Smoking Pot

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Yeah.. Look at Ozzie Osbourne...

Give your brain cells a fighting chance.

Tell him to go running.. get a different high through working out.

possibilities of gaining weight----> munchies.

Gateway to other drugs.... why just stop at pot?
 
As long as he's not planning on operating heavy machinery, the only real problem is mucking up your lungs with smoke. Of course, baking brownies would eliminate that problem....
 
i bene smokeing fore six yeers, and i churned out fine🙂

no, but really...why would you want to convince not to do it? listen, if he wants to do it, he's gonna eventually do it regardless of what you tell him. tell him to roll a fat dooby for me, hold in his rip, and blow that **** out his nose. peace
 
Well first and foremost it is ILLEGAL.

But second, I worked at an inpatient drug rehab center for 6 years in a major metropolitan city. Every single person at the center was hooked on crack cocaine, and EVERY SINGLE person there started with just pot.

You should pick your friend up, drive him by a drug rehab center - and let him see for himself where he might end up.
 
Mmm, I would opine that the gateway comes from its illegality, rather than pot itself.... mind you, this is coming from someone who has never smoked or drank in her life for religious reasons, yet thinks that pot should be legalized...

to the OP-If your friend has an addictive type personality, then I wouldn't recommend it. Then again I haven't tried it 😉 But my friends who smoke up seem to handle it perfectly fine. It;s not like they wanna smoke crack or anything now. I think alcohol is more damaging than pot, but now I'm getting off the subject.

So if your friend has an addictive personality, then don't!
 
i've smoked pot a few times... i have to say, i feel much more coherent and safer when i smoke than when i drink. i just become easily amused when high. i also don't believe the gateway drug thing... its more of a personality issue... people who are going to abuse are going to abuse... but, smoking up for fun every once in a while has never killed anyone. for a great commentary on why we should legalize weed, you have to listen to: the streets 'the irony of it all' - quite a comical lesson on smoking vs. drinking. peezies~

p
 
expensive? hell no, and certainly not more than alcohol, if you wanna get drunk. Personally, i enjoy a good smoke now and then, after exams, after getting into med school....it's relaxing, no hangover, and only some people find it psychologically addictive. 😎

a less intense, but longer-lasting high is cooking with it. Just make sure that when you use that magic butter, you're the only one in the house, cause that stuff sure does make an incriminating smell....
 
Moops - you can't make decisions for your friends, and you won't be able to for your patients either. Just be a friend - offer your advice/opinion and leave it at that.

I, however, do not believe the 'gateway' drug nonsense at all. People who try marijuana have a personality that means they are more likely to experiment and are less concerned with the legality or illegality of such an action. They are therefore also more likely to try other drugs - just based on their personality, not based on one drug precipitating usage of another. There is also the effect that if you do buy marijuana you are more likely to come into contact and have the opportunity to buy other drug types. But its still not the drug usage itself thats motivating further experimentation, just personality and opportunity. Many people try marijuana and nothing further. It's a function of their perception of the different drugs and the degree of their willingness to accept different levels. So just because some people do choose to experiment further doesn't mean your friend will if he tried marijuana.

I am not a pot user nor do I wish to be, but I most certainly do believe that alcohol is a far more destructive drug than marijuana, and that the latter probably should be legalised (and certainly should be as far as medication for cancer, AIDS and glaucoma patients). The 'scare' ads that are running on TV at the moment are the most ridiculous things I've ever seen.

So I guess I suggest you just give your friend your opinion and leave it at that. After all why *do* you think its a bad idea for him/her to try it? You ask us for arguments but if you have an opinion that should be based on something, not an unbased fear. So either you already have your own arguments to back it up, or you should think carefully about what your opinion really is. After all, as scientists/doctors, we should form opinions based on facts, not form opinions and then only search out arguments that will support that position.
 
Originally posted by the boy wonder


The 'scare' ads that are running on TV at the moment are the most ridiculous things I've ever seen.
Click to expand...

Word, boy wonder! Like that one with the two kids in their father's office and they open a drawer and shoot a loaded gun. Um, right, like pot is the bigger issue here than the fact that a loaded gun is sitting in an unlocked drawer while these kids are alone?? 🙄

and that one with the two parents and the commercial leads you to believe that theyre gonna have a baby and its actually their teenage daughter who is pregnant? spare me!
 
