Marijuana - pro or con?

[Breast Pump]

I admit it... I'm ignorant when it comes to this 'natural herb', so here's my stance: I tend to look down on those who smoke the herb repeatedly. You hear all sorts of convinient propoganda by all the drug users but what's the outcome of smoking so much herb? Are there pros and cons? If so... which one outweighs the other?

I dunno about the rest of youse, but all the people I know who smoke bud... are retarded, more now than ever before.

So... defend your ground pot heads! Seriously, please help me understand why this drug is being accepted and why I should/should not have a problem with it. To each his/her own I always say, I just want to start a dialogue.

side note: I have smoked marijuana half a dozen times before and I don't remember ever experiencing induced euphoria. I usually threw up or fell asleep within minutes :(

[El Che]

hey,

I smoked pot for some thing like 1 years every day all day, and your right i doesnt produce a sensation of euforia. But what it does do is cloud your mind and put in a sort of semi dormente state. Thats why pot smokers are all "peace and love" =). Now the good thing about it is that there is no fisiological adcition so with this drug you can really stop anytime you want.

Finaly i stoped smoking because i wanted my mind back, and i have to say it was an excelent trade off. It was good for a laugh though. As an experiment i think its ok, but you`ll quickly get feed up with it. The best thing for me was never the way it "hit" you, the way you got "high" in other words. What i liked most was that thick smoke, taste and smell. But... I`d rather have my mind thank you very much =). hope this helped.

[MJM]

I think it's bad myself, I smoked daily for 5 years, my father has smoked daily for the last 20 something years.
It does take your mind from you.
It's the best damn hangover cure I've ever had though, one toke and it's gone.

I just think it keeps you chained into the system and kinda pacified. Also it's used as an escape from a life you dislike whereas I think you should be trying to make things better.

But each to there own, if you like it that's cool most of my friends smoke.

[Breast Pump]

Thanks for the replies boys. I guess what I'm trying to find out here is whether I have a justified reason to dislike the drug and those who partake in smoking it often. I associate the herb with negativity, not positivity. The fact of the matter remains, I have lots of learning to do, yet I have strong views opposing the use of marijuana, understand?

anymore insight?

[Guest1]

Got into it about a year ago, its great... just not perfect. Nothing can "take all your troubles away". As long as you do it on occasion and not twice a day, it's great. Right now I'm smoking about twice a month, none of the short term memory problems I had when I was doing it twice a week and I feel that I'm doing it, not being controlled by it. If you do it, go ahead, if not... just don't try to stop others. Understand them, they are just human beings. You have tor remember it's no more harmful than alcohol, so there's no reason to look down upon anyone.

[vox]

Let's look at it this way:

In the replies from the boys, replace pot with booze and see how it reads.

The thing is, any drug can be abused. Some drugs are more easily abused than others. I don't think that anyone but a fool would say that smoking dope every day is a good idea, and I don't think that anyone but a fool would say that getting drunk everyday is a good idea.

Fact is, due in part to it's illegal status, those who smoke dope are more likely to be habitual users, for the many who might like getting high once in a while either don't talk about it or don't do it, feeling that the price of getting caught is too high (and, of course, because it's illegal, one must consort with a, by definition, criminal element, which is anopther material condition to consider).

Rather than judge the effect of dope, perhaps we need to look at the culture in which dope-smoking is taking place.

vox

[DaNatural]

I'm by no means an expert on the subject but the area I grew up in and the high school I attended had plenty of drunks and dope heads, so I think I have some insight into what it does. One thing I noticed was that the kids who were a bit younger than me, say in grade 9 when i was in grade 10, as the years progressed I noticed their intelligence fading. In the early years I knew them u could have a decent conversation with them, they were aware, etc. In my last few years of school I noticed these same kids kind of drift away. They had nothing to say anymore and their whole life revolved around pot. It was really clear that due to weed their intelligence faded dramatically. Thats the negative side, on an almost unreal side, 2 of my good friends at college are pot heads. They do it everyday and more than once. They are 2 of the smartest guys ive known, but i do notice that while i exceed in certain areas they have a slightly more difficult time comprehending some things. From a physchological perspective pot has beeen proven to have side effects, it eats away at brain cells in your brain which are needed. It cuts off, I beleive, the amount of dopamine(no not pot, lol) that flows to your brain to keep it up. Overall its not a bad thing as long as its done in moderation. The same terrible effects can be seen from drinking everyday, no different. Alcohol kills brain cells and ive met quite a few individuals who are just lost because of the amount they drink. Maybe smoking once a week aint bad, perhaps even a bit more, but everyday is not a good thing. peace.

