MMJ...medicine or myth

[bonsaiguy]

Before anyone bites my head off, allow me to qualify what I'm about to say by stating that if someone believes that weed relieves their symptoms from any illness or chronic pain or side effects of treatments or whatever reason someone uses MMJ, far be it from me to deny them their medicine. I am all for it. The AIDS patient who uses to stimulate appetite, the cancer patient who uses to relieve nausea, the sufferers of chronic pain that use to relieve their pain or discomfort; let them have whatever treatment works for them. Everyone is different and reacts differently to whatever medications they are taking. That being said.....


I've been smoking for a long time now and personally, have found no practical or measurable medicinal effects from weed. It's analgesic effects are iffy at best and frankly, I think the whole MMJ movement is a bit of a cop-out on the part of legalisation forces. It's a sideways method for getting pot legalized in some form or another. It seems to me that the folks from NORML and other orgs have sort of "fallen back" on the MMJ thing because it seems to be politically correct to put their arguments in the form of helping the sick.
They certainly don't seem to be pushing the idea that there is not one documented case (that I'm aware of anyway) of anyone anywhere ever overdosing on weed much less dying from it. If they/we had any balls at all they/we would be screaming from the mountain tops about the stupidity of a culture that demonizes this relatively harmless herb but glorifies alcohol and tobacco which are both known killers. How many kids have literally drank themselves to death on their 21st b-day? How many people have died from lung cancer or emphysema from smoking tobacco? (BTW, I am a smoker too)
Maybe I'm just a cynical prick (ok, I am a cynical prick) but I think the MMJ movement is just a way to get weed legalized without the stigma that is attached to just plain getting high or being a stoner. And to be fair, I am just as guilty of this since I make an effort to keep my habit to myself. I certainly don't tell my coworkers and even some of my friends are not aware of my proclivities. I don't smoke anywhere near my wife (although she's not stupid, she knows) or family and don't generally discuss the issue with any of my relatives. It's kind of sad really that one can't make too many references to weed or the "stigma" will soon be attached, whereas I can talk about drinking to almost anyone and that's just okey dokey. In fact, I know that one of my kids (he's over 21) is a toker and would probably like to burn one with his dad (although we have never discussed it) but I just can't bring myself to do it. Probably due to that same social stigma that is attached to getting high. (I know, I'm a sick twisted puppy)

PS: thanks for letting me vent!!

bonsaiguy Reviewed by bonsaiguy on 12-03-2008. MMJ...medicine or myth Before anyone bites my head off, allow me to qualify what I'm about to say by stating that if someone believes that weed relieves their symptoms from any illness or chronic pain or side effects of treatments or whatever reason someone uses MMJ, far be it from me to deny them their medicine. I am all for it. The AIDS patient who uses to stimulate appetite, the cancer patient who uses to relieve nausea, the sufferers of chronic pain that use to relieve their pain or discomfort; let them have Rating: 5

[Revanche21]

I agree that a lot of people who use MMJ are using it as an excuse to smoke.

often times the arguments I hear are arguments that say that marijuana improves their lives and thus its a medicine

so... where do you draw the line?

For myself, I have depression and Ive tried a whole array of SSRI's and nothing seems to work except MMJ

I do agree that too many people are probably abusing it but who am I to say... I'm not a doctor

I bet a lot of people lie to these doctors tho...

[bonsaiguy]

I think that a good number of the advocates for MMJ are just using that as an excuse to legalize. And it's certainly that I've been "self medicating" myself for depression or anxiety or whatever. Where do I draw the line? Legalize period. Not because it's a medicine, which if successful, will inevitably lead to government regulation and the involvement of the drug companies. They're already trying to push for using Marinol as a substitute due to their desire for control and profit. (not that profit is a bad thing mind you) Legalize because it makes sense. Legalize because as a culture, we already endorse getting high on alcohol, so why not weed too. Legalize because people should have the right to choose what they do to their own bodies. Legalize because people shouldn't be made in to criminals for getting high. Legalize to eliminate the horrendous cost to taxpayers that is a result of the so called drug war. Legalize to take away that much more income from the lawyers of the world.

