The Effects of Pot

[beerstash]

I remember on some documentary, thinking John Stossel or 60 minutes, was talking about the "war on drugs" and had mentioned that the marijuana now is stronger due to specific breeding practices on the grower to maximize effect whereas the farmers that grew it didn't grow it with that in mind. Also showed people were going to Amsterdam to buy the seeds for specific plants and then bringing it back to the States and grow in basements using hydroponics and elaborate lights and feeding/watering of the plants. It also stated that the LSD is weaker now than during Woodstock era. But now you have folks on meth and makes the rest of it look like candy cigs.

 

[1engineer]

That makes a lot more sense. I was being sarcastic with my questions ...


I don't think anyone is tip-top while under the influence of any drug.


Has ANYONE mentioned that prescription drug use is the #1 drug problem in America?

....

Apparently some think they are just as good high as they are sober. They even posted these comments in another thread.

I think I live in the Oxycontin capital of the world. Again, everyone wants something for nothing. While I do understand and am compassionate for those who have severe pain issues that require such a drug I am not compassionate for the 22 year old lady who weighs 300 lbs and complains her knees and feet hurt so she needs this drug. Hey - cut down on the Big Macs and work out a little - that will help more than any drug. It's all about Demand and Supply. The people demand it...the medical community supplies it.

There is one thing I am addicted to though. Whatever is released in my body when I am going down a hill through the woods on my mountain bike! Shoot, I even go through the pain of pedaling UP the hill just so I can go DOWN the hill lol. That is the best feeling in the world, especially when you make it to the bottom without breaking something useful, like an arm or rib.

 

[ndcent]

Super powerful strains aside what I find really interesting is all the new technology in the "industry" of it these days.

Namely the portable vaporizers, and more specifically the ones that you use with hash oil/wax. Those have made such a significant impact on the culture it's unreal. What's more, the high isn't even close to what you'd get with a 20% THC strain when smoked normally.*

*I've not tried it, but hardcore heads who's opinion I would trust have made this impression.

I have no interest in those things. My buddy has a "Volcano" vaporizer and even that will change your entire day, even a little paranoia, yuck - I hate to be that high - it's almost "unnatural" to me.

I'll stick with my favorite glass bubbler I picked up in Lake Tahoe, or anything hand rolled or my trusty dugout for mobility.

One bit of new tech I've seen I think I would like are glass pipes that have a billet aluminum "exoskeleton" surrounding them and are mostly unbreakable, I'd love one of those.

Yay, more ramblings!

 

[beerstash]

At 1engineer, I'm with you on the downhill! Would also like to add that not breaking anything on the bike either!

 

[rebelbowtie]

I always wonder if people who were pushing to have alcohol re legalized during prohibition also preached that "responsible" consumption of alcohol had zero ill side effects.

 

[Joel C]

It gave me enough appetite during chemo that I was able to sustain myself, probably saved my life.
Joel

 

[nw_4Runner]

And, going back to the last thread, I wouldn't want someone under the influence (of anything) to drive because they're putting themselves and others at risk.

Agree 100%

With that said, my story above is meant to point out that people under the influence of alcohol are more inclined to get loud, rowdy, aggressive than those under the influence of pot.

Agree 1000%

 

[CXS]

It gave me enough appetite during chemo that I was able to sustain myself, probably saved my life.
Joel

Good to hear Joel, glad it helped. I'm surprised nobody has given much comment regarding the medicinal value. My father also found it very helpful when undergoing chemo as do many people. In CA oncology wards it is pretty much ignored from what I saw. I was a MMJ patient prior to legalization and it helps people like me deal with chronic pain.

The negative effects as 1engineer seems to lean towards are indisputable in my experience. I know some people who are very creative and productive when high but most, myself included, are more lethargic and not at our sharpest.

 

[Gerdo]

It's a government conspiracy. Legalize pot so we have a stoned society that won't care if they take our guns from us.

 

[CXS]

There is one thing I am addicted to though. Whatever is released in my body when I am going down a hill through the woods on my mountain bike! Shoot, I even go through the pain of pedaling UP the hill just so I can go DOWN the hill lol. That is the best feeling in the world, especially when you make it to the bottom without breaking something useful, like an arm or rib.

Ah, an endorphin junkie! Along with endorphins exercizing releases adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine which are all feel good drugs. It's commonly known as "runners high" though not restricted to runners.

 

[Desert Fox]

It's a government conspiracy. Legalize pot so we have a stoned society that won't care if they take our guns from us.

Now thats funny right there

 

[CXS]

It's a government conspiracy. Legalize pot so we have a stoned society that won't care if they take our guns from us.

Marley Fests's are government experiments!

 

[Desert Fox]

Great thread

My wife tells me pot is a great stress releiver for her.

I tried to get high on pot when I was stationed at Yuma back in 1975. Honestly, I had no success and I had so called professional assistance. I just continued to drink instead.

I am looking forward to trying it again to see if the years have changed me. My drinking is almost none now so something to releive stress would be nice.

On the down side, my youngest son has ruined his life because of drugs. He started smoking pot in 7th grade. He takes no responsibility for anything and has no motivation. He feels like drugs and the state can support his life.

I am not blaming pot for his situation but indirectly (drug sales) it has played a part.

