Weed

[Venom2053]

My roommate is a major pothead, so I do it sometimes with him. But mainly only for social stuff on the weekends.

 

[danielfitzgerald99]

Tried it when I was 12 and walking to school one morning. Nearly got expelled for it when an older student reported me. Experimented with it occasionally through my teens until I smoked lethal amounts and whited out. Spent 2 hours lying on my floor with the room spinning, was sick everytime I tried to lift my head and it took me ages to climb onto the bed. Mum came home and was like WTF. I calmly explained it and she was like okay "I'll get some listerine and a bucket". Very understanding parent. Kinda been put off it ever since.

 

[danielfitzgerald99]

Quite interesting graph:

So if I just have dash of LSD in the morning instead of a cup off coffee I'll be healthier? Fantastic.

 

[Josh73]

^^ I'm 12 :shock:

 

[Jake]

Yeah, the graph goes by physical harm rather than mental harm. With a VERY high dose of LSD your body wouldn't be harmed in any way (assuming the user doesn't put themselves in danger whilst tripping), but you'd lose your mind and probably end up in a mental home for the rest of your life. As far as I know, if a dealer has a bottle in their pocket and it breaks, they're pretty much screwed as it soaks through their skin and the dose is just too much to handle.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

I'm sure someone else will have mentioned this but, where's the option for "No, don't see the point." Opposed is a bit... harsh, but I'm certainly not open to the idea.

Selected opposed to it because best fitting option.

That graph has endless flaws. Just because something isn't lethal doesn't mean it's okay...

All individuals respond to everything very differently. And individuals are incapable of judging for themselves.

Why do I never hear about lives being destroyed by caffine addiction?

I know someone who smokes far too much and as a result doesn't do... anything. Ever. He's reasonable and fine when he's not stoned, but that's such a rare occurrence. It just makes him incapable of functioning properly in society.

That is awful. Why you'd want to be incapable of functioning is beyond me, but we all know what I'm like re: this stuff. It's why I cannot understand why people like getting drunk, either.

Enjoyment from your brain being turned off? Yeah. Well, to me, that says it all.

 

[furie]

Enjoyment from your brain being turned off? Yeah. Well, to me, that says it all.

Ever considered some people have brains working so hard all the time that it's stressful being constantly intelligent and clever and need to have pharmaceuticals to turn it of otherwise they'd go mad with their internal brilliance?

Though not

 

[reddude333]

^ Haha, yeah I have thought about that...but I'd just recommend getting a girl My main rebuttal to that is there are many other things that can relieve stress without making one function improperly. And I also realize you were being somewhat facetious as to your point ;-)

 

[furie]

Yes, I was being obviously facetious, but...

What other things to relieve stress? Sex? Roller coasters? Food and drink? Pumping iron or aerobic exercise? A lot of those things make us relieve stress and feel great because of the chemicals they release in our body. Often, they're the same chemicals that make you feel great when you take drugs. It's on a smaller scale, but you're still changing yourself chemically inside to get a mental reaction from it.

Anyone who has had a cup of coffee to perk them up, or been on a ride for "the buzz" is changing themselves temporarily for their own personal gratification.

Don't get me wrong, there's a country mile between being over chatty due to an adrenaline buzz for five minutes and snorting a link of coke, or a pleasantly snoozy slumber after sex compared to a drag on a joint - but it's still similar. We're using chemicals (either naturally produced or produced by/in something we've taken) to change our mood and alter our frame of mind.

How far you take it is up to the individual and what pleasure they get from it. The effects are wildly varied from one person to another too. Just don't think that we're all innocent of doing things that change us chemically to give us pleasure

 

[reddude333]

It is indeed true that chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine are naturally occuring and are not bad in and of themselves. One possible side effect of drugs (prescription or otherwise) is that it can cause too many of these to be released and you can essentially desensitize your body. That is not really an argument I am making for my case, although it probably could be. I truly agree that the effects of drugs vary greatly between individuals and I realize that a drug can provide a similar or increased amount of those chemicals to be released (which may be preferable to some people). I may cause those chemicals to flow as much as any other...I just don't choose to do so with drugs...nothing against those who do.

