Cannabis

[superfunk47]

My experience, for what it's worth, would somewhat support the MMJ camp.

I had been having troublesome pain in my knees for three or four years, a combination of something genetic and a bit too much abuse of them on my part. Anyway, my doctor had me try several prescription treatments and a couple of OTC ones, as well. None were terribly effective, and I had pretty much given up on them, and was trying to just live with the pain. It's worth noting that I had never read about medical marijuana, and didn't actually know that people even used it for medical reasons.

Commence typical teenage "try it here and there" behavior, it was okay, didn't much care for it recreationally. But I noticed after a couple of times that the main lingering effect, for me at least, was a complete lack of pain in my knees. It would usually last for at least a day or two. It was only then that I somewhat apprehensively looked online and found that it was actually a pretty popular pain treatment.

Fast forward - these days, I live largely pain free, and I don't have to take pills. Worked out pretty well for me. I still don't enjoy it that much for any recreational reasons, but what I do know is that I can walk normally and live my life. Again, IME, FWIW, etc.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

here's a bit of anecdote on this topic:

I am allergic to basically every over-the-counter pain killer you can buy, and I also have no health insurance. As a result, I have at times resorted to using cannabis as a way of coping with chronic lower back pain (early onset sciatic problems) and although it doesn't fully "mask" the pain like a standard pain killer, it does VERY effectively limit and compartmentalize the pain enough to allow me to function in an otherwise "normal" capacity.

Now, here's the important part of my story:

I have at times been sold what is commonly referred to as "ditch weed," which is basically extremely low grade marijuana, as if it were the "normal stuff." For the most part it looks and smells the same as "normal" pot to any light user, but simply lacks the psychotropic (is this even the right word?) effects. To me, this seems like about as close of a scenario to a "placebo effect" as you're going to get with this sort of drug, and trust me, the difference in the "medicinal value" in regards to dealing with pain is quite drastic between the "real" stuff and the "placebo."

You need to come to Florida!!

 

[cheezewiz]

Here's my take. This may surprise some coming from a law enforcement officer, but I'm a realist.

I think "the truth lies somewhere in between".

I don't think mj is a completely harmless, safe, recreational substance. I know plenty of pot heads who think about nothing except where their next doob is coming from. Some of them have like 3 working brain cells.

I also don't think it's an "inherently evil" substance. I compare it directly to alcohol. There are a lot of people who indulge and do so perfectly responsibly. There are a lot of people who don't. I also think mj has some legitimate medical uses.

I would personally have no problem with it being legal and regulated.

 

[warwick.hoy]

Here's my take. This may surprise some coming from a law enforcement officer, but I'm a realist.

I think "the truth lies somewhere in between".

I don't think mj is a completely harmless, safe, recreational substance. I know plenty of pot heads who think about nothing except where their next doob is coming from. Some of them have like 3 working brain cells.

I also don't think it's an "inherently evil" substance. I compare it directly to alcohol. There are a lot of people who indulge and do so perfectly responsibly. There are a lot of people who don't. I also think mj has some legitimate medical uses.

I would personally have no problem with it being legal and regulated.

I'm actually not surprised by your stance. As a law enforcement officer you probably have first hand experience on the burden that criminalization puts on the justice system.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

This.

My experience, for what it's worth, would somewhat support the MMJ camp.

I had been having troublesome pain in my knees for three or four years, a combination of something genetic and a bit too much abuse of them on my part. Anyway, my doctor had me try several prescription treatments and a couple of OTC ones, as well. None were terribly effective, and I had pretty much given up on them, and was trying to just live with the pain. It's worth noting that I had never read about medical marijuana, and didn't actually know that people even used it for medical reasons.

Commence typical teenage "try it here and there" behavior, it was okay, didn't much care for it recreationally. But I noticed after a couple of times that the main lingering effect, for me at least, was a complete lack of pain in my knees. It would usually last for at least a day or two. It was only then that I somewhat apprehensively looked online and found that it was actually a pretty popular pain treatment.

Fast forward - these days, I live largely pain free, and I don't have to take pills. Worked out pretty well for me. I still don't enjoy it that much for any recreational reasons, but what I do know is that I can walk normally and live my life. Again, IME, FWIW, etc.

And this

Here's my take. This may surprise some coming from a law enforcement officer, but I'm a realist.
I think "the truth lies somewhere in between".

I don't think mj is a completely harmless, safe, recreational substance. I know plenty of pot heads who think about nothing except where their next doob is coming from. Some of them have like 3 working brain cells.

I also don't think it's an "inherently evil" substance. I compare it directly to alcohol. There are a lot of people who indulge and do so perfectly responsibly. There are a lot of people who don't. I also think mj has some legitimate medical uses.

I would personally have no problem with it being legal and regulated.

Pretty much sums up my experience medically (broken foot injury) and philosophically. Recreationally I'm a much bigger fan.