Bottom line people need to be responsible regardless if it is pot or beer. High or drunk there is no reason to put someone else at risk by driving or target shooting or what ever.

Yall keep posting so I can learn about this stuff.

 

[OHP]

There is one thing I am addicted to though. Whatever is released in my body when I am going down a hill through the woods on my mountain bike! Shoot, I even go through the pain of pedaling UP the hill just so I can go DOWN the hill lol. That is the best feeling in the world, especially when you make it to the bottom without breaking something useful, like an arm or rib.

Amen brother. That's the best drug.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I always wonder if people who were pushing to have alcohol re legalized during prohibition also preached that "responsible" consumption of alcohol had zero ill side effects.

Probably but today we have alot of science and facts behind the marijuana argument and compared to the effects alcohol has on the body pot is relatively safe and nobody has died as a result of marijuana.

 

[CXS]

My wife tells me pot is a great stress releiver for her.

That's an inarguable benefit. I know a few people who have tried all sorts of scripts for stress & anxiety and were able to stop them in favor of pot. It's also great benefit for women in all stages of menopause. Anyone who lives with someone in any stage should give it serious consideration. It really gets in the way of the image that opponents choose to portray though. It's real easy to portray it negatively by showing a young stoner but a lot harder showing a 60-something praising it's ability to control mood swings and insomnia.

 

[Joel C]

Good to hear Joel, glad it helped. I'm surprised nobody has given much comment regarding the medicinal value. My father also found it very helpful when undergoing chemo as do many people. In CA oncology wards it is pretty much ignored from what I saw. I was a MMJ patient prior to legalization and it helps people like me deal with chronic pain.

The negative effects as 1engineer seems to lean towards are indisputable in my experience. I know some people who are very creative and productive when high but most, myself included, are more lethargic and not at our sharpest.

Thanks CSX, I’m glad it worked out for your dad too. I was fifty when I was going through chemo and had no contacts to get any weed as that is something I had not used in many years. I live in NH, a state that is still in the right wing dark ages when it comes to medical marijuana but fortunately before I started treatment a friend from California paid a visit. I was amazed at how potent the medical weed is compared to the stuff that was around when I was in high school in the 70’s. There is absolutely no doubt that the medical marijuana available today helps people with nausea and pain. It seems kind of ridicules that you can be treated with chemo that can kill you in the chemo chair but you can’t smoke a joint to help keep you alive.

Oh, by the way I’m still able to perform my job as an engineer even after having smoked weed during treatment.

Hope your dad is still well,
Joel

 

[JB.]

I always wonder if people who were pushing to have alcohol re legalized during prohibition also preached that "responsible" consumption of alcohol had zero ill side effects.

I don't think anyone needed to. The disaster of prohibition was plenty all by itself.

A common phrase among people sympathetic to pot legalization is "didn't we learn anything from prohibition"?

Extending the logic of the phrase raises the uncomfortable thought that perhaps certain people of influence learned the profitable lessons of prohibition all too well.

 

[-JD-]

Does Marijuana Make You Stupid?

The scientists found that “there were no significant between group differences.” In other words, the amount of pot consumed had no measurable impact on cognitive performance. The sole exception was performance on a test of short-term verbal memory, in which “current heavy users” performed slightly worse than former users. The researchers conclude that, contrary to earlier findings, the mind altering properties of marijuana are ephemeral and fleeting:

Looks like the long term effects of drinking alcohol are more damaging too.

This study builds on previous work by Harvard researchers demonstrating that the learning and memory impairments of heavy marijuana users typically vanish within 28 days of “smoking cessation.” (The slight impairments still existed, however, one week after smoking.) While several days might sound like a long hippocampal hangover, heavy alcohol users typically experience deficits that persist for several months, if not years. In other words, heavy marijuana use appears to be a lot less damaging than alcoholism.

Teen Marijuana Use May Show No Effect On Brain Tissue, Unlike Alcohol, Study Finds

The before-and-after brain scans of the teens consuming typically five or more drinks at least twice a week showed reduced white matter brain tissue health, study co-author Susan Tapert, neuroscientist at University of California, San Diego, told HuffPost. This may mean declines in memory, attention, and decision-making into later adolescence and adulthood, she said.

However, the level of marijuana use -- up to nine times a week during the 18 months -- was not linked to a change in brain tissue health.

Cannabis smokers show greater lung capacity and lower cancer levels than non-smokers

Researchers found that, contrary to popular belief, smoking cannabis, does not interfere with lung function or capacity. This holds true for ongoing regular -even including daily- and long term consumption. Curiously, as a general rule, cannabis smokers had better lung function than nonsmokers, which researchers attribute to the smoking action itself, rather than the cannabis. Pot smokers inhale deeply and hold those breaths to make the most of their supply, expanding the lung's capacity.

Dr. Tashkin found that, in almost all instances, cannabis consumers had rates of cancer that were no different from those who didn't smoke cannabis. The one exception to this rule was between cannabis smokers and individuals who didn't smoke anything (including tobacco), in which marijuana smokers actually had lower levels of lung cancer.

Study: Cannabis Is A “Potential Exit Drug To Problematic Substance Use”



THE DATA IS VERY STRONG: MARIJUANA PLANT EXTRACT STOPS CANCERS FROM SPREADING

 

[1engineer]

Thanks for that but for every study for the good there is a study for the bad. That's why its so hotly debated.