NationStates Jolt Archive

Coffee 'no boost in the morning'

That morning cuppa may not actually help get you going
That morning latte or espresso may not be the pick-me-up people think it is, a study has revealed.

University of Bristol researchers say the caffeine eases withdrawal symptoms which build up overnight, but does not make people more alert than normal.
...
Professor Peter Rogers, a biological psychologist who led the research, told the BBC: "We do feel a boost from caffeine in the morning, but that's probably due to a reversal of the withdrawal symptoms.

"That alertness you feel is you getting back to normal, rather than to an above normal level."

Well there ya go. Your first caffeine hit of the day just stops the cold turkey, you drug addict you.
I'd call for it to be banned, but Western Civilisation would collapse in a jittery heap if it was.

I find if I go completely cold turkey, I get a nasty tension headache and slight feelings of nausea for a day or two then I'm fine. My sleep's better too afterwards.
But dammit!
I just love the smell of double strength espresso in the morning.
The smell, you know that coffee bean smell...
It's the smell of vivacity.

Smell of vivacity? More like hypocrisy. How many caffeine addicts are self-righteous in their disdain for "drugs?" Whether it's all drugs, or just "hard drugs," or just anything that's an illegal drug. It pisses me off. "Don't do drugs! *slurp* They're bad for you *slurp*!"

Yet more proof that tea is superior

Yet more proof that tea is superior

Umm...tea has caffeine in it.

Smell of vivacity? More like hypocrisy. How many caffeine addicts are self-righteous in their disdain for "drugs?" Whether it's all drugs, or just "hard drugs," or just anything that's an illegal drug. It pisses me off. "Don't do drugs! *slurp* They're bad for you *slurp*!"

Pops a couple of paracetemol followed by an asprin before heading to the bar for a couple of drinks, not forgetting to pop a couple of diet pills to counteract the imminent weight gain from drinking. Drinks a triple shot espresso in vain hope of avoiding positive breathalyser tests only to get home and pop a few sleeping pills to ease the sleep along. Wakes up with a massive hangover, decides to fix up some berrocca with the morning coffee, and some cough syrup for a newly developed sore throat. Turns on the TV *the biggest drug of all* to watch a day time tv show criticising junkies for their immorality in recreation and shakes their head at the drug dependent youth of today.

Heroin was my gateway drug to coffee.

Pops a couple of paracetemol followed by an asprin before heading to the bar for a couple of drinks, not forgetting to pop a couple of diet pills to counteract the imminent weight gain from drinking. Drinks a triple shot espresso in vain hope of avoiding positive breathalyser tests only to get home and pop a few sleeping pills to ease the sleep along. Wakes up with a massive hangover, decides to fix up some berrocca with the morning coffee, and some cough syrup for a newly developed sore throat. Turns on the TV *the biggest drug of all* to watch a day time tv show criticising junkies for their immorality in recreation and shakes their head at the drug dependent youth of today.

Wow, that sounds very much like my day actually! Cept instead of drinking coffee i went the whole hog and got pro-plus. And i certainly dont need the diet pills either... im on one meal a day until i get more money.

Umm...tea has caffeine in it.

Boosts immune system and mental alertness

On 21 April 2003 the Brigham and Women's Hospital released details of a research project which indicated that the amino acid L-theanine may help the body's immune system response when fighting infection, by boosting the disease-fighting capacity of gamma delta T cells. The study included a four-week trial with 11 coffee drinkers and 10 tea drinkers, who consumed 600ml of coffee or black tea daily. Blood sample analysis found that the production of anti-bacterial proteins was up to five times higher in the tea-drinkers, an indicator of a stronger immune response.

L-theanine has also been found to increase alpha wave production in the brain, which is associated with a state of "alert relaxation"

also my farts smell oh so much better when its green tea

also my farts smell oh so much better when its green tea

You're missing the point. The article discussed coffee, but it was in regards to the caffeine content which, it turns out, doesn't appear to actually affect you in a positive manner, merely overcoming the withdrawl symptoms of the previous dose of caffeine.

