[tallulahxoxo]

Just curious to hear your thoughts on marijuana! I live in the weed capital of California. Marijuana is prescribed for nearly anything. And it is totally socially acceptable here, like asking if someone wants a cup of tea. I was high on marijuana for almost three years straight. Definately changed my perceptions on life. What do you guys think?

[Altered Moment]

Do you live in Weed CA....lol

I was a pot head from age 14 until 32. When I started in Michigan at that time we could still get really good Columbian Gold. Stuff would make you hallucinate. Then the DEA really cracked down on Florida and that dried up. Then it was Mexican dirt and once in some good green from CA. Then when I was 21 I moved to CA and it was very good hybrid all the time. My boss grew it. Way before it was medical legal. I suppose you live in Humbolt. That's where his seeds came from.

I was definitely addicted. I find it fairly harmless but my chronic use was not good for me. It is very hard on the lungs. Kills motivation in the long run, hard on short term memory if its good stuff.

I have been clean and sober for twenty years. but about 5 years ago I decided to try it for depression. Didn't work. Then a few years later to try it for anxiety and found it had to be the exact right strain. One buddy would have some that just made me totally tired and I didn't want that. Some would make me paranoid and that is not good for anxiety. There is one that is just right but I don't really want to get a card and find the right one. I have anxiety meds that work. I think it has legitimate medical uses. Maybe CBD more than TCH I dunno. Like you said you can stub your toe and get a prescription. Next election it will be legal all the way around in CA.

I think chronic use is not good but if your have cancer, or chronic pain, or anxiety, or something and it helps you who am I to judge. I don't think occasional use is harmful. If you are just using to get high for fun I would say only do it every couple of weeks or no more than once a week. If you have to get high to go out to lunch and everything else you do everyday then it is a problem.

[thickntired]

Pot is my drug of choice. I spent a few weeks in the "emerald triangle" - Humboldt & Mendocino with a grower. Pot was the hardest drug i have ever quit. It was by far harder than cigarettes, alcohol even coke. Physically addictive psychologically whatever, it took over a year to get thru the anxiety of not having a bag. When i quit i was spending more a month on pot than my mortgage. I can't moderate and that's most defined by weed. For non addicts go for it because it's better all around than big pharma.

[Hellion]

I am thinking how does one remain high on marijuana for 3 years?...that would take a lot of marijuana. I do smoke it but I wouldn't say I am constantly high on it that is for sure. Though I live in Colorado, might be more of a weed capital or maybe its about the same, I know it is pretty acceptable as well as legal here.

[Altered Moment]

Well the "Emerald Triangle", Humbolt and Mendicino counties have been the capital for like a hundred years. Colorado is new on the scene compared to there.

[tallulahxoxo]

Hellion! I got it for free from multiple sources hahah so there was no reason to stop. And I loved using it to numb my feelings.
I'm torn because marijuana helps a lot of people in terms of cancer and epilepsy.. But.. At the same time I feel it is unhelpful to others. As for me I don't really enjoy it anymore. Doesn't feel good like it used to.
Also, when I first started smoking, I was taking klonopin too, so there was no paranoia at all. That was amazing.

[Mygrandjourney]

Originally Posted by SqrqhJean

Just curious to hear your thoughts on marijuana! I live in the weed capital of California. Marijuana is prescribed for nearly anything. And it is totally socially acceptable here, like asking if someone wants a cup of tea. I was high on marijuana for almost three years straight. Definately changed my perceptions on life. What do you guys think?

What did you have in mind regarding what our thoughts on marijuana are?
Permission to use? Helpful as a medicine? Addictive or non addictive? What are you thinking about using it for? After all this forum is labelled, "Addictions".

[tony fudo]

I used to enjoy getting high, but after a while it just made me completely paranoid.

When I started smoking I thought stories about 'marijuana madness' were just government scare tactics. I'm glad for you if it gives you a lift. For me, it has the entirely opposite effect and then some. So I steer well clear.

