Weed. And how it isn't for everyone. - General

[QUOTE=Viper123_SWE;53068275]I'm in the security business and to me weed is just another thing that makes people a danger to themselves as well as others. Mind you I'm not brainwashed and I do recognize its medical properties but in my line of work its a gateway drug to worse stuff.[/QUOTE] Sorry to harp on your post again but it's given me a lot to say. To expand on what I said previously - I don't believe the gateway drug argument mainly due to anecdotal evidence, case in point myself. I've smoked it for ~9 years, and the only other drugs I've tried in that time are coke, speed and mkat. Once each, maybe four times for coke (Which is absolutely endemic in British society). I've had the opportunity to take each of them and more on many occasions since and have opted not to. If my dealers present and past were on about selling other shit, that could be an issue- but it's one that [I]only exists[/I] because of cannabis having been forced into the same black market as those other drugs. And then we must consider the dealers' own interests - whether they're okay with selling that harder shit in the first place, profit above morality and the greater potential risk. That said, I have had weed laced with coke. It was good shit in all honesty, but neither myself nor my friends ever bought it off the guy again, simply cause he wasn't up-front with it. In the current state of things, you have to find a dealer or two who won't take the piss in any respect, whether that be taking too long, trying to sell you shit bags or poor or laced product and otherwise being an agreeable person, and that takes a lot of trial and error. Until you've met them yourself, you don't know where they'll fall on the spectrum of shittiness, and that's an issue especially when there are people like I was who are after the stuff at 15 years old. The ideal scenario to address this in my mind is full-on legalisation for recreational use. In such a scenario, right now I could pop round to the co-op and get reliably good, un-fucked-with weed of whichever type I was after. Kids wouldn't have such ready access because it'd be age-restricted. There would be less social issues surrounding it - in part due to the lifting of the stigma against it that's engendered by its illegality. The smell is an issue for a lot of people, but if I could go to a pub or Dutch coffee shop-type environment to take it it'd be contained in one place. There'd be edible products on the go that eliminate that issue. I imagine vapes would become cheaper so less people are directly damaging their health. Education about cannabis would face a lot less resistance and have a lot less bullshit associated with it - part of the reason it had so much pull for me initially is because of how my teachers and society at large described it, then learning that it is in fact not the truth - "Hey I got stoned out of my head and had a great time! I wonder what else they're chatting shit about?". Applied to cannabis, any credence Gateway Drug Theory has is down to the attitude society and the law approach it with, generating opportunities for criminals to benefit. Speaking of which, again if I can go down shop to get some weed instead of meeting mr blacked out corsa in a shady snicket for the 100th time, that's profit out of their pockets. As for whether it constitutes a danger to myself? Well, there's a few things to consider. I smoke cigs because of how weed is generally consumed in the UK; generally in papers with tobacco. All that smoking definitely has been and continues to be a danger to my health. What are the alternatives? "Real" vapes are a very effective and healthier (Since there's no combustion and resultant smoke) way to consume it. They're also a lot less conspicuous than traditional smoking since to anyone not in the know, it looks like a normal e-cig and doesn't produce anywhere near as strong a smell. Coordination is one of the things that it definitely affects negatively, at least for me. So shit like heavy lifting, driving vehicles and operating machinery, yeah, you gotta be stoned to think that getting stoned and doing those things is a good idea. Off on a tangent, I do believe it's possible to be addicted to weed. Not chemically, I can't speak on the science behind it, but I do know I fucking love the stuff and will seek it out whenever I have the opportunity. Six years ago, I lost a job because I was going straight from the train station to my mate's shed to get boxed off my head, not eating and not leaving til the point I should've been in bed. But again, the cannabis use its self is a chicken-or-egg deal. Did that episode contribute to me dashing it off? For sure. But does it account for all the causes? Definitely not - and it can be argued that those same causes led me to that same behaviour. Motivation is probably the biggest way in which cannabis has been detrimental for me. Blasting ones self with dopamine before accomplishing anything tends to make one complacent. However, we are just animals, and you can leverage that addictive behaviour positively. I love smoking weed, but I have shit that I need to get done first - so, I reward myself with it. I smoke less weed, spend less time stoned, more time being functional, spend less money illicitly. More importantly, I'm much more motivated to put some effort into something, both because I'm not stoned at that moment, and because I know I can go get stoned after. It leaves me then in a better position to moderate my usage. [quote]In my opinion the best solution would be to provide sufficient information on drugs within schools. People like Quark are good in the sense that they provide correct (can confirm based on my narcotics training) information to help others get a better understanding.[/quote] Education is essential. Part of the problem is that, because the vast majority of recreational drugs are illegal and/or stigmatised, it's then very difficult for schools to be able to tell kids "Drugs are fucking great". That's the plain reality of it, it's why there's a market, it's why they have such a hold on people. My education attempted to present cannabis and other drugs as monstrous substances that [I]will[/I] fuck you up, put you on paras, make you whitey 24/7, and have your life come to its end in a wet ditch. It lacked any form of understanding of the drug's mechanism, what might engender one towards using it, what dangers and risks come along with it etc. which undermines any other such warnings when the recipient has had their first few spliffs. As with all things, moderation is key, but with cannabis it's over the time period of weeks or months rather than a single night. It's my belief that if I go smoke a fat joint to myself right now, I won't get that high again today. I can top myself up later on but it never reaches that peak. The biggest danger there is throwing up cause it tastes like arse. But if you're bang at it for months straight as I have been at several points in my life, that's where the dangers described above lie. [quote] Another issue I think people have is that when they hear "legalized marijuana" they jump the gun and assume there wouldn't be any legal restrictions (DUI etc.).[/quote] Personally I'm against driving under the influence of cannabis constituting a crime. It's nowhere near as clear-cut as DUI of alcohol (insert argument about alc & cigs being 1000000% more harmful) because of the absolute variety in types of cannabis, how they affect your concentration and presence of mind etc, and to my knowledge, it's incredibly difficult to quantify how much of what's in your system is still having a psychoactive effect, and how recently it was taken. If we could get some kinda device that can say for sure "You're definitely monged and shouldn't be driving" then it's all good though. I am absolutely in favour of restricting its sale to over-18s as with tobacco and booze, and even restrictions on public consumption - but there'd have to be some recourse there eg coffee shops.