[PYROMANIAC]

Hey comrades,

I am a regular MJ smoker eater. I have seen it's effects on people. One example, I had this friend with a severe mood problem. He was stressy all the time and now after 6 months of regular MJ, he is alright!!

Now for me it is different. I achieved the highest grades in my year, without trying. No homework, no revision, etc. Now even with all that MJ it hasn't made me dumb....maybe a better person to talk to........

Think, Why drink and drive when you can smoke and fly?

Legalize all drugs worldwide!
Pyro

[PYROMANIAC]

Don't believe the corporate lies.
The reason it is illegal is that it has 25,000 industrial uses. Petrol, paper, clothes, make up, etc etc.
An alternative to oil? Not in Shell's lifetime.

[booga]

I dont encourage the leafy stuff with young kids, but some of the young kids i met up with smoke it with their family so they start really young they need it to maintain otherwise they get really destructive and anxious. and your right it wont help you in school at all.

once your an adult i think its use has a different effect. it acts more like a tranquilizer. but abusing anything that produces a "positive" reaction (pleasure) to the brain eventually fades out and produces a negative reaction. now there have been studies that the brain actually has receptors for the main ingredient in pot (THC) but since it is a fat soluable the body cant handle it appropriately if used daily.

When my mother was dying of cancer she was give the drug to give her an appetite.

once you become an adult i think drug use is a personal issue. once your drug use influences your family, and society then its a matter for the public if it gets really outrageous.

the best "high" is produced by the body through exercise.

[revolutionary spirit]

i smoke weed nearly every friday all though i know it's killing my brain i still think it's worth it,but i have to watch myself a bit because i had way too much of it last friday and nearly killed me,but i think it's worth it

[MJM]

The reason I stopped was the paranoia.
I think I was on the verge of schizophrenia, seriously, I was too paranoid to answer the phone one day, that was the last time I smoked the stuff.
But that was from abuse not use.

As far as booze goes I think its actually worse for you all around but I do drink, only mildly however.

[I Will Deny You]

I smoked for the first time when I was 11 and couldn't handle it, and my parents smelled it and since they were hippies they knew what it was. They told me if I broke any law it should be vandalism. I was the best female grafitti artist in the school, and they were proud even though they'd never admit it.

[CommieBastard]

Smoking it will give you almost as bad respitory problems as smoking cigarettes.
That's why you should ingest it, and ingesting it gives a more powerful effect anyway. There are all kinds of recipes you can use, and any meal is spiced up by a liberal dosage of weed : )

[Michael]

I used to smoke a lot few years ago.I just love those days..I was really stoned,but I thought I was sober all the time.So I was smoking a lot.
Last time I smoked was a month ago though I've got some weed in my house.The reason is that I'm working in a bar and drink a lot of alcohol.
I suppose that alcohol really makes a man stupid,I mean it locks your brain.I will always say legalize the weed.Every man should be free to decide what he wants to do with his own body .Others like it and others don't.

Peace,
Don't walk on grass..(I suppose you know the rest)

[Che Jexster]

I think it's funny that having weed illegal is such a socialist idea and yet 99% of socialists are for it and 99% of republicans are agaisnt it.
Weed is great i stand by it 100%.

[I Will Deny You]

Quote: from Che Jexster on 4:27 am on Jan. 18, 2002
I think it's funny that having weed illegal is such a socialist ideaSince when? I mean, I know that libertarians have adapted it once in a while to get younger folk to join them, but I didn't know that Karl Marx was anti-reefer. Hmm . . . I also heard that Che was either hitting the pipe or stuffing those cigars of his with something other than tobacco leaves.

(Edited by I Will Deny You at 5:54 am on Jan. 18, 2002)

[Breast Pump]

To put it in simplest form: I was right. Great! Good job, fellas...