Tea contains caffeine. It is therefore just as addictive, and just as much the "gateway" drug, as coffee, regardless of other health benefits.

You're missing the point. The article discussed coffee, but it was in regards to the caffeine content which, it turns out, doesn't appear to actually affect you in a positive manner, merely overcoming the withdrawl symptoms of the previous dose of caffeine.

Tea contains caffeine. It is therefore just as addictive, and just as much the "gateway" drug, as coffee, regardless of other health benefits.

Actually i seek to differ. I do not drink a lot of tea or coffee every, and yet i still felt a positive affect when filling myself with cafine pills this morning.

Actually i seek to differ. I do not drink a lot of tea or coffee every, and yet i still felt a positive affect when filling myself with cafine pills this morning.

Read the article. It's their opinion, not mine. *sips coffee*

Tea contains caffeine. It is therefore just as addictive, and just as much the "gateway" drug, as coffee, regardless of other health benefits.

Tea also contains L-theanine which makes the stuff a wonder drug!:D

Actually i seek to differ. I do not drink a lot of tea or coffee every, and yet i still felt a positive affect when filling myself with cafine pills this morning.

It only has an effect on those who drink it rarely.

If a person who doesn't drink coffee drinks a cup then there energy levels go above normal.

For a regular coffee drinker they have withdrawal symptoms overnight meaning their energy levels fall below normal until they have a cup to get them back up to normal.

Hello, my name is Misterymeat.
It started out with decaf, things went rapidly downhill untill I had no control ...*sob*...Soon I was living on the streets, living from cup to cup and selling my body to strange men so I could get myself another cup of espresso which I drank, sitting on the floors of squalid coffeedens.

For a regular coffee drinker they have withdrawal symptoms overnight meaning their energy levels fall below normal until they have a cup to get them back up to normal.

isn't tiredness at night generally a good thing though?

Hello, my name is Misterymeat.
It started out with decaf, things went rapidly downhill untill I had no control ...*sob*...Soon I was living on the streets, living from cup to cup and selling my body to strange men so I could get myself another cup of espresso which I drank, sitting on the floors of squalid coffeedens.

I think someone needs a hug! Dont worry, your among friends here. Together we can get through this!

Hello, my name is Misterymeat.
It started out with decaf, things went rapidly downhill untill I had no control ...*sob*...Soon I was living on the streets, living from cup to cup and selling my body to strange men so I could get myself another cup of espresso which I drank, sitting on the floors of squalid coffeedens.

You just won this thread. Well done, nooblet! :D

Is coffee a gateway drug?

No...cigarettes are.

Of course, "they" won't tell you that, because that would throw the last real argument for the War on Drugs in the toilet.

*takes a drag*

You just won this thread. Well done, nooblet! :D

I r t3h N00bl3t???1! :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :sniper: :sniper: :sniper: :upyours:

Whether coffee is a drug or not is irrelevant to me. I would not and could not live without coffee.

That said, all drugs should be fully legal.

I r t3h N00bl3t???1! :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :sniper: :sniper: :sniper: :upyours:

'Nuff said. ;)

http://www.p0stwh0res.com/images/likenoobs.jpg

I was addicted to caffiene for a while, but after observing my mom, who can barely function due to headaches and crap if she dosn't have caffiene, I quit. I don't really want to be addicted to anything.

Smell of vivacity? More like hypocrisy. How many caffeine addicts are self-righteous in their disdain for "drugs?" Whether it's all drugs, or just "hard drugs," or just anything that's an illegal drug. It pisses me off. "Don't do drugs! *slurp* They're bad for you *slurp*!"

I cant really tell if you're joking, but if you aren't- You cant really compare something that simply speeds up your heart-rate to something like a hallucinogenic.

I cant really tell if you're joking, but if you aren't- You cant really compare something that simply speeds up your heart-rate to something like a hallucinogenic.