THC suppresses the neurons in the information-processing system of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is crucial for learning, memory, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivation. Researchers have discovered that learned behaviors, which depend on the hippocampus, deteriorate after chronic exposure to THC. Chronic abuse of marijuana also is associated with impaired attention and memory, while prenatal exposure to marijuana is associated with impaired verbal reasoning and memory in preschool children. Of possible relevance are findings from animal studies showing that chronic exposure to THC damages and destroys nerve cells and causes other pathological changes in the hippocampus.

*This is according to an NIH study*

Also, i know many people who started smoking on occassion, and are now bonified pot heads. It takes a special kind of personality to avoid getting "hooked" on the drug (it has tons more nicotine than cigarettes, which we all know are very addictive). So, to all of you who smoke occassionally and can avoid getting hooked, kudos to you, but for most others (and i'm sure for this individual, a young underweight girl) this is not often possible.
 
Well that is true moops, but you have to be careful - these studies are for prolonged chronic exposure (usually artificially induced in animals and at levels well beyond what any human user really does). I could quote to you even worse studies on the prolonged chronic exposure to any number of substances eg MSG, salt, caffeine, cigar smoke, alcohol. There is usage and abusage with any substance. The only part I might agree with is the risk of pre-natal exposure...but I had been assuming your (male?) friend wasn't currently pregnant....
 
my friend isn't male.. i mentioned that above. but not pregnant, in either case- so we're on the same page.

true, msg, salt, caffeine, etc. these all have long term effects, but look at the quantities required..they are ridiculously large! and nobody received pleasure at putting spoon fulls of salt in the mouth.. mmm good. on the other hand, excessive use of marijuana DOES cause pleasure, often proportional to the volume of usage. one is more likely to abuse marijuana intentially than msg, for example
 
Originally posted by moops
Researchers have discovered that learned behaviors, which depend on the hippocampus, deteriorate after chronic exposure to THC. Chronic abuse of marijuana also is associated with impaired attention and memory...
Click to expand...

What was this thread about? Man, I completely forgot...and that's weird, cuz I knew just a second ago. Ah...whatever. Is there a candy machine in this place? I could also use a glass of water, cuz I got cottonmouth like a mutha ****a!

A Message from The Chronic MD --> 🙄
 
well, I would contend that the quantities required for marijuana to have the effects cited are well beyond most peoples usage too. As far as salt - perhaps a bad example but while people do not eat tabelspoons of salt, we as a nation most certainly do over use NaCl in our diet - leading to quantifiable increases in blood pressure and associated circulatory, cardiac and renal problems. However, it is (in my opinion) undeniable that the level of usage required for alcohol to be a very damaging chemical is well within the normal usage of people and that the effects of this substance on rational thinking, behaviour and health have far more impact than marijuana.
 
Is this whole thread a joke...please tell me it is.

BTW..for all you making the "you smoke pot so you are thus stupid and concerned only with snacks" correlation, I have been a "user" for many years (and not afraid to be honest about it)...and I am going along just fine. Oh, by the way, I have NEVER used cocaine, heroin, or any other drug for that matter! So gateway my a$$...:laugh:

Smoke it...eat it, whatever. It's all in good fun, and much better for you that drinking booze every night. Besides, it helps with the stress of waitlists. Bottom line is that you shouldn't abuse anything is you like, it's unhealthy no matter what the substance is.
 
There is some other underlying reason why someone would use pot or even try it. Its not natural to get a "high." Does pot help one dance? Or become more social? I'm a supporter of occasionaly drinking in moderation in addition studies have shown positive affects from an occasional drink. And for many without alcohol guys and girls would never get together we'd be in serious trouble as a society. Alcohol is a social thing. When are you goign to go to a business party and smoke a joint. Vs. how many people go to a party and have a glass of wine. Not to mention alcohol is sanctioned by god, and I don't recall a religion where you smoke up on friday nights... There are wine festivals, beer actually TASTES good and same with WINE. Its hardly the same being a pot connesiour. Its just distasteful, and unattractive.

I'll admit that curiousity is natural and TRYING something is ok. However liking it so much that you do it weekly or even monthly is debilitating. And not to mention pot makes you lazy and useless as a person.