[Dream of the iris]

man...I'm surprised StormCrow isn't up on this one lol...don't worry you'll see her wrath soon enough.

I think for the most part MMJ is a cop out but still at the same time there are benefits to smoking it but not to the point where it's going to cure cancer. I mean lets face it...if weed didn't exist I think everyone, including MMJ patients wouldn't die. It's more or less a better alternative for some. Personally I smoke it for recreational purposes and recreational purposes only. I guess it helps relieve stress if you want to stretch it but otherwise I won't deny that I seek it for pleasure. The only discrepency I have with it is the fact that I smoke it. Now I don't know if I'm right and I encourage anyone to disprove this, but I have a strong hunch that Pot smoke is bad for your lungs. Maybe not as bad as cigarette smoke but still. I've only been smoking for a few years and I can definitely tell the difference between my clean lungs at 16 and my pot infested lungs at 20. Not that the THC has anything to do with it but come on...I mean it is smoke going into your lungs which does indeed create tar build up. Why else are all of my pipes infested with resin? Sorry I don't know if anyone believes this but a lot of people claim it isn't harmful to your lungs. Seriously someone please correct me on this if I'm wrong because I'd rather find out I'm wrong than right....after all I am a pothead :stoned:

[bonsaiguy]

Well Dream, there is a form of Bronchitis that has been associated with smoking weed. However it clears up ASAP if you take a little vacation from smoking. This is directly related to the quality of smoke since the better the smoke, the less you typically inhale.

[gnarshred57]

Before anyone bites my head off, allow me to qualify what I'm about to say by stating that if someone believes that weed relieves their symptoms from any illness or chronic pain or side effects of treatments or whatever reason someone uses MMJ, far be it from me to deny them their medicine. I am all for it. The AIDS patient who uses to stimulate appetite, the cancer patient who uses to relieve nausea, the sufferers of chronic pain that use to relieve their pain or discomfort; let them have whatever treatment works for them. Everyone is different and reacts differently to whatever medications they are taking. That being said.....


I've been smoking for a long time now and personally, have found no practical or measurable medicinal effects from weed. It's analgesic effects are iffy at best and frankly, I think the whole MMJ movement is a bit of a cop-out on the part of legalisation forces. It's a sideways method for getting pot legalized in some form or another. It seems to me that the folks from NORML and other orgs have sort of "fallen back" on the MMJ thing because it seems to be politically correct to put their arguments in the form of helping the sick.
They certainly don't seem to be pushing the idea that there is not one documented case (that I'm aware of anyway) of anyone anywhere ever overdosing on weed much less dying from it. If they/we had any balls at all they/we would be screaming from the mountain tops about the stupidity of a culture that demonizes this relatively harmless herb but glorifies alcohol and tobacco which are both known killers. How many kids have literally drank themselves to death on their 21st b-day? How many people have died from lung cancer or emphysema from smoking tobacco? (BTW, I am a smoker too)
Maybe I'm just a cynical prick (ok, I am a cynical prick) but I think the MMJ movement is just a way to get weed legalized without the stigma that is attached to just plain getting high or being a stoner. And to be fair, I am just as guilty of this since I make an effort to keep my habit to myself. I certainly don't tell my coworkers and even some of my friends are not aware of my proclivities. I don't smoke anywhere near my wife (although she's not stupid, she knows) or family and don't generally discuss the issue with any of my relatives. It's kind of sad really that one can't make too many references to weed or the "stigma" will soon be attached, whereas I can talk about drinking to almost anyone and that's just okey dokey. In fact, I know that one of my kids (he's over 21) is a toker and would probably like to burn one with his dad (although we have never discussed it) but I just can't bring myself to do it. Probably due to that same social stigma that is attached to getting high. (I know, I'm a sick twisted puppy)

PS: thanks for letting me vent!!

Let me vent. ahahah just hear me up please

I had strep last week and my doctor prescribed me these powerful antibiotics. I had to take the antibiotics with a LARGE meal or else I would get stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Anyway... The strep was killing me! I couldn't eat big enough meals because my throat hurt and the potency of the pills just made me feel overall awful. Being a big advocate in natural healing i turned to pot to help me out.