I'm not joking. They're both psychoactives, they're both chemicals. Just because one is a stimulant and another a hallucinogen doesn't negate anything I've said.

You're missing the point. The article discussed coffee, but it was in regards to the caffeine content which, it turns out, doesn't appear to actually affect you in a positive manner, merely overcoming the withdrawl symptoms of the previous dose of caffeine.

Tea contains caffeine. It is therefore just as addictive, and just as much the "gateway" drug, as coffee, regardless of other health benefits.

It would only be "just as addictive" if it contained the same amount of caffeine as coffee, which it doesn't.

The long espresso was my gateway to pot. Pot and specialty coffees are heaven!

It would only be "just as addictive" if it contained the same amount of caffeine as coffee, which it doesn't.

Actually doesn't green tea have way more caffeine than coffee?

Actually doesn't green tea have way more caffeine than coffee?
Wikipedia says yes.

ALL GLORY TO THE WIKIPEDIA!

...

Anyway, this thread makes me happy I don't drink coffee. Just the old speedballs for me. :)

*shoots up*

Wikipedia says yes.

ALL GLORY TO THE WIKIPEDIA!

...

Anyway, this thread makes me happy I don't drink coffee. Just the old speedballs for me. :)

*shoots up*

:p (tribes deserves some recognition of teh funnyness :))

Actually doesn't green tea have way more caffeine than coffee?

It depends. One kilo of raw tea has more caffeine than one kilo of raw coffee.

But you can make much more cups of tea out of one kilo raw tea, than cups of coffee of one kilo of raw coffee.

So, a cup of tea has much less caffeine than a cup of coffee. But I don't remember the correct ratio at the moment.

I'm not joking. They're both psychoactives, they're both chemicals. Just because one is a stimulant and another a hallucinogen doesn't negate anything I've said.

It really does. Caffeine doesn't greatly affect your perception of the world around you. People have murdered while on hallucinogens because they've been convinced their buddy was trying to kill them. Caffeine is a drug, but far less dangerous than others, too negligible to be outlawed.

Its not hypocrisy to not outlaw a drug that mildly stimulates you, and then go and outlaw a drug that causes blood from your brain to drip down your spine and give you visions(Acid, LSD).

I have no problem with drugs like Marijuana, Opium, and even Cocaine, but to compare their effects to caffeine lends you no legitimacy.

Its not hypocrisy to not outlaw a drug that mildly stimulates you, and then go and outlaw a drug that causes blood from your brain to drip down your spine and give you visions(Acid, LSD).


i really don't think acid does that, blood-brain-barriere etc. and i always thought acid and LSD were the same.

i really don't think acid does that, blood-brain-barriere etc. and i always thought acid and LSD were the same.

LSD is a variant thereof. And about the blood and spine thing, I cant find any reliable sources on it, so it might very well be a old wives tale; but I hold still that caffeine is not comparable to drugs such as LSD.

LSD is a variant thereof. And about the blood and spine thing, I cant find any reliable sources on it, so it might very well be a old wives tale; but I hold still that caffeine is not comparable to drugs such as LSD.

That is retarded. Have you ever taken LSD? Its a hallicinogen, not a stimulant.

Also, there is no such thing as a "gateway drug"

and acid and LSD are the same. LSD is short for lysergic acid.

I suppose we could also say complex sugars are drugs, because they affect the body in much the same way as a lot of "hard" drugs do -- provide a high, which then subsides into a low and creates a craving for more. It also may negatively affect the body when consumed in such quantities, leading to diabetes and rotting teeth.

I say we go and ban candy!

That is retarded. Have you ever taken LSD? Its a hallicinogen, not a stimulant.


By me:
...You cant really compare something that simply speeds up your heart-rate to something like a hallucinogenic.

...People have murdered while on hallucinogens

give you visions(Acid, LSD)

Im well aware.