This inducing of euphoria... I strongly believe we can obtain, without making ourselves retarded =)

[I Will Deny You]

Quote: from Breast Pump on 5:41 am on Jan. 19, 2002
To put it in simplest form: I was right.
You're quite right, although there's nothing in the world like watching Dr. Strangelove while you're high.

[RedCeltic]

The following quote is from the 1963 movie, "Doctor Strangelove" also known as, "How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb."

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room!
- President Merkin Muffley

That's by far one of my all time favorite classic movies...

I laugh my ass off every time I watch it... the president calling the soviet premier to say, oops we made a mistake and lauched a nuclear strike against your countery... sorry about that... lol...

[I Will Deny You]

Once, when I was high as fuck on hash, I called the local pizza place (it's on speeddial, naturally) and told them I sent a nuclear bomb their way.

It's the only Kubrick movie that I can honestly say I love.

[MJM]

What about cheech and chong Up In Smoke.
Thats a stoner classic.
I must've watched that close to 50 times when I was stoned.

[Valkyrie]

Has anyone saw the 1936 cult classic, "Reefer Madness?"

Do rent it for a good laugh! The back of the video box says "shows in a fun and comical way how marijuana is 'public enemy #1.' With just a little toke, average teenagers become addicts turning into psycho killers and brazen hussies."

This propoganda was shown at the time in public schools to promote mass hysteria against the harmless weed.



(Edited by Paris at 12:44 am on Jan. 20, 2002)

[reggaenights20]

I am new to this Community and since I have a lot of views on marijuana I just thought this would be a good place to say something:) I am certainly not against it by any means, as I was once a heavy smoker myself. There were many times after smoking where I did sit and think about things such as how to make the world a better place, but after awhile I felt lazier, more paranoid and out of touch with the world in general. My grades dropped back in high school, I became apathetic, and in general things weren't good. I also started to see all the people who once believed in something drop out of school, go to jail, turn to harder drugs and lose the will to do the things they once wanted to do. I have felt so much better since I quit smoking marijuana because i'm not around all those people who let the dream of intoxication run their lives and because I feel more in tune with myself and the world around me. Life doesn't feel like a dream anymore. I feel like for me it's better to face reality head on without any kind of intoxication so I can make sound choices. All i'm saying is that I have had my fun with the stuff in the past but that I don't really find it worth it or fun anymore for anything. If you want to lead a revolution or fight for a cause, than why destroy brain cells, hurt your lungs and live in a chemical induced fantasy? I am not here to tell anyone not to smoke marijuana, i didn't join this community to cut people down. I'm just letting everyone know how I feel based on my own expierences with the stuff and to maybe make others examine their use of it.

[ernestodekam]

I smoke a bit myself but prefer to mix it with alcohol. I don't like to use it in large amounts at all, just enough to make me see things differantly. My mates are bong heads and it can be anoying when someones life revolves around getting there next hit. It is sad to watch someone like one of my friends who is highly intelligent, just waste his life by this pacifying herb. I believe that as long as it is done in moderation, like most things, it is alright but as vox says, you have to analyse the situation of each individual to understand why they smoke it to judge the true benifits.

[Breast Pump]

CHEECH & CHONG!!!!!!! Up In Smoke is fucking awesome! I laugh so hard tears come out of my eyes, I can't imagine what things would be like if I'm stoned while watching the movie...

Seriously... I literally laugh my ass off, otherwise known as farting :o

[CommieBastard]

I wanted to see dr.strangelove after i saw it mentioned on 'the 100 best movies of all time'... however, i am finding it goddam difficult to find anywhere : /

[RedCeltic]

You may have to buy it from Amazon or something, as it's quite old and obscure...

I highly recomend it to anyone interested in learning about American cold war fear of Nuclear war and commies.