I do agree that people tend to [I]vehemently overblow[/I] the effects of smoking cannabis when it comes to driving. Cannabis does not impair your driving nearly as much as alcohol does. It does technically impair your judgement but, as many people often say, it tends to make you overcautious and drive carefully. A common joke about this is "stoners wait at stop signs waiting for them to turn green" so you can see the similarity. I think a lot of this, "[I]Driving while stoned is terrible![/I]" rhetoric comes from calls from people to [I]regulate[/I] cannabis similarly to alcohol - sales to adults 21+ only, no smoking in public, no smoking indoors, etc - causing people to think of cannabis use as similar to alcohol use, when really they're not that much alike, other than the fact that using too much of either in a short amount of time leads to taking a nap. People really should be educated better on the effects of drugs in high school as part of a mandatory health curriculum. The schools should seriously avoid scare tactics, fear mongering, and similar routes and just teach the facts so their students will be safe and well informed. But this is America :v:

That is 100% anecdotal. What are you even talking about, tunnel vision in your space? A danger to others, really? It helps to know what you're talking about before you talk about it.

People do that a lot while sober too

[QUOTE=Mr Kotov;53068076]I smoke occasionally after concerts and stuff and it is just a social activity like drinking. For most people I think this is pretty similar. I do know people who do nothing but spend all their money on weed, talk about nothing but weed and have lost their jobs for smoking weed at work but I don't think that is anything to do with weed and more to do with the people themselves having crap priorities.[/QUOTE] Speaking as a trashbin fuckwind alcoholic who's fallen down several flights of stairs I can safely say that a lot of the time, it's not the substance, it's the person. Alcohol doesn't have a problem with me, we're great mates, it's me that has the problem with alcohol. This [B]isn't always[/B] the case, sometimes there's underlying issues, but.. yeah.

