Hi, I'm new to these boards.

[Theduderino]

And also a concerned parent of a 15yr old son. Don't all gang up on me! I'm here to try to learn about Cannabis and understand why he feels the need to use it.

I've known about his use since the summer of 2005, and have gone through all the usual parenty type of reactions: Shock, horror, despair...the end is nigh... that sort of thing.

I've spoken to a lot of organisations and his school about it, but it seems that as long as he's not refusing to go to school, stealing cars, using heroin or involved in any other misdemeanours, I've not got a problem.

Things came to a head last week, as he was caught smoking weed at school. Which then involved him being arrested, interviewed by the police, finger-printed, photographed and a DNA sample taken. He's also been excluded from school, possibly untill Easter.

My main concern is that he sits his final exams in a couple of months and is not putting in the work needed. He'd rather meet up with his mates and get stoned. What with that, and the exclusion, I'm starting to worry that he won't get to sit his exams at all.

Having said all that, he's not a bad lad. I've not had a lot of trouble with him. But his grades have plummeted since last summer and I'm concerned about his future.

Have any of you got any tales to tell that could put my mind to rest?

Many thanks. Polaris.

There are many individuals who smoke cannabis on a daily basis and are probably the most productive people during the day when they work. When is the best time to smoke? Usually after all your work is finally completed. Now as for your lad, it's his mindset that is the cause of plummeting grades. He is basically rebelling school. Is cannabis the cause of that? Well, no and a bit of yes.

No because I've known a lot of people who are slackers and they are totally against drugs or even alcohol. They just like to hang with their friends and rebel against school because it's boring, stupid, etc.. Yes because, like having a few drinks, it's fun to smoke and one can easily forget their responsibility and want to smoke day and night. Just keep in mind, it's the same with alcohol - many in college prefer to go out to drink and party then to stay home and study.

Now concerning cannabis itself. The best way to understand it, is to simply smoke it. It gives you a relaxed, goody feeling while making the simplist of things seem funny. The munchies occur since food also tastes much better and you tend to want to have more. Your eyes dry out a bit but any eye drop remedies that, and your body gets a bit de-hydrated but a glass of water remedies that as well. But while you're on it, you tend to want to chill out, watch TV, play some games, etc.. Basically homework and cannabis don't mix too well, but that also depends on the individual since there are those who work hard no matter what they're on.

Is it wrong for your lad to be smoking? Personally I think it's fine but he needs to be educated in knowing that smoking should be for only when he's done with everything he has to do. Besides, like having a nice glass of wine, it's nice to have one after you're done with everything. I never like being toked knowing that I have an essay to complete tomorrow, I just feel like crap all night.

But unless you try it yourself, you won't be able to relate to your lad because he'll just rebel and say you don't have any idea. Smoke with your lad once - trust me it'll be a big surprise for him. Then just talk it out and let him know that it's fine but that he has to get his responsibility done because his life is very important and it's crucial that he gets that degree. Also, to make it more motivating for him, tell him that if he doesn't get good grades, he'll not get into a good schoool, therefore eventually getting a sucky job that won't pay for his cannabis. If he works hard then he'll a good life going and be able to afford as much cannabis as he likes .

But if you are still interested in finding out more about cannabis, check out the site: http://www.erowid.org/ . They tend to tell the truth of things without all the 'just say no', 'drugs kill' BS.

Well good luck and hope things work out. But if your lad is a good boy, then I'm sure he'll turn out just fine. Everyone has their bumps in the road they must face.

The Duderino

[friendowl]

graph your a good hombre
i like the way you tell it

[graph]

graph your a good hombre
i like the way you tell it

hahahaha, I think so too.

[Fabolous]

okay hello, i might as well enter thing Post with my comments

Okay i been smoking since i was 9yo (Now 17), and from my view from this is that he needs to crack down on some of his work. talk to him and set some rules, something like if you get meast up grades, no going out with friends for a week to get High.

i mean hell even i know for the past years that have went back that your work needs to come first before any type of partying.

Friendowl is right that there's many reasons why people start, i know my was with stress (With being poor and parents breaking up etc etc), and if it's just because his friends do it that's just wrong. i don't think anyone should be doing anything simply because there friends or someone they know is doing it as well.

but back to what i was saying just set some standers for him, he doesn't seem to care what punishment he gets so the best thing you can do is just be there for him when he is in trouble and not be a ass about the little things.

