A Critical Standpoint on Smoking Marijuana

[STlLLlRlSE]

I been smoking practically everyday for 3 years, and last month i quit smokin for a week because i couldn't seem to get "as high" anymore, well in the week i quit, i had no problem quiting, i just had problems sleeping and i couldn't eat much as of when i'm stoned, i felt like i was on tweek or something, so i don't think it is addicting, but everyone is differen't i guess.
But of course when i finally tasted the sweetness of herb again, i realized hom much i love it. -Peace

STlLLlRlSE Reviewed by STlLLlRlSE on 04-17-2005. A Critical Standpoint on Smoking Marijuana After reading these forums for around a month, and attempting to comprehend certain statements that have been made about smoking marijuana, Iâ??ve decided to write a few of my thoughts about this ever so interesting plant. Let me first say that in no way am I against people smoking it, and I hope you can try to listen what Iâ??m attempting to get across with an open mind. Hopefully it will make for good discussion, as I am trying to understand why certain people think they way they do about Rating: 5

[GHoSToKeR]

GreenGaucho:

" Fruit, is a vital source of Vitamin C and other nutrients. Without it diseases like scurvy and other such things show up."

This is true. But, as I said, consuming large amounts of fruit would be detrimental to your health.. (I know from experience, I used to be addicted to oranges as a kid, lol), but they are still considered 'good' because in moderation they are extremely benifitical.

This is the way I see Cannabis. True, it can be detrimental to your health if you consume large amounts of it, but in small amounts it can have both positive physical and mental effects.

In my personal experience, Cannabis has helped me to clear my mind, put my life into perspective, become inspired, happier, etc.. So if it can have these positive effects in moderate doses, I believe that my physical self is also benifiting - your state of mind effects your physical health.

So, in light of this, why isnt it a 'good point' to compare it to fruit?

[GreenGaucho]

GreenGaucho:

" Fruit, is a vital source of Vitamin C and other nutrients. Without it diseases like scurvy and other such things show up."

This is true. But, as I said, consuming large amounts of fruit would be detrimental to your health.. (I know from experience, I used to be addicted to oranges as a kid, lol), but they are still considered 'good' because in moderation they are extremely benifitical.

This is the way I see Cannabis. True, it can be detrimental to your health if you consume large amounts of it, but in small amounts it can have both positive physical and mental effects.

In my personal experience, Cannabis has helped me to clear my mind, put my life into perspective, become inspired, happier, etc.. So if it can have these positive effects in moderate doses, I believe that my physical self is also benifiting - your state of mind effects your physical health.

So, in light of this, why isnt it a 'good point' to compare it to fruit?

I agree that it can have positive mental effects. Are they the correct way of dealing with things? That's debateable. Also, what positive physical effects are there from smoking? I sure as hell don't know any.

[ermitonto]

marijuana is NEVER healthy even in the smallest amounts unless you're talking about helping glaucoma, arthritis, etc.

How so? If something is unhealthy even in the smallest amounts, that means it always causes damage to the body somehow. If you eat or drink weed, it causes no known adverse health effects at all. THC has not been shown to cause brain problems. Its effects on the brain are "disputed" only in that people who are already convinced pot is evil have tried (unsuccessfully) to link THC with killing brain cells and destroying memory and such, but all they've been able to show conclusively is that short-term memory is affected for as long as you're high.

The only real health disadvantages seem to be in the act of smoking itself (which again is not the only method of ingestion). It's been linked to pre-cancerous cells (not to actual outbreaks of cancer though) and bronchitis and such, but the effects are nowhere near as bad as tobacco. That doesn't make it completely harmless, but it's remarkably non-toxic especially when compared to other recreational drugs (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine and heroin are the five most popular; it's pretty easy to pick out the one that's least harmful).

And call me crazy, but I think there are certain health benefits to smoking pot even for people who don't have certain serious diseases. I've found it help me with nausea and appetite problems when I have a cold, for instance. It also reduces stress, which is bound to have a positive impact on health. Laughter is also thought to be good for health. And although I may be more likely to get bronchitis, I know it's now extremely unlikely I'll ever develop glaucoma. That's not to say the health benefits outweigh the health risks for the recreational smoker, but at worst it's a mixed blessing.

[GHoSToKeR]

Again, ermitonto, I agree with you!

The only negative effects from Cannabis are from the act of SMOKING Cannabis, not the drug itself. All the claims of it causing psychosis etc are unsubstantiated.

