Quote Originally Posted by BlueBlazer
The only really harmful thing about cannabis is that it continues to be illegal. I appreciate your concern, but think you may be a victim of anti-cannabis propaganda.
Not at all. I know plenty such people and I??m definitely not one of them. What I am is self-aware. Everything I mentioned is from personal experience, and I??ve never met a smoker, until now, who denies any of it. The propaganda I heard growing up was that one joint is as bad for your lungs as a pack of cigarettes (which was clearly not a part of my post--didn??t mention anything about cancer b/c I know it??s BS; not sure what other disease you??re talking about), and of course the memory thing and that pot slows you down in general.

Like you, I was a great student as a smoker, and my cognitive function and emotional responses are ??fine?? as well, but I would be in serious denial if I didn??t admit they would be better/sharper/faster without the pot. I??ve gone extended periods without it and that??s just the way it is. Yes, people, especially smart people, have enough in reserve to function as a smoker (otherwise I wouldn??t smoke it), but functioning at an acceptable level doesn??t mean the level wouldn??t be higher without it. Oh, and caffeine helps counteract; I don??t think I??d even be at acceptable without the tea I chug all day. And of course some fields, like the arts, are actually better b/c of pot, like I said.

The other thing I forgot to mention, it lowers overall motivation/drive. This isn??t just me. Yet another thing every single smoker I??ve talked to about admits. It takes a whole of extra effort to get shit done when I??m smoking on a regular basis, and I??m talking about free time obviously. If I??m stoned it??s real easy to let hours slip by just listening to music, and if I??m not stoned, chances are I??m thinking about/wishing I was stoned. Everything??s more fun on weed, and it gets to the point it??s hard to fully enjoy stuff without it. That??s part of the emotional response thing.

Btw, the 20 years you went without it is a very important detail b/c the brain is capable of recovering and playing catch-up.