[Fan o KmK]

i saw this post and i just had to say something. being a 15 year old kid myself, my opinion might not be as valued as these parents on the board but i think you should definatly understand and allow him to smoke (because hes gona blaze no matter what, its better you guys have some kind of agreement and that you know he does it in a safe place etc.) freely since you said that originally you didnt have much of a problem with it.

cannabis is also, in my opinion, the number one bonding method. if you and your son share a spliff or something, or even just allow him to blaze in his room, then cook up a big pie or something for his muncies lol, im sure youll be amazed at how much closer youll be. trust and being able to tell your parents anything is so important.

however, if you decide that having a talk with him that his grades are going to continue to drop no matter what (100% his decision) that he cant smoke anymore, he will simply rebel and find himself sneaking around, hiding his smoking stuff from you, and being overall much more stressed out and hormonal.

just my 2 cents, im sure it will all work itself out, most people dont smoke cannabis their whole lifes. good luck polaris, you sound like a good mom lol.

[Fan o KmK]

sorry for the double post, just one more thing.

please dont base your opinion on cannabis smokers by reading posts on this board. there are so many that are just completely fucking stupid burn outs that are going nowhere and you shouldnt get your impression from them. (partly referring to the thread below this called "help" lol)

most of us are very well educated, smart, have a great grip on everything around us an ontop of that, are happy to have a nice pile of weed on our desk waiting to be rolled up lol.

uh i think i was gona say something else but i forgot lol. w/e.

[da haze meister]

I am 15 years old. I have told my mother that i smoke numerous times. She refuses to let me until im 18. I used to get stoned before school but I fucked up and *almost* got caught last week, so i will never do it again. Just not worth it. I still use after school and on the weekends. I try my hardest to keep my school work in line, i study hard, i work hard, and at the end of the day, i reward myself with a few nice bong rips on a friday afternoon. I do not view this as wrong. But, i think that although you shouldnt totally crack down on him, he fucked up and got caught, and you need to make this clear to him. sometimes we can go through life being confused as to what to do and what not do do, what to keep at and what to stop.
My two cents.

[orangeman]

Threads like these and the content in them make me sick. Whats the big fuss over cannabis? Why cant we use it around the public without being looked at, stared down, and possibly arrested for it. People who smoke cig's dont get as much attention and it's even more dangerous than weed. Why isnt it legalized and why are you here asking us about what you should do about your son? I'm 15 and I use weed on the daily now and I still get good grades and have a very healthy social life. If your son is having problems and using cannabis they are always gonna blame it and try to make it seem like it's always doing damage. They glorify moments like this so they can exploit cannabis yet again and convince parents it's a social disrupter and just plain "evil" It isnt the cannabis, it's your son. If he's having trouble in school it's him not cannabis. I was flunking but me using weed decided to do better so my mom cant say that its the weed thats making me fail and all this shit. If I were you I'd continue to let him smoke but I would get more down on him about his schooling.

[imagoober]

Schools just not big on everyones list, maybe he just hates school! i did i still graduated, not with great grade but i did it for my mom, and she wouldnt let me fish after school if i didnt, so the problem isnt weed, its school, mabe you need to give him an inscentive, think what he likes, what he like to do. and tell him that you want him do do well for YOU and him and if he does youll help him buy doind things for him! and if you have to maybe take somting away and dont return it until things get better at school. but if hes going to smoke and im sure he will, its better to let him do it at home where its safe! also make sure he knows how stupid he was in smoking at school! and tell him for doing shit like that he will be punished! i would recommend not talking the school about this they just fuck things up, tell them your going to deal with it! good luck i think you son is just like i was at his age and hates school but in the long run i wish i would have done better even thought i hated it!

[minnesota man]

I think if his grades are dropping, he can't smoke. Smoking pot greatly impairs your learning abilities. School is important and if he can't smoke and make A's, then Dad's got to nip it in the bud.

Hey, thanks for asking our opinion. You're a cool dad and he should respect that you made the effort to ask a bunch of potheads. Because the news and the government and the laws about weed are assbackwards and convoluted. Just like everything else in government.