NationStates Jolt Archive

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.

A couple of guys from school were passing around a joint. Trying out who could hold in the fumes longest. When the joint came my way, I refused to smoke it and they were okay with it. But still it interested me... but I mainly didn't want to smoke it because i dont know what's in it.

So I asked my dad. He told me that in a joint, there is cannabis or mariouhana. I told him I don't know what that means, that I don't know the difference between the so-called "hard drugs" and "soft drugs" and that I don't know what it could/would do with me. He told me to keep it that way, and just don't smoke the joint.

So I looked it up on the internet. O boy, I found lots of contradictory stories about this cannabis/mariouhana. Some sites said straight to the point: "it kills you. don't do it" Or stuff like "one joint is just as bad as 5 ciggarettes" while others had a 10 page story explaining why joints actually ARE NOT bad for my health! They said that weed 'tickles' your brain cells, making your high. But that it doesnt destroy the brain cells, while alcohol and hard drugs do. This would make weed healthier that hard drugs or alcohol even. Also they explained that weed is not addictive, while ciggarettes and alcohol are.

This got me confused alot. Why are they all saying different things? I still don't know if a joint is bad for my health. Should I smoke one the next time they pass it around? It looks like fun (though I wouldn't do it every day, once a month at most)

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...

Smoke.

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...If anything, I doubt you'll get less contradictory stories here than if you used google. ;)

lets ask:


http://img333.imageshack.us/my.php?image=weed0xq.jpg


http://img333.imageshack.us/my.php?image=whototrust1oe.jpg

In my humble opinion all it does is kill a lot of brain cells, and last time I checked. <searches the internet>, yeah brain cells are good.

Anti-marijuana websites are probably owned by the government. It’s just a bunch of propaganda. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with smoking weed, even the surgeon general says so. There’s really no debate. It’s just a bunch of government hype. Smoke.

It is bad for you. How bad? Not as bad as cigarettes, but bad.

On second thought, a trip to Amsterdam and the Cannabis College (http://www.hiptravelguide.com/amsterdam/php/article-104.html) should be in order. They'll probably have more and most of all more reliable information than some a lot of the sites you've been visiting.

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.

A couple of guys from school were passing around a joint. Trying out who could hold in the fumes longest. When the joint came my way, I refused to smoke it and they were okay with it. But still it interested me... but I mainly didn't want to smoke it because i dont know what's in it.

So I asked my dad. He told me that in a joint, there is cannabis or mariouhana. I told him I don't know what that means, that I don't know the difference between the so-called "hard drugs" and "soft drugs" and that I don't know what it could/would do with me. He told me to keep it that way, and just don't smoke the joint.

So I looked it up on the internet. O boy, I found lots of contradictory stories about this cannabis/mariouhana. Some sites said straight to the point: "it kills you. don't do it" Or stuff like "one joint is just as bad as 5 ciggarettes" while others had a 10 page story explaining why joints actually ARE NOT bad for my health! They said that weed 'tickles' your brain cells, making your high. But that it doesnt destroy the brain cells, while alcohol and hard drugs do. This would make weed healthier that hard drugs or alcohol even. Also they explained that weed is not addictive, while ciggarettes and alcohol are.

This got me confused alot. Why are they all saying different things? I still don't know if a joint is bad for my health. Should I smoke one the next time they pass it around? It looks like fun (though I wouldn't do it every day, once a month at most)

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...

First time you try it, you feel nothing. So the next time you hold it in a little longer and still nothing.

Then third time you get all paranoid and start phasing through dimensions of time and feaking out.

And after that things are pretty chill. Taking a hit loosens you up a bit after a stressful day. And it's not all that bad for you, as long as you don't become a pothead. People who smoke too much lose a bit of their edge and aren't as sharp.

I'd say If you're going to do it you should use a bong. The smoke is the stuff that's really bad for you. It's like inhaling cigar smoke.

many of my former friends started smoking pot, it sure as hell is addictive and the people act a little different after geting addicted, it is very much dangeres and kills brain cells, not to mention gives you some hell of a lot of lung damige

(sorry for the bad spelling)

i never took drug

(mainly because of 3 reasons A my dad said he would kill me B)my dad is a 19 year veteran of the police force..he would smell it off me in a second C)i was at a party when i accidently snifed in weed smoke from this guy beside me and i got very,VERY sick!)



but in my opinion it is unclear if weed is bad because people use them for medical treatment so people figure well it must be safe....but then you lose brain cells.

In my own experience, and in that of both my parents, smoking weed on it's own - with no tobacco - is actually less harmful than a normal cigarette would be. This is due to all the tar, chemicals, nicotine and shit that the tobacco contains or is soaked in.
Weed itself is only harmful if used in very large amounts over short periods of time, though this can be said of practically every single consumable in existence.
HOWEVER. There are certain hybrid plants which produce a far larger amount of certain chemicals than naturally-grown hemp, the product of one of these is commonly known as 'Skunk', and is the dangerous one.

The moral of this story is; grow your own, like God intended.

Are you smoking yet?

It all depends on the vantage point you are taking:

YES, the chemicals within one joint are the equivalent of 5 cigarettes.

NO, marijuana does NOT cause cancer.

YES, marijuana does harm the body; the effects are noted later in life, in the areas of memory and intelligence (Scientific Fact: Marijuana does kill off brain cells gradually.)

NO, the surgeon general does not acknowledge the dangers/benfits of smoking marijuana due to the conflicting evidence that strongly supports and strongly dissaproves of its use.

Now, I have never smoked one joint, drink one ounce of any alcoholic beverage, and am still a virgin (and darn proud of those statements) so I do not know if my view will help in anyway, but here is my advice; Smoke if yu want to, but be prepared to accept the consciquences of your actions later on down the road.

YES, the chemicals within one joint are the equivalent of 5 cigarettes.

Now that's top quality bullshit, and I'm actually curious to know how old you are.

Your dad was right to tell you to not smoke it, but it's too bad he didn't spend more time on the issue.

Speaking from personal experience, everyone I know, including family and friends, who uses pot regularly, have underachieved and lived lives that were disappointing in some regard (yes, every pot smoker I've known). Is it that doing pot makes people into losers, or that losers choose pot? I don't know. Yes, I'm sure some people do smoke pot with no adverse affects, but I don't know any.

I, like you, have heard various conflicting things about pot. I've heard it's more cancer causing than cigarettes (from a teacher in high school) to it's not harmful at all (from someone in high school that used it). I've also heard various things about how it does/doesn't affect your body/brain chemistry.

All that matters is this: if you decide to smoke, all you have to gain is some meaningless "high". However, you have much to lose.

Short answer: well duh it's bad for you.

Longer answer: First up, smoking pretty much anything is bad for you, and weed's no exception. You're drawing in soot and particulate matter that's not good for the lungs, as well as tar, carbon monoxide, and a range of complex half-burnt chemicals that doubtless do a fine job as carcinogens. So smoking weed is gonna have all the wonderful respiratory and cancer-causing problems that smoking tobacco does, especially if (as most people do) you're using tobacco in the mix so it won't be as harsh to smoke.

Second up, regular marijuana users seem to have a higher rate of psychological disorders such as schizophrenia than the general population. I don't think I've ever heard any reliable stories about people having their brain melted down by their first time on pot or anything, but an awful lot of people who let their marijuana use turn into a habit tend to end up a bit messed up in the head, from relatively minor stuff like just not being as motivated as they used to be, full to fully fledged schizophrenia and psychotic episodes.

Third up, it's addictive. It isn't physically addictive, but it's possible to build up a long term psychological addiction. This isn't going to be a problem for people who only use it recreationally in the first place, but people who get to the point of using weed daily will have a lot of trouble weening themselves off it. They'll feel jittery, nervous, irritable, and generally not much fun to be around until they can have another cone and unwind.

Fourth and most importantly, it's probably illegal where you live. And if you live in the United States, then that country's rather crappy legal system and ass-backwards approach to drugs means that the potential consequences of being caught in possession are likely to be way more harmful than any of the dangers of the drug itself.

That having been said though, I give it the thumbs up as far as recreational drugs go. It's affordable, you can't OD on it, and if you only smoke it now and then when you're out partying, then it's gonna have less of an impact on your long term health than tobacco or alcohol, thanks mainly to the fact that you're not going to be consuming it in anywhere near the same quantity as those substances. The only real precautions you have to take are
1) Try not to mix it with other drugs. You'll probably end up ignoring this one (virtually everyone ends up getting drunk and high at once), but if you're smoking pot, try and keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum unless you desperately feel the need to get utterly, utterly wasted to the point where you can't walk without falling over for the night. And try to avoid taking other illegal drugs at all when you're high, because that's expensive, pushes your body, and is generally a sign that you're mixing with the wrong crowd anyway.
2) Don't smoke all the time. Trying pot for the first time is all well and good. Having it at parties or when you're going out is fine. Having it whenever you've got nothing else to do is a problem, and you don't wanna end up there (if for no other reason than it gets expensive).
3) Don't deal, don't buy for stuff that's weeks in advance, and don't go carrying it around unless you're on your way to where you're having it. Virtually everyone gets through life without being done by the police for having pot, but it's still best to take a few precautions to make sure you aren't one of the unlucky few.

So in conclusion, yes it's harmful, but no it's not as harmful as the "Just Say No" types would have you believe. At the end of the day, whether or not to try pot is your choice, but it's not one that has dire consequences. The only real risks of marijuana use come from long-term habitual use, and if you play it smart and hang with the right crowd that's highly unlikely to be a habit you get into.

Any time you restrict your intake of oxygen, you're killing brain cells. Marijuana doesn't evaporate from your lungs, either, it affects your body in many ways similar to smoking cigarettes, plus introduces THC, an altogether different chemical, into your system.

"Is smoking weed bad?"

Well...I don't believe it's possible to actually overdose on the drug itself. I'm sure as with any foreign substance introduced to the body, some people might be allergic to it and suffer a reaction which could lead to death. I've personally never heard of such a thing happening, but it seems that if strawberries can kill some people, the same would apply to the chemicals in marijuana. I'd assume it's extremely rare if it does happen.

I think it pretty much depends on the person.

If you have an addictive personality, it might not be the best idea. I have a lot of friends who've smoked their lives away. It also depends on your preference on how you want to lead their lives. Some of them are fine with that choice. Others deeply regret it, or are too messed up to do anything about it and are on anti-depression medicine to try and balance it out. I also have a lot of friends that do it occasionally, some who tried it one or a few times and didn't like it and thus never did it again, etc.

You have to know that every person reacts to any kind of recreational drug (and the same applies to SSRIs and other anti-depression meds) differently, and it's not always the same reaction. It could be bad, it could be fine. Pretty much everyone I know that's smoked pot, "pothead" or not, has at least one bad high story to tell, but that's a risk you take any time you put a foreign substance in your body.

I've heard many a drug talk from well-experienced friends. It's important that you know the source of the pot, and that it's really pot (that seems obvious to older people and experienced smokers, but I've heard stories in this vein that went awry, as well). People sometimes "cap" pot with drugs you might not be ready to try, and it's not fair that you get it snuck in there on you.

Other than that, and again with any foreign substance, especially drugs, make sure if you decide to do it that you're with people you trust and are comfortable being around. Not only is that smart, period, it could sway your reaction to the experience itself. The mind is a powerful and often underestimated thing...I think a lot of times people freak themselves out more than anything a drug is doing to them.

In the end, no matter what people tell you, it's a decision you have to make on your own. If you're a strong person and can handle yourself and your own personal limitations, you should be fine. Just know there's always a wildcard, and accept that whatever results in your actions happens, and you'll have to ride it out.

Pot is definitely one of the softer-core drugs, most obviously because it's grown instead of chemically made. Keep in mind the "gateway" drug theory...which seems pretty accurate, in a college town anyway. :p

I've actually done (with my own two hands no less) an experiment where the tar content of a 'joint' was found to be considerably larger (about 5 times more) than the content of a cigarrette, other than that I don't think its as bad as a cigarrette (though tar is not good for your lungs by any means) there are so many things out there that you do every day that are just as bad potentially, what with all the crap they put in packaged food now days, not too mention the problems with second hand smoke, and god knows what in the atmospere. Yea, smokign weed MIGHT kill you faster, but then so might eating Oreos.
I personally don't do drugs, and have never tried them for two reasons:
1. respiratory problems, I couldn't smoke a fake cigar comfortably, a real cigarrette might be deadly and the tar content of marijuana puts that right out the window
2. I refuse to submit to any experience that might alter my conscious mind, I like the way I think thank you and I don't want some temporary 'high' taking that away. despite what the marijuana smokers will probably tell you, at least on a psychological level the stuff is addictive and addiction is a long and dangerous road to anything.

People sometimes "cap" pot with drugs you might not be ready to try, and it's not fair that you get it snuck in there on you.


I'd just like to say that that's extremely rare. Pot's something that's ready for sale as is, and nobody is gonna increase their expenses by lacing it with other drugs before they sell it. Any talk of dealers putting speed or heroin or whatever into the pot without telling their customers about it is just scaremongering urban myth baloney from the same people who believed stories about dealers lacing Mickey Mouse temporary tatoos with acid and selling them to schoolkids. It's just dumb.

That's not to say that nobody laces their marijuana with other drugs, but it's pretty much always something the end user does because he wants to give what he's smoking a bit of a kick, not something people do to trick the unsuspecting into doing hard drugs.

I'd just like to say that that's extremely rare. Pot's something that's ready for sale as is, and nobody is gonna increase their expenses by lacing it with other drugs before they sell it. Any talk of dealers putting speed or heroin or whatever into the pot without telling their customers about it is just scaremongering urban myth baloney from the same people who believed stories about dealers lacing Mickey Mouse temporary tatoos with acid and selling them to schoolkids. It's just dumb.

That's not to say that nobody laces their marijuana with other drugs, but it's pretty much always something the end user does because he wants to give what he's smoking a bit of a kick, not something people do to trick the unsuspecting into doing hard drugs.
I don't know about that. From what I've been told, in cities with large drug trades it can happen often enough.

True, I should have said that lacing with pot is rare. Virtually any other drug I can think of, not so rare. But I have seen it happen in person before...so I guess it's just always a good idea to trust your dealer? :p

I don't know about that. From what I've been told, in cities with large drug trades it can happen often enough.

Really? What would they lace it with?

I know people rip other people off by mixing it with oregeno, etc, but what other drug would they include that wouldn't result in a financial loss rather than gain for them?

[QUOTE=Now, I have never smoked one joint, drink one ounce of any alcoholic beverage, and am still a virgin (and darn proud of those statements) .[/QUOTE]

You're proud of some pretty strange things then! Maybe you make this statement only to hide your sense of inadequacy for being to chicken to smoken weed/ hit the booze etc?

Government experts now admit that pot doesn't kill brain cells.(8) This myth came from a handful of animal experiments in which structural changes (not actual cell death, as is often alleged) were observed in brain cells of animals exposed to high doses of pot. Many critics still cite the notorious monkey studies of Dr. Robert G. Heath, which purported to find brain damage in three monkeys that had been heavily dosed with cannabis.(9) This work was never replicated and has since been discredited by a pair of better controlled, much larger monkey studies, one by Dr. William Slikker of the National Center for Toxicological Research(10) and the other by Charles Rebert and Gordon Pryor of SRI International.(11) Neither found any evidence of physical alteration in the brains of monkeys exposed to daily doses of pot for up to a year. Human studies of heavy users in Jamaica and Costa Rica found no evidence of abnormalities in brain physiology.(12) Even though there is no evidence that pot causes permanent brain damage, users should be aware that persistent deficits in short-term memory have been noted in chronic, heavy marijuana smokers after 6 to 12 weeks of abstinence.(13) It is worth noting that other drugs, including alcohol, are known to cause brain damage.

Drugs are bad m'kay and if you do drugs, that means youre bad m'kay, so don't do drugs m'kay

And here we go, pot actually can SAVE brain cells.

A cannabinoid derivative, dexanabinol (HU-211), could be the first neuroprotective agent to be approved for human use. If it is successful it might become a "standard inclusion in the kit bag of every medic and ambulance", says neurosurgeon Nachshon Knoller (Tel Hashomer,Israel).

Dexanabinol is a non-psychotropic derivative of a synthetic family of tetrahydrocannabinoid analogues. The drug has three independent mechanisms of action: it blocks glutamate-induced neurotoxicity; it scavenges both peroxy and hydroxy free-radicals; and it inhibits the action of the inflammatory cytokine alpha-tumour necrosis factor. "The triple action stops the spread of the primary neuronal damage from the core of injury to the surrounding brain tissue, even after a single intravenous injection, up to 6 hours after the initial insult", says Raphael Mechoulam, professor of pharmacology, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.

The results of a UK phase I clinical trial showing lack of adverse reactions to dexanabinol and results from earlier animal studies were presented on Nov 15 in Washington, DC, USA, at the annual meeting of the Society of Neurotrauma. A phase II clinical study of dexanabinol started in Israel on Nov 9, under the auspices of the American Brain Injury Consortium, in patients with severe head injury exhibiting abnormal computed tomography scans and requiring intracranial pressure monitoring.

I know people rip other people off by mixing it with oregeno, etc, but what other drug would they include that wouldn't result in a financial loss rather than gain for them?Heavier drugs, if they have said heavier drugs to tell. The point of this would be to attempt to create an addiction to said heavier drugs.

You're proud of some pretty strange things then! Maybe you make this statement only to hide your sense of inadequacy for being to chicken to smoken weed/ hit the booze etc?

Um...do you want his/her lunch money, too? :p

Heavier drugs, if they have said heavier drugs to tell. The point of this would be to attempt to create an addiction to said heavier drugs.

Aha...tricksy drug cartel!

Drugs are bad m'kay and if you do drugs, that means youre bad m'kay, so don't do drugs m'kay
Aye you should listen to your daddy and mommy coz you know those things aren't for little kids. Alcohol is a no-no and not to mention cigarettes. And drugs! The horrible MJ that kills so many people everyday. :rolleyes:

Oh come on. Give Michael Jackson a break already. Hasn't he been through enough? :D :p

I smoked pot on a regular basis for years, and because of it I developed heart palpatations. The doctors said there had been no hard data as to why it happened, but it had to do with deterioration of the signals the brain sends to regulate the heart. The palpatations were scary, and sometimes it felt like my heart was trying to jump out of my chest. I quit smoking pot and the palpatations stopped immediately. Nuff said! Quite simply not worth the risks to your health.

It's interesting that the only ones who say that it's harmless and good for you are the people who actually do it themselves.

...

Second up, regular marijuana users seem to have a higher rate of psychological disorders such as schizophrenia than the general population. I don't think I've ever heard any reliable stories about people having their brain melted down by their first time on pot or anything, but an awful lot of people who let their marijuana use turn into a habit tend to end up a bit messed up in the head, from relatively minor stuff like just not being as motivated as they used to be, full to fully fledged schizophrenia and psychotic episodes.

...

Difficult to prove without clinical trials, which no one will do cos of the lack of profit. People with schizophrenia often smoke. Smokers often develope schizophrenia. A definate link but which is first chicken or egg. People with mental health disorders often smoke more tobacco is this a cause or effect. Effect obviously, it helps calmness. Same with weed? who knows and who'll pay for the research? sad isn't it.

Howdy, folks.

In my (limited) experience, getting stoned is very similar to getting drunk. If you like alcohol, there's a good chance you'll like weed.

While you can't really trust any of the info you find on the internet (it's all propaganda), common sense tells us that inhaling any kind of smoke is harmful to your lungs. Pot smoke is actually worse for your throat than tobacco smoke: Tobacco smoke numbs the cilia in your throat for three or four hours. Cilia sweep the mucus out of your airway and filter the air you breathe; the deadening of the cilia is why smokers get a "smoker's cough". Pot smoke numbs the cilia of the throat for seven or eight hours. Furthermore, pot smoke is hotter than tobacco smoke; it can burn the cilia right off (don't worry, they can grow back).