[QUOTE=thejjokerr;53086155]Yeah I was thinking that just now. I think I just figured it to be dangerous since it's a psychoactive substance which can (but not necessarily will) change your perception or behavior which I really don't see as something positive whilst driving. I also don't really see the need for driving under the influence to be there because imo* you'd be doing it to relax and when you have nothing to do anyways. *opinions may vary [editline]asd[/editline]and I can see the entertainment in taking a relaxing drive (though I prefer to do this sober myself)[/QUOTE] People who smoke weed while they drive tend to drive cautiously due to the fact that weed is still, generally, illegal to even have within reach in a car, and as such getting pulled over would be a big ticket (possibly an arrest too.) So stoners drive carefully to avoid getting pulled over.

I think that smoking while driving should be a citable offense, but driving while stoned should not. Simply for the reason that smoking weed while driving is driving distracted, which is more dangerous than just driving stoned. However, if it can be demonstrated that you're too impaired / intoxicated to drive a motor vehicle, you should get charged with a DWI.

[QUOTE=Quark:;53086343] However, if it can be demonstrated that you're too impaired / intoxicated to drive a motor vehicle, you should get charged with a DWI.[/QUOTE] [video=youtube;HqRBYHy2y0U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqRBYHy2y0U[/video] Hopefully more tests like this are preformed as the legalization of weed becomes more popular.

[QUOTE=Liam968;53086483][video=youtube;HqRBYHy2y0U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqRBYHy2y0U[/video] Hopefully more tests like this are preformed as the legalization of weed becomes more popular.[/QUOTE] I'd rather it be kept illegal until better things are determined. However, if that is to be done, then investment into research should without a doubt be increased.

don't blaze if you ain't built for it, i've seen people rip ten bongs in a row and go for a walk as well as people who have two tokes on a spliff and promptly either pass straight out or vomit all over; it's about knowing your limits and what you personally enjoy while also understanding the risks (which isn't just about being aware of them, it's about actively preventing harm which can be difficult when it comes to substances that can alter your mind in unpredictable ways as everyone's physiology is different) and as such, if anyone's thinking about trying it I'd suggest either give it some serious goddamn thought and make sure you're sensible, or do it as a one-time impulsive thing so you can cross it off your bucket list or whatever and learn from the one-off mistakes you make.

[QUOTE=thejjokerr;53086357]True, so it would kinda be the same as when driving after having some drinks: if your blood alcohol percentage is over the legal limit you get a DUI. Though it gets complicated with weed since there isn't really a way to blow into an apparatus and see how much weed you smoked (I think). Though if weed get's legalized more broadly I'm sure such a device will come along eventually and a reasonable limit can be set.[/QUOTE] You can measure the amount of THC and other cannabinoids (selectively of course) present in someone's blood by taking a sample and analyzing the nanogram contents of cannabis ingredients. However, you [I]cannot[/I] accurately measure someone's tolerance, which is a key factor that absolutely [I]must[/I] be considered when measuring marijuana in someone's blood. Some people can blaze ten doobiepoos and drive no problem but some people can smoke one doobiepoo and become the problem. It's all down to tolerance and method of ingestion. Ingesting 2 grams of cannabis orally such as with edibles will impair you incredibly more than smoking 2 grams of cannabis.

Some stoner came into the resturaunt I work at last night and he bluntly asked me "you a stoner bro" which I told him, "I don't know what to say i'll get in trouble". The ballsy mother fucker tipped me some weed wrapped in 3 dollars. What a fucking legend dude. Also I had never smoked weed before so last night I looked up some tutorials, bought some paper, and made a joint, which was too loose and the whole thing burned in like 30 seconds which i'm still mad about, but I got a little high I think. It's kind of like the buzz you get from getting drunk, but more relaxed and without the side effects.