 

[furie]

By the way, I'm completely open about the fact that I take things (from coffee to dope) because I actually enjoy it. I'm not hiding behind anything else, it's a simple, selfish desire to derive pleasure from substances.

I don't require them to enjoy myself. I don't require them to live from day to day. I don't require them to be sociable. It's something that I do from time to time for fun, as something a bit different.

The one thing I do like, is that small(ish) amounts really encourage my creativity. Again, I don't require it to be creative but it can cause some fantastic sparks to happen and bring about some ingenious ideas I'd generally not have had. Considering how oddly wired my brain is (and always has been), it can lead to some very interesting things

 

[Josh73]

Not really sure where to post this but, I'll just stick it in here.

I had a basketball tourney on the weekend, and there were people on the 3rd floor with possension of weed. Police came and everything. My friend and I first reported the smell and it just went downhill from then. We were little cops

 

[Ben]

Not really sure where to post this but, I'll just stick it in here.

I had a basketball tourney on the weekend, and there were people on the 3rd floor with possension of weed. Police came and everything. My friend and I first reported the smell and it just went downhill from then. We were little cunnts

Fixed.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Enjoyment from your brain being turned off? Yeah. Well, to me, that says it all.

Ever considered some people have brains working so hard all the time that it's stressful being constantly intelligent and clever and need to have pharmaceuticals to turn it of otherwise they'd go mad with their internal brilliance?

Though not

I understand, but also think there are far better and more responsible ways to chill out.

I chill out by dicking about online, and you could call that an "addiction" in the sense that I've trained myself to feel comfortable doing it and get distressed when I the net goes out for a day. You could argue it's harmful to me and expensive. But at least I'm, well, awake? And that's what I can't get my head around.

I find intoxicated people quite distressing. I always have done. I don't quite know what it is. I

 

[furie]

But at least I'm, well, awake? And that's what I can't get my head around.

Yes, but that's because you don't get any pleasure from it, so you'll never be able to understand it.

I can't understand why anyone would want to be forced to lick a dominatrix boots while dressed up in a nappy in order to get sexual gratification. It happens though, everyone has a different idea of what is pleasurable and as long as it's not hurting anyone else, then it's not really an issue.

I can understand why you'd find it boring to be the only straight person in the middle of people getting stoned, that's fair enough I imagine it is, but that doesn't mean that those enjoying it are wrong to do so. They're enjoying it, and that's the point. It's feeding pleasure for the sake of gratification in spare time.

I could go on about how it's a great way to chill and all the rest of it, but it's a simple as it stimulates pleasure sensors in some peoples brains and they get a kick from that. There's no justification other than pleasure for the individual. Most people are selfish the majority of time, if a bunch of like minded selfish people get together for a night of getting stoned, then I really don't see the issue. It's no more a waste of time than an evening spent watching the X-Factor, or reading comic books, or playing Portal 2 or whatever way you wish to waste away your spare time relaxing and essentially turning your brain off.

Unless you personally enjoy something, you're never going to understand the reason for doing it.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

I am suspicious that a vast number of people who enjoy it don't actually enjoy it though.

I'm as equally suspicious over music and film, alcohol, football and other ...common "hobbies" and likes. I cannot believe that the vast number of people who are into such things are genuinely interested in them. I think a lot of it is down to social constructs. Football is popular in the UK and not in the US for a reason. People don't enjoy things because they genuinely do, they like them essentially because they are introduced to them and then told they should. I can't help feel that these are interests for people without the ability to find their own interests.

Weed doesn't really fall into that, but alcohol does... And if weed reached the status of acceptability of alcohol, it would be the same.

People say that it being illegal doesn't stop people from doing it, but that's absolute **** made evident from the way alcohol is perceived.

 

[furie]

I take it you don't really like coasters then Joey, or pizza, or Sonic the hedgehog? People tend to gravitate to what is familiar, yes. However that doesn't mean they're not enjoying it, or unable to find things on their own they actually genuinely enjoy naturally.

sent from my bum via a fancy phone.

