis. You can't even touch it without being allergic to it, yet you put it in your system and low and behold you are cured :jointsmile:

I hadn't smoked in several years the last time I smoked. It was something called sensamillion, and I had a panic attack that really scared me. I was super-aware of everything. I knew I hadn't really cleaned my apartment for quite some time, and had only been doing surface cleaning. When the high hit, I thought I could smell the dirt in my apartment which so disgusted me that I stayed up ALL night high and cleaning every square inch. Took a lot of trash to the dumpster- in the morning I was tired as heck but the apt. shined like a new penny.

This was not good energy. It was panicked, frantic, jangled up nervous energy and it did not feel good. About half my highs are paranoic and uncomfortable actually. It's like I have too many thoughts to keep up with every little thing that is going on around me and my mind becomes a runaway train. I'm glad the OP asked the question because I thought having panic attacks while smoking was unusual. When it happens it sucks, I can tell you that.

Yes it is true, you can experiance panic attacks....Some people may experience panic attacks (including extreme feelings of dread, accelerated heart rate, feeling as if they're going to die) from smoking cannabis, more commonly from those who have ingested too much then from smoking....


Most acute crises with cannabis are related to oral ingestion. Cannabis crises last 2-6 hours (or more) and can include paranoia, panic attacks, sluggishness, going in and out of consciousness, extremely bloodshot eyes, and mood swings. No deaths have been reported that did not involve physical injury. A few people reportedly have severe asthmatic attacks precipitated by smoking cannabis.
(Source: Erowid Psychoactive Vaults : Psychedelic Crisis FAQ)

if you haven't smoked in a while your tolorance is WAY low, and you said this happend first thing after not getting mutch sleep. Your brain probably wasn't awake, and you took a big hit. the lack of oxigen made your heart speed up, coupled with tiredness, i'm surprised you didn't pass out.

Wow, interesting stuff!
As a psychologist it is interesting to see how you guys perceive these experiences, and your methods of dealing with these panic attacks. The only concern I would have is if you started to experience these symptoms while you were not stoned (or if you noticed that you were worrying excessively about issues that were not a concern before). However, If you are not overly concerned about these experiences (and can accept that "it is all in your head") then I don't think it is a problem.
cheers,
Matt

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Originally Posted by KyleIsNorml

Wow 80 views and not one single person can tell me anything? Marijuana has been around for 10,000 years known to man and I'm the only person with this issue every now and then? Alright then, well I'll figure it out by myself then :thumbsup:

Thanks

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well its a lot to read, but this sounds like maybe you are prone to these attacks and dont know what triggers them, you should tell a Dr. about this. I dont think their are too many Dr's here, so think about that before you smoke. I know sometimes sativas can trigger accelerated heart rates and even bring on nausea and paranoia to the point of uneasiness and very uncomfortable. but still something like this sounds more like maybe you should talk to a DR. there are lots of test that they can do and none are to painful or take to long. If it gets tot he point of your "freaking out" and passing out badly or just not feeling right then the purpose of smoking herb is not there.

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Originally Posted by KyleIsNorml

Whether I think about it or not before I light up it still happens so I'm not tripping myself out because I'm thinking about tripping out you see?

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What you haven't taken into account is the influence of unconcious (or subconscious) thoughts. Even though you may not be consciously thinking about having a panic attack, your unconscious mind may still be influencing the experience that you are having. So I wouldn't necessarily discount the possibility that your fear of having a panic attack is the catalyst (or at least a contributing variable) to these experiences you are having.

As you know these panic attacks can be a terrifying experience and therefore the mind learns to associate these feelings of anxiety with the event that precipitated it (ie. classical conditioning). So why doesnt it happen all the time then? Because although the mind is powerful it still requires the right chain of antecedents to bring it on, and this is where tolerance levels, THC/CDB levels, quantity consumed, strain consumed, current state of mind, environment that you smoke it in etc. come into play.

Although Freud had some truely bizzare and rediculous theories, he was one of the first people to explore the importance of the unconscious mind.
cheers,
Matt

i wrote a bunch of shit but it didnt fit but to keep it simple it happens to more people than you think. i was a heavy smoker at least an oz aday for a long time. i quit for ayear was abad mofo on the street changed my life and when iwent to go smoke again it hit me.its different reasons for everybody but along breaafter heavy use during a life or mind changing experience will do it. build ur tolerance back up slowly couple of hits till ur high anduyoull notice it happening less frequently andnot as bad. its all in you r head , u can never go back the first high. so when u stop for a while and start up again for 1 ur tolerance is back to 0 and 2 youve grown up since that first time you smoked more shit on ur mind now than ever b4. depending onyour brain chemistry, life style, and any changes in personality u could be midly paranoid or shaking and not be able to even think or speak clearly. the fact is over time every weed smoker experinces aparanoid episode mild or extreme depends on the person

yeah weed can cause panic attacks. i have anxiety disorder and when the first like 2 years of me smoking i would get them easier if i was high. plus weed makes some people paranoid.