I live in Vancouver, BC; pot capital of North America. While a popular image is that everyone smokes pot here, it's a bit off. It's not everyone, it's anyone. You generally can't tell if someone smokes pot until they either tell you they do or you see them do it. All sorts of respectable people with successful careers like to get high here. Smoking weed is no more likely to derail your life than drinking alcohol is; potheads are to weed as alcoholics are to booze.

If you are going to experiment with pot, do it in a safe environment; with friends at somebody's home, not at a party (pot is for relaxing, not partying). Don't mix it with alcohol. Have plenty of food and beverages on hand. If you have a friend who smokes weed, get him to help you out.

I'm not saying that you definitely should try it; I advise against it if you live in a place that has severe legal penalites for posession, or if you're a minor. I am saying that you should make an informed decision.

It's interesting that the only ones who say that it's harmless and good for you are the people who actually do it themselves.

maybe that is because they know the truth and don't listen to government propaganda. I'm still not condoning the use of pot, just being a 'devil's advocate'

if you don't understand this, its because i am english

It's not any worse for you than any other substance if consumed in moderation.

Don't forget, an excessive amount of chocolate is bad for you too :p

Heavier drugs, if they have said heavier drugs to tell. The point of this would be to attempt to create an addiction to said heavier drugs.

Yeah, or a small amount of another substance can create a totally different high, and have the buyer come back for more.

It can also have the opposite effect. One time, with a friend, I had what we suspect was laced weed (I think it was LSD), and yeah....not going back there.

Really? What would they lace it with?

I know people rip other people off by mixing it with oregeno, etc, but what other drug would they include that wouldn't result in a financial loss rather than gain for them?

With synthetic drugs there's always the temptation to do things on the cheap by throwing in assorted vaguely similar but cheaper (or just more available at the time) drugs so that people will still get some sort of high. This is particularly common with party drugs like ecstacy, since it's often a lot easier for the dealer to come by various other drugs, so he'll pad his pills out with a cocktail of lord only knows what and sell it as ecstacy even if it's got little or no actual MDMA in it.

With pot though, there's not much you can do. Pot is bits of a plant, and people who know their pot can tell at a glance whether it's the real deal or not. So the only time a dealer would bother mixing other drugs in with the product at all would be so he can say there's other stuff in it and sell it as a superior product for more money.

I heard from a VERY reliable source about a week ago that recent studies have shown that marajuana has a 100% guaranteed negative effect on the still developing brain of somone 16 or younger. With each year beyond that the rate significantly dropping to soon be rather insignificant outside of the known memory loss and a few other side effects that are thought to occur, like the possibility of slight breast development in some males. (possibly females too I guess, but we really wouldn't look at that side to hard now would we)

And mind you, this source is an addiction medicine specialist and a supporter of legalizing marajuana. I'll see if I can find some info on the study he was pulling that from.

im 15, and i have never touched drugs so far in my life, (maybe coz im english and its harder to get) if i were you i would take one puff, and if you llike it, smoke like you woould drink alcohol, IN MODERATION. if you don't like it, the answer is simple, dont smoke it. find something else to do with you friends, like playing computer games or watch football.... sorry, 'soccer' :p


the english kid

you heretics! weed is not bad, you are.

Okay here I am again. Thank you so much for all your info, though it is still very contradictory just like some guy said at the beginning of this topic...

Someone said something about not smoking it if there are heavy penalties on doing it, like in the USA. But I am from the Netherlands (ironic but true... haha)

And I am still not sure wether to do it. I dont even know when I could get the chance to do so. I am not even sure wether it is harmfull. But if I am going to smoke it, it will be so in moderation (how do I say it? i mean that I will not do it often, I will never start a joint myself, only smoke along with others once in a while)

I do wonder though if it is possible to maintain this way of smoking weed because when I do it too much, I do guess it will damage my health. Then maybe, it is better to not start at all? I still can't decide. I will just try it out for one time and see if i like it.

you heretics! weed is not bad, you are.

did we go against your religion now?
i really don't think weed counts as a god, and i find that comment rather offensive, being a christian.

the english kid

Ah come on English Kid...he makes such a well-presented case for usage there. ;)

Okay here I am again. Thank you so much for all your info, though it is still very contradictory just like some guy said at the beginning of this topic...

Someone said something about not smoking it if there are heavy penalties on doing it, like in the USA. But I am from the Netherlands (ironic but true... haha)

And I am still not sure wether to do it. I dont even know when I could get the chance to do so. I am not even sure wether it is harmfull. But if I am going to smoke it, it will be so in moderation (how do I say it? i mean that I will not do it often, I will never start a joint myself, only smoke along with others once in a while)

I do wonder though if it is possible to maintain this way of smoking weed because when I do it too much, I do guess it will damage my health. Then maybe, it is better to not start at all? I still can't decide. I will just try it out for one time and see if i like it.

1) just how old are you?
2) i think you have the right idea with not doing it yourself, but only take a joint from close friends who you trust not to lace the joint with something else
3) talk to your friends about what happened to them when they smoked it. if you don't like the sound of it don't smoke.

the english kid

Smoking weed is no more likely to derail your life than drinking alcohol is; potheads are to weed as alcoholics are to booze.
I think that this is a very good point. A lot of people try to make it seem as if doing pot at all is going to cause you problems, and that's just not true. Just like for alcohol, all the really serious side effects of pot come from regular use. I would say that smoking the ocasional joint is fine. On the other hand, all the people I've known who smoked pot regularly have come across as pretty out of it, and not terribly intelligent. It's like they're just not all there, even when they haven't been smoking for a while.

So, I think that regular smoking of pot is a really bad idea, but the ocasional toke isn't going to do any lasting harm.

Now that's top quality bullshit, and I'm actually curious to know how old you are.

No, it's actualy true. Marijuana opens the bloodvessels in your lungs, allowing tar, carbonmonoxide and nicotine (quite harmful substances) to enter your bloodstream faster and in higher quantities.
That said, marijuana does have some good effects on the body as well. It reduces pain-sensations and artritis.
But, it still is actually worse than smoking a normal sigarette. But that's just because of the mixture tobacco-marijuana in a joint. Marijuana in itself is (nearly) harmless

did we go against your religion now?
i really don't think weed counts as a god, and i find that comment rather offensive, being a christian.

the english kid

You find other people's religious beliefs offensive? :p

*worships at altar of Bob Marley*

Ah come on English Kid...he makes such a well-presented case for usage there.

PH! :fluffle:

I would agree that age plays a difference.

I would also strongly question anyone who states that pot doesn't kill brain cells...any time you're suffocating your brain, you're killing cells.

You find other people's religious beliefs offensive? :p

*worships at altar of Bob Marley*



PH! :fluffle:


no, only certain peoples, by the way, how many openings do you have in the marley religion? i wanna be the pope! :p

the english kid

no, only certain peoples, by the way, how many openings do you have in the marley religion? i wanna be the pope! :p


Everyone is the pope in Cannibalism! Uh...Cannabisism...uh...yeah.

You find other people's religious beliefs offensive? :p

*worships at altar of Bob Marley*



PH! :fluffle:

Kanabia! *big hugs* :fluffle:

Before you get any ideas...I'm neither particularly pro or against marijuana usage...well, in some particular people I know, I am. :p Otherwise, I think it's just wise to know some of these things from people who've actually done it and had differing experiences before trying it. Must be prepared for all possibilities, man. Yeah.

i wanna be the pope!

But that's me! :p

Kanabia! *big hugs* :fluffle:

Before you get any ideas...I'm neither particularly pro or against marijuana usage...well, in some particular people I know, I am. :p Otherwise, I think it's just wise to know some of these things from people who've actually done it and had differing experiences before trying it. Must be prepared for all possibilities, man. Yeah.


what he said ^^ ;)

the english kid

I would agree that age plays a difference.

I would also strongly question anyone who states that pot doesn't kill brain cells...any time you're suffocating your brain, you're killing cells.

I'll go with that, you only need to look at people who have been smoking it for 20 years an who's brain in mush to realise what it does to you.

I think the attitude to cannibis is the same as it was to smoking say 25 years ago. There were still plenty of people saying that it didn't do any harm you. Now were have the same debate regarding passive smoking.

I remember my sister smoking it way back when and saying how she couldn't concentrate properly for a few days after. short term high...long term consequences.

I would agree that age plays a difference.

I would also strongly question anyone who states that pot doesn't kill brain cells...any time you're suffocating your brain, you're killing cells.

Pot doesn't kill braincells. It stimulates the bloodflow everywhere in the body, and thus gives an extra of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Ofcourse, when you use too much of it, it's bad. And the combination of marijuana-tobbacco, as in a joint, is very unhealthy. But not for your brains (again, if used in moderation).
If cannabis (ground substance of marijuana) was bad for the brain, it wouldn't be used as a medicine in some cases (it reduces symptoms of MS (and reduces the pain), it's used in cancer-cures to help patients not to vomit, and it's being researched for its potential to (slightly) reduce some symptoms of Parkinson's disease).

I study Pharmaceutical Sciences and last year we discussed cannabis and it's effects (and all it products like marijuana, but also it's medical uses). I don't know everything about it, ofcourse, but I did have very good notes from that class ;)

Kanabia! *big hugs* :fluffle:

Before you get any ideas...I'm neither particularly pro or against marijuana usage...well, in some particular people I know, I am. :p Otherwise, I think it's just wise to know some of these things from people who've actually done it and had differing experiences before trying it. Must be prepared for all possibilities, man. Yeah.

Yeah. It's a personal decision, really. I wouldn't put pressure on anyone to try it. As with all drugs, i'd recommend a couple of close and trusted friends on hand just incase.

Although all the fuss about it only causes a letdown. It's not some sort of amazing life-changing experience. It's fun, but all the hype and negative image associated with it is just stupid. My advice to anyone is: If you want to try it - just go for it.

Yeah. It's a personal decision, really. I wouldn't put pressure on anyone to try it. As with all drugs, i'd recommend a couple of close and trusted friends on hand just incase.

Although all the fuss about it only causes a letdown. It's not some sort of amazing life-changing experience. It's fun, but all the hype and negative image associated with it is just stupid. My advice to anyone is: If you want to try it - just go for it.

spot on my australian friend! you have finally said what everyone else has been grappling with in one easy-to-read, short post! how about forgetting Bob Marley and worshipping yourself as King Of All Men! :p

the english kid

spot on my australian friend! you have finally said what everyone else has been grappling with in one easy-to-read, short post! how about forgetting Bob Marley and worshipping yourself as King Of All Men! :p

:D Okay, twist my arm...*worships self*

Pot doesn't kill braincells. It stimulates the bloodflow everywhere in the body, and thus gives an extra of oxygen and nutrients to the brain.

Only in short term users

http://www.idmu.co.uk/canncardio.htm

3 Cerebrovascular Effects:

3.1 Matthew & Wilson[xxxiv] found "In experienced marijuana smokers, marijuana smoking was accompanied by a significant bilateral increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) especially in the frontal regions and cerebral blood velocity." Tunving et al[xxxv], studying long-term cannabis users found decreases in cerebral blood flow during the early stages of detoxification, reverting to normal after 9-60 day follow-up. Similar results were found by Lundqvist et al[xxxvi]


I foyu use it for long term users blood pressure falls and takes a long time ot come back to normal.


5 Summary · Cardiovascular effects of Cannabis:

5.1 Cannabis increases heart rate in na•ve users although tolerance develops to this effect.

5.2 Cannabinoids can also reduce blood pressure via arteriollar dilatation in a variety of tissues, although the effect on blood flow varies at a local level, with some organs or brain regions experiencing vasoconstriction, others vasodilation.

5.3 In the withdrawal phase following cessation of chronic use, cerebral blood flow may be significantly reduced.

5.4 Cannabis use has been implicated as a causative factor in a small number of patients suffering strokes or transient ischaemic attacks, and may represent a risk factor to susceptible individuals.

5.5 However cannabinoids, in particular CB1-receptor agonists, have been shown to protect against nerve cell death following stroke, and dexanabinol at an advanced stage of the licensing process as a drug to be administered to victims of stroke or closed-head injuries to minimise the long-term brain damage caused by such events, and to improve survival and recovery prospects.

So as regards the brain the only +ive is if you have a stroke.

So in summary when it comes to blood flow, if you are ill take it if your not don't because it might make you ill. :confused: ;)

Speaking from personal experience, everyone I know, including family and friends, who uses pot regularly, have underachieved and lived lives that were disappointing in some regard (yes, every pot smoker I've known). Is it that doing pot makes people into losers, or that losers choose pot? I don't know. Yes, I'm sure some people do smoke pot with no adverse affects, but I don't know any.
Interestingly, no one I know who smokes regularly has underachieved. In fact, out of the, admittedly fairly few, people I know who do, one has his own successful small film company (he's 20), two of them are drummers in up-and-coming bands, one is 17 and is on course for straight 'A's in his A-levels, two more are on course for first class degrees (in law and archaeology respectively), and I myself am on for a upper second in history. I don't really call any of that underachievement. I think you may just know people who'd underachieve anyway, and the cannabis is a non-causal link.

Second up, regular marijuana users seem to have a higher rate of psychological disorders such as schizophrenia than the general population. I don't think I've ever heard any reliable stories about people having their brain melted down by their first time on pot or anything, but an awful lot of people who let their marijuana use turn into a habit tend to end up a bit messed up in the head, from relatively minor stuff like just not being as motivated as they used to be, full to fully fledged schizophrenia and psychotic episodes.
Psychological disorders tend to only develop in cannabis-users if they start smoking it when their body and brain are still developing rapidly (ie. during puberty). This is when the chemicals in cannabis can have the most effect, exaggerating some changes whilst minimising others.

It's not any worse for you than any other substance if consumed in moderation.

Don't forget, an excessive amount of chocolate is bad for you too
Y'know, if you eat 11 pounds of standard milk chocolate, you can get as high as you would off a spliff? I think I'd prefer the spliff.

Y'know, if you eat 11 pounds of standard milk chocolate, you can get as high as you would off a spliff? I think I'd prefer the spliff.

tut, tut. chocolate all the way. what is 11 pounds in kilos?

the english kid

tut, tut. chocolate all the way. what is 11 pounds in kilos?

the english kid

5kg...

5kg of chocolate? *puke*

tut, tut. chocolate all the way. what is 11 pounds in kilos?

the english kid
4.994 kg.
And remember, after that much chocolate you're going to throw up. After one spliff, you won't, or at least, most people wouldn't.

5kg...

5kg of chocolate? *puke*
C'mon, get it right...you're 6 grams off! That's enough for several spliffs... :D

4.994 kg.
And remember, after that much chocolate you're going to throw up. After one spliff, you won't, or at least, most people wouldn't.

hey, dont tell me what is gonna make me throw up! 5 kilos is nothing to a 15-year-old! :D

the english kid

Anti-marijuana websites are probably owned by the government. It’s just a bunch of propaganda. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with smoking weed, even the surgeon general says so. There’s really no debate. It’s just a bunch of government hype. Smoke.

Well thats wrong. Weed doesnt make you go insane after one smoke, give you cancer overnight and you can't OD on it. However it does kill off brain cells, reduce both short and long term memonry and can induce physcosis if smoked regualry for a long period. It can also induce paranioa and can set of pskitophrenia (fucked if I can spell) if there is a family history of it.

Even if it had no effect the kind of people who smoke are from my overwhelming expereince no hoper bums. Of course there are a few that are exceptions to the rule but for the most part you dont want to smoke weed becuase it introduces you to a bunch of losers who you really dont want to know.

It also smells horrible, a room with to much smoke smells like a urinal.

My advice... you dont have anything to gain by smoking it and certinaly have something to lose... not to mention its illegal

C'mon, get it right...you're 6 grams off! That's enough for several spliffs... :D

Oh, true.

Say, maybe you could mix cocoa and weed? yuck. :p

Think of it this way, inhaling any sort of smoke doesn't do your lungs any good and whilst there may be some (debatable) benefits from some of the chemicals in it, these are only of benefit to sick people. Plus its kind of expensive so as a cheapskate myself, personally i wouldn't bother.

Oh, true.

Say, maybe you could mix cocoa and weed? yuck. :p
Heh, I've done that - chocolate and weed brownies. If anyone here wants to do this, make sure you break down the weed enough first, or you'll just get a nasty taste and no effect.

Think of it this way, inhaling any sort of smoke doesn't do your lungs any good and whilst there may be some (debatable) benefits from some of the chemicals in it, these are only of benefit to sick people. Plus its kind of expensive so as a cheapskate myself, personally i wouldn't bother.

Ironically though, it's cheaper than an equivalent (in terms of inebriation) amount of alcohol.

Ironically though, it's cheaper than an equivalent (in terms of inebriation) amount of alcohol.
Really? I find if you get a litre of very cheap (and nasty) vodka, you can get extremely wasted for about £5...

Heh, I've done that - chocolate and weed brownies. If anyone here wants to do this, make sure you break down the weed enough first, or you'll just get a nasty taste and no effect.

Oh, of course. *slaps his head* Though eating it is a waste, really, in my opinion.

Oh, of course. *slaps his head* Though eating it is a waste, really, in my opinion.

but i thought you ozzies had kangaroo on toast for breakfast! god, i guess now someone is gonna tell me santas not real, or the moon ISNT made of cheese!


the english kid

As a psychedelic drugs user I know few things for certain.

Cannabis on 100% cannot produce physical dependance.
Cannabis, if smoked on regular basis can produce psychological dependance.
I doubt that it will damage your lugs, but it's healthier to smoke from water pipe (or whatever its English name)
Cannabis IS a mild psychedelic, so at the beginning you can experience strange things like something happening with you that shouldn't. For example you can feel a metal orb in your brain or you can see mild hallucinations (extremaly rare, though). It's possible to achive mistical states of mind but only with proper set and setting. Because it's a psychedelic when you start getting paranoid or start thinking about family - those things just flow from your deeper self. Don't try to fight it, accept it and learn from it. Because it's a MILD psychedelic, there are strong odds that you won't feel anything else except overwhelming joy and happiness.

Honestly, weed is harmless, except when you overuse it. Hey, I don't know if talking with parents about drugs is a good solution.

but i thought you ozzies had kangaroo on toast for breakfast! god, i guess now someone is gonna tell me santas not real, or the moon ISNT made of cheese!


the english kid
The moon used to be made of cheese, but since the 'extraterrestial cheese-mining' debacle of the late 17th century, where no one realised quite the extent of the mining on the moon, and subsequently the moon fell out of the sky, we've had to make do with a shoddy papier-mache replacement. Interestingly, the old 'cheese moon' landed somewhere in the South Pacific. As yet, there have been no expeditions to recover the cheese, though it may be somewhat salty by now. I say no expeditions, there was that one attempt by the French which ended in tragedy when their entire convoy of 17 galleons were destroyed by a single boomerang thrown from the shores of Tasmania...
But yes, Santa does exist.

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.

A couple of guys from school were passing around a joint.
<snip>

This got me confused alot. Why are they all saying different things? I still don't know if a joint is bad for my health. Should I smoke one the next time they pass it around? It looks like fun (though I wouldn't do it every day, once a month at most)

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...

This is a long story.

I used to live in a region where the economy was dominated by beef cattle production, a university, some hospitality ie tourism, and pot growing ie canabis sativa cultivation. The economic power of the later was that car yards and toy stores got their major stock in in May, rather than in November, because that was when the pot growers got their crops in, and thus had a large disposable income.

