Marijuana may be even safer than previously thought, researchers say

[Logical]

Compared with other recreational drugs — including alcohol — marijuana may be even safer than previously thought. And researchers may be systematically underestimating risks associated with alcohol use.

Those are the top-line findings of recent research published in the journal Scientific Reports, a subsidiary of Nature. Researchers sought to quantify the risk of death associated with the use of a variety of commonly used substances. They found that at the level of individual use, alcohol was the deadliest substance, followed by heroin and cocaine.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1484

More at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/02/23/marijuana-may-be-even-safer-than-previously-thought-researchers-say/

[Mnemosyne]

1. Shocking, just absolutely shocking. nt

[LuvNewcastle]

2. It's wrong to get high.

Weed might make you happy, and it's a sin to be happy. Happy people aren't constantly trying to gain more possessions and higher status.

[Go Vols]

3. Fuck Happy

[Logical]

4. +100 nt

[Go Vols]

5. Pro Weed here

[Logical]

6. I am in my 50s and never used pot once, looking forward to trying it in CO someday

[cui bono]

9. It's really strong these days and it will creep up on you,

so just take a small hit to start with and wait a while. It doesn't hit you immediately. Back in the day you didn't always get high the first time you smoked, but that was with much less potent varieties.

[Go Vols]

10. Agree with this

[Logical]

11. Thanks! Nt

[bigwillq]

16. Good advice (nt)

[eridani]

22. Yes kids--back in the olden days marijuana had seeds

And stems, and sometimes oregano or PCP. I love the labeling of legal WA State--it isn't uncommon to get total THC content of 20-25%. All nicely trimmed buds, certified free of mold. It takes very little to get high, so ramp up dosages slowly as several posters have recommended.

Now gwan and get offa my lawn!!

[wildbilln864]

27. not really...

about the same IMO. But because it's been illegal it's been hard to get any good stuff. But when I was sixteen, seventeen, it was just as strong. Columbian gold, Thai stick, Acapulco gold, were very strong then also. BTW I'm 56.

[cui bono]

30. I don't know what kind of Columbian Gold or Thai stick you were getting

but where I was it was dirt compared to the green buds out now. And I could easily smoke a whole joint to myself back then and now it's one hit and I'm soaring.

[wildbilln864]

31. ah well, I too...

don't know what you were getting but nothing today comes close. Though I do realize a certain level of tolerance builds.

[cui bono]

32. I go long periods without smoking, so maybe that's part of it.

But really, today's weed is so much more potent I can actually get too high, though I've learned how to zen myself out of feeling too high.

[malaise]

35. Clearly you were not in Jamaica

Hard to get good stuff? Decades ago I was amazed that everyone knew exactly where to get herb on any given route.

[Fumesucker]

12. I would avoid edibles initially

Lasts a loooong time and if it turns out you don't like being stoned it might not be fun.

Also set and setting is important, be somewhere you are comfortable and with people you know well and like. A favorite funny movie or three for the video perhaps or some of your favorite music and a good sounding player/headphones.

Bon voyage..

[Logical]

13. Thanks! nt

[Half-Century Man]

17. A tip from long ago.

Try it while fishing (obey the appropriate laws while doing so). Very relaxing.

[bemildred]

7. Cannabis is food. nt

[Arwinnick]

8. I'm in my Sixty's

I've been smoking 47 years.I'm looking forward to smoking Pot legally in Colorado soon.

[AtomicKitten]

14. It's my go-to pain reliever.

It really, really helps.

[LuvNewcastle]

18. Me too.

Speaking from experience, weed works better for chronic pain than opiates. I'd want morphine if I just had surgery, but for my arthritis and other pains, I'd much rather smoke.

[Yorktown]

15. yes, cannabis is safer than alcohol, but your graph is questionable

Alcool worse than heroin and cocain is wrong.

This matrix is probably more reliable:

[hobbit709]

19. Taurine metabolic byproducts.

[cleanhippie]

33. I disagree with the "dependence" label.

Cannabis can become very habitual, but not dependent. There is a distinct difference.

[joshcryer]

20. No, really?

Wow, who would've thought!

[callous taoboy]

21. I have a brother in alcohol detox right now, and it's ugly.

I had no idea the degree of his alcoholism. He is in a bad way, said every cell in his body is in the most intense pain he's ever experienced. He was also experiencing loss of feeling in fingers and toes. No big surprise here that the alcohol industry has been pushing basically a poison all of these years.

[Mariana]

26. I hope he's under medical supervision.

Alcohol withdrawal can be very dangerous. Good luck to him.

[callous taoboy]

34. Yes, he is under a physician's care, thanks.

[fredamae]

29. A friend of mine

was recommended cannabis by a doctor to recover from alcoholism about 2 decades ago. He never drank another drop of alcohol.
While "junk science" insists cannabis is a "gateway drug"...it not. It is the "gateway Out of addiction.
Long before cannabis was prohibited in the 1930's, doctors regularly prescribe cannabis as a Treatment for Alcohol and Opium addictions...and it Worked.

[beltanefauve]

38. Cannabis use

Cannabis use is said to be the biggest secret in AA

[fredamae]

39. Really? I did not

know that.
It's good the word is out. It can really help make a really bad day better for many folks who want to recover. It can be, for many.....a saving grace.

I've also seen it work for those addicted to Pills, Meth, Heroin, Cocaine etc too.
The reality began to emerge after OR legalized medical use of cannabis.
Laws continue to treat addicts and addiction as a crime instead of a matter of health care. Therefore, one cannot acquire a medical cannabis card here based solely upon the disease of addiction..but for those suffering a qualifying condition - it didn't take long before the stunning beneficial side effects of cannabis use emerged for: Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, PTSD/ADD/ADHD etc

I'm pretty sure the Multi-Billion Dollar Dug Treatment Industry is amongst the cadre' of Opposition to Legalization And Medical use expansion and God forbid we do Any research to discover more benefits.

[hobbit709]

23. The only proven danger of marijuana is being arrested.

[malaise]

36. That's the truth

[B Calm]

24. It's going to take a lot more than that to convince republican

lawmakers in my state (Indiana) to legalize marijuana.

[sorefeet]

25. I have been smoking for 45 years

I have been growing my own here in Montana legally for about ten I think. Who says you can't grow outdoors in Montana. Two of my oatmeal cookies at bedtime and you will sleep like a baby. And if you have the male problem of getting up and going to the bathroom several times at night, forget it. You will not need your flo-max to get a good night sleep. Marijuana is NON-TOXIC.

[malaise]

37. Well the Parliament in Jamaica just passed the bill allowing folks

to have five or six plants on their property.
It's been decriminalized here - at last.