Marihuana: for, against or neutral?

GiedreB started this discussion · 9/16/2012

Since all Veeners here take care of their bodies and health, I thought I'd like to discuss with you on this topic. I know that it is clinically proven that marihuana is not dangerous for the body like other drugs, and it is also legalized in some countries and used as a remedy for certain illnesses, but I just wanted to hear your opinion about it. Personally, I don't care much for marihuana. I smoked it once and promised myself that that was the first and last time. I am very against cigarette smoking itself, I have never ever smoked a cigarette or even a hookah. I just can't stand it, I don't tolerate it at all, I wouldn't date a smoker, no way. My boyfriend doesn't smoke but he doesn't mind smoking a joint with friends on an occasion. I'm not that pleased about it eather, though. But somehow, I don't mind other people smoking pot. What would you have to say?

93 replies

PersianXcursian · 9/16/2012
I'm against it because so many people abuse it and there actually are adverse affects on the body from it. http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/08/22/1206820109.abstract. It can cause neurological damage (like smoking of any kind). My personal belief is the only things acceptable to inhale on a regular basis is air and an inhaler (for asthmatics only).
GiedreB · 9/16/2012
Yes, of course, abuse of any kind can't lead to good results, I agree there with you. I was more reffering to those people, who smoke it occasionally.
Anonyma · 9/16/2012
I had strong issues with weed, maked me lazy, care of nothing, and also eating like ...a pig! I couldnt control myself to just one joint once in a while, it was all or nothing, Ive smoked pot since i was like 15 years old on a regular bassis. I once in a while , when I get bored... still get some and when I do, I find myself lazy , I gain weight ect Ive quitted for two months in a row, the best thing i did, then started again.... I dont know what attracts me to marijuana, it doesnt advantage me in any way! I am still in a battle to quit forever So yeah , I am totally against it!
GiedreB · 9/16/2012
Olivia, I'm sorry to hear about your battle. However, I admire you for having the will to try and fight your habit; the most important thing is that you're not passive about it. Good luck!
Charley · 9/16/2012
I am 100% pro MEDICINAL marijuana. I think that there are ways to use it properly. My biggest example would be pain in cancer patients - I would rather see natural pain relievers used as opposed to chemicals that have far worse side effects on the body. I am against recreational use of marijuana and am totally against what happens here in Michigan - where you basically say "I have pain" and you get a perscription for pot! I think with proper legislation and medical diagnosis it can be helpful. To add, personally - my experiences with pot haven't been fun, I just go to sleep so it's easy for me to say no to it. I've done it a handful of times and it knocks me out, which isn't much fun. I suppose if i needed to sleep I'd try it but i'm a good sleeper on my own, lol - don't need help. Bring on the wine!
Lyme Lyte · 9/16/2012
I am 100 percent for it. I have smoked in the past and never have blacked out as I do sometimes with alcohol. I would much rather ride in a car with a high person than a drunk person if I had to choose. Plus, pot always put me in a silly, not able to stop laughing mode. When I drink, sometimes the claws come out and I can be mean.
GiedreB · 9/16/2012
Oh, and whoops, sorry I spelt "marijuana" wrong. Wrote it in my own language, lol.
Lyme Lyte · 9/16/2012
I think we all know what u mean. :)
azblanco · 9/16/2012
I think marijuana has its good and bad. For example, I think it has done wonders for patients with glaucoma. I have not researched the topic enough to have good solid statement on it. But from the little that I do know about it, I could see why it could be a good thing for this. My boyfriend struggled with a marijuana addiction for many years (he is a year and 1/2 sober). For people who say that you cannot be addicted to it are DEAD WRONG! He is a person that cannot simply enjoy it every now and then. Hundreds of dollars was spent on it each month and everything else was put on the back burner. Do I blame marijuana, no. He happens to be the type of person that became really hooked on it and it does not have that same effect on everyone. Have I ever enjoyed the positive effects from smoking it, yes absolutely. Would I ever smoke again in my lifetime- probably. But its not something that I go looking for and something that I am ok with to take a hit or two every now and then. Do I judge if one of my friends smokes while I am at their house- no! Its their home and their business. How many deaths have been recorded from LEGAL prescription drugs and alcohol? Too many to count. Do I think legalization in America would be a good idea? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! For the same reason that PersianXcursain mentioned.
Dancing Paws · 9/16/2012
IMO, it should not matter whether it is good or bad for you. It all comes down to the fact that we should have the freedom to choose what to put in our bodies and what not to put in our bodies. Becaise pf that, i sm pro legalization of all drugs. It is nobodys business but our own what we do with our bodies. With that said, mj has its pros and cons. It is like the different pole finishes, everyone reacts differently. Some get positive results while others do not. In comparison to other drugs like alcohol, tobacco and pharma, mj is relatively harmless. It is impossible to OD on, period. I slso lnow that it does help some illnesses. CBDs have been shown to decrease seizure activity, which is important for those with drug resistant epilepsy. Unfortunately, bc it is illegal, it is hard to do legitimate studies on its benefits and harm, so there is a lot of conflicting data. It is known that there are zero deaths by mj ingestion, though. To each their own is what I say.
Dancing Paws · 9/16/2012