Oh yeah did i mention pot is illegal and if caught it will be on your record. Not to mention there are many government jobs where if ou have smoked more than a few times they won't take you. And if you are caught while your high its not like your caught speeding where your brain is working so you don't get yourself in more trouble, instead if your caught high your liable to just cause more trouble.
 
ohmygodi'msoexcitedtohavethistireddebateAGAIN.

🙄
 
Geldrop...go to amsterdam, and you will see plenty of people smoking joints at office parties. And yes, smoking can help ones social life. It does not affect eveyone in the same way, but neither does alcohol.

And you know Jesus smoked a huka!!:laugh: :laugh:
 
and jesus got hung, just liek anyone in the USA will be that is busted with a large quantity.
 
Originally posted by geldrop
and jesus got hung, just liek anyone in the USA will be that is busted with a large quantity.
Click to expand...

I see you are about as well versed in the American legal system and its punishments as you are in theology...!
 
Anyone know of any Science Nobel Laurettes that were known to hit the pipe.
 
Originally posted by geldrop
Anyone know of any Science Nobel Laurettes that were known to hit the pipe.
Click to expand...

quoting for posterity.

what about science nobel lauras? or lorrines? :laugh: :laugh:
methinks geldrop hits more than just the pipe! :laugh:
 
Yup I can't spell worth a dime.
 
What was this thread about? Man, I completely forgot...and that's weird, cuz I knew just a second ago. Ah...whatever. Is there a candy machine in this place? I could also use a glass of water, cuz I got cottonmouth like a mutha ****a!
Click to expand...
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

But seriously, moops: yes, it is true that if you smoke pot every day for a prolonged period of time you might develop problems with memory, motivation, and learning. But that's not how most people use pot. Contrary to what you seem to believe, many, many people smoke pot on an occasional basis without ever getting hooked. Myself included.

Smoking pot occasionally is pretty much harmless. Obviously you shouldn't drive if you're high, and you shouldn't smoke if you're pregnant. Other than that, I'm not going to say it's good for your lungs, but smoking occasionally is unlikely to harm them. Using pot occasionally is not going to cause learning or memory problems, and it is not going to get you hooked (unless, like someone else said, you have an "addictive personality" or some kind of predisposition).

I think it's nice that you're concerned about your friend but I don't think you need to be. Really, if she wants to smoke pot it's her business.
 
i tend to be too concerned for everyone.. it can be too much at times... blah. i guess i shouldn't try to change the way people live their lives just as i don't want others to change my own
 
but seriously,

My advice is just state your opinion that its not something you'd like her to do and tell her to never do it around you because it bothers you that she would do something like that to herself. Reverse peer pressure can't hurt, just don't alienate her if you still want to be her friend because perhaps down the line you can be there when she asks for help.


I'm sure she'll be flattered that you care or at least someone does in this f'd up world.
 
My experience has been that pot does indeed slow you down a bit the next day, and in a cognitive discipline such as the study and practice of medicine, you're doing yourself a supreme disservice by smoking. I loved it for a while, but I found that while studying for the MCAT, nights that I smoked were followed by days where I was not nearly as on the mark as usual. By no means did I smoke a lot either...maybe just one bowl or so by myself while listening to Paul Oakenfold and Dave Ralph the night before on my beloved mp3's.

At any rate, I haven't seen the studys of THC exposure in neonatal and prenatal rats etc. and potential hippocampal neuronal dysfunction, but I do know that researchers typically administer dosages of drugs (especially in MDMA studies) that are far above normal dosages within ranges of normal/average usage.

A little tidbit though, my neuroscience research mentor had originally gotten into neuroscience specifically because he did so much LSD and other drugs when he was younger, and wanted to better understand the ability of these drugs to produce the experiences that they do. He recently received an award from the White House under Bill Clinton for his ressearch, I'm not going to delve to deeply into this except to say that after having done so many drugs, this guy was still a friggin genius. So should we include his case as an example of someone who did a lot of drugs but was still relatively unaffacted (and certain drugs are therefore not so dangerous to ones mental capacity as we might otherwise think), or is it possible that the guy was destined to be a super, super genius but because of his drugs is now only a mere super genius? Enquiring minds would like to know.

At any rate, I think doing pot is probably pretty stupid if your going to be in the medical profession. I'd rather stick to vicadin and perkoset (sp?), but I of course have yet to try these wonderful substances.

Peace!
 