In any case no, I've never taken it. My knowledge on drugs comes exclusively from a boomer psychology professor I had last year, who was no stranger to the stuff. (and actually an awesome guy. One time he poured "sweet and low" on a desk, lined it up with a coffee stir, then proceeded to snort it with the coffee straw.)

Regardless, Im pretty sure LSD is not the only kind of acid that can be consumed and I made no statement whatsoever on gateway drugs.

That is retarded. Have you ever taken LSD? Its a hallicinogen, not a stimulant.

Also, there is no such thing as a "gateway drug"

and acid and LSD are the same. LSD is short for lysergic acid.

uhm...I dunno, I suppose I would regard LSD as something of a stimulant--I certainly feel more awake and cannot sleep while under its effects. A bit jittery, too.

Quick note: Lysergic acid diethylamide. It is synthesized from Lysergic acid, but it isn't the same.

And acid doesn't make blood drip down your spine, and that is not what causes hallucinations...how would that work, anyway?

uhm...I dunno, I suppose I would regard LSD as something of a stimulant--I certainly feel more awake and cannot sleep while under its effects. A bit jittery, too.

Quick note: Lysergic acid diethylamide. It is synthesized from Lysergic acid, but it isn't the same.

And acid doesn't make blood drip down your spine, and that is not what causes hallucinations...how would that work, anyway?

Fair enough, it can make you freak out pretty bad. But it is no coffee.

And I suppose you could classify food as a drug. You feel tired and down without it. Your body goes into withdrawl. You feel elated and better after eating.

So, a cup of tea has much less caffeine than a cup of coffee. But I don't remember the correct ratio at the moment.

I just checked the back of my box of tea box, and it says it's about half as much. Lipton's never lied to me ;)

Mmm... tea...

LSD is a variant thereof. And about the blood and spine thing, I cant find any reliable sources on it...

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd.shtml

Seriously...

www.erowid.org

...best source I've ever found for all questions relating to narcotics.

Yet more proof that tea is superior

Lies.

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/lsd/lsd.shtml

Seriously...

www.erowid.org

...best source I've ever found for all questions relating to narcotics.

QFT. Erowid is the single best, most reliable source for recreational drugsd there is out there.

It really does.

No, it really doesn't. A drug is a drug is a drug. People are biased against illegal ones - not because they are inherently more dangerous, but because they're illegal. And they're biased in favor of legal ones if they themselves are addicts. And you'll find with even a little research that a LOT of people are addicted to caffeine. In comparison, even if someoen were addicted to LSD, it would only be a psychological addiction.

Caffeine doesn't greatly affect your perception of the world around you.

It does when you have millions of people who are certain they can't make it through a day without their fix of caffeine.

People have murdered while on hallucinogens because they've been convinced their buddy was trying to kill them.

Yeah OK. And people have murdered while on stimulants because they were just so pepped up. Or they have murdered when they have not been able to satisfy their physical need and the resulting stress caused them to flip out.

Caffeine is a drug, but far less dangerous than others, too negligible to be outlawed.

Far less dangerous? Do you know what a stimulant does? I can tell you it isn't healthy for the heart to be constantly stimulated - up, down, up, down. Ever see someone strung out on PCP, meth, coke? It's the same problem, the only difference is in severity. And let me remind you, heart disease is the #1 killer in the USA. Even if your "people murder others while on hallucinogens" story was more than an urban legend, murder is far less prevalent and lethal than heart disease.

Its not hypocrisy to not outlaw a drug that mildly stimulates you, and then go and outlaw a drug that causes blood from your brain to drip down your spine and give you visions(Acid, LSD).

It is hypocritical for one drug user to condemn another for the crime of being a drug user, which is exactly what I am talking about.

Like your "murder" story, the "spine" myth is just that - a myth.

I have no problem with drugs like Marijuana, Opium, and even Cocaine, but to compare their effects to caffeine lends you no legitimacy.

Sure it does. They are all psychoactives. They don't have exactly the same effects, but that is - for the last time - irrelevant to my point.