Btw, it is possible to be psychologically addicted, but not physically. There is a difference. I stand behind the fact that nobody should be able to tell another person what to do with their bodies. That is an infringement on our freedom of choice. Legalizing it would also help with prison overpopulation and prison spending. Too many non violent pot heads are in our jails...
Dancing Paws · 9/16/2012
I want to note that all the peeps I know who are emotionally addicted, also have other psychological issues like depression, bipolar, etc. the occasional users I know have no underlying problems.
azblanco · 9/16/2012
I don't think ALL drugs should be legalized... I don't think methamphetamines, crack, and heroine should be easily accessable for people to buy and use... The effects of these drugs cannot be compared to the effects of MJ. And as you mentioned, OD on MJ is impossible- scientific fact. I can understand your arguement for mj though... you are right about "too many non violent pot heads are in our jails" I think the sentencing for it should be non criminal... In my local parish, a ordinance was just passed to not punish people who are caught with anything less than a quarter... Thats pretty fair, i think. In my state it has become more of a way for local parishes to make money if you are caught with it by paying a fine...
Lyme Lyte · 9/16/2012
I think Alaska has some sort of law like that as well. You can have some on you but not tons to were it appears you are selling it.
Dancing Paws · 9/16/2012
Actually, the hard drugs like coke, meth, etc are very easy to get. In fact, kids can get all illegal drugs much easier than alcohol...it's actually becoming more common for kids to go for the illegal drugs bc of how easy it is to get. If they were legal and regulated, they would be harder to get (though not impossible.) all this drug war is doing is putting innocents at risk of getting killed by drug lords or put in jail for using, while they are non violent. It is wasting money in the government funds by trying to fight the cartel, imprison normal average joes, and raid mj dispensaries, etc. that money could go to do many better things. In Amsterdam and other countries where drugs are legal drug use went down. In a country that claims to be land of the free, we are restricted in what we can and cannot do. We should be able to pick what we do with our bodies, as long as it does not harm others. We should be able to take drugs, help our terminal patients commit suicide, consenting adults should be able to do as they please, etc. I do not want to de rail the topic completely. I just feel that we are all intelligent free thinking individuals who do not need laws telling us what we can and cannot do when what is in question does no direct harm to others. I still think DUI should be illegal, because that puts others at risk. I do not condone drug use, but I do not think it should be anyone's choice but our own whether or not to partske, regardless of the safety,
azblanco · 9/16/2012
Good point sensual :) I wasnt trying to say you were wrong in your opinions... I just think it would come with a lot more problems than we think if all drugs were to be made legal.. But all your points make sense :)
Dancing Paws · 9/16/2012
I know you weren't saying my views are wrong. :) Everything comes with issues, but that's life. There are a lot of things that are legal that will harm us, like fast food, but most of us agree that they shouldn't be illegal and it's up to the individual to make the decision whether to ingest said food or not. Tylenol can cause acute liver failure in healthy individuals, but that is a risk the user takes. Ibuprofen can cause bleeding ulcers and you can hemmorage to death from it! I had a prescription that had the side effect of seizures listed (WTF?!) If a loved one were to ask me whether or not they should try meth, I'd say "hell no," but it's their life. Unfortunately we live in a post Reefer Madness time and we are trying to undo the damage. Cocaine used to be in cola! and heroin used to be given as medication. Back then people didn't have a problem with that. Also, there was a time when birth control was illegal. Most of us agree that it is nobody's business except for the woman taking it. All growing up I believed what we were taught in school based on the anti drug campaigns, etc. I was born right around the tiome the war on drugs really kicked off, so I was taught IN SCHOOL that drugs (incuding mj are terrrible and ruin society.) Now that I am an adult who has 1) observed the facts, 2) seen how rediculous reefer madness is, 3) know why mj and hemp were really made illegal, and 4) done a lot of research because that's how I am, I've come to realize that I was brainwashed as a child per the war on drugs agenda. In reality, some drugs, like mj, ecstacy, mushrooms, etc are not that bad for you. They can cause problems, but they are not nearly as bad as some prescription drugs. Psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) is actually being studied and found to have medicinal uses. I believe ecstacy is also being studied and found to have some medicinal benefit as well, but I may be remembering incorretly. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, I'm just stating what I have learned and how they have affected my views.
azblanco · 9/16/2012
I believe ecstacy was developed to treat schizophrenic patients in its pure lab form years ago. Another good point
Dancing Paws · 9/16/2012
That's right! I thought I had read it somewhere.
Saphyre · 9/16/2012
