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Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

theguardian.com

261–270 of 430 posts

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#261
[Serious question (pot smoker myself)]

Has there ever been a successful civilization that had incorporated use of cannabis in general society? I am not talking about some priestly caste using it for tripping, divining, or making up scripture, I mean like the use of alcohol which actually apparently was a key factor in emergence of urban civilizations.

Related question is: do we know of any civilization that collapsed after embracing cannabis?

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#262
I can't smoke high THC strains. I need high concentrates of CBD since it takes the energetic edge off the THC, and CBD is a natural anti-psychotic. This is why I prefer hashish over dried leaves, since most hashish has a good ratio of CBD to THC. Moroccan '00' is my favorite.

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm struggling with this now. Daily cannabis user for 15 year or so, started puking not long after I'd switched primarily to concentrates. I've landed in the ER several times, and been hospitalized a handful of times for dehydration. Usually once an episode starts, a cocktail of ativan, reglan, and pepcid is about the only thing that'll get me out of it. I've tried to quit cannabis several times now, but usually brea…

This is why I’ve avoided concentrates. I’ve tried (and enjoyed) them all, but I was already concerned that my tolerance to plain old weed was too high. I knew if I got too into wax and shatter, I’d end up chasing the dragon (or at least the weed version of that) and potentially worse (i.e. cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome). Concentrates are something I treat myself to just a few times a year. Everything in moderation…

"but once you get locked into a serious drug collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can." ― Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

I've always liked that quote as I have seen it over and over again in people I know. Those that can use and moderate to just a recreational use vs committing to a full on daily use (addiction by most acceptable use) is very small. I love to partake when I have the time and lack of responsibilities requiring all of my faculties. But when I've tried the daily use and watched my capabilities diminish has shown me that I'm not fully functional with that daily use so I just keep it in the recreational realm. From my 100% unschooled medical perspective, those that think they are 100% with daily use are just lying to themselves.

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#264
post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Strongly agree. As the THC percentage has increased, so has my anxiety when I smoke it. If I go out of my way to find lower quality weed, I enjoy it much more.

I live in a state where marijuana is legal and recently tried it again for the first time in over a decade. I strolled into a recreational store and asked for a recommendation, specifically requesting a flower with a low THC concentration. They ended up giving me something ("Biker Kush") that had 28% THC, which I had only noticed on the packaging after I left the store. Gee, thanks. Anyway, then I bought supplies to…

> The feeling that I would be stuck like this forever - that I had lost my mind and entered some state of irreversible psychosis - persisted for at least an hour while I desperately tried to relax myself.

Prototypical bad trip.

Unless you are a mutant or were not inhaling at all you were certainly ingesting high amounts of THC and were getting higher while not subjectively realizing it. By the 4th hit you were far gone.

Would be like being annoyed that the world was spinning after you drink a 5th of vodka...

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#265
post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A couple of things that I'm sad about: there are medications better than cannabis for anxiety and depression. But no one talks about them. They're on the same level as alcohol and weed when it comes to addiction potential and harm. Just make them legal ffs. I'm really happy I can get them from pharmacies in my country because they're not on a restricted prescription so they just give them to you if you pinky promise…

> there are medications better than cannabis for anxiety and depression. But no one talks about them. Could you maybe name them? Would be awesome :)

+1, I need help.

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#266
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quick question for our Dutch neighbors: why not? I never understood why it is exactly that The Netherlands were kind of against the drug tourism. I mean, I'm sure your average pot head tourist is not that much trouble and leaves quite a bit of money, no? I studied in The Netherlands and always thought I'd be proud as a country to be that "progressive" in a sense -- especially once it became clear that other countries…

> I'm sure your average pot head tourist is not that much trouble and leaves quite a bit of money, no? aha, they literally only come for weed and prostitutes, let's say it doesn't attract the most well behaved people in the world. Imagine the typical German or English 20 something years old tourist in Mallorca but instead of being drunk they're stoned. Low travel cost + mass tourism + young adults + drugs = problems.…

>Imagine the typical German or English 20 something years old tourist in Mallorca but instead of being drunk they're stoned.

So they're sitting in cafes eating fried food? What exactly do you think stoned people do lol

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#267
post #70

While I have no interest in weed, I never understood why people are against it, since cigarettes are also a drug and are far more damaging to heath and the economy, and in the US kills a couple hundred thousand folks a year, or alcohol, which is a drug, and kills tens of thousands of people a year. Eliminating illegality would save in so many ways, and taxes could help offset other taxes. But no, weed is somehow more…

I don't think we would ever legalize cigarettes and alcohol if they weren't already widespread. You cited the numbers yourself, it would be a terrible decision. But lots of people are already using these substances, and we've seen how well it works to make alcohol illegal... The reason cigs/alcohol are legal has nothing to do with their addictiveness or the harm they do, so a comparison with them. The anti-legalizati…

>The anti-legalization thought is simply: Cigarettes and alcohol are already bad enough, let's not add a third substance!

This is absolutely NOT the argument against legalization anywhere that I've seen. It's almost universally a claim that MJ is uniquely dangerous and should be kept illegal for that reason.

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You strongly agree that they should regulate weed to be weaker so that you don't have to check potency before purchase? ok

Yes, there is something to be said about at least being more explicit on warning people about the dangers of consuming high % THC products. An industry that can profit off addiction is being observed drastically increasing the level of an addictive substance in their product. You expect consumers to be perfectly informed. I don't. Thus, it is reasonable to discuss whether an at what threshold a product should be labe…

ok!

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#269

While I have no interest in weed, I never understood why people are against it, since cigarettes are also a drug and are far more damaging to heath and the economy, and in the US kills a couple hundred thousand folks a year, or alcohol, which is a drug, and kills tens of thousands of people a year. Eliminating illegality would save in so many ways, and taxes could help offset other taxes. But no, weed is somehow more…

It's possible to have concerns about it even if alcohol is worse. I think most people are reacting to the "it cures cancer" culture which denies any negative effect. Personally I've seen weed addiction in close friends and family and it's not pretty. It's slowly poisoning yourself while your life stagnates or falls apart. But they're convinced they're not addicted as you can't get addicted to weed.

>But they're convinced they're not addicted as you can't get addicted to weed.

Habit forming, yes. Physically addictive? No.

Re: Germany’s move to legalise cannabis expected to create ‘domino effect’

#270
post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then don't use them.

I don't use any of them. Doesn't mean that I'm not affected by the harmful effects of them.

Particularly weed, what negative externalities do you experience?
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