I suppose we could also say complex sugars are drugs, because they affect the body in much the same way as a lot of "hard" drugs do -- provide a high, which then subsides into a low and creates a craving for more. It also may negatively affect the body when consumed in such quantities, leading to diabetes and rotting teeth.

I say we go and ban candy!

I felt this needed to be posted.

Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide!

The Invisible Killer
Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death.

Dihydrogen monoxide:
is also known as hydroxyl acid, and is the major component of acid rain.
contributes to the "greenhouse effect."
may cause severe burns.
contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

Contamination Is Reaching Epidemic Proportions!
Quantities of dihydrogen monoxide have been found in almost every stream, lake, and reservoir in America today. But the pollution is global, and the contaminant has even been found in Antarctic ice. DHMO has caused millions of dollars of property damage in the midwest, and recently California.

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:
as an industrial solvent and coolant.
in nuclear power plants.
in the production of styrofoam.
as a fire retardant.
in many forms of cruel animal research.
in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.
Companies dump waste DHMO into rivers and the ocean, and nothing can be done to stop them because this practice is still legal. The impact on wildlife is extreme, and we cannot afford to ignore it any longer!

The Horror Must Be Stopped!
The American government has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this damaging chemical due to its "importance to the economic health of this nation." In fact, the navy and other military organizations are conducting experiments with DHMO, and designing multi-billion dollar devices to control and utilize it during warfare situations. Hundreds of military research facilities receive tons of it through a highly sophisticated underground distribution network. Many store large quantities for later use.

It's Not Too Late!

Yet more proof that tea is superior

HERE HERE good sir.

It is by Caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion
It is by the beans of Java that the thoughts acquire speed
The hands acquire shakes
The shakes become a warning
It is by Caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion

This is relevent to my interests (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sobkZZGeCh0)

Umm...tea has caffeine in it.

Only about as much as decaf coffee.

While technically that makes it superior, I suppose it's more accurate to call it "half as bad."

It is by Caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion
It is by the beans of Java that the thoughts acquire speed
The hands acquire shakes
The shakes become a warning
It is by Caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion

That sounds like Frank Herbert tried to write a military action movie about Columbian drug smugglers.

That sounds like Frank Herbert tried to write a military action movie about Columbian drug smugglers.
It was on one of my favorite t-shirts, which my wife proceeded to steal as soon as she moved in with me (The woman wanted me to include a promise to make her coffee every day in our wedding vows).

Only about as much as decaf coffee.

While technically that makes it superior, I suppose it's more accurate to call it "half as bad."

Depends entirely on the type of tea:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/drinks_caff.shtml

A while back, the idea got around that tea had twice as much caffeine as coffee. Turned out that was comparing caffeine per ounce of tea leaves with caffeine per ounce of coffee beans, nothing to do with the amount per cup.

Incidentally, cannabis was my gateway drug to tea. True story.

Wikipedia says yes.

ALL GLORY TO THE WIKIPEDIA!

...

Anyway, this thread makes me happy I don't drink coffee. Just the old speedballs for me. :)

*shoots up*

Wikipedia be damned, ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD.
http://citlink.net/~batgnome/hypnotoad.gif

Smell of vivacity? More like hypocrisy. How many caffeine addicts are self-righteous in their disdain for "drugs?" Whether it's all drugs, or just "hard drugs," or just anything that's an illegal drug. It pisses me off. "Don't do drugs! *slurp* They're bad for you *slurp*!"