[CalmingOcean]

I find it gives me such clarity. Like my brain can finally slow down enough for me to figure out how I'm feeling.. Tho unfortunately it vamps up my paranoid thinking so kinda counter productive I guess.

[amayastar]

I think it should be legal in every state. I think it is extremely helpful, especially for those of us who struggle with mental illness.

[Altered Moment]

Originally Posted by CalmingOcean

I find it gives me such clarity. Like my brain can finally slow down enough for me to figure out how I'm feeling.. Tho unfortunately it vamps up my paranoid thinking so kinda counter productive I guess.

It really depends on the strain. You can find types that don't cause paranoia.

[MattBemis]

SWIM is most definitely psychologically addicted to Marijuana. I used to smoke three times a day or upwards of that. I denied it was a problem but I had no motivation and was very robot like and paranoid while smoking that much. I wasn't smoking for enoyment anymore, I was smoking for relief.

I've been clean for three weeks and I feel much better although I do still crave it. Most people can handle Marijuana better than me and it can a wonderful and therapuric drug. I just know personally I can't smoke.

[rwither1]

Originally Posted by SqrqhJean

Just curious to hear your thoughts on marijuana! I live in the weed capital of California. Marijuana is prescribed for nearly anything. And it is totally socially acceptable here, like asking if someone wants a cup of tea. I was high on marijuana for almost three years straight. Definately changed my perceptions on life. What do you guys think?

I would just say that legality is not relevant. Alcohol is legal. The legality of something is a non issue, as is social acceptability, as far as addiction is concerned. Pot in moderation is fine, but pot these days is very, very potent, often mixed with other chemicals, and can absolutely cause psychological dependency, especially if you are self-medicating. I'm almost 10 years clean from a pot addiction. It pretty much ruined my life. Or, to be fair, I ruined my life when i was high all the time.

I still think it should be legal, but don't think that it's somehow less dangerous now that the state says you can smoke it. That's just nonsense.
Regards, Randy

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by rwither1

I would just say that legality is not relevant. Alcohol is legal. The legality of something is a non issue, as is social acceptability, as far as addiction is concerned. Pot in moderation is fine, but pot these days is very, very potent, often mixed with other chemicals, and can absolutely cause psychological dependency, especially if you are self-medicating. I'm almost 10 years clean from a pot addiction. It pretty much ruined my life. Or, to be fair, I ruined my life when i was high all the time.

I still think it should be legal, but don't think that it's somehow less dangerous now that the state says you can smoke it. That's just nonsense.
Regards, Randy

At the risk of sounding pathetic, I'd have to say I think if I did not self medicate with cannabis there is a good chance I might not be sitting here typing this...the way I see it any psychological dependency I have to it would have to do with it providing relief more effectively than other things I have tried without as much debilitating effects. I don't feel worse going without it due to some stand alone dependence...its more like my default state kinda sucks, it provides relief so thus if I do not have access to it of course I 'crave' it but more due to relief it provides so I can function better and be less on edge. I have valium for anxiety attacks but if I take that then well, I can end up kinda 'drugged' for a while and rather useless when it comes to physical activity. Also its only for sever anxiety/panic attacks....so yeah if I relied only on that for anxiety then I'd still be stuck with feeling on edge the majority of the time just not in full blown panic mode.

I remember even as a kid having anxiety and depression, the stress headaches...when I got older and found cannabis helps that my thought was 'wow there is actually something that relieves this stuff so I feel half way at peace'....lets just say it is not as though I was doing well mentally, started smoking and now I have more severe issues more like I found it before those issues drove me entirely insane. If they can come up with a better anti-depressant/general anxiety relieving drug I would be more than willing to try it....

In any case I'd rather have a psychological dependency to cannabis, than little to no relief of symptoms/mental turmoil, but I also do not nessisarily see dependency as the same thing as addiction....since for instance in the medical sense if someone needs a medication to treat some condition that would otherwise kill them or cause very unpleasant symptoms I'd say they depend on it for that....not that they are 'addicted' in my opinion addiction is specifically if the substance is actually detrimental to the individual and they are unable to stop using it. That is not to say there are no risks/dangers associated with cannabis use or that it cannot be problematic for anyone....but sometimes I wonder what is expected of people who self medicate when the drugs they prescribe don't work.