Originally posted by TexasGuy41
I worked at an inpatient drug rehab center for 6 years in a major metropolitan city. Every single person at the center was hooked on crack cocaine, and EVERY SINGLE person there started with just pot.
Click to expand...

I read a study once that showed that all hard drug users started off with breast milk... 😉

Having grown up in Hawaii where weed is, shall we say, plentiful, I've seen both sides of the issue. And, as usual, the key to it is moderation. No, smoking a joint once will not in ANY way affect your cognitive ability. Nor will even, dare I say, once a month, or even more often than that.

I'd much rather have someone who took 20 hits come into my ER than someone who drank 20 beers. Not that 20 hits would ever necessitate an ER visit of course... Hmmm, and which one is illegal again?

That being said, one of my college roommates definitely abused marijuana. I think there was about five minutes of the three years we shared a place that he was not high, and this includes tests and finals, and I am not even close to exaggerating. He spent all his money on weed, and it pretty much made him a $hitty person. So no, don't smoke three times a day every day. That is bad.

I think all the politics and reefer madness out there right now is funny. The bottom line is moderation and common sense.

Hmmm, I wonder what percent of practicing physicians still smoke weed? I know more than a few that do, and they also happen to be kick-ass docs.
 
the best drugs in my opinion:

1) TRANCE MUSIC!!!

2) Exercise!!! Run, martial arts (tai chi is pretty incredible)
 
The whole gateway drug argument is absolutely ridiculous. It's based on factual data, but is presented in a totally backwards way. They say "98% of people who are on crack started with marijuana" and lead you to believe that smoking weed is a precursor to harder drugs, and it will only be a matter of time before little johnny moves on from smoking the occasional doobie to mainlining black tar opium. In reality, probably less than 3 or 4% of pot smokers move on to harder drugs, the VAST VAST majority never use anything but pot. But the data is presented backwards in order to make pot look awful and to justify its illegality. If someone has it in their head they want to experiment with different substances, which one they choose to start with is really irrelevent, and is usually based solely upon what is easiest to get their hands on.

As far as becoming addicted to pot, unlike alcohol, cigarettes, and harder drugs, it is not physically addictive at all. It can become psychologically addictive, but then again so can absolutely anything you do. And getting addicted to ANY substance, even if it does have physically addictive properties, takes some effort on the user's part. noone smokes or drinks or does coke 1 or 2 times and gets "addicted". You have to work towards addiction, no matter what you are using. My group of friends and I experimented with a whole lot of things over the years, and many of them I am not very proud of and will NEVER EVER do again. But pot is as harmless of a "drug" as there is, MUCH less than nicotine or alcohol. The media has done a lot to convince people that if an individual uses certain substances they will automatically become an addicted junky, and that is as far from the truth as anything. And to the original poster, there are a lot of worse things your friend could be doing. Try not to be so uptight and let her have her fun.
 
man, this thread feels like an 80's public service announcement.

I learned it from watching you!

Please don't tell me you guys were such lamers during undergrad. That's sorry.

Anyway Moops, the #1 reason to tell your friend to not start smoking weed is SHE'LL LIKE IT WAY TOO MUCH AND NEVER WANT TO STOP!

If it wasn't for the birth of my children, my friends would still be calling me Johnny Blaze!

As a great man once said when describing why he dumped Mary Jane, "Don't get me wrong, I LIKE smokin weed, but I looooooove *****!"
 
Originally posted by CJ2Doc
As a great man once said when describing why he dumped Mary Jane, "Don't get me wrong, I LIKE smokin weed, but I looooooove *****!"
Click to expand...

"Marijuana is not a drug......I used to SUCK D*CK for coke....now thats an addiction man....you ever suck some d*ck for marijuana?!?!?"
 
LOTS of people smoke weed, and very few of them are the crazy, irresponsible, and worthless freaks that some would make them out to be. Seriously, you are surrounded by people every day who smoke pot ~ 20% of Americans by some estimates. These are your friends, your parents friends, your classmates, coworkers, anybody... It's not going away, no matter what arguments you try to make.

I LOVE that ad that suggests that the pregnant teenager got high and dropped her pants ~ great comedy. Take her and multiply her by 1,000,000 and that's how many teenagers did the same thing after drinking beer.
 
drugsrbad.jpg
 
Originally posted by DW
"Marijuana is not a drug......I used to SUCK D*CK for coke....now thats an addiction man....you ever suck some d*ck for marijuana?!?!?"
Click to expand...