It was initially a nice place to live, but after a while the paranoia of living in an area which produced a highly valuable illegal item just got too much. One of my friends who remained there became so paranoid from excessive smoking and the stress of growing that he began to threat my friends with a gun if they turned up after dark to his house.

So, it has the potential to $%^&* your mind.

However, I now in my 40s, and I still smoke. I know a lot of people that smoke, but none of us regularly smoke. It is a nice place to visit, maybe once, maybe once or twice a year, but personally, after that, my mind turns to jelly and I get nothing done.

Oh, BTW, my misses does not smoke. It makes her paranoid. She does a hilarious impression of me when I am stoned. Sort of the Incredable Melting Man mubbles.

To sum up: just cause it was good for me, doesn't mean that it will be nice for you. It is illegal, it will kill brain cells, and you can still have rich and rewarding life without it.

It could be nice place to visit. Just don't live there. They don't call chronic smokers 'deadheads' for nothing.

cheers

An ex punk hippie.

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.

A couple of guys from school were passing around a joint. Trying out who could hold in the fumes longest. When the joint came my way, I refused to smoke it and they were okay with it. But still it interested me... but I mainly didn't want to smoke it because i dont know what's in it.

So I asked my dad. He told me that in a joint, there is cannabis or mariouhana. I told him I don't know what that means, that I don't know the difference between the so-called "hard drugs" and "soft drugs" and that I don't know what it could/would do with me. He told me to keep it that way, and just don't smoke the joint.

So I looked it up on the internet. O boy, I found lots of contradictory stories about this cannabis/mariouhana. Some sites said straight to the point: "it kills you. don't do it" Or stuff like "one joint is just as bad as 5 ciggarettes" while others had a 10 page story explaining why joints actually ARE NOT bad for my health! They said that weed 'tickles' your brain cells, making your high. But that it doesnt destroy the brain cells, while alcohol and hard drugs do. This would make weed healthier that hard drugs or alcohol even. Also they explained that weed is not addictive, while ciggarettes and alcohol are.

This got me confused alot. Why are they all saying different things? I still don't know if a joint is bad for my health. Should I smoke one the next time they pass it around? It looks like fun (though I wouldn't do it every day, once a month at most)

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...
why are they all saying different things? because of the most effective negative propoganda machine ever deployed, courtesy of the american government and one Mr Harry Anslinger

the short answer is: its not too good for you in that it can help to cause cancer (just like smoking fags), but it won't cause mental problems (unless you're a really heavy user for a long time), it is NOT addictive so you can stop whenever you like (unlike many other drugs, including alcohol), but if you do it often it does breed apathy and laziness (especially if you smoke in the day - i wouldn't reccommend that) so if you want to keep working really hard or whatever then you'd probably be ill advised to start smoking.
but by "start smoking" i mean smoking often... at least every few days or something. smoking one joint definatley isn't 'starting smoking' and probably won't do much for you to be honest.

the effect is mild compared to most drugs - even alcohol. mild euphoria, enchanced musical appreciation, love & peace, it takes away the stress (why i started smoking over 2 years ago). it can make you 'paranoid' if you are that way inclined and smoke too much (when you can also get a 'whitey'... but thats very rare tho i have seen seasoned smokers get em really bad at times :eek: )

personally i'm stopping smoking for a while - probably a year or so and then i'll re-assess. the reason is i started smoking "professionally" (full time) because i became depressed and it was a way of dealing with it and made me feel better at the time. however, 2 years later, i've realised all its done is mask the feelings and problems that are still beneath inside me, so i'm gonna have to stop smoking the stuff and sort things out before i can go back to the herb i love.
however its also worth noting that it did not 'ruin my life' unlike taking up alcohol on a frequent basis can and does when one turns to it in a depressed or needy state. also, its SO not addictive because stopping smoking was as easy as falling off a log - i just stopped one day and thats it, no problems.

my advice: smoke it, see if you like it. if you do, smoke it now and then, maybe at parties, but don't let it take over your life because you'll regret it. but that said, if any drug were to take over your life, weed is about the best one you could go for...


Heh, I've done that - chocolate and weed brownies. If anyone here wants to do this, make sure you break down the weed enough first, or you'll just get a nasty taste and no effect.
if you're using hash it works well to break it down (knife) and then bake it under a medium-hot grill for about 20 seconds. it'll dry out and powder up nicely, meaning no big chunks in your brownies, and better effect :)

i made a batch once that sent my flatmate round the fuckin twist. he was lying in bed asking people how he got to Blackpool (when he was at Cardiff uni with me)... oh those were good :p

but i thought you ozzies had kangaroo on toast for breakfast! god, i guess now someone is gonna tell me santas not real, or the moon ISNT made of cheese!


the english kid

Nah, you're half right though. Vegemite on toast :p

Short answer: well duh it's bad for you.

Longer answer: First up, smoking pretty much anything is bad for you, and weed's no exception. You're drawing in soot and particulate matter that's not good for the lungs, as well as tar, carbon monoxide, and a range of complex half-burnt chemicals that doubtless do a fine job as carcinogens. So smoking weed is gonna have all the wonderful respiratory and cancer-causing problems that smoking tobacco does, especially if (as most people do) you're using tobacco in the mix so it won't be as harsh to smoke.

Second up, regular marijuana users seem to have a higher rate of psychological disorders such as schizophrenia than the general population. I don't think I've ever heard any reliable stories about people having their brain melted down by their first time on pot or anything, but an awful lot of people who let their marijuana use turn into a habit tend to end up a bit messed up in the head, from relatively minor stuff like just not being as motivated as they used to be, full to fully fledged schizophrenia and psychotic episodes.

Third up, it's addictive. It isn't physically addictive, but it's possible to build up a long term psychological addiction. This isn't going to be a problem for people who only use it recreationally in the first place, but people who get to the point of using weed daily will have a lot of trouble weening themselves off it. They'll feel jittery, nervous, irritable, and generally not much fun to be around until they can have another cone and unwind.

Fourth and most importantly, it's probably illegal where you live. And if you live in the United States, then that country's rather crappy legal system and ass-backwards approach to drugs means that the potential consequences of being caught in possession are likely to be way more harmful than any of the dangers of the drug itself.

That having been said though, I give it the thumbs up as far as recreational drugs go. It's affordable, you can't OD on it, and if you only smoke it now and then when you're out partying, then it's gonna have less of an impact on your long term health than tobacco or alcohol, thanks mainly to the fact that you're not going to be consuming it in anywhere near the same quantity as those substances. The only real precautions you have to take are
1) Try not to mix it with other drugs. You'll probably end up ignoring this one (virtually everyone ends up getting drunk and high at once), but if you're smoking pot, try and keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum unless you desperately feel the need to get utterly, utterly wasted to the point where you can't walk without falling over for the night. And try to avoid taking other illegal drugs at all when you're high, because that's expensive, pushes your body, and is generally a sign that you're mixing with the wrong crowd anyway.
2) Don't smoke all the time. Trying pot for the first time is all well and good. Having it at parties or when you're going out is fine. Having it whenever you've got nothing else to do is a problem, and you don't wanna end up there (if for no other reason than it gets expensive).
3) Don't deal, don't buy for stuff that's weeks in advance, and don't go carrying it around unless you're on your way to where you're having it. Virtually everyone gets through life without being done by the police for having pot, but it's still best to take a few precautions to make sure you aren't one of the unlucky few.

So in conclusion, yes it's harmful, but no it's not as harmful as the "Just Say No" types would have you believe. At the end of the day, whether or not to try pot is your choice, but it's not one that has dire consequences. The only real risks of marijuana use come from long-term habitual use, and if you play it smart and hang with the right crowd that's highly unlikely to be a habit you get into.
Wow, a reasoned and non- hysterical approach to marijuana, there is nothing like the the voice of experience. IMHO, this should be printed and posted anywhere there are people thinking of doing weed. :)

Difficult to prove without clinical trials, which no one will do cos of the lack of profit. People with schizophrenia often smoke. Smokers often develope schizophrenia. A definate link but which is first chicken or egg. People with mental health disorders often smoke more tobacco is this a cause or effect. Effect obviously, it helps calmness. Same with weed? who knows and who'll pay for the research? sad isn't it.

Oh I know it's not confirmed, but I figured it was worth mentioning the possible link to schizophrenia since
a) we can't really rule the possibility out as long as the matter's still up in the air
and
b) I'm sure everyone who knows enough potheads has met one or two long-term heavy users who are just... damaged goods.

Still, even if it's a definite link, we can still safely say that it's not something casual users are ever going to have to worry about.

the worst thing about weed is that it carries stiff penalties if you get caught(in the USA anyway) crazy time in jail just for a few ounces. if you do it...DONT get caught. two sets of laws that have gone insane lately are statutory laws and drug laws. you see,only the government is allowed to be a drug pusher. (see FDA)

pot does kill brain cells and it can cause lung problems,but its not any worse than drinking alcohol which destroys your liver and causes heart problems. moderation is always in order. dont go crazy.

ask a government official some time why alcohol is still legal despite the known health problems and car related deaths,while pot is illegal. ask them why there is no national campaign to demonize alcohol despite the rising number of violent alcohlolics that beat their wives and kids.

its because the alcohol companies make too much money,employ too many people,and pay heavy taxes,not to mention they contribute to political campaigns in the same manner that big tobacco has in the past.

do the math....just do it before you light your blunt....

Does it harm you? Of course it does. So does that hamburger that was sizzling just that moment too long to develop some carcinogens, or that artificially flavored diet drink you just had.

There are many contradicting stories going 'round. You have the advocates that would go as far as telling you what wonderful cure cannabis is for some illnesses, the anti-drug hardliners that will draw a picture of your slow decline into the drug swamp by just taking a hit once and everything in between.

What it comes down to is simple: It is YOUR body. Appearantly you can actually talk with your father on a sensible level about it, use that opportunity. Few actually have parents sensible enough to hold a level headed discussion about drugs with them.

Is it harmless? No. Is it lethal? No. The truth is between those extremes, as it is quite often.

Weed is not actully that bad for you, after all it is a plant, but it does depend what you smoke, how much you smoke and how you smoke it!
Everyone knows that tabbaco is bad for you, so smoke it in a joint and you are smoking tabbaco as well!
If you smoke it in a bong you dont need tabbaco so it isnt as bad!
but if you smoke it everyday for 3 years it can do damage, not very bad damage, but like everything it will! If you drink 20 pints of coca cola aday for 3 years it will do damage to you (probs more!)!
one of the things with weed is that it has been connected slightly with paranoia in later life but they cant ACTUALLY prove it, the people could have been that way dispite the weed!
also what you smoke depends on how bad it its! there are a few types, solid (in UK, dont know bout other countries) which is a hard block of cannibis resin, this isnt very good as it is mixed with plastic and oil to increase the quantity! Polen is a softer version and is more natural but still not 100% safe!
the best stuff is actual weed, the real plant that is cut n dried, it is natural and tastes fukin great! lol!
BUT ther are also variations of it (man, this is complicated!) purple haze for example has bits of purple in it from being crossed with lavender (i think), ther are also unnatural variations, like white widow, which when it is actually made properly is laced with cocaine, but often it is not, it is just very strong!
I think thats all i can really tell you!
What you have said baout the internet is true, everyone will give you a different opinion, but its like everyone, try finding out if Vin Diesel is gay! see how many different opitions you get about that!
If you are interested, i guess the best thing to do is to try it once, i mean you have to try everything once dont you! (well xcept suicide, and probs murder!)!
Its up2u, if you dont feel comforable, dont do it!

Nah, you're half right though. Vegemite on toast :p


so does vegemite have weed in it too? no wonder you australians are...... wait a minute! you're australian! HA HA WE WON THE CRICKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AFTER SO MANY YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!

HA! HA!

:p :p :p :p :p


the english kid

so does vegemite have weed in it too? no wonder you australians are...... wait a minute! you're australian! HA HA WE WON THE CRICKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AFTER SO MANY YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!

HA! HA!

:p :p :p :p :p


the english kid

We've just diverted all of our resources towards beating you at your own olympic games. ;)

*ahem*, sorry about that, but really, does vegemite have weed in it?

the english kid

only if you have it backwards

*ahem*, sorry about that, but really, does vegemite have weed in it?

the english kid

Who knows?

Actually, hmm. They taste the same in some ways, so maybe :eek:

ask a government official some time why alcohol is still legal despite the known health problems and car related deaths,while pot is illegal. ask them why there is no national campaign to demonize alcohol despite the rising number of violent alcohlolics that beat their wives and kids.

its because the alcohol companies make too much money,employ too many people,and pay heavy taxes,not to mention they contribute to political campaigns in the same manner that big tobacco has in the past.

do the math....just do it before you light your blunt....
you know weed was first made illegal in the southern mexican-border states because of two reasons: the first, a surrupticious way to control the mexican immigrant population (who all smoked back in the '20s). and second, because the large paper-manafacturing companies in america (and the rich & powerful families at their head) were facing too much competition from hemp paper (paper made from non-drug (no or little THC) weed). they used their considerable clout with the govt. to get hemp made illegal to grow.
the cannabis plant was actually the main producer of cloth, rope and paper for at least a thousand years before all this. its seeds have the highest proportion of healthy saturated fats and some vital vitamins compared to any other foodstuff in the world. the drug (which comes from two particular strains of the plant) has been used as a medicine for thousands of years around the world; and it is one of the most prolific and adaptive plants in the world, meaning it can thrive in most environments - in fact it would be the ideal biomass plantation crop for producing renewable energy, but wait, its illegal so nobody can use it for even 100% legit purposes.
basically its fucking awesome stuff, but noooo... it has to be illegal :rolleyes:
i'm just glad the restrictions on its use are at least starting to lift, after all those years of bullshit

the whole "weed is evil" thing you lot have over there in the states is courtesy of Harry Anslinger, head and lead evangelist (actually a fundamentalist christian, too) of the government's propoganda and war against weed (as well as many decades, especially in the 60's, of lies and anti-pot propoganda). this, and your laws, were exported round the western world (read: forced upon), which is quite unfair if you ask me.
but thankfully we in the UK never got too much of the propoganda, so the anti-weed culture is not nearly as pronounced over here. in fact our laws seem a fair bit more relaxed than those in the states. posession of small amounts is generally either ignored or confiscated (for slightly larger amounts). supply still gets you a jail sentence, as does being a repeat offender for posession, or smoking near children.

of course on the continent things are yet more relaxed, with it being practically legal in holland, and decriminalised in spain and a couple of other countries i think (germany and poland?)

At this stage (just in case y'all haven't figured it out for yourselves) I think I should point out that the people who say marijauna is absolutely harmless and/or really really good for you are all talking absolute crack. It might not be as bad for you as they try and tell you in school, but dear God, I worry about the sort of people who genuinely believe that it's some sort of perfectly safe wonder-drug that will make us all fitter healthier people.

At this stage (just in case y'all haven't figured it out for yourselves) I think I should point out that the people who say marijauna is absolutely harmless and/or really really good for you are all talking absolute crack. It might not be as bad for you as they try and tell you in school, but dear God, I worry about the sort of people who genuinely believe that it's some sort of perfectly safe wonder-drug that will make us all fitter healthier people.


what he said ^^ ;)

the english kid

of course on the continent things are yet more relaxed, with it being practically legal in holland, and decriminalised in spain and a couple of other countries i think (germany and poland?)
Nah, in Poland it's fucked up totally. There was a case when someone had 0,08 grams of marijuana and get jail sentence. There where some moves to depenalise possesion of small amounts but it didn't make it to be voted upon. After elections there is a chance that there will be some action towards that but Poland is just a Catholic fundamentalist nation. For example anti-homosexual parties get about 30%-40% of votes and an controversial artist gets a jail sentence for puting a penis on a cross...

At this stage (just in case y'all haven't figured it out for yourselves) I think I should point out that the people who say marijauna is absolutely harmless and/or really really good for you are all talking absolute crack. It might not be as bad for you as they try and tell you in school, but dear God, I worry about the sort of people who genuinely believe that it's some sort of perfectly safe wonder-drug that will make us all fitter healthier people.
well i dont think anyone is saying its actually good for you, but it is, compared and relative to other drugs (including many legal ones) absolutley harmless.

objectively it is harmful, yes - of course. relatively, it is not. simple. thats the arguement

At this stage (just in case y'all haven't figured it out for yourselves) I think I should point out that the people who say marijauna is absolutely harmless and/or really really good for you are all talking absolute crack. It might not be as bad for you as they try and tell you in school, but dear God, I worry about the sort of people who genuinely believe that it's some sort of perfectly safe wonder-drug that will make us all fitter healthier people.
Oh, but what isn't bad for you? You think a big, fat, bleeding steak on your plate is good for you? Or perhaps living in big cities inhaling all sorts of unnatural crap we produce? Alcohol good for you? Coffee, perhaps? Aspirine?
I'm not saying weed is harmless, I'm just saying it depends on the quantity as well. Weed in itself can have positive effects, but as hardly anyone smokes pure weed, that point applies to ...hardly anyone.

Don't condemn something just because society tells you it's bad (why is is acceptable to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol, when that's just as harmful?).

If you want to try it, then try it, if you don't , then don't. There's no point in asking anyone to 'legalize' it by telling you it's not bad for you.
In the end it's your choice, and honestly.... people do worse things than smoking pot, so relax ;)

Don't condemn something just because society tells you it's bad (why is is acceptable to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol, when that's just as harmful?).
Taxable product. It would take a significant length of time, and cost a fair bit to enact laws and put in place the organisational bureaucracy to fully legalise and tax cannabis production. It's also not worth goverment's allowing hemp to be grown for industrial purposes (paper, rope, etc. production), because they'd need to have a lot of inspectors to make sure that industrial growers weren't also growing strains with high levels of THC.
Governments would need to introduce either full legalisation of cannabis, or no legalisation. They opt for the former, because it's cheaper.

yes! stalin's back! about time we lightened up here, guys. sheesh


the english kid

Taxable product. It would take a significant length of time, and cost a fair bit to enact laws and put in place the organisational bureaucracy to fully legalise and tax cannabis production. It's also not worth goverment's allowing hemp to be grown for industrial purposes (paper, rope, etc. production), because they'd need to have a lot of inspectors to make sure that industrial growers weren't also growing strains with high levels of THC.
Governments would need to introduce either full legalisation of cannabis, or no legalisation. They opt for the former, because it's cheaper.
Oh, uhm. I didn't mean that kind of legalizing.
I get the impression many people won't do anything unless they're told it's ok. That's what I meant by 'legalizing', getting other people's 'ok' to do something, which would make it socially acceptable.

yes! stalin's back! about time we lightened up here, guys. sheesh


the english kid
Woo! I have a fan! Just a quick reminder...the poster awards voting will start soon, I've been nominated for the gold award (thanks, Kanabia!). :p

First of all, if you have any doubts at all, don't smoke. If you do decide to try it the best thing you can do is grow your own; you can easily buy good quality seeds in any grow shop or over the net. Growing your own has many advantages- it's cheaper, you don't have to take any risks with dodgy dealers, you're not giving money to mafias and you know exactly what your smoking. Depending on the climate where you live you can grow it outside all year (protecting it a little from low temperatures and frost),this way you don't have to invest in special lights etc. Don't use any pesticides or artificial fertilizer. You can find all the info you want on the net, you could also look up the therapeutic benifits of marijuana, it can be used topically (on the skin), you can make infusions etc. If possible buy a vaporiser or some kind of pipe so that you don't have to smoke tobacco, because if anything is bad for you, it's tobacco.
I live in Spain so the books I have are in Spanish, I'll list a couple, if you can't find them translated, I'm sure there are similar in English or on the net:
Marihuana al Natural by Miguel Gimeno (Megamulitmedia SL)
Cannabis-Manual de Cultivo para el Autoconsumo by ARSEC (arsec@pandea.org)
Don't forget that smoking marijuana alters your reaction times-so don't drive after smoking; and don't abuse it, don't smoke before, or during school/work time, use it in the evenings and weekends. As with most things in life- a little is good, too much is bad.