To compare coffee(and the caffeine in it) to totally illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine or crystal meth is beyond silly its absurd. Caffeine is in a great many things including migraine medicine. Tell me how many people commit crimes or turn to illegal activities to get thier cup of coffee or(hate to say this but tea has caffeine in it too as does chocalate) tea "fix"? Hypocrisy would be someone eating oxycodone like its candy and then criticizing drug users. Many , many things are drugs and of course anything taken to excess can be bad for you. Ive heard of more then one person who has overdosed on Vitamin C!! (No I'm not saying Vit C is a drug, merely a point). Anti-biotics are drugs. You are taking this to an extremist level. Is caffeine addictive? Yes, but then so are endorphines and they are a natural product of the body. Although I doubt I am doing anything more then :headbang: What would have done? Have all manner of products that contain caffeine banned? Sounds like extreme Mormanism to me. I see nothing hypocrtical for a person who drinks coffee to make comments about those who use heroin, crack, C. Meth, cocaine or the like. Simply put the its not in the same category. I have one last thing to say, Just what drug exactly is coffe a gateway too?

Wikipedia be damned, ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOTOAD.
http://citlink.net/~batgnome/hypnotoad.gif
Get off my Hypnotoad! :mad:

Anyway, Hypnotoad runs wikipedia. Tru.dat

Well there ya go. Your first caffeine hit of the day just stops the cold turkey, you drug addict you.
I'd call for it to be banned, but Western Civilisation would collapse in a jittery heap if it was.

I find if I go completely cold turkey, I get a nasty tension headache and slight feelings of nausea for a day or two then I'm fine. My sleep's better too afterwards.
But dammit!
I just love the smell of double strength espresso in the morning.
The smell, you know that coffee bean smell...
It's the smell of vivacity.

Heh. I don't need no steenking coffee.

If coffee was a gatewy drug, I'd have been peddling my ass for crack a long time ago.

*rattles bowl of chocolate covered espresso beans*

Come on, you know you want them... all the cool kids are eating them....:D

I'll stick to my crack, thanks all the same. I just don't know enough about this new drug to risk taking it.

I'll stick to my crack, thanks all the same. I just don't know enough about this new drug to risk taking it.

If you'll stick to your crack, you might want to try moist towelettes.

If you'll stick to your crack, you might want to try moist towelettes.
So that's where I've been going wrong! You have your uses Kat, I'll give you that.

Woo 7000!

Doesn't make people more alert than normal? Did they do this study in a room full of coffee addicts who need 15 cups to get anything going?

I've always thought of coffee as more of a dell drug ;)

Smell of vivacity? More like hypocrisy. How many caffeine addicts are self-righteous in their disdain for "drugs?" Whether it's all drugs, or just "hard drugs," or just anything that's an illegal drug. It pisses me off. "Don't do drugs! *slurp* They're bad for you *slurp*!"

You wouldn't hear me saying that. I love smoking dope and drinking coffee, and it's even better when you're doing them at the same time. Now that's either a Friday evening or a Saturday morning sort of thing.

You wouldn't hear me saying that. I love smoking dope and drinking coffee, and it's even better when you're doing them at the same time. Now that's either a Friday evening or a Saturday morning sort of thing.

I need to get me some weed.. It has been a while.

Weed and espresso, natural goodness.

... They are all psychoactives. They don't have exactly the same effects, but that is - for the last time - irrelevant to my point.

"Is coffee a gateway drug?" No. I've been drinking coffee --- and tea --- for nearly 4 decades. I do 5 to 8 cups a day, and the coffee is always very strong. Every year or so I stop all coffee and tea for 6-8 weeks, just to clear it out of my system. No side-effects, no withdrawal. Oh yeah, and no other drugs, no alcohol, no grass, no tobacco, nothing. Ever. And no cravings to try it.

"Psychoactive" isn't especially useful in this context. Pretty much everything that happens in or to the human body could be called "psychoactive" if you want to, including food and sex. (If sex isn't psychoactive you're doing it wrong! :p ) Either all drugs should be regulated, including the ones the government ignores so they can keep making money from taxes, or none should, and we should just accept that society's going to take some damage from drug abuse.

Is coffee a gateway drug?.
I guess you'd have to do a study to determine how many people drank cofee before doing drugs. I know one thing for sure, milk is a gateway drug.

and that's why I stay away from that "coffee" and "tea" stuff.

