Marijuana: Harmless or not?

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Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
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Originally posted by: tweakmm
Originally posted by: Millenium
If we do a practical study based on experience(since you are a non-abuser) how many people have you ever seen walking around that are potholics. They have to smoke joint after joint and then they turn violent, incoherent, slur their speech, have trouble walking,etc. Now do the same for alcohol. Their is a reason we have a term for abusers of alcohol.

HAHAHAHA!
You've got to be kidding me. Smoking joint after joint and turning violent and slurring your speech? You've never been around people who are high often have you? You can't compare the effects of alcohol to the effects of pot. Just because they are both pretty soft drugs, they have very very different effects on the body and the mind.

Dipsh1t learn to read. I said that are there potholics that do that. NO. I was saying pot doesn't cause that. Alcohol does. Maybe you should get off drugs because you can't read worth a damn.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
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Originally posted by: SammySon
Nah, not really. Since school would weed out (haha) all the retards who have no desire to be there, we'd simply take part of the money that went to subsidize schools and give it to to tobacco companies.
You really ARE clueless, arn't you. Yup, all thoes university students and researchers are straight as an arrow. Berkeley invented unix and LSD, coincidence? I think not.
Well, nik, sorry to burst your bubble, but the rest of us here don't need any reason to make fun of you other than your sorry posts. And you don't even have an excuse for your lameness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- lmfao
Sorry to burst your bubble twice, but everyone is laughing .. AT YOU. But you probably did not understand that in school either. You are like the meathead jock that made really stupid statements, and then was the only one laughing like a goon.

Hmm... strange. Everybody laughing at me? No, just the people who are too damn addicted to let go. Cheap, but nice pot-shot though.

nik
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
never try to argue with an idiot

they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,406
19,792
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I wouldn't say it's completely harmless...

But it's a hell of a lot less harmful than the laws against it.
 

Mark R

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,513
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Cannabis, is definitely a harmful drug - but what makes it more harmful is the fact that many of the population assert that it is safe. It is also important to realise that alcohol, tobacco and many other drugs (including abusable prescription drugs) are all harmful - what I haven't set out to do here is to compare the effects.

The major harmful effects are, the initial intoxication (made dangerous because people deny that it is a problem), the medium term effects of decreased motivation, and longer term effects such as irreversible memory impairment, greatly increased risk of mental illness (in particular schizophrenia and psychotic illness), and severe lung disease.

I hear comments from people who claim that driving under the influence of cannabis is safe - this is proven not to be the case. Cannabis demonstrably impairs judgment and reaction times

Studies amongst student users of cannabis have shown that even 'moderate' use at weekends only is associated with a high risk of dropping out of college/university. Similar studies have shown that regular users of cannabis are 6x as likely to develop schizophrenia and need treatment in a psychiatric unit. The memory loss associated with cannabis use is also particularly devastating as it is short term memory - the result is that not only is immediate recall impaired, but it prevents new information being stored in long-term memory. There have been several cases of heavy long-term users who have been left so disabled that they are unable even to go shopping, either because they get lost, or because they forget where they are going.

Among chest physicians, recognition is growing of a new variant of emphysema which is particularly destructive - this seems effects young people and has been related to cannabis smoking - it too can lead to serious disability in relatively early life.
 

BuckleDownBen

Banned
Jun 11, 2001
519
0
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I love watching all these stoners scramble to defend their drug of choice. They produce all kinds studies and anecdotes about how pot has made the world a better place to live. Its too bad they don't spend a little time researching the terms addiction, denial, and rationalization. Notice how often they use the argument that it is no worse than cigarettes or alcohol, as if that means anything.

People who say that pot isn't addictive have their heads in their ass. If you smoke pot regularly, let me ask you a couple questions. Do you get cravings to get high? Do you feel crabby or irritable if you haven't got high in a while? Are you mad when you can't contact your drug dealer to get some more?

So now the stoners will say so what if its addictive, it doesn't cause any harm. You are addicted to a substance, which means you are unable to make a rational decision as to the effect that substance has on you. In this respect you are no different than a crack addict. How many non-stoners that care about you approve of your pot smoking? Probably none, because they can see the negative effects it is having on you.

I am speaking of people who use pot regularly, at least once a day.
 

