AIBU about weed smokers

[martapolska]

I think that they are becoming more in common. Every time I walk around outside on the summer day I smell weed.

AIBU to think that we should not tolerate weed? It's an illegal drug!!

The drugs don't work. Relatives who have been weed users think it doesn't affect them. To the outside observer it definitely does.

I hate the stuff and for me it is dangerous. I tried my first joint age 17 - had a huge panic attack, in A&E, thought I was dying, truly, mouth frothing, screaming the lot. It has left me with a lifelong propensity to panic, even now 30 years later.

After the first attack, I tried to carry on as normal but I kept having more and more. Wasn't smoking at all, just my body had learned to panic. I've spent the rest of my life trying to unlearn it.

From the many many mh professionals I have seen, all of them have told me that it is far more common than the general public perception to have such a devastating reaction. Yes, just from one joint.

Now, you could argue that that's just because I'm susceptible or have a weakness and I would agree with you. But given that when a person does have a weakness the effects can be this devastating, I don't think it should be made freely available.

I agree that weed smell outside is definitely more common now than I can ever remember before and I say that as a functioning addict.

Both DH & I have both taken weed (smoked and now vape) for at least 25 years. Both mid 40's both never been out of work. I have been in same job for last 18 years and now part own it so can honestly say that it does not make me lazy and I would consider that I have a relatively happy life with good family and friends.

That said I am under no illusion that I am still an addict, DH would not consider himself an addict because we don't vape when we go away or if we go on a night out but I believe the only reason it doesn't bother us is because first off we only ever smoked it late on a night out in garden when kids were younger, so were used to still going out and about after work, and secondly because we have the comfort blanket that it has not been taken off us forever.

We have given up over the years and my family are all very anti (although they all drink) but if I am kidding myself or not, there were no massive benefits to giving up where as on the flip side to that I have been on various medication for frequent migraines since 13 years old (it was actually a nurse when I as in my 20's who suggested trying cannabis if I could get my hands on it) and yet if i vape it takes the edge of the pain like nothing else does.

Would it be OK if when anyone posts a story about the negative effect that weed has had on someone they know, I post a story about the positive or negliable effect it has had on someone I know?

Oh yeah and I can feel my symptoms come on when I'm around people smoking, so there's definitely a 2nd hand effects issue with weed that there isn't with booze.

I dunno, hoooch.

Tell you what though, next time you post about something that has profoundly affected your life in a negative way and that you find difficult to talk about irl, I'll take the fucking piss out of you, like a twat. Deal?

hooochycoo I think that is the thing though isn't it. I think it has had a positive impact on my health for migraines but negligible in all other areas.

My friends son had a terrible experience and had cannabis induced psychosis, she knows I have it and other family members of hers smoke it, even she thinks despite her sons illness that it should be legalised so that it can be regulated properly and she works with end of life care and certainly understands why others still partake.

My job takes me onto building sites every day.

Many builders smoke it all day.

I spent 3 hours scrubbing my flat from top to bottom this morning, it smelt amazing. Then the neighbours a couple of flats across have been smoking weed on their balcony and my flat just smells of weed now .

I'm just venting. I know I will be told I should keep the windows shut etc. I would be annoyed if it was cigarette smell too but that doesn't seem to be as strong or lingering. So yeah, in the case of my neighbours I wish there were less weed smokers. Or they just kept it inside their own flat.

I guess that people can come up with positive and negative experiences with weed but it’s very important not to minimise either.

The positives don’t make the negatives disappear and the negatives can have a very real impact on the people affected.

I smoked it for years with no side effects, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same for everyone and I recognise that.

Stonerdash, I said "someone they know". I wasn't at all referring to your post, taking the piss out of you or otherwise.

I don’t think it’s more common as such, I think it’s that because there are virtually no punishments for possession any more no one is shy to light up in public.

When I’m out running I regularly smell it, strong skunk.

I used to be a heavy cannabis smoker and in my own limited experience would say it was detrimental to my mental and physical health. Not to mention even once you stop, smoking filterless cigarettes and, god forbid, bongs, buckets, pipes, hot knives and all the other delightful ways of getting as much smoke into your lungs as possible, it’s bound to cause some long term health risks and increase your risk of cancer as an adult when those days are long behind you.

I don't even smoke the stuff but christ almighty, give me a bunch of stoners over a pissed-up hen party any day of the week. Alcohol has ruined far more lives than weed ever will.

It might be worth bearing in mind that with all the stories of 'someone I know uses cannabis and is a loser / depressive / stoner' that correlation is not the same as causation.

Many people turn to cannabis to self-medicate when they have mental health problems or when their life is going down the pan, in the same way that many turn to booze.

DH has schizophrenia which he purrs down to weed use in his teen. A lot of his friends who smoke/smoked it also have MH issues.

I work in MH and I do think there is a link.

I

Purrs=puts.

I do think it's open to debate and has valid uses for medical grounds.

Spite you wouldnt say that if that same 'bunch of stoners' mugged you from a moped though would you? Every major gang in every city massively smokes dope.

Comparing all people who drink to raucous hen parties would be the same as me tarring all weed smokers with the 'gang' brush.

Quiz correlation & causation aside, i know if i smoked a joint right now, i would feel HORRIBLE off that ONE joint despite how amazing my day could be going prior. But thats just me.

The cannabis plant in its natural form surely has many medicinal benefits.

But the way it is intensively grown has fucked it up majorly. Ive spoken to people in their 60's who have said weed is so different now to years ago.

Look at the poppy plant becoming heroin. Or the difference between intensively farms vs natural animals. How you breed & alter something has massive effects on how it then goes on to affect the consumer.

Why the constant comparisons with alcohol as a 'pro' cannabis argument? If you can't fine anything other to point out than 'alcohol is worse' then there is not much point in posting.

Yes alcohol is a problem but this is about cannabis. Not cannabis V alcohol.

Cannabis is bad. Whether it's a better bad than alcohol is irrelevant.

@MrsKeats

Source of those studies please

Legalise it for medicinal use then. My friend who has severe epilepsy, gastroparisis, Fibromyalgia, Eherlers Danlos, smokes weed to help her with her conditions.

I don't care if other people smoke it, provided I don't have to inhale it too. Bit like tobacco smoking really, and just as obnoxious.

The smell is revolting. I'd have to move house if my neighbours smoked it. So people who smoke it - please know that non-smokers of weed think you stink and that you're anti-social.
It negatively impacts mental health.
For pain relief I understand the oil is effective. No need for the smell?

I used to love a smoke when all you could get was hash. Now it's really strong grass or nothing, so I don't bother.

My neighbor smokes it with their partner all day every day in their back garden, the have

I agree about the smell though! People do openly smoke it around where I live. it might be illegal but I doubt many people are getting done for possession, judging by how blatant people are.