*Sips coke* :p

I noticed that you focus more on the hard drugs than on relatively less serious ones like marijuana. You point out the use of caffeine in medicine, what about that of marijuana? I remember reading in my Biology STSE about medicinal marijuana, but you don't need to take my word for it, just watch these videos.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s1qtIrfuDzM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Yfu26ZaJwGk

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IAIkZUCwcFw

Seriously, with threads like these and videos like those I can't help but think that the war on drugs is being influenced by tradition... that there's a bias in favour of more traditional drugs... wait, are caffeine and alcohol considered more traditional drugs than marijuana? I'm not sure... but still, if the war on drugs is as affected by the status quo as it seems to be, that's just wrong and has to stop now.

EDIT: I'd also like to clarify that I'm not saying I agree with everything Penn Jillette says in this video. When he says "you have the right to put anything you want in your own body, anything else is bullshit" I'm not so sure about the first part but I consider the "anything else is bullshit" part questionable at best...


You raise a valid point, the use of medical marijuana is a perfectly legetimate area of medicine. I had an Uncle who sadly passed from lymphatic cancer and the marijuana was the only thing that could contrlo his pain. I so I must concede your point in that regard. I was more trying to make the point that caffeine(aand coffee and tea) are nowhere near as life threatining as other "hard" drugs. I find it silly to think that coffe is the gateway to anything but Starbucks. However your point is taken and well made.
-Drake

and that's why I stay away from that "coffee" and "tea" stuff.

*Sips coke* :p
You're meant to snort it.
Works better that way.

anyone here tried 'Coke Blak'? I saw it in the supermarket the other day and bought it out of interest. Tasted like it had 5x the caffeine of normal coke.

You're meant to snort it.
Works better that way.tried snorting it... but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose...

anyone here tried 'Coke Blak'? I saw it in the supermarket the other day and bought it out of interest. Tasted like it had 5x the caffeine of normal coke.waste of good coke if you ask me.

You're meant to snort it.
Works better that way.

anyone here tried 'Coke Blak'? I saw it in the supermarket the other day and bought it out of interest. Tasted like it had 5x the caffeine of normal coke.

I tasted it once, and had to concede defeat. My tastebuds leaped down my throat and attempted suicide. Blech!

...*Twitch* *Twitch*

...fine...I'll consider cutting back to the double digits.

I need to get me some weed.. It has been a while.

Weed and espresso, natural goodness.
It's like asking your body what's on its shirt and then flicking its nose.

relax...



DON'T RELAX!

relax


Spinning in place is a gateway drug, once you know you can do that to your head, you want more.

*rattles bowl of chocolate covered espresso beans*

Come on, you know you want them... all the cool kids are eating them....:D

*drools*

I believe I have a stash in my room somewhere..

cafine is a neurotropic substance sure.

but as for "gateway drugs" there is no such intrinsic thing.

the only thing that makes any "drug" a "gateway drug" is for it to be unlawful.

and thus "in for a penny in for a pound".

nothing that is legal is a "gateway" to anything.

other then, in the case of alchohaul, acting like an idiot.

=^^=
.../\...

It's like asking your body what's on its shirt and then flicking its nose.

relax...



DON'T RELAX!

relax


Spinning in place is a gateway drug, once you know you can do that to your head, you want more.

You're scaring me. *twitch*

Coffee, delicious wonderful coffee will make you go away! COFFEE! I MUST DRINK MORE COFFEE!

*heart explodes*

I need to get me some weed.. It has been a while.

Weed and espresso, natural goodness.
If I may be so bold:
Weed, espresso and dark chocolate.
A beautiful perfect combination, and perhaps the only proof I'll accept that there is a God.

If I may be so bold:
Weed, espresso and dark chocolate.
A beautiful perfect combination, and perhaps the only proof I'll accept that there is a God.

