...to think that weed can and does ruin lives and isn't 'harmless'?

[madonnawhore]

I know there are people who maintain that cannabis is harmless and they smoke it and they're fine blah blah blah.

I used to smoke it, all my friends used to smoke it, but none of us do any more because, you know what? it doesn't half make you a boring, lazy bastard.

Never mind the whole 'it causes psychosis' debate (my brother and a really good friend of mine both had to receive mental health treatment as a result of smoking weed), but there's a thread over on relationships at the moment about some woman's husband who spends all his salary on weed within the first 3 days of payday and who has actually cut his hours so that he can stay home and play more computer games.

AIBU in presuming that if he wasn't such a pot head, he'd be more inclined to get of his arse and go to work?

Sitting on your backside playing COD all day cos you can't be fucked to do anything else is not harmless.

Just playing devil's avocate ladies, didn't intend to suggest that everyone in Jamaica smokes with my wording. But wanted to make the point that many people do and therefore as a society it has provided the opportunity for there to be proper studies into cannabis use over prolonged time periods and over generations. Which is to me a mire interesting measure of the effects of the drug than the constant personal anecdotes that are always trotted out in arguments like this.

sleeping on 2 towels on the bed because he is in cold, shaky sweats all night could actually be nicotine withdrawal? I know weed helps you sleep and it may be hard to get off without a joint when you are used to it, but I don't think it would cause the sweats - have no experience of anyone I know having experienced that kind of problem. Patches could help?
All smoking is harmful to health, no question there. As many others have pointed out 'normal' strength or old-fashioned weed, possibly has less potential for harmful effects than alcohol does.

I agree - you can't blame the weed for people's lack of control, any more than an alcoholic can blame the wine.

You can't say 'weed demotivated me' - no YOU were demotivated and chose to smoke loads of weed. If alcohol had been your poison, you would've drunk lots of wine. Fat people eat too much. They are not fat because food claws its way down their throat against their will!

Food, nicotine, alcohol, weed, painkillers, anti depressants....all of these things are 'addictive' - but not everyone is obese, a smoker, a wino, a stoner, into prescription drugs.... A lot of people use those things and lead a successful life.

Haven't read the whole thread yet, but I agree that cannabis can be harmful. I don't believe it always is.

In that respect, it is no different to smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol. Some people will get lung cancer or liver disease, or end up alcoholic, but not all.

I know a couple of people that smoke alot of dope, and they are complete wasters. I also know some that hold down professional jobs and do it well. They have very full and active lives.

I used to smoke it every single day before dc's came along. More often than not, I'd have one before work and as soon as I'd finished. I was still more than capable of functioning like a normal human being, but looking back I think it made me a bit grumpy sometimes. I gave up easily when I was ready too, and had no withdrawl symptoms at all.

Wow grace, I wasn't even born! ;-) I wasn't arguing about skunk, was talking about cannabis.

I'm not pretending to know it all. I'm just wanting to make the point that it's the social and emotional factors around a drug that make for misuse, not solely the drug.

Yes bubblewrapped...I completely agree that smoking weed daily caused my anxiety problem as well as the cocaine addiction that saw me admitted to a psychiatric ward...it becomes a vicious cycle IME, towards the end of my weed dependency it wasn't relaxing me...it made me have bad anxiety attacks, specifically flashes of awful stuff happening to my DS, panicking everytime I went to check on him in case he'd died...ridiculous and irrational but very real to me.
I'm also ashamed of myself as I hear of women losing their babies through no fault of their own, and there I was smoking weed with a text book pregnancy. I didn't feel the guilt with DS like I do now with 2nd baby.
I have never drank alcohol...so I would justify my weed habit that way.
I'm still not convinced it's a physical addiction, although I think psychological addictions can be harder as medically it's hard to substitute, methadone for heroin addiction, NRT for smoking. Will power (and lots of it!) is really the only way to beat it.
I've got a really addictive personality so I can't do anything "now and again"...it's literally abuse it or not do it at all.
Thankfully by the time I decided to give up I had no friends anyway as I was so antisocial so that side if things made it easier!
Many people believe weed to be an innocuous little drug, and I suppose out of them all, (including alcohol-but that's for another thread!) it is when used socially.
Weed has ruined my life over 4 years...I'm just so glad I'm only 24 and am still young enough to make something of my life now.