Also, I found a website with quotes from that movie it may be of interest to some, and help you understand what the movie is making fun of:

http://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/~odyssey/Quotes...trangelove.html (http://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/~odyssey/Quotes/Popular/Films/Strangelove.html)

(Edited by RedCeltic at 10:55 am on Jan. 20, 2002)

[El Che]

cheech & chong? is that the one about 4 guys that somke alot of pot? ones a janitor and the other works at mc donalds etc etc? if it i know what your talking about heh=)

Anyway somking prety much destroies your study capabilities, that probably the main reason i droped out. It can also get you involved with the wrong crouds... Which was also true in my case... Hey its your life but if you want my advice dont somke while your in school or do on the holidays only. Because you wont be able to concentrate on reading something for more that 2 minutes, and if you do put in the effort to read a text through when your in the middle of it you wont remember what its is your reading again... lols...

[libereco]

Quote: from El Che on 5:45 pm on Jan. 20, 2002
cheech & chong? is that the one about 4 guys that somke alot of pot? ones a janitor and the other works at mc donalds etc etc? if it i know what your talking about heh=)

i think thats "half-baked"

[El Che]

yes half-baked thats it!

(Edited by El Che at 6:18 pm on Jan. 20, 2002)

[I Will Deny You]

Half Baked was NOT a funny movie. The only good part was when Jon Stewart was in it, for 2 seconds max.

Why does he always do such bad movies?

[RedCeltic]

I believe that Cheech and Chong where never able to make a movie that could be compaired even remotely to their first movie. The 1978 "Up In Smoke" is their showcase film.

[MJM]

Thats the truth red celtic their other movies weren't half as good as up in smoke.
Man just thinking about makes me laugh.
There's so many good bits I was going to put down my fav. but can't make up my mind.

[revolutionary]

Weed rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
end of da debate

[Breast Pump]

^ Riiiiiiiight.

Ladies and Gents, the above is a classic example of the 'side effects' marijuana has on impressionable minds. Less is not always more.

[commie]

i'm fucking pro dude you know that faomous communist bands smoke boedha and that shit.



bud yuse it wisly like i always say

-commie-

[PunkRawker677]

<<<Hmm . . . I also heard that Che was either hitting the pipe or stuffing those cigars of his with something other than tobacco leaves. >>>

sorry for bringing back such an OLD thread, but i was just reading through them and wanted to comment. In che's book, he mentioned 'getting high'.. i dont know what sense he was talking about, wether it meant weed, or intoxication in general, but i do know he was NOT a drug addict or anything of that sort.

As for the weed situation. I did it for a while and the paranoia got to me, thats why i stop.. now its a one time, special occasion type of thing.
I dont think its bad, but you need to control it..
I think the legal effects and social effects of smoking weed is much more worse than the actual physical effects of it, if there are any..

another note: weed does NOT make you stupid unless you let it. it does not attack brain cells, or kill them, quite the opposite it attacks the part of your brain that makes you 'happy' and activates it. if you LET it take OVER your life, than thats a different story.

[guerrillaradio]

So, the general message is, weed is good in moderation. I smoke it whenever it's offered, but it's quite expensive. I don't smoke cigs or drink, so dope and caffeine are my only vices. I've been suffering from depression for the last six months and dope has definitely helped me put things in perspective, and without the lows alcohol brings (the main reason I quit - it just makes me cry).

[Xvall]

It's overrated, and it's expensive..
The only reason that 'herb' is illegal, is because Du Pont logging companies and tabaco barons were upset that a new hemp processing machine was made in 36'. They didn't want to loose their money, so they paid to get it banned. I don't think it's 'evil' and I could care less if people smoked it. In fact, it should be legan, because it is nonsense to jail someone for possising a bag of natural material. Besides, crime rates will drop because gangsters and mobs will have no reason to sell them..

- Drake Dracoli

[Che Jexster]

It was originally made illegal in New Mexico, USA to give a reason to arrest hispanics to the police because they're population was 'growing too rapidly'. So it was a form of legalized racism. It then went up the mississippi following the Jazz movement and gave them a reason to target blacks. Eventually the propaghanda they played against weed to convince white people it was illegal just to target minorities, convinced white people from other states to make it illegal. Almost every country that followed the US's example did so because of American economic pressures.

[The Iron Heel]

A very interesting article has been written on this in the Monthly Review (when they were still very progressive). I'll try to hunt down the vol./no.,etc.