Exactly...Man, I need to watch that **** again. So many great lines...

Now, if I could only find the damn candy machine! This case of munchies has got me goin crazy...I wonder if I got Visine in here, so my boss doesn't recognize... 😉
 
"Abazaba...your my only friend":horns:
 
oh dear lord! haha, this thread about pot has gotten more popular than i expected! i just expected a couple posts of advice, and now we got Half Baked goin' down- great movie btw.
 
Originally posted by geldrop
There is some other underlying reason why someone would use pot or even try it. Its not natural to get a "high." Does pot help one dance? Or become more social? I'm a supporter of occasionaly drinking in moderation in addition studies have shown positive affects from an occasional drink. And for many without alcohol guys and girls would never get together we'd be in serious trouble as a society. Alcohol is a social thing. When are you goign to go to a business party and smoke a joint. Vs. how many people go to a party and have a glass of wine. Not to mention alcohol is sanctioned by god, and I don't recall a religion where you smoke up on friday nights... There are wine festivals, beer actually TASTES good and same with WINE. Its hardly the same being a pot connesiour. Its just distasteful, and unattractive.

I'll admit that curiousity is natural and TRYING something is ok. However liking it so much that you do it weekly or even monthly is debilitating. And not to mention pot makes you lazy and useless as a person.

Oh yeah did i mention pot is illegal and if caught it will be on your record. Not to mention there are many government jobs where if ou have smoked more than a few times they won't take you. And if you are caught while your high its not like your caught speeding where your brain is working so you don't get yourself in more trouble, instead if your caught high your liable to just cause more trouble.
Click to expand...

🙄 🙄 🙄

Could it be that people drink at parties and not smoke joints because alcohol is legal, and marijuana is not? If marijuana was legal, do you still think you'd go to an office party and nobody would be smoking weed? The social stigma against marijuana that has been created in this country by successful lobbying in past generations by self-minded interests really is pretty spectacular.

Amen on the comments on the ads on tv. How many girls get pregnant every year after drinking too much booze? I'd say orders of magnitude more so than girls who smoked a little spliff.

Seriously, if every boozehound in the world smoked weed instead of drank alcohol, we'd have much less violence, sickness, and social unrest.

The argument of marijuana as a gateway drug is classic inductive reasoning. It's akin to saying that all terrorists are middle eastern, so if you're middle eastern you'll likely become a terrorist. Please.

I also like listening to music, so much so that I want to do it everyday, let alone once a week or month. It's very debilitating. . .

So I guess you can see where I fall on this issue. By the way, I no longer smoke at all.

Moops, its your friends decision to make, but there's nothing wrong with offering your opinion to a friend.
 
Everyone should smoke weed at least once. It opens up your mind, giving you a new perspective on life. It also allows you to be more in tune with your senses. You will open up and share your feelings with your friends, becoming closer in the process. I implore all of you to smoke pot.
 
Let us burn one
from end to end
and pass it over
to me my friend
burn it long, we'll burn it slow
to light me up before I go

if you don't like my fire
then don't come around
cause I'm gonna burn one down
yes I'm gonna burn one down

my choice is what I choose to do
and if I'm causing no harm
it shouldn't bother you
your choice is who you choose to be
and if your causin' no harm
then you're alright with me

if you don't like my fire
then don't come around
cause I'm gonna burn one down
yes I'm gonna burn one down

herb the gift from the earth
and what's from the earth
is of the greatest worth
so before you knock it try it first
you'll see it's a blessing
and not a curse

if you don't like my fire
then don't come around
cause I'm gonna burn one down
yes I'm gonna burn one down
 
I think this thread may belong in the Lounge....but then I think that others can get some value out of it...like say, how does one convince somebody to stay off drugs?

Therefore, I'll just send it to the Everyone Forum where this thread may get some diverse opinions.

Off you go...!!
 
Everyone should smoke weed at least once. It opens up your mind, giving you a new perspective on life. It also allows you to be more in tune with your senses.
Click to expand...

I agree, I tried it, I liked it, I got over it...
I don't smoke anymore, mainly cuz I don't want lung cancer and weed makes me feel fuzzy, and severely lazy--- but I gotta admit I miss the way music sounds after you've smoked some sticky green...and well let's just say that makin' luv takes on a whole new dimension when you're high...
 
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