"Food, nicotine, alcohol, weed, painkillers, anti depressants....all of these things are 'addictive' - but not everyone is obese, a smoker, a wino, a stoner, into prescription drugs.... A lot of people use those things and lead a successful life."

True, but you can't always tell when you start these thinggs if you are predisposed to become addicted until you are actually addicted. That's why I would advise people to avoid drugs. They are not worth the chance.

An alcohol and burgers I presume?

no yanbu

i smoked it yrs ago, it became a focus each evening to do jack shit after work/commute etc. I gave up after i got v depressed.

ex dh on the other hand couldn't stop, and in the end he became the most boring moaning, self absorbed cock you have yet to meet. Life was unfair, this was unfair, everything was unfair. Talked shit about going off and doing this for this country and for those without, which was tosh becuase he couldn't even remember we had a baby half the time or that the bins needed taking out each week.

He stopped it for 6 months once and i got my nice dh back. Eventually he turned to Buddhism and obsessing with that.

He became every rotten excuse of 'free spirited ' twatishness that he cultivated from 'his' version of the religion.

He left us. never to take any responsibility for the breakdown of our marriage or the way he has ruined dd's life since.

fin.

Personally I wish someone had warned me of the dangers of proccessed carbohydrates before I tried them. They aren't worth the risk definately

McDonalds make a killing, and man... as a nation, are we getting fat?!

"An alcohol and burgers I presume"

You can't stay away from everything that's addictive, it's not possible. Staying away from alcohol and burgers would do you good though. There is really no need to try drugs either so stay the fuck away.

I'm an ex fat bastard by the way - I used to weigh 17 stone...I worked hard and am now 11 - have been there or thereabouts for years now.

I eat a healthy diet, barely drink, don't take any medication, but do enjoy a little toke-ette of an evening. I think that's okay.

You can Ambarth, but I'll do what the bobbins I like, ta.

Actually my life would been alot better if processed carbohydrates were illegal. My lifeline battle with my weight, and the mental and physical effects of that have been very difficult at times. I have a underlying medical condition that means that I am predisposed to find them more addictive than others (insulin resistant) and they effect my health, fertility and self esteem ( Polycystic ovaries syndrome, bulimia and depression). This all could lead to my premature death from numerous mental or physical health problems.

Therefore I demand they should be made illegal immediately to protect vunerable people like me from them. I don't care that very many other people can take them without detrimental effect on their mental and physical health. Their freedom to choose what substances to consume is less important than the need to protect the vunerable like me from the potential effects of processed carbs.

;-)

Got to agree with you there Mapley, processed carbs are EVIL!

now processed carbs, those I have been addicted to for a long time.

I was just re-reading IOM for my own reasons, and thought this would be an appropriate quote here. It's about using addictions to cover up painful feelings.

The "comfort and relief" we achieve through the use of our object or event of choice is not emotional - but physiological or physical in nature.

In other words, we learned to mask our emotional pain with "medicine"...whether it's alcohol, sugar, pot, adrenaline, testosterone, drugs, etc...

In this sense - it's all chemical dependency...

Work, gambling, sex, and other intense activities cause the release of internal "feel good drugs" manufactured by our own body...such as adrenaline and endorphins.

Candy and sugar causes a temporary high... then insulin spikes as the body responds to balance out the blood sugar causing a "crash"... making more sugar is necessary.

The two main points, as I see it, are:

1. All addictions arise from unresolved emotional issues.
2. All addictions are chemical dependencies, as they all produce high levels of 'feel good' hormones.

Wittering on about self-control and discipline is pointless because the underlying issue is one of unmet emotional needs.

Mapley

Do what the bobbins you like fantoosh just don't go roungd telling others it's safe to smoke weed it's just not true.

I agree and wouldn't argue with you.

My only point in bringing up self control was in response to those that blame the substance itself for their downfall. That's a cop out - there are obviously far deeper issues at play.

Nobody is an alcoholic because Tesco sell wine.

Addictive personalities are genetic too. I have one so I avoid all drugs and alchol. I don't even keep snacks in the house as I will binge. Crap but the only way to stay healthy .

Ambarth - I haven't told anybody it's safe to do anything! I have simply stated what I think is safe for me....and that's entirely my call. You don't get a say.

I don't want a say in your life, but I wouldn't advise anyone take it up if asked my opinion.

And where have I done that?

You didn't, I was just saying I dont care what you smoke as long as you don't say it's safe.