 

[GeneralElectric]

In everything I've read cannibis performs equal to or SLIGHTLY better than a placebo for treating pain

I got hit by a drunk driver my freshman year of college and flipped my car. Due to a very fun stretch of my teen years, I'm unable to take pills and other opiate based pain medication. While smoking doesn't completely eliminate the pain, it does help considerably. My shoulder, which is the worst, aches most of the day. At times it gets so bad I end up cradling my arm in a futile effort to stop the pain. Smoking tends to help a lot with the former, and not so much with the latter.

I know a lot of pot smokers who think they're brilliant. Regardless, I've seemed to notice that roughly 50% of routine pot smokers I've met were operating at normal functioning capacity and some were permanently baked.

This certainly isn't limited to just pot, but I've met plenty of drug and alcohol abusers that were extremely obvious of their addiction and some who I'd never know until they told me.

I don't think I'm brilliant by any means, but I still maintain a 3.9GPA without much trouble. That said, I've still met plenty of smokers who are crispy fried. And with that being said, I've also met plenty of people who are also crispy fried without the benefit of drugs or alcohol. They're just idiots.
If you saw me walking down the street, you probably wouldn't know that I partake several times daily and have for about 7 1/2 years now. I look like a super square; I wear button down shirts all year long and I tuck them in my pants. It doesn't help that more than one person has said that I dress like their grandpa.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

I'm of the opinion that it is harmless enough to the majority of the population that it should be legalized for recreational use.


That said, I might also venture to say that compared to some other "drugs," pot really doesn't have any redeeming value to it other than its function as a pain-reducer and music enhancer.

 

[MatticusMania]

First off, let's try to not get political about this.

I've been raised in the mentality that pot is bad, burns your brain cells, is going to get you hooked on harder stuff and etc.

Recently I saw a movie called "The Union" for those who knows about that movie, and I'm simply asking myself where's the truth in all this.

I know every story has two side, but seriously what I saw in The Union is the total opposite of what I've always been told, yes the movie seemed biased, but to what extent?

Just being curious about the truth & lies related to cannabis.

Again, let's not get political over it, I don't want to know if it should be legal or if it will, or who will and who does.

I may be a little late, and while I dont condone anything illegal, I'll just say the best thing you can do if get a little first hand experience on the subject.

 

[elgecko]

Regarding vaporizing:

Vaporizers heat a "substance" to a temperature where essential oils are released. This is far below the temperature of combustion. So it's healthier than smoking in the sense that you get the desired "compounds" without the byproducts of combustion. An added benefit is that the smell associated with burning cannabis does not occur when vaporizing. It's practically odorless!

 

[jojobean39]

I've never used pot and never will. However, if I had the choice of driving down the opposing side of a dark road with a drunk driver or a stoner, I'll pick the stoner every time. In my experience with people that have used it, you have varying degrees of usage; but the same goes with alcohol. I find people who are high to be much more pleasant than those who are drunk. Like almost anything, it can be overused and become a problem. But, that's up to the user to decide.

 

[R. Laevinus]

...the way I see it, is very simple. Drugs are powerful. Powerful things are inherently dangerous. Dangerous things should be regulated to ensure that some folks don't hurt themselves, or, at least, to try to minimize the damage.

Anybody who claims that all drugs are bad, period, is lacking in first-hand experience. I used to do drugs, many kinds, and am currently a smoker. What I am not, is an idiot. If there was no positive effect from my actions, you may rest assured I would not perform them.

Likewise, anybody who claims that any drug has no negative effects, is also lacking in first-hand experience. Once again, having done quite a lot of quite a few drugs in my youth, I have seen their effects on many people from many walks of life. Some can handle, some can't.


Drugs in general, and cannabis in particular, have a high capacity for inducing change in an individual. Whether this change is for the better or the worse depends on many factors - some environmental, but most depedant on the individual.

In terms of medical benefits - heroin also has medical benefits, but I'm sure most of us aren't in support of widespread usage by the masses.

In terms of negative health issues - automobile exhaust, particularly diesel, has been demonstrated to be all kinds of bad for us, and yet most of us are okay with trucks.




...and now for my personal opinion: Cannabis and other drugs have done me a lot of good over the years, in many various ways. They have also done me a lot of bad. Would I be the same person I am now without them? I don't know. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know. Would I reccomend anybody go down that same road that I did? Absolutely not.


(^This is based on my personal experiences and the consequences of the decisions I have made. Your mileage may vary, as always and as per usual.)

 

[Spoonman462]

Interestingly, I know a number of people whose grades have gone up significantly (in terms of GPA, from mid 3 range to above a 4.0) since they started using it regularly. It really depends on the person.

My GPA in college went up after I started smoking. I think it basically helped me relax and focus on ****. I'll even say I got more motivated to go out and do stuff, and get involved with extracurricular activities and whatnot.