[twizzlerheaded]

Riddle me this, "weed is a gateway drug". Cannabis is a schedule one drug thanks to Nixon. Heroin is also a schedule one alongside the herb. So with that in mind, if I were to smoke Cannabis ten times and not have any serious effects or fallouts does that mean I could also do other schedule one drugs like heroin ten times and be fine as well? Or better yet, cocaine and morphine are schedule two. So according to the government, I would be better off trying cocaine over Cannabis? These inconsistencies honestly frighten me.

[tallulahxoxo]

I keep trying to stop smoking weed, but in the end I miss it.
I'm about to start meds. The last time I got prescribed meds I was on a hell of a cocktail. Adderrall, klonopin, and I cannot remember what else..
I can't help but feel like marijuana is better than these!
Not to mention, if I smoke a little bit I remember the beauty of life, I remember not to take life so seriously, and I'm able to deal with work.
I'm just not sure, everyone's opinions are so different so I just need to meditate and listen to my heart I guess.

[Mygrandjourney]

Originally Posted by twizzlerheaded

Riddle me this, "weed is a gateway drug". Cannabis is a schedule one drug thanks to Nixon. Heroin is also a schedule one alongside the herb. So with that in mind, if I were to smoke Cannabis ten times and not have any serious effects or fallouts does that mean I could also do other schedule one drugs like heroin ten times and be fine as well? Or better yet, cocaine and morphine are schedule two. So according to the government, I would be better off trying cocaine over Cannabis? These inconsistencies honestly frighten me.

Nicotine is actually the #1 gateway drug!
Schedule I means no recognized medical use and high potential for abuse/addiction. It doesn't go into how potentially lethal a drug is, although the risk is almost implied. That is still the Fed govt's position on marijuana which is a big piece of the controversy with states trying to legalize it. By this definition, Nicotine should be a schedule I drug.

[ramirorico]

Marijuana will definitely change your perceptions on life. It'll also make you lazy if you smoke it every day.

I think it's okay to do it once in a while, but as addicts we have to be careful because we can easily get into the habit of smoking it every day.

[wolfgaze]

Originally Posted by twizzlerheaded

Riddle me this, "weed is a gateway drug". Cannabis is a schedule one drug thanks to Nixon. Heroin is also a schedule one alongside the herb. So with that in mind, if I were to smoke Cannabis ten times and not have any serious effects or fallouts does that mean I could also do other schedule one drugs like heroin ten times and be fine as well? Or better yet, cocaine and morphine are schedule two. So according to the government, I would be better off trying cocaine over Cannabis? These inconsistencies honestly frighten me.

Check this link out:

Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program
Compassionate Investigational New Drug program - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

How's that for inconsistency and hypocrisy?

There are still Americans alive today receiving medical cannabis from the FDA grown at the University of Mississippi. Yet the Federal position on cannabis is that it's a Schedule 1 narcotic with 'no known medicinal applications'...

[elevatedsoul]

i love weed

[reticentrenegade]

I smoked once or more a day for two years or so. It started off being great--as a freshman in college it was a different experience than I'd ever had, and on top of already existing anxiety and depression it was great at helping me relax and focus. Around the middle of the second year though I started smoking 4 or 5 times a day; on winter break that year all I did was sit in my room, smoke, watch youtube videos, and smoke again whenever I started feeling sober. It was a big problem, but I didn't realize it at the time. I had a few very close calls with the law.

It was extremely addictive for me. Not physically so much as psychologically but for me that almost seemed worse. The last few times I smoked I got too high & had extreme paranoia and anxiety to the point where I couldn't do anything besides cry or sleep. I was extremely lucky to have supportive friends and a boyfriend who cheered me on the whole time--my greatest ally was my best friend/smoking buddy who invited me to do things with her without weed and was careful not to smoke around me. I'm currently 5 months clean and I still think about smoking every once in a while, like how nice it felt to listen to my favorite music and smoke and relax. My lungs were not holding up very well by the end of my smoking though, and especially with the horrible anxiety and paranoia my mental health was suffering greatly. Quitting was very hard. I gave all of my things to my friend (who uses them frequently and appreciates my "donations" ) but even then I still had cravings enough to make me miserable and depressed.