[QUOTE=Chris Morris;53086158]Speaking as a trashbin fuckwind alcoholic who's fallen down several flights of stairs I can safely say that a lot of the time, it's not the substance, it's the person. Alcohol doesn't have a problem with me, we're great mates, it's me that has the problem with alcohol. This [B]isn't always[/B] the case, sometimes there's underlying issues, but.. yeah.[/QUOTE] lol your name is an anagram of mr cirrhosis

Most of the content in this thread, especially the ones downplaying the drug or overstating its danger feels like made up leddit stories. I have smoked weed for 3-4 years and quit last late summer/early fall, I felt no physical withdrawal, it was actually easier to quit smoking weed than smoking cigarettes, the latter I still relapse on from time to time due to withdrawal symptoms being so horrible. At most you are going to have to find a habit to substitute smoking, in extreme cases you might need something to help you sleep because abrupt cessation of cannabis use CAN cause insomnia. LD50 for cannabis is not specifically known but it is so large that you would probably die from smoke inhalation/asphyxia before. The mental aspect of it impacts everyone differently, I know one guy that literally tried weed once and had to go on a psychiatric ER, I know people who got panic attacks at first time of using and people who smoked for years without issues then suddenly getting panic attacks. I am clinically diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and I never got any psychotic reactions from smoking weed. I got panic attacks a few times and pure sativas give me elevated paranoia, but I never started rambling about communist gangster computer gods, radio frankenstein or deadly touch tarantula spiders. The LD50 is for PEOPLE though, remember that, animals react differently to cannabis, so don't hotbox your dog, or cat, and especially not your pet rodents or rabbits, if you want to smoke, smoke outside, if you have pets. If you make edibles plan accordingly because the effect lasts long, store them properly and don't leave them anywhere within the reach of animals or children. Dogs are known to have overdosed from finding a sheet of weed brownies and eating them all, avoid the vet bill or the possible injury or death of your pets, keep drugs away from them. Memory issues is mostly an acute effect however long term daily usage can lead to decreased concentration and memory, your brain WILL recover eventually, though. You can't get brain damage from smoking cannabis. [editline]29th January 2018[/editline] [QUOTE=Quark:;53086224]People who smoke weed while they drive tend to drive cautiously due to the fact that weed is still, generally, illegal to even have within reach in a car, and as such getting pulled over would be a big ticket (possibly an arrest too.) So stoners drive carefully to avoid getting pulled over.[/QUOTE] I have to tell you that you are wrong on this one, I had a friend that would drive me to our dealer and he drove like a fucking idiot, texted while driving and generally acted like a fucking idiot. A massive hazard, it was compounded further when he was high, he would speed like an idiot and forget essential driving stuff like how to properly couple and decouple, change gears, etc. [editline]29th January 2018[/editline] [QUOTE=mastersrp;53086552]I'd rather it be kept illegal until better things are determined. However, if that is to be done, then investment into research should without a doubt be increased.[/QUOTE] Keeping drugs illegal only fuels crime and gives gangs a livelihood. It will only leads to more gang violence, legalization is the only way, the right is deluded when it comes to trying to wipe out drugs, especially weed from society, it is simply impossible. Mei ban fa as the chinese say. By the way if people don't know there is a thread in general discussion called addict's louinge where you can hang out and talk about drug use, we have a discord too.

[QUOTE=NeverGoWest;53091334] Keeping drugs illegal only fuels crime and gives gangs a livelihood. It will only leads to more gang violence, legalization is the only way, the right is deluded when it comes to trying to wipe out drugs, especially weed from society, it is simply impossible. Mei ban fa as the chinese say. By the way if people don't know there is a thread in general discussion called addict's louinge where you can hang out and talk about drug use, we have a discord too.[/QUOTE] If it should be legal or not is not the problem. The problem is that the laws should have foundation in actual fact, not in opinion. So in order to legislate punishment for DWI, proper methods should be made to determine what dictates a DWI when high, and so on. This isn't an argument for or against making it legal or not, but in regards to DWI, which was what I replied to.

[quote]Dogs are known to have overdosed from finding a sheet of weed brownies and eating them all[/quote] Isn't the chocolate the dangerous bit about dogs eating brownies?

