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Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

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Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#151

Post by subpixel »

evo_9 wrote: post #117
gregpilling wrote: post #51

I am a medical marijuana user. I have fibromyalgia (a catch all label for constant pain), and it helps some with neuropathic pain. My doctor is kept informed about how much I am using, and I have to get my card renewed each year. MJ works, but at best it dulls the pain, and also helps to make the pain less 'front and center' and instead kind of makes it more something that is in the background. I was never a stoner,…

You might want to look at getting one of these: http://openvape.com/ It's very discreet and pretty effective, esp. if you are looking for a more CBD non-thc delivery method. Unfortunately these are a local Denver product right now from what I can tell (my friend in SF can't find them their yet outside of driving to Berkley); so it might be difficult to find outside of colorado. They also make a variety of cartridges…

I wonder: what's the relationship between marijuana 'strength' (measured in THC, I guess) and medical effectiveness?

It seems to me the studies in the posted article are from a time when marijuana was dramatically 'weaker' than what you get today.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#152

Post by sbirchall »

tptacek wrote: post #91
timtadh wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The biggest safety problem with MJ is (as the original article hinted) the tendency in some people (especially teenagers) to increase the probability of them developing psychosis. This is why it is so apples to oranges. Yes, there are carcinogenic problems as well but the main problem is the increased risk of psychosis.

I'd be more concerned about its interaction with anxiety disorders, which are very common and underdiagnosed.

I'd throw in a LOT of anecdata for this one. For agitating full blown psychosis, few things are better than the array of legal highs. Where MJ (alone) has negatively effected the people I've known, it's always been down to some anxiety disorder.

If I were to start armchair theorising, I'd say it is because of cannabis' effect on the "linguistic center" of the brain. Couple this with nicotine - similar effect to cocaine in that it reduces the activity of neurotransmitter depletion enzymes - and you have serious potential for wild ideas that could interact with underlying issues to create disturbing problems. From the reclusive shut in, to the raging paranoiac, I've seen it all and I've often thought that the prevailing notion that the drug is benign is downright wrong. It is a drug. A very powerful drug. One to be respected and used wisely, and left the hell alone if it doesn't 'work' for you. But I agree wholeheartedly that it should not be criminalised.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#153

Post by jarrett »

leke wrote: post #86

I really can't understand it when people claim to be addicted to weed. From what I hear, it's not chemically addictive, so can it really be claimed so if the addiction is placebic?

There are (arguably) different forms of addiction: Physical and psychological. Physical addiction is the more dangerous of the two, as it can induce truly horrifying symptoms during withdrawals. (Delirium tremens from alcohol withdrawals, for example.)

Marijuana--and indeed almost anything--can be psychologically addictive. As our brains operate chemically, it's a bit misleading to say that psychological addictions have no physical component. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is a key player in many (all?) psychological addictions. But to further complicate matters, dopamine is also heavily involved in the withdrawal process of some harder drugs, such as methamphetamine.

Because the line between physical and psychological addictions is so fuzzy, some professionals eschew the distinction. Still, it seems productive to discuss the nature and severity of withdrawal symptoms for each drug, even if we don't split the drugs into two camps. From that perspective, marijuana addiction is less severe than addiction to heroin, alcohol, and so on.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#154

Post by gadders »

gregpilling wrote: post #118
gadders wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting that you don't get high any more. I wondered whether MMJ would fall into the category of "do not drive or operate machinery" whilst using.