;) dont worry, stalin, you can count on my vote! ;)

Woo! I have a fan! Just a quick reminder...the poster awards voting will start soon, I've been nominated for the gold award (thanks, Kanabia!). :p

Hehe :D


Nah, in Poland it's fucked up totally. There was a case when someone had 0,08 grams of marijuana and get jail sentence. There where some moves to depenalise possesion of small amounts but it didn't make it to be voted upon. After elections there is a chance that there will be some action towards that but Poland is just a Catholic fundamentalist nation. For example anti-homosexual parties get about 30%-40% of votes and an controversial artist gets a jail sentence for puting a penis on a cross...

WTF?

That's fucked in the eyeball.

WTF?

That's fucked in the eyeball.


sounds painful hehe


the english kid

Oh, uhm. I didn't mean that kind of legalizing.
I get the impression many people won't do anything unless they're told it's ok. That's what I meant by 'legalizing', getting other people's 'ok' to do something, which would make it socially acceptable.
I'd say that society is probably about 50-50 split on whether smoking weed is acceptable or not. Obviously weed smokers think it is acceptable. I know my best friend hates that I smoke occasionally (she says her view of weed smokers is 'middle class wanker with too much time and money').
Tobacco smoking is probably about the same. Most people I know dislike smoking and people who smoke in public places (pubs, restaurants, etc.)
Alcohol is far more acceptable. There's probably very few people that think public drinking is a bad thing. As with almost everything, too much alcohol is not a good thing, and it has more immediate effects than smoking - drink 10 pints, you're drunk, you sober up by the morning (possibly), recover from the hangover, then drink more that evening. You smoke 10 cigarettes, you don't really see the effects.

In legal terms, I think the question 'why isn't cannabis legal when tobacco and alcohol are?' is a stupid one. In modern society, which is different in almost every single way to any society that has gone before, cannabis has never been legal. Tobacco and alcohol have been. It would take a dramatic shift in society's view to accept cannabis as legal, to put it on the same level as tobacco and alcohol.
Also, refer back to my earlier post on taxation and the bureaucratic necessities of legalising cannabis - it would just cost too much. The argument of people who want cannabis legalised is 'Legalise it. Let me smoke it, it's not doing me any harm. What's that? It'd cost the country too much? I don't give a shit, I want to be able to smoke it!' Which is just as selfish as people who smoke cigarettes in pubs etc. So fuck 'em.

wow stalin your 1st in your region for biggest pizza delivery sector, nice one!

I read on a relatively trusted site that "smoking one joint (marijuana rolled up in paper) affects the lungs as much as four cigarettes" ( http://www.everydaywarriors.com/kids/art_marijuanaeffects.htm ). It's not researched, but I just thought I'd post it.

Marijuana and smoking are both very, very bad for your health:
Smoking - effects on your body (http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Smoking_effects_on_your_body?OpenDocument)
Marijuana Effects (http://www.marijuanaaddiction.info/effects-of-marijuana.htm) (you should read other sources on marijuana with google)

I've read from different sources and apparently when you smoke weed your sperm counts or chance of fertility decrease, but this effects dissapears after a month or so. The other longterm effects are that it decreases testosterone levels (so your male or female reproductive organs don't develop as well as they would if you didn't smoke it) and increased chance of getting lung cancer if it's used for a number of years. All the short term effects are very bad, but I guess they don't matter as much.

Now, my biggest problem with marijuana is that it's addictive (just like alcohol and cocaine) and people who try to quit it experience irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety and aggression. I read on a site ( http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/atod/marijuana.htm#6 ) that "10% to 14% of users will become heavily dependent". Now that's a pretty low number but those people's lives are pretty much ended by this drug.

Another thing: Heavy users need 8 times higher doses to get the same effects as infrequent users. Again, the addiction is the most dangerous part and it can make those short-term effects much more deadly.

Yes, marijuana does make you feel good but you could listen to music, play a sport, talk to your friggin' friends (that's what they are for!), sleep, play video game and there must be more ways of relaxing yourselves.
Another thing: Heavy users need 8 times higher doses to get the same effects as infrequent users. Again, the addiction is the most dangerous part and it can make those short-term effects much more deadly.

Yes, marijuana does make you feel good but you could listen to music, play a sport, talk to your friggin' friends (that's what they are for!), sleep, play video game and there must be more ways of relaxing yourselves.

Marijuana, like a lot of drugs, mimicks a neurotransmitter, so it binds to brain cells causing the high feelings. I personally don't like to mess around with how my brain is functioning.

From what I understand of it. Marijuana contains more carcinogens (things that cause cancer) then cigarettes. But Marijuana smokers are less likely to get cancer because they don't get as addicted and don't smoke as much as those who smoke cigarettes. Think of it this way. Every joint increases you're chances of cancer less then 1%. You might never get cancer, but I would be doing everything I could to avoid it, especially given how many other polutents and cancer causing chemicals we are allready exposed to. It's not very phsycially addicted from what I hear (that means your body doesn't become reliant on it so you don't feel sick when you don't take it). It is psychologically addicted however, many people become dependent on that high to feel good. I knew at least one person who felt he had to smoke it every few hours as if they were cigarrets. Instead of dealing with their problems they just smoke a joint. They take it as if it's an anti-depressent. Which is funny because after the high is over the people act even more depressed (but I can't speak from personal experience).

The potheads I know all seem pretty dumb. Marijuana is thought to interfer with the thought processes so that when people use it they don't think clearly and don't learn much. This is only a short term affect. Though there are thought to be long term affects of disrupting brian chemistry. Potheads are also less motivated.

In summery, Marijuana is pretty bad for you, but people exagerate the harmfulness because they want to scare you away from taking it. One joint probably won't do much damage. If you like it you will probably want to do it again, and that's the problem, the more you do it the more damage it does. My advice would be simply not to mess with it, there are plenty of better things you could be doing.

-snip-
I do share your point of view on the things you said...
even though I don't really care if it is legal or not (it seems to work alright in the Netherlands), I just find it annoying, at times, how people seem to be unable to think for themselves, to make their own decisions and stick with them.
...meh. I do realize there's nothing I can do to change that, though, so I'll just finish up my coffee and leave. :)

oh no... nobodys posting.... the thread is dying.... comon guys, lets get some radical ideas here to kick start it! ;)

hmmm... somethng like....

why shouldnt all drugs be illegal if cannabis is? alcohol causes one helluva lot of deaths as does nicotene, and caffiene is responsible for some depression and violent mood swings. all of these three are addictive (yes, even caffiene) so why are they legal? we certainly got the cocaine out of coca-cola

I've read from different sources and apparently when you smoke weed your sperm counts or chance of fertility decrease, but this effects dissapears after a month or so. The other longterm effects are that it decreases testosterone levels (so your male or female reproductive organs don't develop as well as they would if you didn't smoke it) and increased chance of getting lung cancer if it's used for a number of years. All the short term effects are very bad, but I guess they don't matter as much.
With the exception of the effect on testosterone levels, those are the same as for smoking tobacco. And tobacco smoking may have the same/similar effect on testosteron (I don't know, I haven't looked into it).

Now, my biggest problem with marijuana is that it's addictive (just like alcohol and cocaine) and people who try to quit it experience irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety and aggression. I read on a site ( http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/atod/marijuana.htm#6 ) that "10% to 14% of users will become heavily dependent". Now that's a pretty low number but those people's lives are pretty much ended by this drug.
A friend of mine who recently quit (as he can't afford it - no, not because he's lost his job as a result of smoking weed, but because his rent has been put up by 35%), had absolutely no effects whatsoever when he quit. He just got on with his life. And no one I know has ever become addicted to cannabis, even some people I know who have smoked it for 5+ years. I'd say 10-14% is wrong. Unless you smoke a lot (I'm talking 5+ spliffs each and every day), there's probably a less than 1% chance of becoming heavily dependent. Again, I have experience of this - I know a couple of people who smoked 2-3 spliffs a day for 3 years. One of them was the guy who recently quit, suffering no effects.

Another thing: Heavy users need 8 times higher doses to get the same effects as infrequent users. Again, the addiction is the most dangerous part and it can make those short-term effects much more deadly.
So, the same with any addictive substance, then?

Yes, marijuana does make you feel good but you could listen to music, play a sport, talk to your friggin' friends (that's what they are for!), sleep, play video game and there must be more ways of relaxing yourselves.
With the exception perhaps of playing sports (and sleep...though you can get some weird dreams), cannabis can heighten each of these experiences. Certainly listening to music is much better when stoned, depending on the music (Pink Floyd, anyone? :p ). Conversations can also be very interesting when stoned, as you'll talk about some crazy shit, that it wouldn't occur to you to talk about in a normal state.


oh no... nobodys posting.... the thread is dying.... comon guys, lets get some radical ideas here to kick start it!
Stalin to the rescue! :D

I'm a medical researcher, but I study viruses and know very little about marijuana. If you want I can actually post some snipets of legitamate scientific articles, but you will have to deal with the science jargon. Here is a summery of one. It's not claiming it doesn't cause cancer, only that it requires more study. Also the carcinogens are there, so if it doesn't cause cancer it's not clear why it doesn't.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States and is considered by young adults to be the illicit drug with the least risk. On the other hand, marijuana smoke contains several of the same carcinogens and co-carcinogens as the tar from tobacco, raising concerns that smoking of marijuana may be a risk factor for tobacco-related cancers. We reviewed two cohort studies and 14 case-control studies with assessment of the association of marijuana use and cancer risk. In the cohort studies, increased risks of lung or colorectal cancer due to marijuana smoking were not observed, but increased risks of prostate and cervical cancers among non-tobacco smokers, as well as adult-onset glioma among tobacco and non-tobacco smokers, were observed. The 14 case-control studies included four studies on head and neck cancers, two studies on lung cancer, two studies on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, one study on anal cancer, one study on penile cancer, and four studies on childhood cancers with assessment of parental exposures. Zhang and colleagues reported that marijuana use may increase risk of head and neck cancers in a hospital-based case-control study in the United States, with dose-response relations for both frequency and duration of use. However, Rosenblatt and co-workers reported no association between oral cancer and marijuana use in a population-based case-control study. An eightfold increase in risk among marijuana users was observed in a lung cancer study in Tunisia. However, there was no assessment of the dose response, and marijuana may have been mixed with tobacco. Parental marijuana use during gestation was associated with increased risks of childhood leukemia, astrocytoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma, but dose-response relations were not assessed. In summary, sufficient studies are not available to adequately evaluate marijuana impact on cancer risk. Several limitations of previous studies include possible underreporting where marijuana use is illegal, small sample sizes, and too few heavy marijuana users in the study sample. Recommendations for future studies are to (1) focus on tobacco-related cancer sites; (2) obtain detailed marijuana exposure assessment, including frequency, duration, and amount of personal use as well as mode of use (smoked in a cigarette, pipe, or bong; taken orally); (3) adjust for tobacco smoking and conduct analyses on nonusers of tobacco; and (4) conduct larger studies, meta-analyses, or pooled analyses to maximize statistical precision and investigate sources of differences in results. Despite the challenges, elucidation of the association between marijuana use and cancer risk is important in weighing the benefits and risks of medical marijuana use and to clarify the impact of marijuana use on public health.
~ Epidemiologic review of marijuana use and cancer risk Hashibe M, Straif K, Tashkin DP, Morgenstern H, Greenland S, Zhang ZF Alcohol volume 35, issue 3 april 2005

All I know is that I'd rather the person sitting next to me was smoking weed or a pipe than a baccy fag.

(referring to science article)
sorry, i dont speak................. whatever

hehe :p

the english kid

This one points out changes in the immune system and lung damage. Most everyone seems to agree there is lung damage, though weather this leads to cancer is still debated. I'm just pasting these from www.pubmed.com You can read these summeries there by using the search function, but you won't have full access to the articles unless you pay a great deal of money or are associated with a university.

J Clin Pharmacol. 2002 Nov


Respiratory and immunologic consequences of marijuana smoking.

Tashkin DP, Baldwin GC, Sarafian T, Dubinett S, Roth MD.

Deportment of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, 90095-1690, USA.

Habitual smoking of marijuana has a number of effects on the respiratory and immune systems that may be clinically relevant. These include alterations in lung function ranging from no to mild airflow obstruction without evidence of diffusion impairment, an increased prevalence of acute and chronic bronchitis, striking endoscopic findings of airway injury (erythema, edema, and increased secretions) that correlate with histopathological alterations in bronchial biopsies, and dysregulated growth of the bronchial epithelium associated with altered expression of nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins involved in the pathogenesis of bronchogenic carcinoma. Other consequences of regular marijuana use include ultrastructual abnormalities in human alveolar macrophages along with impairment of their cytokine production, antimicrobial activity, and tumoricidal function. Cannabinoid receptor expression is altered in leukocytes collected from the blood of chronic smokers, and experimental models support a role for delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in suppressing T cell function and cell-mediated immunity. The potential for marijuana smoking to predispose to the development of respiratory malignancy is suggested by several lines of evidence, including the presence of potent carcinogens in marijuana smoke and their resulting deposition in the lung, the occurrence of premalignant changes in bronchial biopsies obtained from smokers of marijuana in the absence of tobacco, impairment of antitumor immune defenses by delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and several clinical case series in which marijuana smokers were disproportionately over represented among young individuals who developed upper or lower respiratory tract cancer. Additional well designed epidemiological and immune monitoring studies are required to determine the potential causal relationship between marijuana use and the development of respiratory infection and/or cancer.

-snip-
I think the problem is the non-causal links. The most widespread way of ingesting cannabis is by smoking it in a joint, with tobacco. So, people who smoke a lot of cannabis in this way will also inhale a substantial amount of tobacco smoke as well. Also, studies are unlikely to be able to obtain a significant sample size (the mathematical definition of significant) of cannabis smokers, so the studies won't come up with accurate results.
The recommendations at the end of the article are very good, especially numbers 2, 3 and 4. This is what is needed to get an accurate picture of what effects smoking cannabis can have on the human body. It's unlikely that studies will be able to do this though.

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.


Uh, I HAVEN'T encountered them, and I'm now 20.

:p

This got me confused alot. Why are they all saying different things? I still don't know if a joint is bad for my health. Should I smoke one the next time they pass it around? It looks like fun (though I wouldn't do it every day, once a month at most)

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...
Smoking anything will damage your health, because smoke entering your lungs is carcinogenic. This is much more true of cigarettes because most smokers smoke at least 10 to 20 cigarettes every day. However, nobody smokes 20 joints every day, because weed is not addictive.

Weed is certainly better for you than cigarettes, but alcohol? Well, alcohol will give you liver damage if consumed in excess. It will also make you vomit. It's effects are rather more extreme also. Alcohol can make people violent if consumed to excess, whereas weed will not. Excessive consumption of alcohol has killed many people, whereas nobody ever was killed by smoking too much weed. This is because the ratio of effect to death for alcohol is 1:9 (meaning that if it takes you 3 drinks to get drunk, then 27 will kill you), whereas the ration for weed it 1:400,000. You can't overdose on it.

The effects of smoking weed are noticeable almost immediately after smoking it. Alcohol takes around half an hour to take full effect, so it is more difficult for young people to regulate their consumption. This leads to the problems specified above.

I personally like the relaxing effects of weed. It is a mild drug, non-addicitive and an occasional joint won't turn you into a frazzled pothead.

In conclusion, weed is better. But if you want to stay completely healthy, abstain from all drugs (legal and illegal).

Khodros made a good post.

many of my former friends started smoking pot, it sure as hell is addictive and the people act a little different after geting addicted
Pot is not physically addictive. No scientific source will tell you that it is. Some few people get psychologically addicted, and yes, in cases like that there are negative effects.

drugs fry your brain cells. It's the brain cells that make new brain cells that are fried. So, yea, drugs do kill you. Plus, if your friend is making the drug him/herself, then there may be more than just those two items in it.

drugs fry your brain cells. It's the brain cells that make new brain cells that are fried.
I don't believe I have heard that one before. Do you have something to back it up?
Plus, if your friend is making the drug him/herself, then there may be more than just those two items in it.
Err, you do know that marijuana is a plant, right? If he is 'making it for himself' (growing it), then he can be sure that it hasn't been contaminated with other substances, and it isn't as unsafe as it would be to try to make some other drugs for oneself.

Are you smoking yet?

LMAO!

Just a note on the issue of mixing alcohol and cannabis. Most people who smoke pot and drink booze will mix them at some point, so here's a catchy little rhyme that's good to remember:

"Beers, then grass, you're on your ass. Grass, then beers, you're in the clear."

Drinking for a while, then smoking pot is generally a bad idea. Nausea ensues. Not pretty. But getting stoned and then drinking is not nearly as bad, for some reason. My personal experience has shown me that the above rhyme is quite accurate.

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.

A couple of guys from school were passing around a joint. Trying out who could hold in the fumes longest. When the joint came my way, I refused to smoke it and they were okay with it. But still it interested me... but I mainly didn't want to smoke it because i dont know what's in it.

So I asked my dad. He told me that in a joint, there is cannabis or mariouhana. I told him I don't know what that means, that I don't know the difference between the so-called "hard drugs" and "soft drugs" and that I don't know what it could/would do with me. He told me to keep it that way, and just don't smoke the joint.

So I looked it up on the internet. O boy, I found lots of contradictory stories about this cannabis/mariouhana. Some sites said straight to the point: "it kills you. don't do it" Or stuff like "one joint is just as bad as 5 ciggarettes" while others had a 10 page story explaining why joints actually ARE NOT bad for my health! They said that weed 'tickles' your brain cells, making your high. But that it doesnt destroy the brain cells, while alcohol and hard drugs do. This would make weed healthier that hard drugs or alcohol even. Also they explained that weed is not addictive, while ciggarettes and alcohol are.

This got me confused alot. Why are they all saying different things? I still don't know if a joint is bad for my health. Should I smoke one the next time they pass it around? It looks like fun (though I wouldn't do it every day, once a month at most)

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...


Im not a doctor or medical professional, so I wont attempt to explore all of the physical consequences of smoking weed, but I will give you some practical advice.

Despite what so many people claim, smoking marijuana is addictive. Notice I said smoking marijuana is addictive and not that marijuana its self is addictive, there is a difference and this is the difference that marijuana proponents like to latch onto in order to make their point. While there may or may not be anything physically addictive about marijuana, smoking it can create a psychological addiction. Psychological addictions are just as powerful as physical addictions. I personally know many people who continue smoking marijuana, not because they want to, but because they are addicted.

http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/

Addiction and physical problems aside, one of the most compelling reasons to refrain from smoking marijuana is because of the social consequences. Smoking weed can earn you a criminal record and can disqualify you from a significant number of jobs. Quitting alone is not going to fix your disqualification from many jobs. For example, if you decide in the future that you would like to work for certain government agencies such as FBI, DEA, and CIA, the fact that you have smoked marijuana will disqualify you from those jobs (unless you lie about it and can beat a polygraph (lie detector) test). This isnt just if you want to be an agent, it also applies to many of the support personnel positions such computer scientists, computer forensics experts, accountants, forensic accountants, medical experts, profilers, analysts, managers, psychologists, etc. Smoking marijuana could also hurt your chances of obtaining a security clearance from the government, which is necessary if you intend to work as a civil servant or for a government contractor like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and others. Even in the military, certain career paths are closed to you if you have smoked marijuana at all.