[QUOTE=Morbo!!!;53091991]Isn't the chocolate the dangerous bit about dogs eating brownies?[/QUOTE] Dogs are lower weight than humans in general and digest and absorb things differently than we do, dogs can actually get pretty adverse effects from weed, but yeah, chocolate is a major part too but that depends on the size of the dog, breed, and how healthy its liver is. How dark the chocolate is also plays a factor in that. Edit: Dogs getting high being bad should be common sense for everyone but don't trust me entirely on the chocolate part I am not a veterinarian. Dogs can't take chocolate either.

[QUOTE=Morbo!!!;53091991]Isn't the chocolate the dangerous bit about dogs eating brownies?[/QUOTE] THC can actually be dangerous for dogs. it still requires a large amount to kill one, but it's not too far fetched for the dog to die if they get into someones edible supply. small chance but it's there. [url]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23216842[/url]

[QUOTE=NeverGoWest;53091334]Most of the content in this thread, especially the ones downplaying the drug or overstating its danger feels like made up leddit stories. I have smoked weed for 3-4 years and quit last late summer/early fall, I felt no physical withdrawal, it was actually easier to quit smoking weed than smoking cigarettes, the latter I still relapse on from time to time due to withdrawal symptoms being so horrible. At most you are going to have to find a habit to substitute smoking, in extreme cases you might need something to help you sleep because abrupt cessation of cannabis use CAN cause insomnia. LD50 for cannabis is not specifically known but it is so large that you would probably die from smoke inhalation/asphyxia before. The mental aspect of it impacts everyone differently, I know one guy that literally tried weed once and had to go on a psychiatric ER, I know people who got panic attacks at first time of using and people who smoked for years without issues then suddenly getting panic attacks. I am clinically diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and I never got any psychotic reactions from smoking weed. I got panic attacks a few times and pure sativas give me elevated paranoia, but I never started rambling about communist gangster computer gods, radio frankenstein or deadly touch tarantula spiders. The LD50 is for PEOPLE though, remember that, animals react differently to cannabis, so don't hotbox your dog, or cat, and especially not your pet rodents or rabbits, if you want to smoke, smoke outside, if you have pets. If you make edibles plan accordingly because the effect lasts long, store them properly and don't leave them anywhere within the reach of animals or children. Dogs are known to have overdosed from finding a sheet of weed brownies and eating them all, avoid the vet bill or the possible injury or death of your pets, keep drugs away from them. Memory issues is mostly an acute effect however long term daily usage can lead to decreased concentration and memory, your brain WILL recover eventually, though. You can't get brain damage from smoking cannabis. [editline]29th January 2018[/editline] I have to tell you that you are wrong on this one, I had a friend that would drive me to our dealer and he drove like a fucking idiot, texted while driving and generally acted like a fucking idiot. A massive hazard, it was compounded further when he was high, he would speed like an idiot and forget essential driving stuff like how to properly couple and decouple, change gears, etc. [editline]29th January 2018[/editline] Keeping drugs illegal only fuels crime and gives gangs a livelihood. It will only leads to more gang violence, legalization is the only way, the right is deluded when it comes to trying to wipe out drugs, especially weed from society, it is simply impossible. Mei ban fa as the chinese say. By the way if people don't know there is a thread in general discussion called addict's louinge where you can hang out and talk about drug use, we have a discord too.[/QUOTE] i'm sorry this question has nothing to do with weed but in a driving context exactly what the fuck do you mean by "couple and decouple"?? [editline]31st January 2018[/editline] is this some european term meaning "merging and exiting [on a freeway/highway]"?

[QUOTE=inebriaticxp;53096696]i'm sorry this question has nothing to do with weed but in a driving context exactly what the fuck do you mean by "couple and decouple"?? [editline]31st January 2018[/editline] is this some european term meaning "merging and exiting [on a freeway/highway]"?[/QUOTE] Europe isn't a country, so you'd be hard pressed to find terms that exist for the entirety of Europe, that are not simply english terms.