In a nutshell, it argued that the impretus for the criminalization of cannabis had to do with Hemp and the textile and petro monopolies, while today the criminalization of which persists due smokable-cannabis via pressures by the pharmacutical monopolies (the largest growing econo. sector in the last 20 years).

The intoxicating mollecule in cannabis, TetraHydroCannibanol (THC), is a pure hydro-carbon (no nucleic-nitrogen elements). As well, recent studies demonstrate that there are natural dopamine receptors which are perfectly receptive to THC (hence, its non-addictive properties). This had caused some researchers
to assume the the cavemen, etc. threw cannabis on the premordial fire (at the time when the formentation of Alcohol was still ions away), and that this evolutionary recrocality is due to the positive influence of cannabis in human history (& pre-history).

[The Iron Heel]

Addendum:

I heard that penalties for cannabis (even mere possession) is viewed very harshly in Cuba, sometimes even entailing the death penalty. Please someone tell it ain't so.

[Guest]

in cuba, death penality is not even an option for marijuana possesion.. they look down on it, of course, but being caught is a very mior punishment unless it is with intent to sell.. which is considered serious.. most law enforcemnt in cuba have no problem with it being done in private, and do nothing to prevent or prosecute that..

[Moskitto]

I thought they had the death penalty for supplying hard drugs like Heroin, Cocaine and the like.

[The Iron Heel]

Good, I knew it sounded far fetched, fantastic even. I'm planning on travelling there within a couple of months, should be educating as well as a goodtime.

[Che Jexster]

The paper mill companies contributed to the illegalization of Cannabis, as it was a cheap way to create paper and not nearly as environmentally harmful (you can grow hemp quickly, not so with trees) so they lobbied the govt. to make the growing of hemp illegal on "moral" grounds.

[Rosa]

still smoking? ...aaah, my dealer is out of the town.
Enjoj!

[CPK]

i smoke weed.

[TmjB]

i'm pro soft-drugs.....

i use softdrugs, more people should do that, a lot of people are against without even trying it once ...that's stupid !

lucky me .... i live in the netherlands :) ...here it 's legal to buy softdrugs (we got coffeeshops) the one and only good thing about living in the netherlands. :) hehe

[Young Turk]

tmjb,
I agree that more people should give somethings a chance. Like MJ for instance. That may sound crazy to some; like the right-wing-BS-drugwar-supporters, but really what do they have to lose? Do they not trust their own self control enough to give something that's proven to be very mild as far as drugs go (and fun) one try? Lord knows a lot of anti drugs people drink themselves to high hell, those are the real ironic ones.

I can personally say that if one hasn't done something like smoking up before they have NO idea what the fuck it's all about.

People don't beat their kids and rape people while high, according to the US government though, the violent and aggresive nature exhibited in some people while drunk isn't as dangerous.

[Sasafrás]

I don't use any drugs outside of those perscribed by my doctor dude or nurse lady, but I think that marijuana is one of the safest drugs on the planet, if used in moderation. On the other hand, drugs like cocaine/crack, PCP, acid, X, heroin, and any other junk drugs like that, in my opinion, should be avoided. I think too much time is spent trying to prevent marijuana use and that time should be spent trying to prevent use of the latter mentioned. If marijuana is perscribed to people with diabetes, glaucoma, cancers, and other illnesses, then it couldn't be that bad. I would think that people (girls, specifically) are more likely to get hurt or raped while high on ecstacy than while high on marijuana. Sure, marijuana does affect your mind, but not as severely as harder drugs. There is a "crack house" in one area of my city, and a friend of mine lived in that neighborhood. She said that the crack addicts would be hiding behind trees in the front yard or hiding in the closets. I've seen crack addicts in action and they are truely some of the scariest people you could ever come in contact with while the people I know who use marijuana have never posed a threat to anyone around them. They seem to be really happy..