This could really be a charged subject, but it is not. I am so glad for that. I smoked it quite a bit when I was in High School. I was a social misfit, but a doobie a day kept me relaxed and able to handle the pressures of being a teenager. I do the same thing today, except it is Xanax (and only when needed) . Really no difference in the benefit I receive. Just one is legal and one is not. I have seen several documentaries on this subject. I believe in the legalization of marijuana. Especially for seizures, cancer, and some other medical issues. Some people are concerned about the "liberal" use of the term "medical need". There is a concern over how legalization would affect the Mexican drug cartels, etc. I think that there are a lot of people in charge who would like to legalize marijuana, but they are too afraid to stand up for it due to political backlash. That's what I took away from the documentary. My husband works for the Government so he cannot smoke until he retires. He has just under 3 years and has already started the countdown to "doobie day". Legal or not.
Ocuspocus · 9/17/2012
I am pro mj but I admit there's a problem to it. Sometimes it's hard to make some people understand when they have become psycologically addicted, they are in denial and it's hard to help them. I guess this happens with any addiction. In my perosnal experience, I used to buy every 3 months and when I didn't have it I didn't even think about it, I didn't even remember to buy every month but when I had it at home I couldn't keep from smoking every day. Just a small dose every day was affecting me because I felt kind of silly all the time and after the first week without stopping I didn't even enjoy it much, I just slept and ate too much, it made me depressed and sometimes by the end of the month I got sick from the bad habits. Feeling silly and slow affected my training a lot so as I noticed I couldn't keep it at home without abusing it I just stopped buying. I tried being responsible about it so I could continue using it because I like it but I always found an excuse like "I had a bad day, I'll smoke a joint and relax" or "I had a good day, I'll smoke a joint and celebrate". And after a week I would start being late everywhere, including work. So right now I only smoke in very rare ocassions and I don't keep any at home. I will not buy it while training, but probably I'll get some for summer vacations when I spend most of my time with my best friends who don't smoke much and they don't want me to smoke everyday. I think one must have some rules to respect that depend on the person. In my case it's "not while training" and "not while I'm alone".
chemgoddess1 · 9/17/2012
Persian, do you by chance have the full study? That abstract really says nothing. Being a researcher I really like to look at what they measured, how they measured it and the statistical analysis that they used to come up with their conclusion. So much lies in the numbers. And I would really like to compare that study to say one that looks at energy drink consumption by teens. That being said, I know a few people that actually are involved in OMCA and getting it on the ballot here in Ohio. I think many would be extremely surprised at the people who smoke regularly....it is just not well known. There have been more studies about MJ use and its effects; there is probably more research about each of its constituents then there are for the majority of pain medications that are currently on the market. There is even a pharma company that is currently trying to get one of the chemicals approved as drug so that they can totally shut down medical marijuana. Some of the stuff I read utterly shocks me. That being said, if I was in constant pain or had some of the other diseases that cannabis has been proven to help I would MUCH prefer something organic and natural over any drug that could be prescribed to me. Do you have any idea how many people are in prison due to possession? How much money is spent fighting cannabis? Do you have any idea how much money could be brought in by legalizing and taxing cannabis? Do you have any idea how many people are addicted to pain medications? Did you know that the FDA is currently considering new pain meds that are stronger and consequently more addicting that what is on the market right now? The LD50 of THC is 1270 mg/kg: this is 104 POUNDS of THC for a 180 lb male to cause death in half of the subjects. (BTW, the average joint conatins about 10 mg of THC). The toxicity of this plant is so low that the possibility of overdose is extremely low (you would have to smoke 10,287 joints in a short time frame to be at the LD50). The pros on this FAR outweight the cons. I am with the people who said they would rather be around people who smoke than people who drink.
PersianXcursian · 9/17/2012
I can try to find it tonight. I technically qualify for a cannibis card because I deal with bad nausea and severe stomach pain almost on a daily basis but I choose not to get it. Instead I switched my meds and started taking more supplements and its been helping.
shannabella · 9/17/2012
Just because it's "natural" doesn't mean its healthy and can't harm you. It causes permanant damage to the lungs and skin. Anytime you inhale any kind of smoke, you are damaging the mucosa of your airways and injuring the lung tissue.
amy · 9/17/2012
just want to point out a couple of facts here: marijuana doesn't have to be smoked. it can easily be eaten, or soaked into a tincture and swallowed. so there isn't necessarily smoke inhalation damage. I'm not sure if people realize this but the pharmaceutical market in the US is not exactly the best thing since sliced bread. there are legalized medications that have horrendous side effects, that are widely prescribed, and we don't understand the neural mechanisms as to how they work, what they are actually doing, or what other effects they may be having. i did my clinical masters in psych in drug addiction, and i dont think you all realize either how incredibly widespread manufactured drugs like meth have become-- and how much more insidious, addictive, and neurologically harmful that htey are. marijuana is NOTHING in comparison. meth destroys entire communities, all over the US, and is much cheaper and more accessible in most communities. obviously illegal drugs are illegal, but you have to recognize that we are all adults. if someone smokes pot, or does drugs, it's the same to me as someone choosing to make any other lifestyle decision. Their decision.

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