So, the bottom line? Whether it will hurt you physically or not, marijuana can become an addiction for you, and smoking it can close many doors in your future. Closing doors is generally a bad thing, the more doors you have open, the more opportunities for you to advance in life. Is it worth the risk of addiction and the social consequences? that is for you to decide. In my opinion, however, being dizzy for a few hours is hardly worth the social costs and legal risks.

It was really bad for this dude .http://www.hempology.com/archives/001484.html

"Is weed bad for you?"

No, since I don't use it. But it's no more bad for you than is smoking cigarettes. :)

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis.shtml

Don't trust the information in this thread, you'll just get more contradictions. Erowid gives you the cold hard facts, you can trust it. This coming from someone who has done his fair share of experimentation.

Edit: http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-1

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis.shtml

Don't trust the information in this thread, you'll just get more contradictions. Erowid gives you the cold hard facts, you can trust it. This coming from someone who has done his fair share of experimentation.

Oh please saying "you can trust it [this source]" is stupid, I think all the sources here are valid, yours is no more valid than anyone else's just a different perspective.

:rolleyes:

Actually having read a lot of your source, I think my Breakfastbox is more informative.

Oh please saying "you can trust it [this source]" is stupid, I think all the sources here are valid, yours is no more valid than anyone else's just a different perspective.

:rolleyes:

Actually having read a lot of your source, I think my Breakfast Cerial box is more informative.

Just another ignorant post by an ignorant person.

Just another ignorant post by an ignorant person.

Spare me the guy was really just bounding around a few opinions, along with a few references to some research which HE claims was flawed without providing reasons as you why. It's hardly the stuff of an academic journal is it?

It would be like me writing about my expirences with Beer.

I think the issue of possible detrimental side effects to marijuana is so contentious nowadays that very little reliable information is likely. Any study commissioned by the government will tell us that marijuana is the devil and that its users will turn into heroin addicts, and any study commissioned by NORML or the Libertarian Party will tell us that it's utterly benign. The truth is probably somewhere in between.

The possible cancerous effects of marijuana are not likely to be known for some time, as most people who smoke it also smoke cigarettes. That said, this particular danger is not and should not be the sole reason for its criminalization: if we wanted to outlaw everything that was bad for us we'd find ourselves living in sterilized, padded rooms with no sharp objects or appliances.

As a longtime user myself, I can assure everyone that it does possess certain mentally addicting qualities, as I've witnessed a number of folks who've had no small difficulty in trying to kick the habit; although I've seen no signs of physical dependency [and I've been privy to a fairly large marijuana-smoking population]. It's bad for you from the standpoint that it can lead to worse things, but coffee can do that too. Regardless, it still shouldn't be illegal.

Ianarabia>> No, that is erroneous. For example, Freevibe.com is a government sponsored 'information' site that has made up a lot of REALLY bad lies about marijuana - for instance, that smoking it will eventually cause homicidal psychosis, kill you painfully or go insane; no exceptions. That sort of things really harms EVERY viewpoint because it is so deceitful.



Now, erowid.org IS a good source - it draws only on scientific research and papers about said research; from non-biased doctors. You won't get anything but the facts.

Also, there are anonymous forums for Marijuana users - there will be a lot of morons and BS, but also health-conscious users and wise users who will give you a no-lies assesment to your questions; as well as help you find ingestion methods(weed food, vaporization etc.) that minimize harmful side-effects. I can telegram them to you, as writing the URLs here are probably a breach of the terms of use.

Hope it helps you make an informed decision ;)

Regards,
Tias.

i say that weed is good for me, ive done some of the best stuff in my life whilst high! i study for my exams whilst high i took the tests high and i got high marks no joke!!, this past two weekends iv done more drugs then a scandinavian lab rat, i dropped my first pill last weekend whilst out with the boys from work, will defo b doing that again, and i snorted coke yesterday, the coke was shite for the amount it costs so wont b doin again in a hurrry. i smoke alll my wages in about two weeks, i get paid monthly so im fuked usually :p
SMOKE WEED EVERYDAY!

Chonged

Aint nothing wrong with weed, in small dose's... i know my mates cousin who's proper f'd up from smoking too much, (thats asin everyday minimum of 2 strong joints) but in general speaking from experience.... weed is a good party piece, i hate smoking though, :rolleyes:

would never touch any 'hard' drugs either

and to be quite honest i dont care what it does to me... nothing is healthy these days... why worry, alchahol can do as much if not worse damage than other drugs, yet ppl get bladdered regularly without thought...

Shortly: No.


A bit longer:
Really, almost completely no (except it demands to spend much money on food, esp. pizzas).

Nicotine and alcohol are a bit bad for you.

Heavy drugs are bad for you.
Regular routine job is bad for you.


Fun, toys, sports, friends and weed are not bad for you. They are good for you.

My 2 sants

Now, erowid.org IS a good source - it draws only on scientific research and papers about said research; from non-biased doctors. You won't get anything but the facts.


In your opinion, if you read the source place on the board, it adds nothing that hasn't been said already, and has no basis in research, it really is the views of one person, we would have been better off if the poster had said those things.

Also how the hell can you call a Doctor non biased, we are all biased, we all have our own agendas, for a site to only get research from non biased doctors makes me think either the site is naive or the people that read it are.

As for your assurtion that a governmnet body would only say negitive things regarding cannabis use why is it a few years ago on the back of government research the British government reduced cannabis to a class C drug?

You won't get anything but the facts.

LOL, it's a view point in a highly contentious issue where the amount of research is relativly low...how you can use the word fact in this thread is really quite funny.

Pot is good - more pot is better , hydro grown is best ! And a cold beer to sooth your throat after a nice bowl is heaven .

*snip*

Alright, what the hell? Is there any reason that you're going on a campaign against a perfectly valid source of information? If so, why don't you just flame the countless other posts in this thread?

Read this (http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-1) and tell me it doesn't include some very useful facts. If you do, I'll know you've never even laid a finger on cannabis. Quit spewing bullshit about Erowid, it's more helpful than you'll ever be.

SMOKE IT IF YOU GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:cool:

Why are people so damn ignorant? If gov't controlled non-organic tobacco that kills you = legal then why is, generally, organically grown weed illegal and you never hear about illegal pot-smokers who don't smoke cigarettes dying from cancer? :rolleyes: Beats me...

It's those damn peace-loving pot smokers that have the WMDs... oh no.

hey were all gonna die some day until then do what u want when u want how much u want and all that other stuff life is to short to be told what to do and how to act and all that stuff man

the chemicals inside of those plants are similiar to nuerotransmitters, they can confuse the receiving cells in the reward pathway(as the neuropeople call it) and they take it in as if it was a neurotransmitter, then send it back to what the receivers thought were the sending cell, but the senders don't recieve it as they never sent their neurotransmitters and are full, so it goes back to the reciever and too much of it overloads the cell, causing it to cut off some recievers due to too much stimulation, and making the person doing it incapable of feeling as much happiness/reward feeling as they were before, thus requiring more of the drug to feel as 'hai' as they call it, as they were before. eventually this can lead them to be very depressed, and eventually to taking very large doses the drug being the only way they can be happy(as normal events are too weak to make them happy again), making them addicted and such.
there are many other more harmful effects too.

Why are people so damn ignorant? If gov't controlled non-organic tobacco that kills you = legal then why is, generally, organically grown weed illegal and you never hear about illegal pot-smokers who don't smoke cigarettes dying from cancer? :rolleyes: Beats me...

It's those damn peace-loving pot smokers that have the WMDs... oh no.
it's been proved that legalizing drugs makes the economy go up quite a lot, so having all of the anti-drug things would be bad for the economy, and as everyone knows, all you us and europeans want is money, so it's shure not to be government funded lies.

Alright, here goes nothing.

Frankly, there are ways of introducing Pot into your system which are pracitically harmless. Smoking aint one of them, but I doubt it is actually worse than tobbacco.

That said, the physical harm done by smoking pot is considerably less than the psychological effect of smoking pot. You don't want to end up dependant on something as mind altering and expensive as pot. Addictions are not only expensive, but also very destructive to the personality and sanity of those with them. They border upon obsession and can and will destroy friendships, end relationships, harm goals, lose jobs, and slowly destroy everything else. The economic and scholastic effects of addiction are also destructive.

I don't want laws against drug use, because people should make their own descision, but you need to know the important truth about drugs of all kinds (be they "Hard", "Soft", ciggarettes, or alchohol), and that's that their psychological effects are worse than their physical ones.

To the stoners. Why does it matter to you if someone else is doing drugs or not? Do you feel the need to have your own descision affirmed by someone else doing drugs? How do you, or they, benefit from them becoming addicted?

As a heads up, this is a biased peice of advice, since I make a point of avoiding drugs, in all forms, and other unhealthy addictions.

I doubt it's very good for you, but I don't see how the occasional marihuana is any worse than beer or other socially acceptable drugs.

That said, the physical harm done by smoking pot is considerably less than the psychological effect of smoking pot. You don't want to end up dependant on something as mind altering and expensive as pot. Addictions are not only expensive, but also very destructive to the personality and sanity of those with them. They border upon obsession and can and will destroy friendships, end relationships, harm goals, lose jobs, and slowly destroy everything else. The economic and scholastic effects of addiction are also destructive.
Weed doesn't do that, heroin, crack, cocaine and drugs along those lines do that. Weed does not have a single chemical to force addiction(nicotine for example). You have as much of a chance to get addicted to weed as porn. And don't try to tell me that weed is addicting cause I know people who just dropped the drug as they entered college, went cold turkey and were perfectly fine. Some of these people smoked daily. Also to note, I have never smoked just because smoking just isn't my thing.

Weed doesn't do that, heroin, crack, cocaine and drugs along those lines do that. Weed does not have a single chemical to force addiction(nicotine for example). You have as much of a chance to get addicted to weed as porn. And don't try to tell me that weed is addicting cause I know people who just dropped the drug as they entered college, went cold turkey and were perfectly fine. Some of these people smoked daily. Also to note, I have never smoked just because smoking just isn't my thing.

I call bullshit. I know enough stoners to know weed is obsessively habit-forming. Whether its a chemical addiction, or a mental addiction I can't say, but I assure you that weed is insidious and addictive in its own way.

I call bullshit. I know enough stoners to know weed is obsessively habit-forming. Whether its a chemical addiction, or a mental addiction I can't say, but I assure you that weed is insidious and addictive in its own way.
It's mental, not chemical. And it's not bullshit. I still know some people who still smoke an insane amount daily just because they can but then again I know people who will never leave there computer for more then 30 minutes. Once again weed is only as addictive as any other thing that gives you enjoyment and doesn't force it chemically.

*snip*

Marijuana and other hallucinogens can create very powerful, unique experiences. I cherish the memories and wouldn't give them up for anything. It's when you take something in excess that it becomes destructive. There's a fine line between experimentation and addiction - enjoy yourself, but don't cross the border and let it take over your life. Savor the moment, and always remember, quality over quantity.

EFFECTS

Onset
When smoked, the effects of cannabis begin almost immediately. When eaten the effects can take 1 to 2 hours to manifest, based primarily on how much food is in the stomach.

Duration
The effects of smoked cannabis peak after about 20 minutes and last for 1-2 hours. When eaten, the effects will peak more slowly and primary effects may last for 3-4 hours.

The Experience
The primary effects sought by those using cannabis recreationally are euphoria, relaxation, and changes in perception. Effects vary depending on dosage, with effects at low doses including a sense of well-being, mild enhancement of senses (smell, taste, hearing), subtle changes in thought and expression, talkativeness, giggling, increased appreciation of music, increased appetite, and mild closed-eye visuals. At higher doses, visuals may become more prominent, sense of time is altered, attention span and memory are frequently affected, and thought processes and mental perception may be significantly altered.

Visuals
While most people do not experience a strong visual component to the cannabis experience, some do and some particular varieties of cannabis as well as higher doses are more likely to produce this effect.



PROBLEMS
Negative effects can include paranoia, dry mouth, respiratory problems and nervousness/racing heart. Other effects may be negative or inconvenient in certain settings or situations including reduced ability to concentrate, impaired memory, tiredness, and confusion. Side effects tend to increase with lifetime use: as users age, they often report the anxiety-producing and uncomfortable effects increase and the euphoria decreases.


Contraindications:
Avoid Driving - While there has been little formal study into the effects of cannabis on driving, it is generally a good idea to avoid driving while under the influence of any psychoactive or intoxicating substance. Several studies have shown that drivers who use alcohol and cannabis in combination are far less capable than when taking either substance alone. Some studies have shown that cannabis causes impairment in driving performance, but that users often are aware of the impairment and compensate by driving more carefully.

Addiction Potential:
Regular use of cannabis can lead to psychological habituation for some people making it difficult for them to quit. Studies have estimated that between 5 and 10% of those who try smoking cannabis will become daily users sometime during their life, but most of these smokers will have given up the habit by age 30 and few remain daily smokers after age 40. Most people do not experience signs of physical addiction, but with regular daily use use, mild to medium withdrawal symptoms usually occur for less than a week, but can extend for as long as 6 weeks.

Long Term Health Problems:
The most common negative health impact of regular cannabis smoking are lung and throat problems including: coughing, increased frequency of throat and lung infections, and reduced lung capacity. There are concerns about possible long term carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects of cannabis smoking, but the results are still somewhat controversial. It can be safely said, however, that health risks increase with frequency and duration of smoking anything.

Poisoning:
There are no confirmed, published deaths from cannabis-only poisoning. There are a small number of people who report serious cannabis allergies which cause unexpectedly intense reactions, throat & lung irritation, etc.

Heart Issues:
Because cannabis increases heart rate, it could potentially increase risks of heart problems in those at risk of heart disease. One study found that cannabis use increased the risk of heart attack in men over 40, but its findings were weak and based on a very small number of individuals. In a large study of 65,000 individuals in California by Sidney et al in 1997, cannabis was not found to increase mortality rates among users under 50.

Mental Illness:
Several studies have indicated that cannabis use (like many other strong psychoactives) can precipitate neuroses or psychoses in those who are already at risk. Studies have also shown that cannabis use does not appear to increase the risk of psychosis in otherwise healthy individuals.

POSITIVE
mood lift, euphoria
laughter
relaxation, stress reduction
creative, philosophical or deep thinking : ideas flow more easily
increased appreciation of music. More aware of, deeper connection to music.
increased awareness of senses. (eating, drinking, smell)
change in experience of muscle fatigue. Pleasant body feel. Increase in body/mind connection.
pain relief (headaches, cramps)
reduced nausea, increased appetite (used medically for this)
boring tasks or entertainment can become more interesting or funny

NEUTRAL
general change in consciousness (as with many psychoactives)
increased appetite, snacky-ness
slowness (slow driving, talking)
change in vision such as sharpened colors or lights
closed-eye visuals (somewhat uncommon)
tiredness, sleepiness, lethargy
stimulation, inability to sleep (less common)
blood shot eyes (more common with certain varieties of cannabis and inexperienced users)
mouth dryness, sticky-mouth (varies with strain)
interrupts linear memory. Difficulty following a train of thought.
cheek, jaw, facial tension / numbness (less commonly reported)
racing thoughts (especially at high doses)
increased emotional impact of music
Time sense altered: cars seem like they are moving too fast, time dilation and compression are common at higher doses

NEGATIVE
nausea, especially in combination with alcohol, some pharmaceuticals, or other psychoactives
coughing, asthma, upper respiratory problems
difficulty with short term memory during effects and during periods of frequent use
racing heart, agitation, feeling tense
mild to severe anxiety
panic attacks in sensitive users or with very high doses (oral use increases risk of getting too much)
headaches
dizziness, confusion
lightheadedness or fainting (in cases of lowered blood pressure)
paranoid & anxious thoughts more frequent
possible psychological dependence on cannabis
clumsiness, loss of coordination at high doses
can precipitate or exacerbate latent or existing mental disorders

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
mild to moderate, non life-threatening withdrawal symptoms occur after daily use in some users. These may last for 1-6 weeks after cessation of use and can include anxiety, anhedonia (reduced experience of pleasure), headaches, general unease/discomfort, difficulty sleeping, and a desire to smoke pot. Severity of symptoms is related to frequency of use and individual sensitivity.
slight loss of appetite
finding non-stoned life a bit dull, increased boredom

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis.shtml

i luv muh weed. i say toke up!
And I currently have a bad cold and I found out.. I dont suffer from it when im high! :D

Is weed bad for you? :


Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.

A couple of guys from school were passing around a joint. Trying out who could hold in the fumes longest. When the joint came my way, I refused to smoke it and they were okay with it. But still it interested me... but I mainly didn't want to smoke it because i dont know what's in it.

So I asked my dad. He told me that in a joint, there is cannabis or mariouhana. I told him I don't know what that means, that I don't know the difference between the so-called "hard drugs" and "soft drugs" and that I don't know what it could/would do with me. He told me to keep it that way, and just don't smoke the joint.

So I looked it up on the internet. O boy, I found lots of contradictory stories about this cannabis/mariouhana. Some sites said straight to the point: "it kills you. don't do it" Or stuff like "one joint is just as bad as 5 ciggarettes" while others had a 10 page story explaining why joints actually ARE NOT bad for my health! They said that weed 'tickles' your brain cells, making your high. But that it doesnt destroy the brain cells, while alcohol and hard drugs do. This would make weed healthier that hard drugs or alcohol even. Also they explained that weed is not addictive, while ciggarettes and alcohol are.

This got me confused alot. Why are they all saying different things? I still don't know if a joint is bad for my health. Should I smoke one the next time they pass it around? It looks like fun (though I wouldn't do it every day, once a month at most)

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...
Yes. One drag and you will end with a needle in your arm lying in the gutter.
Unless you get professionell help early on in your addiction.

Anything can become addictive. I've know people who were selling thier furniture to be able to buy more weed.

There are safer ways to feel good than doing drugs or drinking. There are better ways of dealing with stress than drugs or drinking. They are not as easy or as convient, but have much better results in the end.

Yes. One drag and you will end with a needle in your arm lying in the gutter.
Unless you get professionell help early on in your addiction.
I highly disagree.

I highly disagree.
No. It's true. *nods*Someone here on NS told me so. And he personally talked to hundreds of doctors.*nods*

Yes. One drag and you will end with a needle in your arm lying in the gutter.
Unless you get professionell help early on in your addiction.
lol :P
edit: you are kidding, right?


and nice post (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9660742&postcount=149), Bleenie :cool:

Anything can become addictive. I've know people who were selling thier furniture to be able to buy more weed.

There are safer ways to feel good than doing drugs or drinking. There are better ways of dealing with stress than drugs or drinking. They are not as easy or as convient, but have much better results in the end.

If you have pathetic willpower, weed can ruin you. But chances are, something else would just take its place - and probably not a drug.

There are safer ways to feel good, yes, but not nearly as powerful. It's the euphoria you feel with weed that is so addictive. If an activity is extremely more attractive compared to something else, you'll want to keep doing it. Show some self control and it isn't a problem. If you find that you have trouble stopping yourself when necessary, or you don't know where to draw a line, avoid drugs. But the same thing goes for many other means of fun. You could become addicted to computers, surfing, chocolate, anything, as long as you find it pleasurable. The solution? Avoid doing anything in excess. Place limits on yourself and follow them through.

I don't believe that "one drag will end up with a heroin needle in my arm" :p

But I can believe/understand that usage of weed is harmfull to the brain when taken during adoscelence and result in memory/intelligence problems, which I have heard from both pro-weed and anti-weed people. I guess you will all give me contradictory opinions on this anyway. But when is adoscelence? I'm 15 now. If adoscelence means puperty, when is puperty generally finished? A friend of mine told me that he did want to try weed sometime, but not yet. Maybe he also heard this weedduringadoscelence-theory?