I thought Half Baked was pretty good, but it really wasn't too funny. Cheech & Chong's Up In Smoke, though it did showcase many stereotypes, was hilarious. In fact, my sign-in name "La Rainbeaux" comes from the name of one of the actresses in it, Rainbeaux Smith.. Plus, I'm somewhat of a new generation hippy-flower-power-child and I love rainbows.. :biggrin:

[Rosa]

A question: if cigarettes are more adictional than marijuana, and if alcohol makes you agressive and can get you out of control, why they are legal, and grass is not? and cig+alc can make your body sick(cancer, kidneys etc), I mean: even coca cola is more harmful than the grass. ... but wouldn't prohibitions of that stuff make a damage to mastodontal industry, and to industry of ... bottles etc? Can somebody make such a huge profit of rollig papers? and would so many people drink alcohol, when marijuana is basicaly much cheaper, and...(in my opinion)better?And it doesn't need to be processed in any way...everybody can let it grow in the garden, or a balcony...

[RedRevolutionary87]

personally pot is ok. it duznt have any long term harm. one larg problwem is that it really fogs your brain. so as long as its done modestly and not in times when decissions should be made then it is perfectly fine

[Rosa]

I've made some decisions when stoned, and it wasn't such a bad thing to do. Just eliminated the borders of "exceptable". And was ok. No harm done to anybody.And achieved what I wanted faster. Cs was honest.Yes, the point is ab the honesty.

[raisedfist69]

my dad was previously a paramedic for 20+ years and he was always amazed because he went out an thousands of alchahol related cases but not one single weed case. And everybody knows that weed is just about as prevalent in society as alchohol

[CommieBastard]

you cant actually overdose on weed.

[death b4 dishonour]

Pot iz kool

[guerrillaradio]

CB - you probably could actually OD on weed, if you tried hard enough. Sure you couldn't kill yourself, but you can make yourself ill. And apparently dope kills brain cells and brings impotence in men. But this could just be propaganda...

[guerrillaradio]

Just for the record...I smoke dope and I'm proud of it. However, I don't do a lot and I'm aware of its harmfulness.

[Che Jexster]

You can't OD on marijuana. The OD limit has never been discoered as its such an insane amount no one has ever done enough before. In fact you OD on raw potatos before you do on marijuana. My understanding of how it hurts the brain is that it doesnt kill braincells, it renders certain places in the brain more difficult to acess. So it's still there it's just foggier and harder to remember, but if something jogs your memory usually you can remember everything about it.

[pogo]

Ive been a pot smoker for a while. I use it as a way of relaxing. And as something to do when there isnt anything else to do. As for this "Takes your mind from you" statement being made, I would like to completely disagree. my mind is still mine. I can still think. Untill I finished high school, I was getting a's. but as if thats an example. Marijuana dosent make me forget lifes problems, it just allows me to stop thinking about a billion things at once and relax and focus my thoughts on one thing. Wether that be music, tv, cleaning, or just about anything. I dont feeled impaired, becuase I still enjoy my life when im not high.

[Anonymous]

It is definatly good, light that shit up man

[sabre]

wow i think im the only one on here who doesn't smoke - but then again ive never tried it

[Rosa]

to guerrillardio: actually, my experience is telling me that it does bring impotence in men, if consumed too much...but only if consumed too much.

[TovarishAlexandrov]

I don't think it matters how bad smoking is. Personally, I think it's terrible and wouldn't ever smoke it, but I do belive that people should have the freedom to do whatever the hell they want with it. Same with abortion. It sucks - killing babys is wrong - but if someone needs one, they should have the right to one.

[kitty katt]

Wow talk about the uninformed masses....there are many purposes for marijuana.....not just euphoria. I've smoked the herb for years and still maintained a 90% average in nursing school therefore as you can see it obviously doesn't make one retarded. Marijuana doesn't bring on nearly as much impotence as alcohol and legal drugs prescribed for different illnesses. I really wish people would do their research on this subject before making blanket statements about something they know nothing about. Must be american....only that government seems to have a warped view on the subject....just look at the sentences handed out to pot users.

[Pete]

Oh hell. Your first post in a very very old thread. Go to OI (I believe) for a contemporary version of this beast!

[Urban Rubble]

I know you're new here but there is already a post on this, people debate about this all the time.

[Pete]

Here is the current one: http://www.che-lives.com/cgi/community/top...m=22&topic=2331 (http://www.che-lives.com/cgi/community/topic.pl?forum=22&topic=2331)

[Dhul Fiqar]

I don't see the need for two simultaineous threads on the same subject.