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salinen

(7,288 posts)
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 08:44 PM Nov 2012

Weed

I couldn't care less if people want to smoke weed. But I know this too. People who I know who wake and bake and have for many years exhibit varying problems with memory. And I'll say it again, I don't care if they smoke weed or have memory loss, it's not my business. Most mind altering substances have this effect over long use. Is it O.K. if this discussion doesn't include medicinal properties, because that can be for another time?

By all means lite up. But my choice, for me, is too be cautious with weed. And I might go so far as to dissuade a youngster from becoming a person who is never sober, like so many I know. Gosh, it almost seems unpopular to say that sobriety is a nice thing.

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sense

(1,219 posts)
1. It should be legal, taxed
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 08:51 PM
Nov 2012

and regulated. Simple. And I do have to agree that it should be for adults only as the brains of teens are still developing and there is so much we do not know (and some we do) about the effects of many drugs on developing brains. Actually the latest research shows that our brains are still developing until our mid twenties, later for males.

patrice

(47,992 posts)
2. true. However, I don't think illegalization helps anyone normalize any of that, because the things
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 08:57 PM
Nov 2012

that drive all of that behavior will not change with legalization and will continue with or without cannabis and/or alcohol, though, of the two, my personal experiences show that self-medicating with alcohol is much more profoundly and long-term dangerous than the depredations of cannabis.

All of us should be talking about why so many people are unhappy and seeking ways to divert themselves from that fact, with legal medications and otherwise. And important related topic questions are: what religion is doing to us; what successful parenting is; and why our schools don't seem to be able to provide people with the tools they need to answer these kinds of questions about happiness HONESTLY in their own lives.

 

darkangel218

(13,985 posts)
3. Ive never smoked weed, because of the (i)legality of it.
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 08:57 PM
Nov 2012

But from what I gather, its effects on the human body are less dangereus than alcohol. So I reason it should be legalized.

As far as memory loss, stress causes a lot more brain cell to die than any pot or alcohol combined imo. Stress kills. Sometimes reality can be extreamly shitty and one needs to escape it, even if just for a lil while.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
4. In the last 5 years
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 09:01 PM
Nov 2012

I completely quit drinking alcohol and have toyed with stopping the smoke. I've gone weeks, even months without a toke and I'm here to tell you that I don't have a problem with memory. My creativity under the influence if you will is as good as it ever was, above average I might add, btw. Due to my personal experience I don't agree with anything you say here and to me it speaks more of the kind you surround yourself with rather than what is. My opinion, nothing personal.
My apologies if it sounds like a personal attack. It's not my intent.
Peace

 

salinen

(7,288 posts)
7. you may
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 09:13 PM
Nov 2012

have great genetics, or, you'd have an even greater memory without weed. Or, weed enhances your ability to memorize. Oh, wait, you metioned creativity.

Well that's different. I'd like to see your art.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
16. Didn't say anything about art
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 10:08 PM
Nov 2012

creativity I did
You've have to come visit me to get a feel for that.
If you know what I mean that is

liberal_at_heart

(12,081 posts)
6. sorry but you can't seperate the medicinal benefits from the discussion
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 09:12 PM
Nov 2012

At least not for medical marijuana patients. This medicine has been a miracle for my husband and for dozens of other patients he knows. Now, as far as recreational use I do believe that part of these laws is that education on health benefits and health problems are to be included. That is what some of the taxes will go towards. As far as never being sober I think that is a generalization. Yes, there are people out there that drink or do drugs and are never sober. There are also millions of people who have a beer after coming home from work. Some people have a glass of wine with dinner. And some ejnoy a little marijuana to ease anxiety, ease aches and pains, or help them go to sleep at night.

Arkansas Granny

(31,477 posts)
8. From my personal experience, I have smoked for 40+ years and don't find my
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 09:14 PM
Nov 2012

memory loss to be any greater than others my age who never smoked. I have seen a lot of lives ruined by alcohol and other drugs, but I've never known mj alone to have that effect. YMMV.

 

salinen

(7,288 posts)
11. Only because I see
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 09:16 PM
Nov 2012

many posts here extolling the virtues and I think that there are also some non-virtues.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
12. Abuse of most things, even seemingly harmless ones, will usually lead to
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 09:17 PM
Nov 2012

problems in the future, like memory loss, or liver failure, or obesity. I mean pick what you plan on abusing and it will catch up with you eventually. Also, sobriety isn't always a nice thing. Some people with chronic anxiety and other personality problems often benefit from some mellowing out with psychotropic substances.

 

Egalitarian Thug

(12,448 posts)
13. Here's the thing. If they stop smoking for awhile, their short-term memory will come back.
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 09:26 PM
Nov 2012

It's been examined and explained (not here of course). If you have the education to understand and want to know, just google it and get past all the BS U.S. pages that are returned.

Any substance that is abused will have deleterious effects, the great thing about pot is that none of them are permanent.

kentuck

(110,916 posts)
15. Everybody has their own drug...
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 10:06 PM
Nov 2012

Some have religion for their drug. Some use power as a drug. Some drink coffee. Some smoke squares. It seems to me that everybody is trying to use something to escape the present reality, in some form or other?

Warpy

(110,746 posts)
17. I've only seen that with heavy use and not in 100% of heavy users.
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 10:24 PM
Nov 2012

No psychoactive substance is completely benign. Neither is weed. However, adults in a free society should have the legal right to partake or leave it alone as their own lives and consciences dictate.

Prohibition never works. All it does is create conditions for gangs to arise and a black market to flourish. Whatever substance is prohibited always gets through and people who should not be labeled criminals for casual use are thrown into prison.

We can't afford this. End the drug war NOW.

99Forever

(14,524 posts)
18. I've known many people that ..
Sat Nov 17, 2012, 10:35 PM
Nov 2012

Last edited Sat Nov 17, 2012, 11:49 PM - Edit history (1)

... never touched pot, with terrible memories, and people who smoke daily that are like walking libraries. Don't happen to indulge in it myself anymore, just makes me too sleepy. But quite frankly, the most self-righteous, pompous asses I've ever known were sober.

Go figger, eh?

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