*snip*

Weed can be harmful if you smoke it everyday, obviously. Your lungs will be angry with you, your homework will be bumped to second place, and you'll find that old mary jane is the only friend you need. Solution? Know your body. Know your mind. Know your source. And last but not least, restrain yourself to only the occasional hit. Save it for special events. Not only healthier, but far more satisfying.

Let me just say that ive tried it....and it was great, especially with a few beers. I woke up the next morning snuggled up in bed with some incredibly hot chick.

weed is less dangerous than alchohal, and periodiccaly (depending on your health) less dangerous than a regular ciggarette

If you have pathetic willpower, weed can ruin you. But chances are, something else would just take its place - and probably not a drug.

There are safer ways to feel good, yes, but not nearly as powerful. It's the euphoria you feel with weed that is so addictive. If an activity is extremely more attractive compared to something else, you'll want to keep doing it. Show some self control and it isn't a problem. If you find that you have trouble stopping yourself when necessary, or you don't know where to draw a line, avoid drugs. But the same thing goes for many other means of fun. You could become addicted to computers, surfing, chocolate, anything, as long as you find it pleasurable. The solution? Avoid doing anything in excess. Place limits on yourself and follow them through.

For the most part I agree with you. I know a woman starts show signs of withdraw if she doesn't have bottled water with her.

AS far as weed or other drugs being more powerful, I have to disagree. The feeling of accomplishment is one of the greatest feelings that you can have, instilling feelings of pride, self worth, and giveing you memories that will last for the rest of your life. However, this requires work and discipline. Something that is in short supply these days.

I tried weed when I was younger and thought that it was very over rated. But its not as dangerous as alot of other drugs.

I just think that drugs seem to be the refuge of the weak.

I just think that drugs seem to be the refuge of the weak.
and the bored :P

For the most part I agree with you. I know a woman starts show signs of withdraw if she doesn't have bottled water with her.

AS far as weed or other drugs being more powerful, I have to disagree. The feeling of accomplishment is one of the greatest feelings that you can have, instilling feelings of pride, self worth, and giveing you memories that will last for the rest of your life. However, this requires work and discipline. Something that is in short supply these days.

I tried weed when I was younger and thought that it was very over rated. But its not as dangerous as alot of other drugs.

I just think that drugs seem to be the refuge of the weak.

Feelings of accomplishment have the potential to be greater than anything else, agreed. I was speaking about material objects, activities, things of that nature. Weed doesn't inhibit your ability to accomplish goals as long as it's nothing more than an occasional indulgence.

As for weed being overrated, the effects depend completely upon the individual, location, and potency of the hit. If you're smoking a cheap, $5 piece of crap with virtually no THC, I doubt you'll experience anything more than a headache. If you're a very large man, you'll require a higher dosage. If you're in some backalley with a bunch of strangers, you're not going to enjoy yourself.

Drugs are often crutches for the weak-willed and weak-minded, true. But for others, they are only a way of having fun/celebrating once in a while, experimenting, and/or satisfying curiosity. Some of the greatest minds of our century and previous times have been users. It's nothing to be proud of, but neither is it something to be ashamed of. It's simply another experience in the chaos that is life.

did we go against your religion now?
i really don't think weed counts as a god, and i find that comment rather offensive, being a christian.

the english kid
:confused: err.... what?

Feelings of accomplishment have the potential to be greater than anything else, agreed. I was speaking about material objects, activities, things of that nature. Weed doesn't inhibit your ability to accomplish goals as long as it's nothing more than an occasional indulgence.

isn't it odd that weed turns many habitual, heavy or long-term users into hippies, often espousing anti-materialist and environmental concerns. just a thought....


Drugs are often crutches for the weak-willed and weak-minded, true. But for others, they are only a way of having fun/celebrating once in a while, experimenting, and/or satisfying curiosity. Some of the greatest minds of our century and previous times have been users. It's nothing to be proud of, but neither is it something to be ashamed of. It's simply another experience in the chaos that is life.
you forgot to mention thats its also a way of escaping normal life, if you are that way inclined (why i started smoking)
from personal experience i wouldn't recommend starting smoking the stuff if that's your reason (except under certain circumstances of course)


btw, for the record, i agree totally with your other post (the one about moderation being the key). it is the euphoria that becomes psychologically addictive, in that when you're not stoned things seem so blasé... and then you just get used to being mashed. its an odd addiction in that it is wholy psychological - very easy to break in biological terms, but psychologically unpleasant to say the least.
thankfully i have learned this lesson in moderation through abusing weed, and am now able to resist the even more addictive and attractive pull of the eurphoria of pills :P

Common Mistakes.

Weed is not addictive - FALSE.
It is, although it's a mental addiction (like alcoholisim) instead of a physical one (like ciggarettes and heroin)
A roll up ciggarette is more damaging than a joint of the same size - FALSE.
They are just as bad, but a ciggarette is alot more easy to get hooked on.
Alchohol and ciggarette smoking related deaths are alot more common than weed related deaths - TRUE.
This is mainly because the former two are legal, and more easily obtainable.

Big advantage: you can't die from the drug (THC) itself

Common Mistakes.

Weed is not addictive - FALSE.
It is, although it's a mental addiction (like alcoholisim) instead of a physical one (like ciggarettes and heroin)
no, alcoholism can develop into chemical addiction. cannabis addiction is both very mild and purely psychological


A roll up ciggarette is more damaging than a joint of the same size - FALSE.
They are just as bad, but a ciggarette is alot more easy to get hooked on.
actually, if you're talking size-for-size or gram-for-gram, then weed has about 6 times the carcinogens as baccy. however, for some unknown reason, many of these get deactivated in the burning of the plant - its cancer causing but it cancels this effect out itself. not wholly and the extent to which it does this (and how) is still unknown. they say that if they can work out how this happens, we'll be a step closer towards a cure for cancer
that, plus, you don't smoke weed gram-for-gram with tobacco. you smoke a shitload less. if you smoke a pure weed (american style) joint then the average user will probably smoke less than 10 a day. its easy to smoke 20 cigarettes a day...

Alchohol and ciggarette smoking related deaths are alot more common than weed related deaths - TRUE.
This is mainly because the former two are legal, and more easily obtainable.
no. cannabis is non-toxic. there have never been any deaths from smoking weed in over 2,000 years of documented use - apart from doing stupid things like driving and operating heavy machinery while stoned. that said, alcohol makes you believe you can drive just great while being stoned you realise your condition and most people in studies compensate by driving more cautiously... thats if you can be bothered to get off your stoned ass and actually drive somewhere though :P
but back to the point - there is no OD point for cannabis use. there is for alcohol, and thats legal.

The moral of this story is; grow your own, like God intended.

God never intended for us to smoke weed. Satan took it and decieved some idiot awhile back ago.




Moral of the Story is; don't smoke it like Satan intended.

It's interesting that the only ones who say that it's harmless and good for you are the people who actually do it themselves.

Yea, I find that also in my school. It has more drugs per capita than any where in my state.

God never intended for us to smoke weed. Satan took it and decieved some idiot awhile back ago.

didn't god say to make good use of all the plants and animals he put on the earth? why exclude marijuana?
and if god created all this, why would he create a innocuous plant that he did not intend us to use?

didn't god say to make good use of all the plants and animals he put on the earth? why exclude marijuana?
and if god created all this, why would he create a innocuous plant that he did not intend us to use?
Remember the Tree of Wisdom? God created that too

From personal experience:

It actually isn't terribly bad for your lungs if you use a vaporizer or a water bong to clean the smoke a little... I don't recommend joints.. *gag*

On the other hand, it does kill brain cells... but that's pretty much it. It would take a really long time for it to kill enough to effect you though, but you won't notice if it does start effecting you. On the otherhand, I gained a few pounds when I used to smoke weed due to the munchies. You literally feel like a bottomless pit.

I'm actually against the use of marijuana except in the situations that it's medicinal, and legitimate. Think of it this way, you're stealing the supply from sick people who need it. My life is actually better now that I've done it, and realized that it isn't all that it's made out to be.

If you choose to do it though, you should know a few things about it. It's not a hard drug, but a drug is a drug no matter how you look at it. It has tetrahydrocannibanol (THC) and marijuana. Neither of which are physically addictive. They are, on the otherhand, mentally addictive. Like porn, but worse. I was addicted to it.. and it slowly but surely screwed with my head and my life. Also, good or not good, it's still illegal. Rather people like to admit it or not, it truly is a gateway drug as well. Once you get up the balls to try it, you start to realize that it really isn't that bad... and then you get curious about other drugs.. and that surely will ruin you if pot won't.

Remember the Tree of Wisdom? God created that too
bah god was stupid, and those apples were tasty ;)

Remember the Tree of Wisdom? God created that too

Everything he puts here is for a reason. But it should be for a legitimate reason... like cancer, and such. You shouldn't do anything just to do it... life must have reason and order. :cool:

Just a note on the issue of mixing alcohol and cannabis. Most people who smoke pot and drink booze will mix them at some point, so here's a catchy little rhyme that's good to remember:

"Beers, then grass, you're on your ass. Grass, then beers, you're in the clear."

Drinking for a while, then smoking pot is generally a bad idea. Nausea ensues. Not pretty. But getting stoned and then drinking is not nearly as bad, for some reason. My personal experience has shown me that the above rhyme is quite accurate.
I found out the hard way. :(

(except in that experience it was vodka then grass! even worse!)

actually, if you're talking size-for-size or gram-for-gram, then weed has about 6 times the carcinogens as baccy. however, for some unknown reason, many of these get deactivated in the burning of the plant - its cancer causing but it cancels this effect out itself. not wholly and the extent to which it does this (and how) is still unknown.


Hey that's cool to know.. strange though, being as tobacco is the exact opposite. Tobacco actually starts out with only a few carcinogens, but the curing of the tobacco adds many more carcinogens to it... and alas ;) , burning the cigarette adds even more.

Guys, for once put your political views aside and think for a moment! The guy here indicated he was still just a teen. It doesn't matter WHAT your beliefs on marijuana are---but an underage teen should not take intoxicating substances, period. Plus, you're blatantly telling him to defy his parents and commit a crime.

Guys, for once put your political views aside and think for a moment! The guy here indicated he was still just a teen. It doesn't matter WHAT your beliefs on marijuana are---but an underage teen should not take intoxicating substances, period. Plus, you're blatantly telling him to defy his parents and commit a crime.

Kudos, friend. I did add that it was illegal... but I didn't think to touch up on that.

PS friend, i'm 17 and I've been there... so, don't do it kid! I wouldn't tell you this if it weren't the best solution to your problem!

Guys, for once put your political views aside and think for a moment! The guy here indicated he was still just a teen. It doesn't matter WHAT your beliefs on marijuana are---but an underage teen should not take intoxicating substances, period. Plus, you're blatantly telling him to defy his parents and commit a crime.

The official answer: You shouldn't use it. You can't use it because it is illegal, and it is illegal so you can't use it. You should not use it. It is illegal. It is illegal so you should not use it.

My response: Unless you're willing to risk punishment for the experience.

curing of the tobacco adds many more carcinogens to it...
:eek: tobacco companies are even more evil than i thought :P

obviously i can't be 100% sure this is true, but the info came from more than one "reliable" (ie: not obviously totally biased) source on the net, and i may well have read it in a newspaper or new scientist or something. i choose to believe it, at least :D

its backed up by plenty of studies i've read about where groups of smokers are tested over time for carcinogens in their cells/blood, and the actual number of them who develop a cancer of some sort. the results tend to say that the group highest at risk of developing cancer and who have the highest level of carcinogens is that of people who smoke tobacco and marijuana. the second highest is the people who smoke just tobacco. the lowest group for cancers and carcinogens is the group who only smoke weed.

i've done a fair bit of research into this stuff (what else am i gonna do with my time at uni, eh? ;)) but i read it all months ago and have no idea where the sources are now - otherwise i'd be posting them :(

I call bullshit. I know enough stoners to know weed is obsessively habit-forming. Whether its a chemical addiction, or a mental addiction I can't say, but I assure you that weed is insidious and addictive in its own way.
It is psychologically addictive, but in your previous post you exaggerated like crazy. Addictions to heroin, cocaine and even alcohol render people homeless and destroys their lives. People who become addicted to weed tend to become less sharp, but that's about it. Their lives are not destroyed and they certainly do not die. Your post was very alarmist.

Marijuana and other hallucinogens can create very powerful, unique experiences.
Marijuana is not a hallucinogen. Unless you're smoking some really strong stuff that I don't know about!

isn't it odd that weed turns many habitual, heavy or long-term users into hippies, often espousing anti-materialist and environmental concerns. just a thought...
Not true. Look at Melkor Unchained. He's virtually a self-proclaimed God of Capitalism. The only political idea that really unites stoners is that weed should be legal.

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.

haha, I wish. I'm almost 18, and i've been desperate for some kind of extra-psychological experience since i was 13, but i never "encountered" such a thing. I just assumed the opportunity would present itself - but (probably because of my lack of social life) it never did. I'm talking about stuff more like LSD, shrooms or salvitore divinorium; real hallucinogens, but even some weed would do. I'm just interested in the idea of being able to explore some other realms of my perception (not just chemically, I'm also a big fan of meditation/lucid dreaming etc). Now I havn't read any of this thread, but i'd say: go for it. Do everything you can when you get the opportunity to do it, because going through life without at least once looking at it from a different point of view is such a waste. It's not about your physical health, hell, it's not even about your mental health: it's about your spiritual health.

Kudos, friend. I did add that it was illegal... but I didn't think to touch up on that.

PS friend, i'm 17 and I've been there... so, don't do it kid! I wouldn't tell you this if it weren't the best solution to your problem!
While I do believe it is good to give people sound advice, I object strongly to the authoritarian approach. "Do it because I said so" will work in a pinch, but, when time permits, people should be given the capacity to make sound decisions on their own. I would say that this is one of those times.

That having been said, as far as marijuana usage goes, you are better off without it. It's not going to be the mystical experience that will allow you to bond with your friends and carries with it the possibility of getting into unfortunate situations.

About the only reasons that I could recommend marijuana to someone would be for analgesias or an appetite stimulant as a method of last resort.

*looks at his age* 16 still young?

And are you telling me you never tried weed? and if you have.. how old were you?

[QUOTE=Swimmingpool]
Marijuana is not a hallucinogen. Unless you're smoking some really strong stuff that I don't know about!
QUOTE]

Actually marijuana is classified as a hallucinogen. It depends on the person... when I first started smoking it I did hallucinate... but as time went on I didn't. Also, there is common marijuana that can make you hallucinate just about every time... Kind Bud or KB :p , for example.

haha, I wish. I'm almost 18, and i've been desperate for some kind of extra-psychological experience since i was 13, but i never "encountered" such a thing. I just assumed the opportunity would present itself - but (probably because of my lack of social life) it never did. I'm talking about stuff more like LSD, shrooms or salvitore divinorium; real hallucinogens, but even some weed would do. I'm just interested in the idea of being able to explore some other realms of my perception (not just chemically, I'm also a big fan of meditation/lucid dreaming etc). Now I havn't read any of this thread, but i'd say: go for it. Do everything you can when you get the opportunity to do it, because going through life without at least once looking at it from a different point of view is such a waste. It's not about your physical health, hell, it's not even about your mental health: it's about your spiritual health.

That's like saying we should kill someone so that we can look at it from a murderer's point of view... It's good for our spiritual health, everyone.. let's kill.

KB is yummy.

Check reputable sources:
Wikipedia
Encarta
Encyclopedia.com
Britannica

I'll say it's bad, but studies contradict each other. Some say marijuana is worse than tobacco, others say vice versa. Both are bad. Alcohol is really the only safe thing and only in small quantities. But it does affect less than smoking or injecting, or snorting. So if you have to do something, I'll have to recommend alcohol.

Cigarettes should be called Indian Revenge because it's sort of a revenge from the native americans when we killed so many.

KB is yummy.

----->absence of denial<-----

That's like saying we should kill someone so that we can look at it from a murderer's point of view... It's good for our spiritual health, everyone.. let's kill.

You're misintepreting what i said intentionally, but yes, you are vagually right. It's good to try and empathise with people's points of views, because it helps us understand better why they do certain things. But I was referring more to points of view within ourselves - if i where to murder, i wouldn't be experiencing things from "a murderer"'s point of view... i'd be experiencing them through my own, as me, because i'd have had a reason to commit that murder. That's the essential difference there. It's about opening "doors of perception" we might not otherwise have thought to/been able to open. Most of what I just said didn't make a lot of sense, but then again it didn't really need to.

Actually marijuana is classified as a hallucinogen. It depends on the person... when I first started smoking it I did hallucinate... but as time went on I didn't. Also, there is common marijuana that can make you hallucinate just about every time... Kind Bud or KB :p , for example.
yeah i've hallucinated twice with smoking weed... lots of weed.
the first time was kinda crap round a friend's house: i was lying in bed and the cieling was bowing out and moving towards me.
the second time was in a coffeeshop in amsterdam when (if i recall correctly) i felt as if i was in this picture i was staring at on the wall opposite me. that said i can hardly remember a thing about that whole week in amsterdam, so it could have been a dream, i could be imagining it, or it could have been the shrooms (but i think that was another day) :p


edit: i've hallucinated a fair bit more when on E and smoking a lot of pot, but thats not exactly hard...

In my humble opinion all it does is kill a lot of brain cells, and last time I checked. <searches the internet>, yeah brain cells are good.

True... but so does alcohol... and "they say" that coffee causes cancer as well... Life is short already, so why not enjoy yourself a bit?

First time you get high, it will probaly freak you out... it will probaly cause some coughing and a terrible taste in your mouth... But if the weed is good (for instant result, try hashish) you'll get high within the following 5 minutes.

It's a nice buzz, you should try watching some TV or a movie, or listen to some music. It's kinda like your senses are uhmmm, how to put it... stronger for a bit. You'll come up with cool and crazy ideas and perhaps find your place in life (lot's of people that have used drugs, actually claim it changed their view on life...) but where you are left with a splitting headache after a couple of pints, you'll only feel hungry after the effects of the joint wear out.

I won't tell anyone to go out and use drugs, but if you get the chance to give it a shot, i wouldn't tell anyone either to pass on it ;)

*snip*Marijuana is not a hallucinogen. Unless you're smoking some really strong stuff that I don't know about!

Actually, it's classified as a hallucinogen. The effects depend upon the individual and amount of THC, of course. So it may or may not be, in your case. There are far stronger hallucinogens, a few listed below in order from least to greatest from my personal experiences.

Shrooms
Ketamine
LSD
Mescaline
DMT

Don't ever try DMT unless you're very experienced and comfortable with LSD.

Why would you do it? What's the use? Will you get more respect from your friends if you use it? Nice friends you have then if thats the case.

I've never tried it and I'm never going to try it. I'd like to be able to control myself and keep thinking clearly. Besides, it smells and I've seen people high and they were scary. I've just seen too much shit. The people I know that use it always have problems of some kind. I don''t know if that's because of the weed or if it already has been like that.

Anyway, I would say... don't do it. It's crap, you don't win anything with it. But you are not me. It's your decision. Weed is tricky.

Actually marijuana is classified as a hallucinogen. It depends on the person... when I first started smoking it I did hallucinate... but as time went on I didn't. Also, there is common marijuana that can make you hallucinate just about every time... Kind Bud or KB :p , for example.
I have never come anywhere near hallucinating from it. But then again I didn't even hallucinate when I took mushrooms! I've never known anybody who hallucinated from weed.

That's like saying we should kill someone so that we can look at it from a murderer's point of view... It's good for our spiritual health, everyone.. let's kill.
Killing is not good for a murderer's spiritual health. Look at Macbeth.

edit: i've hallucinated a fair bit more when on E and smoking a lot of pot, but thats not exactly hard...
How did you manage to summon up the bodily restraint to sit down, roll and smoke, while on pills???