I know that it can be very useful for mental illnesses, physical illnesses, etc. but for me after a while, whether it was because of addiction, the frequency with which I smoked, addictive personality, etc., it was more harmful than beneficial. Additionally, I think that edible marijuana products are the way to go rather than smoked forms because that way people can get the benefits they need, the positive effects will last a lot longer and be cheaper overall than smoking, and there is no awful lung or heart damage from smoking. As a whole I'm in full agreement with medical legalization, but as I am against cigarettes being legal I'm not sure how I feel about recreational marijuana at the time--after seeing how it affected my life I don't want addiction to be a problem for others, especially younger people.

[wolfgaze]

Originally Posted by reticentrenegade

I smoked once or more a day for two years or so. It started off being great--as a freshman in college it was a different experience than I'd ever had, and on top of already existing anxiety and depression it was great at helping me relax and focus. Around the middle of the second year though I started smoking 4 or 5 times a day; on winter break that year all I did was sit in my room, smoke, watch youtube videos, and smoke again whenever I started feeling sober. It was a big problem, but I didn't realize it at the time. I had a few very close calls with the law.

It was extremely addictive for me. Not physically so much as psychologically but for me that almost seemed worse. The last few times I smoked I got too high & had extreme paranoia and anxiety to the point where I couldn't do anything besides cry or sleep. I was extremely lucky to have supportive friends and a boyfriend who cheered me on the whole time--my greatest ally was my best friend/smoking buddy who invited me to do things with her without weed and was careful not to smoke around me. I'm currently 5 months clean and I still think about smoking every once in a while, like how nice it felt to listen to my favorite music and smoke and relax. My lungs were not holding up very well by the end of my smoking though, and especially with the horrible anxiety and paranoia my mental health was suffering greatly. Quitting was very hard. I gave all of my things to my friend (who uses them frequently and appreciates my "donations" ) but even then I still had cravings enough to make me miserable and depressed.

I know that it can be very useful for mental illnesses, physical illnesses, etc. but for me after a while, whether it was because of addiction, the frequency with which I smoked, addictive personality, etc., it was more harmful than beneficial. Additionally, I think that edible marijuana products are the way to go rather than smoked forms because that way people can get the benefits they need, the positive effects will last a lot longer and be cheaper overall than smoking, and there is no awful lung or heart damage from smoking. As a whole I'm in full agreement with medical legalization, but as I am against cigarettes being legal I'm not sure how I feel about recreational marijuana at the time--after seeing how it affected my life I don't want addiction to be a problem for others, especially younger people.

Thanks for your input/perspective

[tony fudo]

I am in favour of legalisation. Coming into conflict with the forces of law and order can definitely damage your health, and criminalising a significant proportion of the population, while filling the coffers of the criminal classes, makes no sense.

But, having said that, I am also concerned that people should be properly educated about the possible negative health effects of all drug use, including marijuana.

Starting in the sixties, marijuana use came to symbolise a whole way of life and set of values and attitudes, and this mythology persists and colours thinking about what is, in reality, just another drug, and not some sort of sacrament. It is the minority who can enjoy long term medium to heavy use without it having negative side effects. And quite how the so called legal highs which have become marijuana substitutes have not caused many more major problems is a surprise to me, and perhaps an epidemic waiting to happen.

Yes, in the name of freedom, we need the right to change our brain chemistry if that is what we chose to do, but this should be undertaken in full knowledge of the facts.

[tallulahxoxo]

3 weeks sober boom chicka bam

[rwither1]

In a world without consequences I would smoke it every day. Alas, we don't live in such a world so I don't. I can't. Almost 10 years clean and i still miss it from time to time. I'm almost glad I live in a red state that has no intention of legalizing it anytime in the next 6,000 years.