Ponder these questions:

- When you suggest using a "shower of steam," what effect or symptom from smoking is intentionally being countered?

- Why is it that many patients of medicinal cannabis choose vaporizers and claim an inability to manage smoke inhalation?

Now for the requested personal story (so unecessary, but you asked):
When recently I returned to cannabis, I used a friends bong. After a couple of months I did notice that my chest felt heavier, I had phlegm at the back of my throat and occasionally coughed in the mornings. It was definitely attributable to my smoking. I looked into vaporizers and settled on a low-tech introductory method with the idea that I would eventually go high-tech if it was satisfactory. This resulted in elimination of all symptoms mentioned above. I also have been lifting weights for many years.

I still do smoke on the odd occasion as it can be fun and more sociable. But for my regular partaking there is no other choice after discovering the benefits of vaporizing (health and conservation of weed). Certainly, if I were an athlete I would never consider smoking as an option when there is such a happy alternative.

I can't vouch for his sources, but here are some quotes from beachguy's myths post (under "fact") in the lounge:

"Frequent marijuana smokers experience adverse respiratory symptoms from smoking, including chronic cough, chronic phlegm, and wheezing. However, the only prospective clinical study shows no increased risk of crippling pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis and emphysema)."

"There are no epidemiological or aggregate clinical data suggesting that marijuana-only smokers develop lung cancer. However, since some bronchial cell changes appear to be pre-cancerous, an increased risk of cancer among frequent marijuana smokers is possible."

There are good aspects and bad aspects like many things in life, which little DAIMA will learn as she grows up. The bad aspects are not necessarily horrible or cause for great alarm, but they are there and should be acknowledged in any honest discussion. That's something you would do well to remember, David, as you gather your coalition of dumb pot smokers. Class dismissed.