Fausto

Elite Member
Nov 29, 2000
26,521
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Originally posted by: BuckleDownBen
I love watching all these stoners scramble to defend their drug of choice. They produce all kinds studies and anecdotes about how pot has made the world a better place to live. Its too bad they don't spend a little time researching the terms addiction, denial, and rationalization. Notice how often they use the argument that it is no worse than cigarettes or alcohol, as if that means anything.

People who say that pot isn't addictive have their heads in their ass. If you smoke pot regularly, let me ask you a couple questions. Do you get cravings to get high? Do you feel crabby or irritable if you haven't got high in a while? Are you mad when you can't contact your drug dealer to get some more?

So now the stoners will say so what if its addictive, it doesn't cause any harm. You are addicted to a substance, which means you are unable to make a rational decision as to the effect that substance has on you. In this respect you are no different than a crack addict. How many non-stoners that care about you approve of your pot smoking? Probably none, because they can see the negative effects it is having on you.

I am speaking of people who use pot regularly, at least once a day.
Ben, provide us all with links showing evidence that MJ is physically addictive please. Everything I've ever read indicated that is was habit-forming but not physically addictive like alcohol and nicotine. Not flaming you, just curious where you're getting your info.

Fausto <---doesn't smoke pot, for the record;)

 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: BuckleDownBen
I love watching all these stoners scramble to defend their drug of choice. They produce all kinds studies and anecdotes about how pot has made the world a better place to live. Its too bad they don't spend a little time researching the terms addiction, denial, and rationalization. Notice how often they use the argument that it is no worse than cigarettes or alcohol, as if that means anything.

People who say that pot isn't addictive have their heads in their ass. If you smoke pot regularly, let me ask you a couple questions. Do you get cravings to get high? Do you feel crabby or irritable if you haven't got high in a while? Are you mad when you can't contact your drug dealer to get some more?

So now the stoners will say so what if its addictive, it doesn't cause any harm. You are addicted to a substance, which means you are unable to make a rational decision as to the effect that substance has on you. In this respect you are no different than a crack addict. How many non-stoners that care about you approve of your pot smoking? Probably none, because they can see the negative effects it is having on you.

I am speaking of people who use pot regularly, at least once a day.

About "cravings" and "addiction", have you tried going without your morning caffeine fix . . . give up that coffee cold turkey? . . . feeling a little irritable and crabby? Are you mad when you forget to stock up on coffee?

As to your "argument" that pot isn't "worse" than alcohol or tobacco "meaning anything" - please remember that pot smokers are going to jail for a personal choice no worse than alcohol or tobacco.



 

BuckleDownBen

Banned
Jun 11, 2001
519
0
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Originally posted by: apoppin


About "cravings" and "addiction", have you tried going without your morning caffeine fix . . . give up that coffee cold turkey? . . . feeling a little irritable and crabby? Are you mad when you forget to stock up on coffee?

As to your "argument" that pot isn't "worse" than alcohol or tobacco "meaning anything" - please remember that pot smokers are going to jail for a personal choice no worse than alcohol or tobacco.

Pot may not be physically addictive, but if it is psychologically addictive it is still addictive, isn't it?

I can have a cup of coffee in the morning or not have it. I can drink Decaf coffee or regular, it doesn't make much difference to me. If I took the active ingredients out of pot, would you still smoke it? I know plenty of people are addicted to caffeine, but you need to argue pots "merits" on their own basis, not compared to other substances.

As far as going to jail, that has nothing to do with this thread. The title of the thread is "Harmless or not"? Personally, I don't think we should send any drug user to prison, instead send them for treatment.

 

monotony

Senior member
Nov 18, 2000
201
0
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I agree. The fact that it is no worse than tobacco or alcohol doesn't make it "good" for you. But the fact that it's lumped in with narcotics and other real drugs is what I have a problem with. Why is tobacco legal if it's worse for you than mj? Same for alcohol? Why is there a double standard here?
 

virusag11

Senior member
May 22, 2002
336
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A good source for online drug information: Lindesmith.org

Great book I just read last week about marijuana: Marijuana Myths: Marijuana Facts

1972 Report Commisioned by Richard Nixon Stating the Marijuana is on the most part safe! Read it here

from the report :

The margins of safety between the effective dose and the toxic dose is quite large. No human fatalities have been noted in this country caused by marihuana.

Evidence has accumulated which indicates that differential tolerance does develop at least, in persons who smoke large amounts of marihuana several times a day. Development of tolerance to the depressant effects on behavior appears to precede development of tolerance to the intoxicant effect.

