Why do so many people smoke weed these days?

[MontyDonsBlueSuit]

I get the world isn’t a great place for many people but why is it so prevalent now? Is it cheaper than drinking? Or easier to get hold of? I really dislike it and don’t understand why if it’s illegal it isn’t more closely monitored. Am I missing something?

As someone who works in mental health I agree. The amount of teenagers who give themselves psychosis which then sometimes develops into schizophrenia is terrifying.
I also have a large amount of (99% male) clients who have started smoking weed, started gaming all night, dropped out of college/ work and become very depressed which has resulted in suicide attempts.

I smell it in my street sometimes. I do not care. Because I know whichever neighbours are smoking will probably be nice and quiet and fall asleep - result.

Yet, I see people buying bottles of alcohol constantly at the garage when I fill up; I look at them and think thank god I don't drink. There's something really gross about it to me now I don't drink ( forced on me due to health problems).

I look at all the drunken states falling about at the weekends, I wonder how many fights, how many assaults have been fuelled by alcohol this weekend. How many drunken people are falling about making a racket in their garden hot tub 😟. I do not miss it anymore. I can see clearly how bad alcohol is now I'm out the loop. But because it's normalised, the focus mistakenly goes elsewhere imo.

I don't smoke weed btw. The odd weed gummy has been nice though for a chilled evening. 👌

You’re confusing causation and correlation here. You should understand that if you’re working in mental health, surely

It stinks. I hate it.

It’s cheaper than drinking, comes without the hangovers, helps with my OCD and anxiety, and has fewer side effects than antidepressants.

Meanwhile alcohol fuelled carnage on a blisteringly hot weekend, yay fine! Carry on!

Dh and I went to the local for a drink today, walking distance so thought we'd push the boat out with a few drinks. Till we discovered it was £15 for a glass of wine and a pint of beer!! £15!!! We used to have 4 or 5 rounds in our youth,but that would make it over £60! With a modest lunch on top probably £100!

I learnt something about the cost of living today. But the pub was bloody heaving. Where's all the money coming from?

Would you say that the massively increased potency and illicit additives with modern weed due to its illegality and unregulated nature has had an impact on this?

It’s like saying ooh I fancy a drink… let’s have a triple Absinthe, one that I’ve brewed in my garage. This is the reality of what people are smoking these days. Of course that will have an effect on anyone’s health.

Thats before you mention the potential for additives such as eg spice.

Now compare that to the type of weed that was found 20 years ago, which had a far lower THC content and was by and large unadulterated.

When you go and buy an alcoholic drink, the strength of the drink is clearly available. We all know that a pint of whiskey is going to mess us up a lot more than a pint of mild beer.

Yet because this information isn’t available for weed, anyone smoking it is clueless.

This is a big factor in why there is a Mh crisis.

The way you solve that is to legalise, and regulate and remove this toxic pseudo weed from the streets.

If you don’t do those things, then yes, the awful, overpowered and impure stuff will dominate and MH for many smoking it will be damaged.

it is a gateway drug.

This is such rubbish and a 1960's style attitude.

How many countries/US states have legalised it? Must tell you something.

I smoke weed. It relaxes me. As a solo mum it's important. I don't let it interfere with getting on with life, doing what needs doing.

Mumsnet is very pearl clutching about it.

But luckily I live somewhere where it's been decriminalised basically.
So you don't have to deal with criminals to be able to buy it.

Cocaine is a MUCH bigger problem with huge health consequences.

Why do some women put neddles in themselfs to lose weight?
Why do some stuff their faces with botox and fillers when it makes them look older?
Why do parents have more kids over 40?
Why do some play the SEN card when there is fuck all wrong with them or thier kids.
Why do people drink?
Why do some fuck up and blame the beer?
Why do people find simple words offensive?
Why do most on mumsnet act like twats to other women?
I could go on.

Most of all why would it affect me when its not me doing any of it.

Generally smoking weed relaxes you and gives you a nice feeling. Alcohol, on the other hand turns some people belligerent and sometimes violent.

As with most crimes, it's actually decreased. Perhaps the internet just makes it seem more prevelant than it is

It should be.

To say alcohol doesn't support certainly doesn't support criminality is absolutely ridiculous.

Personally I find all forms of smoking, regardless of weed or cigarettes should be totally banded in public places.

Yes you would be done for drug driving. TBH this is my main concern about the rise in opening smoking of weed, the people who smoke and drive.

Oh behave.

I feel like way more people smoke weed than normal cigarettes. I barely see/smell anyone smoking regular cigarettes but I smell weed all the time
In my building at work, in the street (London and home town ) on the train, in the park etc etc

But it does support criminality, just not financially. Look how many people are victims of violence or abuse due to alcohol, how many people have died due to drink drivers.

I have seen some of the longer-term effects of cannabis use and there are negative aspects which I don't think proponents of legalisation focus on enough

• its ability to trigger psychosis in predisposed individuals, this can initiate lifelong episodes, especially today's high THC strains.

• its use over time lowers motivation in individuals

I was listening to a pocast commenting on American legalisation (so maybe the Americast podcast) in which two key negatives were raised:

• the entry of big corporates into the legal cannabis market, using the popular notion of 'wellness' to promote the drug to new markets

• the failure of legalisation to affect the criminal gangs' own market. The illegal producers and dealers still bring in and sell weed alongside the other illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin, undercutting the expensive and restricted (because regulated) legal suppliers who they beat on price and convenience.

I have had psychosis. Potentially triggered or ‘set the scene’ by weed. Can’t think of a better phrase but I think it opened a door. I don’t think the sole trigger.

Anyway I still agree with legalisation. Not because I don’t agree with the negatives.

But simply because no one becomes a weed addict from smoking one spliff. They become a weed addict when you pick up a 20 bag and smoke the next one and the next one.

A bit like few people become alcoholics from drinks served in restaurants or pubs. They become alcoholic when they have a bottle of vodka sitting there and think; may as well have one more glass.

When I went to Amsterdam I really liked the set up they had there. Every cafe had information on when smoking was too much. How to get help and the variety of weed meant you could smoke in a healthier way if you chose to.

I don’t think she is.

And we're one of the largest exporters of legal cannabis, but it's not legal here (with certain medical exemptions). Go figure.

I was going to say that’s a bit harsh but then remembered my brother is a weed smoker and you’ve got him down to a tee.

Due to work reasons, I know a lot of weed smokers. Some heavy users, some recreational users.Every one of them is a loser. Every single one. Their lives are not put together and never will be.

Most of them don’t see themselves as losers. They think they are smarter, wittier and edgier and more fun-loving than the rest of us boring people. But they are losers. It’s like they are blunted and stunted. None of them would attribute their failings to weed though. They don’t see it as the cause of their problems, they see it as the solution.

I think part of it is that drugs are way more accessible now than they used to be, especially through social circles and online apps, and for some people they feel like an escape from stress or life problems. Alcohol is still huge too, but drugs can sometimes seem cheaper, stronger, or easier to hide. Honestly though, I agree with you, it’s frustrating how common it’s become despite being illegal, and I don’t think authorities can realistically monitor everything as closely as people expect.