 

[reddude333]

I would agree with Joey regarding the legality factor. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't smoke weed regardless of its legality but the fact of the matter is, I haven't even considered doing it because I know its illegal. Just like I don't drink alcohol on the primary basis of that I am underage. I realize this isn't the crux of his argument but it is quite a valid point.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

I take it you don't really like coasters then Joey, or pizza, or Sonic the hedgehog? People tend to gravitate to what is familiar, yes. However that doesn't mean they're not enjoying it, or unable to find things on their own they actually genuinely enjoy naturally.

sent from my bum via a fancy phone.

To some extent no, because everything is a learnt experience. But the sheer popularity of alcohol worldwide is ridiculous. As is the same with music. I just do not believe that as many people give a **** as they let on, or think they do. I just think it's too fishy.

 

[furie]

I would agree with Joey regarding the legality factor. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't smoke weed regardless of its legality but the fact of the matter is, I haven't even considered doing it because I know its illegal. Just like I don't drink alcohol on the primary basis of that I am underage. I realize this isn't the crux of his argument but it is quite a valid point.

I'm in two minds about this and always have been. Weed is no better or worse than alcohol really. So why ban it and not alcohol? It doesn't make much sense.

If you've ever bought drugs, you'll know it can be a pretty horrendous experience. You're breaking the law, which means you're dealing with criminals. These people are drug dealers and you certainly come across exactly what you'd expect at times. Sleazy, nasty people with guns and secret knocks on the lookout for police and rivals. Even removed from it (I don't buy any more and haven't for years, but I bought off friends and family because I hated it), you still know it goes on.

It's stupid for the kind of people who buy weed. They tend to be younger people after a bit of fun, or people who just use it occasionally for relaxation or a social setting. They're not hardcore drug addicts who rob the neighbourhood to get a fix. Quite often they're relatively clean cut people. It seems at odds to throw them into the sleazy underworld.

Only we know it's illegal, and therefore there are risks associated.

Personally, I think a lax approach (maybe decriminalisation) is required. It's pretty harmless and there's very little (if any) direct harm caused by potheads generally (certainly it costs considerably less to police than drinking). However, I don't think it should be legalised completely. It's a harmful substance and legalisation encourages the use of that. Not only is it physically harmful, but it's mentally an issue for people too. Not everyone has the ability to cope with pot use.

To some extent no, because everything is a learnt experience. But the sheer popularity of alcohol worldwide is ridiculous. As is the same with music. I just do not believe that as many people give a **** as they let on, or think they do. I just think it's too fishy.

Some things aren't a learnt experience though. Some things you just enjoy and know immediately that you enjoy it. I didn't learn to enjoy sex, I did it once and liked it right away. Music is a different thing, but the music I adore, I really adore and it's completely subconscious. I know I have a "taste" and that certain music (whether I find it for myself or are presented with it) I'll just love right away without thought.

The thing is, we must have an innate leaning towards something that gives us pleasure and that probably is absorbed as we grow. However it's utterly subconscious and not something we have any control over. Again, just because you don't experience something doesn't mean that somebody else doesn't experience a genuine emotional reaction to something (be it sport, music, driving a car, religious ceremony, looking at art, swimming, just whatever).

It's proven that the reaction to alcohol is 100% physiological. It's not learned and it's not an inherited trait. It's also been proven that the way we act when drinking alcohol IS a learned trait. This is why French and German drinkers are much better company than UK and US drinkers. They are taught a more respectful attitude towards drinking and how to behave when drunk. So it's a mix of things, and while we have a piss poor attitude to drinking here, it's not the alcohol's reaction that it the issue, but our mentality. If we can somehow make alcohol drinking "mature", to be used as a natural way of relaxing and taking pleasure from a substance then it's not an issue. I agree though that generally it's a bad thing at the moment in the areas most of us will move in.

Weed is definitely physiological. We have very specific THC connectors in our brain that we've evolved with that react specifically to weed. Whether it's a good thing or not, there was certainly a link in our evolutionary past to humans and pot.