Physical dependence has not been demonstrated. Little, if any, psychological dependence is present in most intermittent marihuana users. Moderate psychological dependence occurs in moderate to heavy users and marked psychological dependence has been described in very heavy chronic users

There is plenty more to read in the report. All of this was true in 1972 and it is true now, marijuana is relatively safe in comparison to other similar drugs such as tabacco cigarettes and alcohol. If you are truly interested in the subject I suggest starting with Marijuana Myths : Marijuana Facts (link above). I have read pro and con material, but for me I find the pro-marijuana information much stronger and abundant. Even Government reports support that Marijuana is relatively safe. "Relatively safe," meaning that whenever you smoke any substance there will be adverse affects on your lungs.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: BuckleDownBen
Pot may not be physically addictive, but if it is psychologically addictive it is still addictive, isn't it?

I can have a cup of coffee in the morning or not have it. I can drink Decaf coffee or regular, it doesn't make much difference to me. If I took the active ingredients out of pot, would you still smoke it? I know plenty of people are addicted to caffeine, but you need to argue pots "merits" on their own basis, not compared to other substances.

As far as going to jail, that has nothing to do with this thread. The title of the thread is "Harmless or not"? Personally, I don't think we should send any drug user to prison, instead send them for treatment.


My point . . . the one you are refusing to awknowledge - is that pot is no more "addictive" than caffeine (and less so than alcohol or tobacco).

If you bothered to read my other posts, you'd know that I believe marijuana is not "harmless". I also do not agree that "we" should send anyone against their will for "treatment".

I also believe marijuana is positively "beneficial" in some circumstances - for pain relief (for example). Again, I am against "demonizing" pot and pro "decriminalization" (not necessarily "legalization").
 

BuckleDownBen

Banned
Jun 11, 2001
519
0
0
Originally posted by: apoppin


My point . . . the one you are refusing to awknowledge - is that pot is no more "addictive" than caffeine (and less so than alcohol or tobacco).

If you bothered to read my other posts, you'd know that I believe marijuana is not "harmless". I also do not agree that "we" should send anyone against their will for "treatment".

I also believe marijuana is positively "beneficial" in some circumstances - for pain relief (for example). Again, I am against "demonizing" pot and pro "decriminalization" (not necessarily "legalization").

I think pot is alot more addictive than caffeine. I guess thats why I don't acknowledge your point there. I think pot is more addictive than alcohol and less addictive than nicotines. However, this is beside the point because I only brought up the fact that pot was addictive to hammer home the point that if you are addicted to a substance then you are not in a position to argue its merits. I don't know of anyone that thinks that their loved one needs to lay off the caffeine, but for every pot smoker I know, there are several loved one's that do not approve of them smoking pot because of the negative effects pot has had on them. This obviously doesn't apply if the loved one is also a pot smoker. I don't know any pot smoker who doesn't (try to) hide it from their mother, for instance.

I don't think doing drugs is criminal, but if people are committing crimes because of a drug addiction, then I feel they should be sent for treatment, as opposed to being locked up. This would likely be applied to crack users, but if someone is mugging people to get money to buy pot, then I think they need treatment. Your only options here are to put the guy in prison or try to treat him. I wasn't as clear as I needed to be in my previous post. I made it sound like I wanted to force people into treatment for the act of doing drugs, when I really meant to say was to treat them if the drugs cause other crimes.

There are other drugs for pain relief that don't have pot's side effects.

 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
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alienbabeltech.com
I think pot is alot more addictive than caffeine. I guess thats why I don't acknowledge your point there. I think pot is more addictive than alcohol and less addictive than nicotines. However, this is beside the point because I only brought up the fact that pot was addictive to hammer home the point that if you are addicted to a substance then you are not in a position to argue its merits.

You think - that means you are "guessing". . . I am a position to argue its merits since I don't meet even your criteria for "addiction" to marijuana.

And you are completely wrong about pot being more addictive than (either tobacco or) alcohol. The weight of scientific evidence is not in your favor.

All you can state is your 'guesses' and tell us what you 'think'. Try following some of the links presented earlier in this thread and then tell us what you think after you have read them.

EDIT:
There are other drugs for pain relief that don't have pot's side effects.
I am again qualified to answer this both from medical research and personal experience. Vicodin, codeine, percodan, even OTC remedies have their serious shortcomings - liver & kidney damage, true addiction, and other serious side-effects. Please do a little research.
 