Weed, espresso, and espresso infused chocolate (http://www.ghirardelli.com/products/chocbars_intense_espresso.aspx).


That chocolate gives me a buzz, it's so good.

Weed, espresso, and espresso infused chocolate (http://www.ghirardelli.com/products/chocbars_intense_espresso.aspx).


That chocolate gives me a buzz, it's so good.
That is good shit. And by that I mean GOOD shit.
Ghirardelli doth indeed make good chocolate.

Humans have taking all sorts of drugs since day zero! Pure caffeine is actually lethal to the human body.

Humans have taking all sorts of drugs since day zero! Pure caffeine is actually lethal to the human body.
I'm willing to take that risk.

Humans have taking all sorts of drugs since day zero! Pure caffeine is actually lethal to the human body.

Yes, and chocolate is a neurotoxin that is lethal to a great many members of the animal kingdom, too.

Your point?

"Is coffee a gateway drug?" No. I've been drinking coffee --- and tea --- for nearly 4 decades. I do 5 to 8 cups a day, and the coffee is always very strong. Every year or so I stop all coffee and tea for 6-8 weeks, just to clear it out of my system. No side-effects, no withdrawal.

Well, ya know. I've been smoking tobacco for 8 years, and I never have withdrawals if I stop.

That doesn't mean others don't. And caffeine is far more widespread in use than tobacco.

"Psychoactive" isn't especially useful in this context. Pretty much everything that happens in or to the human body could be called "psychoactive" if you want to, including food and sex.

It's useful in the sense that denying caffeine is a drug is in ignorant of one or more facts. By drug I mean, a biological substance, synthetic or non-synthetic, that is taken primarily for non-dietary needs. Sex is an activity.

Either all drugs should be regulated, including the ones the government ignores so they can keep making money from taxes, or none should, and we should just accept that society's going to take some damage from drug abuse.

I agree.

To compare coffee(and the caffeine in it) to totally illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine or crystal meth is beyond silly its absurd.

You and others keep saying this. Repetition of a statement is not an argument. I've made the comparisons already. Caffeine is a psychoactive drug, it has addictive potential, and it's legal whereas hard drugs like methampetamine are only legal for children in the form of ritalin. So if you can point out the specific absurdities in the comparison rather than just saying it's absurd, that would be more conductive to meaningful dialogue.

Caffeine is in a great many things including migraine medicine.

I get migraines and I've never found this to be true.

I have, however, gotten severe headaches (not migraines) from caffeine withdrawal before. The only solution was to take more caffeine. To quit I had to make a gradual process over the course of weeks as a result.

Comparitively I've never had withdrawals from any illegal drug.

Tell me how many people commit crimes or turn to illegal activities to get thier cup of coffee

That's quite irrelevant. Caffeine is legal, cheap and commonplace. Therefore no illegal activities are required to get it - unlike with say, heroin, which is neither legal, cheap nor commonplace.

Hypocrisy would be someone eating oxycodone like its candy and then criticizing drug users.

That would indeed behypocrisy as well, I'm merely saying that caffeine addicts who criticize "drug users" are also hypocrites.

You are taking this to an extremist level. Is caffeine addictive? Yes, but then so are endorphines and they are a natural product of the body.

I find that comparison inept. Endorphins are not ingested by purchasing a manufactured product, and caffeine is certainly not a natural product of the human body.

What would have done? Have all manner of products that contain caffeine banned?

No, I support the legalization of all drugs. I just think it should be a consistent thing - lawmakers, and society, tend to pick and choose.

And right now, they have picked caffeine as still legal because most people enjoy it, whereas marijuana is still illegal because most people believe it is a "gateway drug," that it "kills brain cells," that it is addictive and even some of the 1930s to 50s Reefer Madness era crap. (It makes you rape women, it makes you lose control, makes you go crazy, et cetera.) If caffeine is legal so should marijuana be and vice versa - the same goes for any such psychoactive drugs.

Yet more proof that tea is superior
CHA!