Why would you do it? What's the use? Will you get more respect from your friends if you use it? Nice friends you have then if thats the case.

I've never tried it and I'm never going to try it. I'd like to be able to control myself and keep thinking clearly. Besides, it smells and I've seen people high and they were scary. I've just seen too much shit. The people I know that use it always have problems of some kind. I don''t know if that's because of the weed or if it already has been like that.

Anyway, I would say... don't do it. It's crap, you don't win anything with it. But you are not me. It's your decision. Weed is tricky.
I hope you are similarly opposed to alcohol. Otherwise you're a blatant hypocrite.

How did you manage to summon up the bodily restraint to sit down, roll and smoke, while on pills???

get massively stoned before, during, and after - thats how :p
e is great to chill out with if you're in the right environment and u got plenty of weed. i highly recommend it :)

and we weren't rolling any spliffs... we were smoking amsterdam nederhash and a awesome homegrown crop through this

http://www.weedcity.com/shop/uploads/images_products_large/306.jpg

my flatmate's and mine waterpipe :D
she's called Shelly and she's awesome!

personally don't like to mess around with how my brain is functioning.

that's it.

no i'm not (a) conservative, or a moralist, or a know-it-best, or anything.
many of my friends smoke weed,and i'm finde with their decision.

but no weed, no alcohol, no tobacco, no anything the like for me. well, chocolate. see above.

Does this subject ever have a consensus? :) I think smoking pot is pretty subjective experience, so you're not going to be able to come up with one definitive answer. I've smoked it a handful of times in the past, and didn't particularly care for it. My younger sister smoked it more, and didn't seem to have any problems with it as did several other friends...but they were only smoking a little on the weekends. I've had a few other friends that smoked it often, and a lot at the same time. Two of them are pot zombies and the third went into rehab to kick the habit completely and is mostly okay now, so there you go. As with any drug, proceed with caution. And to the OP, if you're dad's a cop, dude, just wait until you leave home.

Oh, but what isn't bad for you? You think a big, fat, bleeding steak on your plate is good for you? Or perhaps living in big cities inhaling all sorts of unnatural crap we produce? Alcohol good for you? Coffee, perhaps? Aspirine?
I'm not saying weed is harmless, I'm just saying it depends on the quantity as well. Weed in itself can have positive effects, but as hardly anyone smokes pure weed, that point applies to ...hardly anyone.

Don't condemn something just because society tells you it's bad (why is is acceptable to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol, when that's just as harmful?).

If you want to try it, then try it, if you don't , then don't. There's no point in asking anyone to 'legalize' it by telling you it's not bad for you.
In the end it's your choice, and honestly.... people do worse things than smoking pot, so relax ;)

Ah, hon? I wasn't condemning marijuana. Hell, my first post on this thread was basically "here are the risks, here's how to minimise them, I'll leave the choice to you". My post about people talking crack was aimed at the handful who are going on as if a joint was less harmful than a cigarette, or smoking pot isn't carcinogenic if there's no tobacco in it, or smoking pot somehow does wonders for your respiratory, cardiovascular, or nervous systems. Basically the people who are indeed actually talking crack :)

Anti-marijuana websites are probably owned by the government. It’s just a bunch of propaganda. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with smoking weed, even the surgeon general says so. There’s really no debate. It’s just a bunch of government hype. Smoke.
Smoke is a carcinogen and the inhalation of it, from any source, has the potential to cause cancer.
Alcohol is poison to your body (that's why it's harmful to your liver, kidneys, entire renal system basically).
Anything besides "pot" and it's derivatives isn't a very good idea. They are poison too. As are most prescription medications. (Seen all those ads on TV about common pharmacueticals that can cause kidney or liver problems? That's because they are poison).
I haven't heard of any evidence that marijuana causes kidney or liver damage. My assertion is that it's the least harmful of all intoxicants.
If you're worried about lung cancer, then just eat it. Or invest in a high quality water pipe.
:) :cool: :D

many of my former friends started smoking pot, it sure as hell is addictive and the people act a little different after geting addicted, it is very much dangeres and kills brain cells, not to mention gives you some hell of a lot of lung damige

(sorry for the bad spelling)
There is absolutey no conclusive scientific evidence that cannibis is addictive. Your body does not physically crave the substance the way it will nicotene, alcohol, cocaine, herion, etc...
It is said that there is only psychological "addiction." Which for most people just means they want to get high.

(Scientific Fact: Marijuana does kill off brain cells gradually.)
It's been my experience that spending too much time in this forum has the same result!
:eek:

It's been my experience that spending too much time in this forum has the same result!
:eek:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b383/DrkHelmet/nailhead.jpg

come to kakkalo, where you can pet weed dogoodles while smoking marijuana you bought with a few of your hard-earned potaweeds.

http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/target=display_nation/nation=kakkalo

There is absolutey no conclusive scientific evidence that cannibis is addictive. Your body does not physically crave the substance the way it will nicotene, alcohol, cocaine, herion, etc...
It is said that there is only psychological "addiction." Which for most people just means they want to get high.

I'll pass that along to all the potheads I've known who didn't feel like they could function without hitting the ol' peacepipe before breakfast. I'm sure they'll be terribly relieved to find out that according ot some guy on som online forum, they're not actually addicted and don't have a problem :)

For males, there are some drawbacks, short term effects on concentration, long term effects on memory; there are the cerebrovascular issues mentionerd earlier in the thread as well...

I've personally avoided it because I am just basically not interested; i don't like the smell, i don't like some of the negative effects: i've seen a good amount of people (8 or so are close friends) just burn out. It's reversible if you're not a long-term user, but if you use it enough, it gets in the way of your life, like any bad habit.

As far as females though, I'd have to say stay away from it if you plan on having kids. As you all know, you can test for marijuana usage by analyzing your hair and nails; it stays in your system. What does this mean? Well, females have only a certain amount of eggs they can release, and that's it. Guess where pot likes to stick around in? Gonads

For males it's not so much a risk; goto the bathroom in the morning, you clear out your cache, so to say; sperm only live a few hours anyway. Women don't have that luxury.

They've done some tests on the effects, after birth and such.. Nothing's completely conclusive, and there have been contradictions, but then again genetics are tricky business. Regardless, there is very strong evidence supporting that the intelligence of the child and/or its circulatory system can be affected. Look it up if you wish, the studies are out there. You'll find both conclusions. Not really worth the risk, IMO.

Actually, it's classified as a hallucinogen. The effects depend upon the individual and amount of THC, of course. So it may or may not be, in your case. There are far stronger hallucinogens, a few listed below in order from least to greatest from my personal experiences.

Shrooms
Ketamine
LSD
Mescaline
DMT

Don't ever try DMT unless you're very experienced and comfortable with LSD.

I second that. DMT is really hardcore. The effects are short-lived, but really, really intense. I know a guy who buys it in bulk from chemical companies and smokes it regularly. He's pretty screwed up. He was pretty odd to begin with, but that stuff has really exacerbated it.

(intro) :

I frequently hear things like "smoke does (not( damage ... " , some from ex-smokers, others from smokers. Apparently thosqe who never got the addiction, try to shut up, or only "hint" the other two camps into continuation of a meaningless black-white double monologue (which is NOT a dialogue, nor a discussion)



(one simple question) :

But ... WHY do so many people buy that famous "purified charcoal" for their barbeques ?



(motivation, backgrounds) :

Plain wood, and all kinds of smelly grasses and herbs, will give much more "flavour" but no: the purified stuff is sold by TONS every summer.

The non-purified dried plants (herbs, grasses, hey, paper, wood ....) apparently make dangerous things when burnt, which the purified charcoal doesn't make (any more, it has been previously ... burnt out of it)

But burning "fresh" organic stuff, of all kinds, is far less "dangerous" than having it smoulder, as one does in most "smokes". The fun has to last a while, so the "burning" is held back, partially by depriving the fire of a good load of oxygen. That way, burning too "cold" to be good, the chloride and other things in them combine to all kinds of undefined substances (well, they ARE defined for cigarettes, but I doubt the tobacco industry publishes the list)

Besides that, I knew a few people who had been working underground, in coal mining. The "little particles" in the air, for years on, seem to ... kill of their lungs. And one would deliberately CHOOSE to inhale little particles, not merely coal but a whole bunch of undetermined components?

I doubt it

I'd just like to point out that the correlation between schizophrenia and marijuana usage is real. It's not causation, but it's something to be concerned about regardless. I also know, from personal experience with a relative, that if you're a certain personality type marijuana may be the catalyst that can set off a long-term anxiety disorder.

That said, most people don't experience these things, so odds are it requires a specific physiology already, probably one already prone to that type of thing.

Still, it's something to remember.

Personally, I just think it smells horrid.

marijuana is the best smell ever. if you think it's horrid, go love on some salvia ;0

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.

A couple of guys from school were passing around a joint. Trying out who could hold in the fumes longest. When the joint came my way, I refused to smoke it and they were okay with it. But still it interested me... but I mainly didn't want to smoke it because i dont know what's in it.

So I asked my dad. He told me that in a joint, there is cannabis or mariouhana. I told him I don't know what that means, that I don't know the difference between the so-called "hard drugs" and "soft drugs" and that I don't know what it could/would do with me. He told me to keep it that way, and just don't smoke the joint.

So I looked it up on the internet. O boy, I found lots of contradictory stories about this cannabis/mariouhana. Some sites said straight to the point: "it kills you. don't do it" Or stuff like "one joint is just as bad as 5 ciggarettes" while others had a 10 page story explaining why joints actually ARE NOT bad for my health! They said that weed 'tickles' your brain cells, making your high. But that it doesnt destroy the brain cells, while alcohol and hard drugs do. This would make weed healthier that hard drugs or alcohol even. Also they explained that weed is not addictive, while ciggarettes and alcohol are.

This got me confused alot. Why are they all saying different things? I still don't know if a joint is bad for my health. Should I smoke one the next time they pass it around? It looks like fun (though I wouldn't do it every day, once a month at most)

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...
The straight answer is simple (though there are those on both sides who don't like it):
-No weed is not addictive in the traditional sense. A traditional addiction causes a chemical change in the body that you can have difficulty getting free from. It IS addictive in the same way that over the counter pain killers can be addictive--MENTAL ADDICTION. You become addicted to the way you feel so mellow and "free" from the daily grind.
-Yes the amount of tar present in a joint is the equivilant of 5-10 cigs. (varies with which type you are comparing to)
-Yes it is better for you than most types of perscription pain killers. Depending on the person it can also be more effective. Perscription Pain Killers are easier to purge from your body though; but tend to be a risk for addiction.
-No it does not "kill" brain cells the way most hard drugs do but it does slow down your system resulting in slower cell reproduction.
-As in the previous one the mind process stimuli in a different order as various mental factors are slowed at different rates and this results in the euphoric side effect. For some people the side effect does not occour at all, some only after repeated use, some always and some only for a short while leading them into "harder" drugs.

Well take that for what it is -- an indepth multi-person look into the drug. Whether you agree or disagree is probably dependant on your responses to it or to the use of it by friends and there are of course some statistical variances since everyones chemical make-up is different.

"It's interesting that the only ones who say that it's harmless and good for you are the people who actually do it themselves."

and the ones who knock it are usually the weenies that are too afraid to try it,so they dig up some bogus "facts" about its dangers and try to convince themselves and others that it is the devil.

as for those who have been whining about lung cancer...smoking it is not the only way. you can use it as roughage if you are constipated with the nice side-effect of a strong buzz. you can also crush it and extract its oils which can be added to baking or drinks.

i prefer brownies myself...

There is absolutey no conclusive scientific evidence that cannibis is addictive. Your body does not physically crave the substance the way it will nicotene, alcohol, cocaine, herion, etc...
It is said that there is only psychological "addiction." Which for most people just means they want to get high.
Actually a Physch. Addic. can be worse than any other form of addic.! It is by far the hardest to break and the major reason that most people can't break addiction to cig.'s and other "hard drugs".
It's been my experience that spending too much time in this forum has the same result!
:eek:
ROTFLMAO
:p :D :p

we're all addicted to life, let's blow out brains!

As a semi-smoker of pot - one can almost see the predicament you're in. I've been there before. Yes - one joint wont kill you. Many will. It's not addictive because I smoke it pretty regularly but would never begin to classify myself as a drug-addict.

It does make you slower though.

I would say - you're incredibly smart for re-searching it. Try it once. People with low self-esteem or issues like depression or anything mental health issues should stay very far away from weed or take it with HUGE precautions.

It's a great drug. I think it should be decriminalized.

Do with your body what you will. It's your body in the end of things. You have to live with the fact that you did try drugs. Good luck. xxx

It IS addictive in the same way that over the counter pain killers can be addictive--MENTAL ADDICTION.

Err. Painkillers are addictive because they cause physical dependency. Any opiate or derivative has that characteristic. It is not "mental addiction."

You become addicted to the way you feel so mellow and "free" from the daily grind.

No. You ENJOY the way you feel so mellow.

Actually a Physch. Addic. can be worse than any other form of addic.! It is by far the hardest to break and the major reason that most people can't break addiction to cig.'s and other "hard drugs".

Yeah, those chocaholics and workaholics are almost impossible to "cure" in comparison to a heavy crack habit...

Most people can't break addiction to cigarettes? Bullshit, most people don't even smoke them! And most people who are trying to quit are not even trying, they have just been pressured by friends and family to say "Ok, ok, I'll quit." Well of COURSE you won't stop doing something you don't really want to stop doing. That doesn't equate to addiction.

This 'psychological addiction' crap is just that - crap. It's a way of relieving people of responsibility for their own decisions and behaviors. It's a way of labelling people who do something you don't approve of, too. Note the "online addiction" nonsense now springing up. This bullshit has got to stop, people. Computer addiction? Waah, waah, I can't turn off my computer? You aren't a victim: TURN OFF THE GODDAM COMPUTER!

It's all part of the cult of victimhood. No one's responsible, we're all helpless slaves to chemicals. No one has choices, we are just wandering from one addiction to another. Makes us all perfect little automatons, ready for our next fix. I've heard people talk smirkingly about how being drug-free is now their "new addiction." Are these people fucking kidding me? What a way to totally destroy the concept of REAL addiction, by throwing the term at anything and everything. Ugh.

I have smoked pot, ganya, marijuana... whatever you call it... chocolata, ok i stop, for about 8 and a half years.
When I started I loved it off course, the munchies are great and you make yourself believe that you have really deep philosophical insights, but then again, this just might be true. If you get high, live is great, you can wander around on the streets for hours, constantly associating your thoughts, seeing the joke that the world really is, laughing your ass off about all the people who stress to get home after word, just to spend their time watching tv or having a fight with their partner. I was proud not to be part of that world and was very happy in my own.

It helped me deal with the fact that I thought that society was the saddest version of what humans could achieve, that the things I thought to be important, were not important to society and that the things I thought were less important, seemed to be the only things people could care for.

:headbang:



I learned that by chasing these hollow phrases, most people were looking for the same thing as I was, they just never learned that they could do anything outside of what was thought to them. Fair enough.

But smoking fucks you up as well. You’re thoughts keep spinning and, if you don’t stop at one point, you are probably going to be detached from society, because you’re way of thinking is just flowing and not structural, anyway, that is my experience. You forget the details, like were you left your keys and that kind of things, so yes, it does influence your short term memory, it fucks it up. Some people can get schizophrenic after smoking, but than again, the chance of becoming schizophrenic after drinking loads of coffee, or working long hours, is much bigger. And than again, if you really let the world reflect on you, the most normal state you might end up in is being schizophrenic.

I would say, smoke, but please, don’t smoke forever, take the experience and learn from it, and than move on.

I'd just like to point out that the correlation between schizophrenia and marijuana usage is real. It's not causation, but it's something to be concerned about regardless. I also know, from personal experience with a relative, that if you're a certain personality type marijuana may be the catalyst that can set off a long-term anxiety disorder.

That said, most people don't experience these things, so odds are it requires a specific physiology already, probably one already prone to that type of thing.

Still, it's something to remember.

Personally, I just think it smells horrid.
yeah, basically if you're already schizophrenic just not "active" yet, weed can activate the condition. same (and worse) with many other drugs - acid especially. but its only a small percent of those with the potential to do this that actually do develop a problem.

marijuana is the best smell ever. if you think it's horrid, go love on some salvia ;0
salvia? what a rip off... :rolleyes:

Actually a Physch. Addic. can be worse than any other form of addic.! It is by far the hardest to break and the major reason that most people can't break addiction to cig.'s and other "hard drugs".

wtf? tobacco and hard drugs cause chemical dependancy - physical addiction. psychological addiction is an absolute shitload easier to break than that!

and weed's psychological "addiction" is very mild in that the feeling it produces are good and highly enjoyable. one will always want to do something one enjoys again - and more often - so, for those without sufficient self-restraint (and/or other external restraints) this can develop into something that can appear like an addiction
it is not an actual addiction because you can stop any time you like - should you like to (thats the problem, its always enjoyable and when you're high you forget any negative effects it may be having on your life... so wanting or realising the need to stop is the difficult part) and you won't experience any withdrawal symptoms apart from feeling a little low for the first few days afterward. unlike stopping drinking from alcohol addiction, or stopping smoking cigarettes, stopping using hard drugs, etc...

this is the plain truth about marijuana addiction and why smokers say it isn't addictive. it is addictive in the literal sense (psychologically) but to such a low extent that it really shouldn't be counted as an addiction at all. its the same sort of way one can get 'addicted' to eating chocolate, or get 'addicted' to shopping (for example) or some other activity that gives you pleasure. you can stop at any time without any problem but you may not want to, in spite of what it may be doing to you or your life, because it is, quite simply, very pleasurable.

you make yourself believe that you have really deep philosophical insights, but then again, this just might be true. If you get high, live is great, you can wander around on the streets for hours, constantly associating your thoughts, seeing the joke that the world really is, laughing your ass off about all the people who stress to get home after work, just to spend their time watching tv or having a fight with their partner. I was proud not to be part of that world and was very happy in my own.

It helped me deal with the fact that I thought that society was the saddest version of what humans could achieve, that the things I thought to be important, were not important to society and that the things I thought were less important, seemed to be the only things people could care for.


I learned that by chasing these hollow phrases, most people were looking for the same thing as I was, they just never learned that they could do anything outside of what was thought to them. Fair enough.

ah yeah thats it: the mind of the stoner. at least thats what my mind was (and kinda still is) like. its hard to describe the rationality behind the thinking, but that's absolutley what i ended up thinking too (i "lived high" - smoking during the day, most days - for about 2 years). kudos for the post, that man :)

I decided I want to try it out at least once. That won't hurt me. thanks again for all the info, people! :D

(yes im the question poster btw, in case ur too lazy to check that)

Oh, also somone told me we could make a spacecake sometime. I read this is better than smoking the marijuana in a joint, because then you don't have the tabacco. Correct?

Oh, also somone told me we could make a spacecake sometime. I read this is better than smoking the marijuana in a joint, because then you don't have the tabacco. Correct?

Not because of the lack of tobacco, but simply because you're not actually smoking the weed. Pure weed spliffs are just as bad for you as mixed ones, although bongs are better because the water filters the smoke.

Weed is harmful - but no more so that alchohol. Less socially damaging too - who ever heard of a person beaten by someone in a 'cannabis induced rage' ?

wtf? tobacco and hard drugs cause chemical dependancy - physical addiction. psychological addiction is an absolute shitload easier to break than that!

Gotta disagree with you there. I think the cases of actual physical dependency resulting from cigarettes, for example, are very low and that most of the reported 'addictions' are psychosomatic. I mean it sure helps me justify continuing smoking, if I can say "I'm addicted" instead of buckling up and quitting. I know plenty of people who've never been addicted to cigarettes though they've been smokers, and I know an overwhelming amount of people who insist cigarettes are addictive who have never smoked one in their lives.