BuckleDownBen

Banned
Jun 11, 2001
519
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appopin, i think you need to calm down. i said i think that it was less addictive because addiction, especially psychological addiction, cannot be measured quantitatively. look, i've been down the road of pot addiction. i made it through with the help of my wife, though it was far from easy. what made it addictive (for me) was the seeming lack of negative consequences. No real hangover like you get from alcohol. Doesn't make you fat or throw up, etc Doesn't stink or stain your teeth like cigarettes do. however, when you are using pot, you can only see as far as your next high. i look back on those days now, and i am ashamed of how much money i wasted, opportunites i missed, social interactions i screwed up, etc.

it may not be terribbly bad for you medically, but it can and will mess your life up if you use it regularly. I know someone will chime in that their grades went up after they started using it. This is probably because you worked harder in school to justify your use of pot. I too had this extra work ethic, but it only lasted as long as i felt i needed to justify my use of the drug, about 6 months.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: BuckleDownBen
appopin, i think you need to calm down. i said i think that it was less addictive because addiction, especially psychological addiction, cannot be measured quantitatively. look, i've been down the road of pot addiction. i made it through with the help of my wife, though it was far from easy. what made it addictive (for me) was the seeming lack of negative consequences. No real hangover like you get from alcohol. Doesn't make you fat or throw up, etc Doesn't stink or stain your teeth like cigarettes do. however, when you are using pot, you can only see as far as your next high. i look back on those days now, and i am ashamed of how much money i wasted, opportunites i missed, social interactions i screwed up, etc.

it may not be terribbly bad for you medically, but it can and will mess your life up if you use it regularly. I know someone will chime in that their grades went up after they started using it. This is probably because you worked harder in school to justify your use of pot. I too had this extra work ethic, but it only lasted as long as i felt i needed to justify my use of the drug, about 6 months.


Actually, I am pretty calm . . . and I now understand your negative feelings toward marijuana . . . yes, it CAN mess up lives (remember, I never said it is "harmless" - especially for younger users). However, you cannot apply your personal yardstick that it "can and will mess up your (read:everyone's) life if you use it regularly".

Peace and aloha (off to work I go . . . ) :)
 

virusag11

Senior member
May 22, 2002
336
0
0
Buckledownben I agree that anything, including marijuana, can be psychologically addictive and not have any physiological addictiveness. I was born with asthma and I have used 2-4 inhalers since I was a child, and then the doctors took me off of all of them and it damn near killed me. Not because I needed the chemical, but I wanted the safety that they provided for me psychologically.

Doesn't make you fat

Actually one of marijuana's main benefits of use comes from the fact that it allows you to gain weight because it increases your appetite. That is one of the reasons why AIDS and cancer patients use MJ.

My grades in high school were never affected by marijuana in high school. I always stayed around a 3.5 gpa and I was a lazy bastard to say the least.
 

Chooco

Banned
Apr 5, 2002
731
0
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Originally posted by: BuckleDownBen
People who say that pot isn't addictive have their heads in their ass. If you smoke pot regularly, let me ask you a couple questions. Do you get cravings to get high? Do you feel crabby or irritable if you haven't got high in a while? Are you mad when you can't contact your drug dealer to get some more?

i used to get stoned like once a day because i was part of a group of like 10 people, SOMEBODY had to have weed.
-no i did not get cravings to get high
-i don't feel crabby when i'm not stoned, just unsociable because of shyness
-if we didn't have weed at the time, we would just skateboard all day and hang out at places like taco bell eating tacos one after one instead of toking up and eating higher sugar content foods from Mac's or 7/11

weed is not at all addictive, people who think weed is addictive could ALSO say that chocolate is extremely addictive for the following reasons:
-chocolate provides an induced sense of happiness
-after you run out of chocolate, you wish you had more
-it is VERY hard to say no when somebody offers you chocolate after you have had one

marijuana and chocolate go in the same category of addictiveness - 0
 

BuckleDownBen

Banned
Jun 11, 2001
519
0
0
a fiend of mine in college smoked marijuana stems he had collected when he didn't have pot. i don't think anyone would lick candy bar wrappers. i may only be speaking from personal experience, but i probably know (or knew) over a hundred people that used pot at least once a day for a good period of time.

appoppin-

i think we, for the most part, have the same feelings on the subject and pretty much only differ on semantics.
 

Gnurb

Golden Member
Mar 6, 2001
1,042
0
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not harmful, but certainly not as harmful as being addicted to cigs or alcohol