There are, however, many positive mental effects, such as euphoria, relaxation, etc.. I myself disagree with taking prescribed drugs to treat a mental illness/problem, as I believe you should deal with the problem yourself; face-to-face, so to speak. But, I am not claiming that Cannabis should be used to make you happy if you are sad, make your calm if you are angry, make you stop feeling depressed. I do feel, however, that for the majority of people, who are not depressed and have no adverse mental conditions, that Cannabis can enhance your feelings, and have many mental benifits. People who are naturally disposed to being stressed out (not people who are stressed because of a situation or some such thing, these kinds of people should solve the issue themselves first) can use Cannabis as a way of clarifying their mind and putting their life into perspective, as I have done.

"Also, what positive physical effects are there from smoking? I sure as hell don't know any."

Cannabis is known to have many positive phsycial effects, hence Medical Marijuana. It can provide pain relief for all sorts of people, including cancer sufferers, and relief for people with glaucoma, etc..

When I was referring to physical effects, however, I was reffering to the power of mind over body. It is a known fact that depressed and/or stressed people are more prone to illness. It is also a known fact that happier, more relaxed people tend to be healthier. This is because your mind has healing power of its own. If you treat your mind right, it will treat you right. Hence, I believe that the mental benifits of Cannabis can equate to physical benifits.

[Lightitup44]

Although this is a serious topic I have to point out the funniest thing I have heard all day:

Ghostoker "(I know from experience, I used to be addicted to oranges as a kid, lol)"

-peace

[4252]

This is a good discussion; if people have different opinions, it doesn't necessarily follow that someone is right, someone is wrong. It's a good thing to question what we do from time to time, especially those things we enjoy a lot. So, no statistics here, just personal experience and observations.

About the health implications, I wouldn't deny that inhaling smoke is not harmful, to some degree. That's about all I know on the subject.

But on the addictive qualities, I've got some thoughts. We all have things we like that might fit the textbook definition of addiction, except for the biophysical manifestations. Music, political beliefs, sex, religion, lust for control, etc. have all caused some people to indulge in behavior that defies sense, sometimes in spite of obvious serious negative consequences. Even withdrawal from the various things I mentioned have a negative impact on many. I guess that the term "psychological addiction" is the one most used, even by the anti-pot side. The best they can do is say that, in so many words, some people have a preferrence for something that helps them feel good, and it makes them sulky when they can't get it. I can relate to this; I have to "kick" the habit every 3 months, due to the drug testing program where I work. And I do find that irritating, but only because someone's imposing their will on me, not due to a "need". So I associate the word need with the generally accepted definition of addiction, and the word want with ones prefferences.

As for the effect on my personal performance, I usually experience an increase in energy levels when I'm in that short time period when I can get stoned frequently. I clean up the house more, focus better on projects, just generally seem to be more alert and wanting to do things. Not to mention an increase in my desire to interact more with people. This could be self delusion, or a particular psychological character trait of mine; I don't pretend to know the cause, only stating the effects. I do seem to be more creative, and enjoy things more. But no withdrawal symptoms; it's just a thing that happens.

Also, and I'm not so sure this is universally true, I've read that the effects of THC vary in an individual relative to the dose; in lighter doses it acts like a stimulant, and past some point, it begins to supress a persons energy, like a sedative. With me, this seems to be true, and I don't like to use so much it interferes with my ability to do things, only enjoy it when it enhances what I'm doing.

I think that mind altering substances attract a lot of people who already have issues, and it may be that any study of effects would be heavily biased if this weren't taken into account.

What do you think?

42

[4252]

Too late for an edit, so....

I meant to say "I wouldn't deny that inhaling smoke is harmful", etc.

42

[koshea]

Well, as you said, it's mentally addictive. I've never been physically or mentally addicted to Cannabis. I've recently been smoking around a half oz. a week. Now I know that's a lot for ONE person to smoke. I stopped "cold turkey" for a week. I didn't feel different whatsoever. I think that the mental addiction is pure BS. I don't see how you can come to yourself saying "oh i need this OMG!" You don't need to smoke "just because" and I think that has a huge impact witht he mental addicion game. I guess it does happen though, but you're just doing it to yourself.

Great post BTW.

p.s. paragraphs = easy for the eyes

marijuna is additive and has physical withdrawl symptoms, when i got longe than 2 days without TCH intake i can not sleep, i get anxious, bored, un-attentive ect...i can quit smoking, i have before, but i dont want to yet, i figure ill smoke till im ready to give it up for good so i only gotta go through withdrawl once more

[koshea]

one more thing to add to the arguement, my girlfriends father has under a month to live. he is dying of lung cancer and he never smoked tobacco. the only thing he ever smoked was weed his entire life. now he is dying of lung cancer. carcinogins kill. but shortening my life is worth experiancing everything life has to offer, every sensation...soberity, fucked up ness, love, hate, pain, pleasure..ect