Other drugs do cause chemical dependency though, yes. Though not all of them. If you ask me caffeine is the biggest - I would say a majority of Americans are addicted to it and in complete denial that it is in any way a bad thing.


it is not an actual addiction because you can stop any time you like - should you like to (thats the problem, its always enjoyable and when you're high you forget any negative effects it may be having on your life... so wanting or realising the need to stop is the difficult part)

Fully agree. That's why I hold the phrase "psychological addiction" in a high amount of skepticism. It sounds an awful lot like a euphemism for "not wanting to change behavior" to me.

Gotta disagree with you there. I think the cases of actual physical dependency resulting from cigarettes, for example, are very low and that most of the reported 'addictions' are psychosomatic. I mean it sure helps me justify continuing smoking, if I can say "I'm addicted" instead of buckling up and quitting. I know plenty of people who've never been addicted to cigarettes though they've been smokers, and I know an overwhelming amount of people who insist cigarettes are addictive who have never smoked one in their lives.

Other drugs do cause chemical dependency though, yes. Though not all of them. If you ask me caffeine is the biggest - I would say a majority of Americans are addicted to it and in complete denial that it is in any way a bad thing.


well ok - i just lumped tobacco and alcohol together without thinking there. however the case still stands that alcohol, a totally legal drug, can lead to psychological and physical addiction - chemical dependancy.

that said, the term chemical dependancy is probably being used quite subjectively here

didn't god say to make good use of all the plants and animals he put on the earth? why exclude marijuana?
and if god created all this, why would he create a innocuous plant that he did not intend us to use?


Marijuana has medicianal beings and also is used in making items. God intends everything for good, and Satan intends everything for bad. The devil took it and perverted our minds to think that its "cool" or "fun" or "nothing is wrong with it." The best people to trick? The anti-establishment youth of today.
Q.)Who is doing the most drugs?
A.)The anti-establishment youth of today.
Q.)Who thinks its "cool?"
A.)The anti-establishment youth of today.
Q.)Who needs to grow up and look at life in the big picture?
A.)The anti-establishment youth of today.
Think about it.


Disclamer: I also fall under the catagory of "Youth" I am not saying that all of them do drugs. Though, unfortanatly, most do.

Fully agree. That's why I hold the phrase "psychological addiction" in a high amount of skepticism. It sounds an awful lot like a euphemism for "not wanting to change behavior" to me.



Theres a difference between you feeling like you HAVE to have something (can still fall under addiction) and your body physically needing an element of something.

many of my former friends started smoking pot, it sure as hell is addictive and the people act a little different after geting addicted, it is very much dangeres and kills brain cells, not to mention gives you some hell of a lot of lung damige

(sorry for the bad spelling)
Weed isn't any more addictive than this message board.

At any rate, because joints are unfiltered, they are worse than cigarettes (so either add a filter or make some hash brownies if you want lung safety) however, most pot smokers don't smoke nearly as much as cigarette smokers.

Even if you use the 1:5 ratio (1 joint is as bad as 5 cigarettes) when you think about someone who smokes one pack of smokes a day, that's 20-25 cigarettes, which would be equivalent to 4-5 joints, now I don't know anyone who smokes that much on a daily basis. If you share a joint with a group of friends once or twice a week then your lungs should be fine.

Also, using bongs does not reduce the amount of carcinogens in the smoke, nor do pipes...

Oh, and the only studies in which pot killed brain cells were the ones where they injected chimps with near lethal doses of thc. It's physically impossible to do that accidently.

Most of the anti-marijuana stuff is propaganda. It is not physically addictive(unlike tobacco). It, like all smoke, can damage your lungs, but people generally smoke far less pot than they do tobacco and it's the chain-smokers who have the worst of lung problems. Is it bad for you? yes, is junk food bad for you? yes, probably worse in many cases.

It is certainly an interesting experience, food tastes awesome, general perception is affected(I've never experienced hallucinations, but evidently they are possible), and you feel really strange. I think everyone should try it a few times(first few to break down tolerance), and if you like it go ahead and use it, but I must stress that you should use it in moderation. Get stoned once or twice a month not once or twice a day and it will only be a positive experience for you. I have seen people become much slower and less coordinated from excessive use, these are your pot-heads, but I know many more people who don't use it often and have fun with it without the negative effects.

Use it, but use it in moderation.

Weed gets a bad name because people have a real bad problem with sorting out cause and effect.

People will see individuals smoke weed and be lazy, and therefore assume that marijuana makes you lazy. They fail to take into account that it is generally lazy people who smoke weed in the first place.

People will see people who smoke weed and eventually move on to other "harder" drugs. They think that then weed leads you to those harder drugs, without considering that people who have done weed are acceptive of drugs and would have done the harder drugs whether weed had existed at all.

Is weed bad for you? Yes.

Can you enjoy weed responsibly? Yes.

Of course its bad for you. Just like alcohol and just like cigarrettes.

My advice is if you really want to try it, that is you want to get high not you want to impress some other people, then go for it.
Lets face it. Smoking one joint to try it out will not give you cancer, will not cause you to lose your mind or throw your life into a painful underachieving hell.

Weed is a great drug as far as im concerned IN MODERATION. Ive seen some people ruin there lives over it, from smoking it everyday, but then again i still have a glass of wine even though i know there are alcoholics who have been destroyed over it.
And when i go to uni this afternoon, and ive finished my classes - i'll roll up a joint and pass it around with some friends and enjoy the afternoon.

Oh im sure someone has mentioned this but hydroponic weed can have 200 times more thc than a good old bushie. Thats something that you might want to think about.

Marijuana has medicianal beings and also is used in making items. God intends everything for good, and Satan intends everything for bad. The devil took it and perverted our minds to think that its "cool" or "fun" or "nothing is wrong with it." The best people to trick? The anti-establishment youth of today.


Bah, I don't think that when I try out a joint or spacecake satan will have perverted my mind. Actually I dont think there is any satan. But that is besides the point I don't want to turn this threat into a religion-bashing.

All of you have helped greatly in giving me a bigger picture in all of this weed stuff. Will try it out sometime. Because now I don't have this "omfgweedisdrugsanddrugsisbadforyou!" idea anymore ;)

I mean, ya sure I know now that weed IS bad, but so is drinking alcohol. Still strange that there are kids in my class who happily swallow whole bottles of some exotic alcoholic drink, which they hid somewhere near the school for a nice afterparty, and that those same kids are so anti-drugs that they wish weed to hell. I guess they are just uninformed and still have the "omfgweedisdrugsanddrugsisbadforyou!" idea I used to have.

Also, the youth of today is getting the idea that alcohol is actually not that much of a danger, because almost everyone drinks it!

"My parents do, my friends do, you can buy it in any restaurant or café. Then how could there possibly be anything wrong with it? Nooo, then look at that highly dangarous and ILLEGAL drug called weed, isn't that illegal? And don't people call it a drug? Then it's baaaad for you!"

Bah, I don't think that when I try out a joint or spacecake satan will have perverted my mind. Actually I dont think there is any satan. But that is besides the point I don't want to turn this threat into a religion-bashing.

All of you have helped greatly in giving me a bigger picture in all of this weed stuff. Will try it out sometime. Because now I don't have this "omfgweedisdrugsanddrugsisbadforyou!" idea anymore ;)

I mean, ya sure I know now that weed IS bad, but so is drinking alcohol. Still strange that there are kids in my class who happily swallow whole bottles of some exotic alcoholic drink, which they hid somewhere near the school for a nice afterparty, and that those same kids are so anti-drugs that they wish weed to hell. I guess they are just uninformed and still have the "omfgweedisdrugsanddrugsisbadforyou!" idea I used to have.

Also, the youth of today is getting the idea that alcohol is actually not that much of a danger, because almost everyone drinks it!

"My parents do, my friends do, you can buy it in any restaurant or café. Then how could there possibly be anything wrong with it? Nooo, then look at that highly dangarous and ILLEGAL drug called weed, isn't that illegal? And don't people call it a drug? Then it's baaaad for you!"
great, thats the right openminded attitude to have imho - no longer stifled or brainwashed by all the propoganda and social stigma... now you know the truth (or at least many, many conflicting versions of it ;)) you can make your own mind up, and thats just great. sir, i salute you :cool:

you can make your own mind up, and thats just great. sir, i salute you :cool:

Hehe, thanks! :)

I say invest in a good quality briar and some good quaitly shag there and smoke a pipe alot and occasionally partake in some good tea, absinthe and Laudinaum

Bah, I don't think that when I try out a joint or spacecake satan will have perverted my mind. Actually I dont think there is any satan.
Also, the youth of today is getting the idea that alcohol is actually not that much of a danger, because almost everyone drinks it!


Thats what he wants you to think, his greatest weopon, not having people know he exists. Also all our minds our perverted. Sure many people wont accept that, but its the facts. Like a comercial for a movie said (I forget what movie it was for) "Satan exists even if you dont believe in him." I have a question for you, Do you believe in God? If you do, I find it strange how you dont believe Satan exists.

Also, the youth of today is getting the idea that alcohol is actually not that much of a danger, because almost everyone drinks it!
Right, exactly. It is not "bad," in our society. It is said to "not partake in much wine." I dont drink, my parents no longer drink (used to be alchohalics) and have been sober for more than two years. I am fine with people drinking a little bit IF they are 21! But people who get smash drunk have a problem.

In my experience weed was a fun thing at first but in the end it took away my motiation to do things in life. It also led to stronger and more dangerous drugs but that probably doesn't happen to everyone. Personally I'm not against people smoking pot, especially for medicinal reasons, unless it begins to make their lives unmanageable. I also feel weed should be legalized and sold in special stores for four reasons: 1) To piss off the US. 2) Lots of taxes. 3) Lower crime rate. 4) Piss off the US.
Although when I was an avid user of pot I was against legalizing it as the potency of it will go down.

I'd smoke weed everyday if it weren't for fucking drug tests. I've quit several times. I quit for 6 months once. I was still coughing up brown shit that tasted like weed a month later. I was a very heavy smoker though, me and my buds would smoke like 15 blunts in a day. Recently when I smoked, I'd use a pinch hitter hooked to a bong. The pinch in the little baseball bat was just enough for one hit. I did it this way because I was the only one smoking around me and it conserves weed when compared to a big flaming bowl.

Anyone know a gauranteed way to get around it? I don't trust those potions. I've thought of getting the fake piss and the iv bag thing, but I face random ones some times, and fake piss is illegal in oklahoma. Maybe I should save a whole bunch of my clean piss right now.

The active ingredient in Cannabis sativa (ie, pot, marijuana) is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). If you're seriously thinking about trying marijuana I would first check out this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol

The first thing that really stands out to me is that THC is fat soluble, this in conjuction with the knowledge that neurons (nerve cells) are coated in fat, and therefore, THC will hang around in your head for months, sitting on your nerves and drasticly slowing down the thought process.

So far, that's the only thing confirmed ill effect of THC I've found, but even that sounds horrid to me, but then, I guess if you're not thinking that much anyway there's no point in trying to save your cells, huh?

THC doesn't kill off brain cells, as far as I know, nor any other cell for that matter, and the lethal dose is quite high. It has been implied that it may cause cancer, due to interacting with the DNA and RNA of all those cells its sitting on, but again, as far as I know, this hasn't yet been proven. 'course, it's your head, don't take my word for it.

Note, that THC is but one active compound of many of marijuana, and that when you smoke a joint, or hit a bong, or whatever, you aren't just pulling in THC and those active compounds. You're pulling in the remains of a plant, and whatever has happened to come in contact with that plant, into your lungs as well.

We all should know that smoke is just a homogeonus mixture of solids in a liquid, and the fact is that some of those solids don't make it back out your airbags, coating bronchioli with goo (I think some refer to it as tar, it's really all the same thing, a gunk of organic compounds).

Personally, I'll never smoke anything, nor take any drug which I don't need. I've already got enough problems, and I'd like to keep my liver, lungs and nerves in the best shape they can be.

However, I'm not you. If you want, and it is ultimately your decision, go ahead, I won't care. It's your body to do with as you please.

But if you do choose to use pot, don't you dare get behind the wheel high. I don't want anyone I love to be killed needlessly and senselessly by a driver under the influence.

Oh, before I forget. Personally, I feel that marijuana (especially if eaten, and not smoked -- yes, THC will be absorbed through digestion) is far less dangerous drug than grain alcohol, which you /will/ rapidly develop a dependance for and which /will/ tear up your liver and kill off brain cells. When you feel like vommiting, your body is trying to tell you something.

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me. <snip>So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...

Won't go into the +/- of THC, but: Inhaling Smoke of any kind is bad for your lungs. Doing so for extended periods will cause permenant damage.

If you are willing to accept that damage - and pay for the medical treatment it might require, whatever. If you have other medical/social issues that will likely kill you first, drag on.

But medically, smoke in lungs=bad.

i say at least try it once, because most of those "it will kill you" facts are from people who have probabgly never done it.
besides have you ever heard of any pot related deaths?

Every teenager will encounter drugs some time in his life. Well, this week was the first time for me.

A couple of guys from school were passing around a joint. Trying out who could hold in the fumes longest. When the joint came my way, I refused to smoke it and they were okay with it. But still it interested me... but I mainly didn't want to smoke it because i dont know what's in it.

So I asked my dad. He told me that in a joint, there is cannabis or mariouhana. I told him I don't know what that means, that I don't know the difference between the so-called "hard drugs" and "soft drugs" and that I don't know what it could/would do with me. He told me to keep it that way, and just don't smoke the joint.

So I looked it up on the internet. O boy, I found lots of contradictory stories about this cannabis/mariouhana. Some sites said straight to the point: "it kills you. don't do it" Or stuff like "one joint is just as bad as 5 ciggarettes" while others had a 10 page story explaining why joints actually ARE NOT bad for my health! They said that weed 'tickles' your brain cells, making your high. But that it doesnt destroy the brain cells, while alcohol and hard drugs do. This would make weed healthier that hard drugs or alcohol even. Also they explained that weed is not addictive, while ciggarettes and alcohol are.

This got me confused alot. Why are they all saying different things? I still don't know if a joint is bad for my health. Should I smoke one the next time they pass it around? It looks like fun (though I wouldn't do it every day, once a month at most)

So, um, I could use some help with this :confused: ...

Yeah if you want a real answer dont go to a forum like this where everyone is a hippie, they will say, like me, that smoking a joint is better than alcohol and it really is. You see pot is worse than alcohol unless you get intoxicated than depending on how drunk you get alcohol can be much worse than pot, you'll also get a hangover the next morning, a sick feeling, at some point will throw up or feel like throwing up and if you drink to much you could die or pass out. These are not side affects of pot, the worst that gets you is a head ache, you cant directly die from pot. Unless you somehow smoked so much that you choked on the smoke in the room :rolleyes:

Hey man listen, whatever you decide, make sure you know what could happen either way, good or bad. Basically, know the consequences of your actions and why you're doing what you are. If you decide to smoke pot, know that it'll probably give you lung cancer in the LONG term. I don't personally believe any of the shit they say about brain damage. That's just me. Have your own beliefs on it. It's pretty cool in my opinion.:)

Short answer: well duh it's bad for you.

Longer answer: First up, smoking pretty much anything is bad for you, and weed's no exception. You're drawing in soot and particulate matter that's not good for the lungs, as well as tar, carbon monoxide, and a range of complex half-burnt chemicals that doubtless do a fine job as carcinogens. So smoking weed is gonna have all the wonderful respiratory and cancer-causing problems that smoking tobacco does, especially if (as most people do) you're using tobacco in the mix so it won't be as harsh to smoke.

Second up, regular marijuana users seem to have a higher rate of psychological disorders such as schizophrenia than the general population. I don't think I've ever heard any reliable stories about people having their brain melted down by their first time on pot or anything, but an awful lot of people who let their marijuana use turn into a habit tend to end up a bit messed up in the head, from relatively minor stuff like just not being as motivated as they used to be, full to fully fledged schizophrenia and psychotic episodes.

Third up, it's addictive. It isn't physically addictive, but it's possible to build up a long term psychological addiction. This isn't going to be a problem for people who only use it recreationally in the first place, but people who get to the point of using weed daily will have a lot of trouble weening themselves off it. They'll feel jittery, nervous, irritable, and generally not much fun to be around until they can have another cone and unwind.

Fourth and most importantly, it's probably illegal where you live. And if you live in the United States, then that country's rather crappy legal system and ass-backwards approach to drugs means that the potential consequences of being caught in possession are likely to be way more harmful than any of the dangers of the drug itself.

That having been said though, I give it the thumbs up as far as recreational drugs go. It's affordable, you can't OD on it, and if you only smoke it now and then when you're out partying, then it's gonna have less of an impact on your long term health than tobacco or alcohol, thanks mainly to the fact that you're not going to be consuming it in anywhere near the same quantity as those substances. The only real precautions you have to take are
1) Try not to mix it with other drugs. You'll probably end up ignoring this one (virtually everyone ends up getting drunk and high at once), but if you're smoking pot, try and keep your alcohol consumption to a minimum unless you desperately feel the need to get utterly, utterly wasted to the point where you can't walk without falling over for the night. And try to avoid taking other illegal drugs at all when you're high, because that's expensive, pushes your body, and is generally a sign that you're mixing with the wrong crowd anyway.
2) Don't smoke all the time. Trying pot for the first time is all well and good. Having it at parties or when you're going out is fine. Having it whenever you've got nothing else to do is a problem, and you don't wanna end up there (if for no other reason than it gets expensive).
3) Don't deal, don't buy for stuff that's weeks in advance, and don't go carrying it around unless you're on your way to where you're having it. Virtually everyone gets through life without being done by the police for having pot, but it's still best to take a few precautions to make sure you aren't one of the unlucky few.

So in conclusion, yes it's harmful, but no it's not as harmful as the "Just Say No" types would have you believe. At the end of the day, whether or not to try pot is your choice, but it's not one that has dire consequences. The only real risks of marijuana use come from long-term habitual use, and if you play it smart and hang with the right crowd that's highly unlikely to be a habit you get into.

It is bad for you but you made some incorrect statements. Studies have shown no relation between weed and lung cancer. But chronic bronchitis is a possible result. You must be a Brit because we don't mix it with tabacco in the States (god forbid). Tobacco is much harsher than weed.

Your second point may be valid - I don't know.

Third point - I have been smoking it for 16 years. I smoke a little every day when I have it. I haven't had any for over a month and I have not been jittery nervous - in fact, I have absolutely no withdrawal symtoms when I decide to take a breather.

Fourth point - Yep - it can cause a lot of trouble to get caught with it.

I also agree with your conclusion.

To the one who started the thread - if you are under 15 (I would even say 17 to be safe) don't smoke. Your brain is still developing and smoking now can cause some long tem effects you may not like and effects we don't now about because there really isn't much money going into pot research. Otherwise, my opinion is that it is that it is f@$king baffling that alcohol is legal and pot isn't. People don't fight on weed, they don't crash their cars and they don't go home and beat their wives (unless they are psychopaths to begin with). It is a friendly social drug and a lot of fun. Just wait until your body is ready and don't be chronic.

This question was asked in September...even if the dude's still around I'm sure the decisions been made...who dug this up?

This question was asked in September...even if the dude's still around I'm sure the decisions been made...who dug this up?

That's funny - I was wondering how it got so many reply pages in one day

in case someone hasnt posted this link yet, i suggest you go to www.erowid.org. it has info on just about every drug out there and its totally factual; it doesnt have an agenda. give it a look.

Are you smoking yet?
Why encourage someone to smoke an illegal drug?