I can say with confidence that nearly everyone I know or meet these days smokes weed, whether occasionally or regularly, and I've never found anything mentally or physically wrong with these people, whether they're high or not. And the ones who are lazy/unmotivated, are people who were lazy and unmotivated before they even started smoking.

Also, Here's a pretty good documentary to watch...

 

[Ziltoid]

Some funny thing I learned recently, is that the good stuff in the cannabis the cannabinol (I think that's the name) is absorbed quickly by the lungs, so holding it to get the goody out of it only makes you absorb more toxins from the smoke.

 

[rr5025]

Pretty much sums up my experience medically (broken foot injury) and philosophically. Recreationally I'm a much bigger fan.

Where was the break? I was given Vicodin for my foot and it was absolutely useless.

 

[whitespike]

I started smoking pot as a teenager. I am 28 now. I did go a few years without smoking it, during a time where I was with a girl who disapproved. I guess that shows that you can quit relatively easily if you need/want to.

I still smoke to this day. And, honestly, to an extent there is a psychological dependence. Nothing happens too much physically when I don't have it. Perhaps after a week or a little more I get a little aggravated. Mainly, I just enjoy smoking it. But beyond that, I have a long history of chemical imbalance in my brain that causes a lot of anxiety and sometimes depression. It really does help with anxiety for me. But I won't pretend to know if it helps everyone in that manner. I wonder sometimes if that is where some of the irritation comes from if I don't smoke in a week or two.

I also tried LSD in high school a few times, but it was completely unrelated. I just wanted to try it. And I would never do it again and have never done any other drug ever in my life. I won't even pop a pill if it isn't prescribed ... pills scare me. Mainly bc of all the prescriptions I have had for anxiety and depression. They often have unwanted side effects of some sort, big or small, and I just don't like dealing with them.

The worst thing pot has done is give me a little belly from hunger. Not too bad considering alcohol often leads to domestic abuse and many fatal car wrecks.

 

[KingCrimson]

Actually i have to vouch for the better at school thing, I've been more laid back and ive been able to take things a bit more seriously like my studies. I'm a tense stressed person, i do NOT smoke every day, just partake once maybe twice a week and maybe its a placebo effect i dunno but ive just been more focused onstuff that matters.

Music studies and biking.....I guess its kept my mind off girls a bit oh well i'm not very good in that field anyways.

 

[stratovani]

I used to smoke a lot of hashish in my younger days, which is not surprising considering I'm from Montreal, which was the hashish capital of North America back in the 70s! But I gave it all up in the early 80s, and I havn't touched anything since, mostly because I can't afford it but also I'm afraid of what the law would do to me. But I am thinking of smoking pot again when I retire and move to our local senior residence. Now that'll be a sight - a bunch of stoned senior Baby Boomers! I can't wait, should be a lot of fun! Besides, what else would we have to do? Bingo or macrame?

 

[ThisisCraigP]

I've always been told stuff along the same lines. "Burn your brain cells" "Become addicted", "cancer", "lung problems" etc but I still have done it a few times. Am I a retarted drooling kid now? No. Did I start failing school and become not myself. No. It was no big deal and all the crap that my parents told me and what DARE said did nothing to stop me.
For those who don't know DARE is basically when a cop comes into class and talks about how horrible drugs and alcohol are.

Now if I was offered some other drug those times (crack, heroine, etc) I never would have taken them. Those drugs really can mess you up (death, Aids, addiction, etc). And I would have left those people who were doing it. I can't imaine that watching someone taking those things is much fun.

 

[superfunk47]

Some funny thing I learned recently, is that the good stuff in the cannabis the cannabinol (I think that's the name) is absorbed quickly by the lungs, so holding it to get the goody out of it only makes you absorb more toxins from the smoke.

A good point, often overlooked. It's the THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the stuff that makes you giggly and generally more imaginative/open/whatever you want to describe it as) that gets absorbed within 4-5 seconds. There are tons of other cannabinoids, most notably CBD, which is the one that primarily makes you feel like just sitting there. Different varieties have different balances of the various cannabinoids, and thereby produce different psychoactive effects. It's really quite fascinating stuff.

 

[Jim Campbell]

Here's my take. This may surprise some coming from a law enforcement officer, but I'm a realist.

I think "the truth lies somewhere in between".

I don't think mj is a completely harmless, safe, recreational substance. I know plenty of pot heads who think about nothing except where their next doob is coming from. Some of them have like 3 working brain cells.

I also don't think it's an "inherently evil" substance. I compare it directly to alcohol. There are a lot of people who indulge and do so perfectly responsibly. There are a lot of people who don't. I also think mj has some legitimate medical uses.

I would personally have no problem with it being legal and regulated.

at the very least it would free up a lot of police man hours for more important work.......here they just announced that cadets from the academy are going to be patrolling the streets and answering certain types of calls to ease the backlog