The second I took a hit from my bong the pain and soreness in my throat was ceased. I was then hungry so i ate a big meal allowing me to take the antibiotics with not the harsh side effects. I then was able to get some good rest to help fight off the sickness. The pot also put me in an overall better mood which helped me overcome the sickness a lot easier.

I would say I love using pot as a medicine. It delivers the 3 pillars of a healthy lifestyle.

Hungry
Happy
Sleepy


Hunger to eat well and be in good health. Happiness to have a healthy soul and sleep so your body can recover to wake up energized and refreshed. So i guesss we both just have different viewpoints but you can clearly see why I love MJ as a medicine. Its only improved my life.

:thumbsup:

[beachguy in thongs]

I think for the most part MMJ is a cop out but still at the same time there are benefits to smoking it but not to the point where it's going to cure cancer. :stoned:

What do you mean, MMJ is not at the point where it's been shown to cure cancer?

That's why Nixon shut down the studies, during the 1970's! Because, cannabis had shown to cure three types of cancer, in mice.

[thetourist]

Just because some potheads are trying to use MMJ as a cop out doesn't make MMJ a cop out.

Before I had my lung disease and even when I had it but did not suffer from it I would have used MMJ as a cop out just because I loved to be high. I was a kid and it was probably just a "rebel" thing to do.

Now that my disease has gotten to the point that I need a double lung transplant within a few years (Already been to transplant specialists in St. Louis and thats the news they gave me, I am a transplant canidate but it's not to the point that is severely affecting my life to have the transplant yet.) and I actually feel the affects my disease has had on me for all these years I would not be using it as a cop out.

I do not smoke it, I injest it orally. I never was a very heavy smoker at all, I had maybe 6 months to a year where I was smoking 3 to 4 times out of the week, but thats the heaviest it ever got. For a couple of years I smoked cigarettes off and on, usually when drinking. So for the most part my lungs were treated fairly ok, so it wasn't from the smoking that my lungs got worse it was because of the disease.

My body aches 24/7 and my appitite is pretty much gone, I've lost too much weight and I do not need to be on opiates or tylenol. Logical solution? Marijuana, takes care of both issues with no major side affects, no damage to my lungs or liver or bones. I feel so much better and eat like a mad man when I've had some MJ for the day.

It would be incredible if I could get a prescription for MMJ and some of the stigma associated with using it would be taken away. I'm not doing it to just have fun anymore, I don't sit around and giggle at nothing, and don't sit back and repeat "Dude, I'm so stoned" over and over and laugh about it afterwards. I get up, do laundry, the dishes, take out the garbage, check for good news on the internet, clean house, go to work, manage finances, be a good husband, be a great friend, be a guy people enjoy being around. There is nothing different about me when I'm high than when I'm not, other than my eyes a little redder and puffier.

So for GROWN UPS that use marijuana for a purpose it is not a cop out.

[bonsaiguy]

I was not saying that using weed to treat your symptoms is a cop out. I also did not say that being high would make you a functionless giggling idiot. I'm a "functioning addict" so to speak and I smoke because I like it. My point was that the "industry" that has become MMJ is just that. It's become an industry that generates some income for lobbyists (don't even get me started on lobbyists) and a cover for a lot of folks who just want to legalize. And as I said, I'm all for it in that respect. It's a relatively harmless substance that makes folks happy. It's entirely possible that I have been "self medicating" something for a lot of years. My real issue it with the hypocrisy of a culture that puts such a stigma on pot that it doesn't put on alcohol and tobacco. (although the nanny staters are quickly demonizing tobacco use)

Note to Beachguy...nice to see you're still around dude.

[LazySmoking420]

I think what bonsaiguy is saying is you hear all these guys in California coming up with "Oh my back really hurts" "I have really bad headaches" or whatever and doctors handing out cards like their going out of style.

Sure there are lots of people with cancer where marijuana gives them that quality of life and pain relief.

There is nothing wrong with getting high, Just like millions of Americans take the edge off from a long day at work with a couple of beers.

As long as you dont indanger someone elses life, And thats the problem many cannot handle being under the influance.