I believe most states have rules that are about "driving under the influence" and the influence could be alcohol, drugs, illness, or basically anything that would alter your mental state. I have had days when the pain alone would make me fail a roadside sobriety test (slurred words, can't walk a straight line). I don't recommend consuming drugs or alcohol and driving, prescription or otherwise. At work I avoid operat…

Fair enough. I wonder if the active component that dulls the pain also the one that causes the wooziness. Is it possible to have one without the other? I suppose smoking the raw leaf is a pretty blunt delivery mechanism vs putting the active compounds in a patch or a pill.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#155

Post by [deleted] »

300bps wrote: post #115
mistercow wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The license to prescribe drugs is largely useless as an indicator of pharmacological expertise. We let chiropractors prescribe drugs in this country (Edit: I was mistaken; we don't). The government has no idea what it's doing in its process for deciding who gets that power. I have encountered plenty of doctors who clearly had no idea what they were doing when it came to pharmacology, to the point of prescribing drugs…

We let chiropractors prescribe drugs in this country. What country is that, mistercow? Here in the United States, they cannot prescribe drugs with one notable exception in New Mexico for chiropractors that have received "advance practice" training. In fact, prescribing drugs actually goes against the chiropractic philosophy that involves physical manipulation of the body and your body's ability to heal itself. Source…

[deleted]

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#156

Post by hanley »

bjourne wrote: post #71
rickdale wrote: post #5

One of the biggest issues with marijuana in this country is the lack of research behind it. Here in Michigan where over 60% of the people voted for medical marijuana, they just outlawed medibles. Meaning no pot brownies for patients. Which makes no sense when applying medical marijuana. Caregivers and patients are outraged because they feel like they know more than the judges or politician do, and I have to agree. On…

The US is not lagging behind. When it comes to marijuana liberalisation, it is definitely leading the way. With the exception of Netherlands, attitudes to marijuana is pretty strict in Europe. The US has the most pot smokers/capita by a long shot. Also, Hollywood movies seem to portray it as some cool party drug, that hippies and pseudo-intellectuals use. The drug is present in most American Pie-style movies, many si…

I don't necessarily disagree with your post but you should be careful with generalizations that aren't backed up with evidence. "The US has the most pot smokers/capita by a long shot" sounds a lot like some assumption you just made up based on your own personal experience. A study like marijuana users per capita is inherently difficult because people don't like admitting that they partake in illegal activity. The only statistic to go on for that study is how many people were arrested for marijuana crimes, which only shows how many people were caught breaking a law, not how many people use.

Also I think your marijuana/drug law knowledge is a little behind. There are a number of countries in Europe and elsewhere who are changing to more relaxed drug policies similar to the progress in the US (including Portugal who effectively decriminalized all drugs in 2001).

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#157

Post by fein »

madaxe wrote: post #65
jnbiche wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you expand on that thought? How do you "flip the switch"?

Well. Two things. I ate largely due to anxiety. Weed makes me not anxious. Therefore I ate less. Secondly, you can decide to morph that "hungry" feeling into a "full" feeling. Not quite sure how to put it, but you can convince yourself - a bit like when you're holding an ice cube, and convince yourself that it's heat you can feel.

My fix was always just drinking lots of fizzy water.

That and an electronic cigarette. I just don't seem to gain weight anymore, nor do I ever manage to finish takeout in one sitting. Seriously, our food portions here are insane.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#158

Post by [deleted] »

gregpilling wrote: post #51

I am a medical marijuana user. I have fibromyalgia (a catch all label for constant pain), and it helps some with neuropathic pain. My doctor is kept informed about how much I am using, and I have to get my card renewed each year. MJ works, but at best it dulls the pain, and also helps to make the pain less 'front and center' and instead kind of makes it more something that is in the background. I was never a stoner,…

[deleted]

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#159

Post by hanley »

Jazonk wrote: post #95
bjourne wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US is not lagging behind. When it comes to marijuana liberalisation, it is definitely leading the way. With the exception of Netherlands, attitudes to marijuana is pretty strict in Europe. The US has the most pot smokers/capita by a long shot. Also, Hollywood movies seem to portray it as some cool party drug, that hippies and pseudo-intellectuals use. The drug is present in most American Pie-style movies, many si…

Portugal is also ahead of us - they have decriminalized all drugs. Their attitude towards drug abuse is that it needs to be treated instead of punished. http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/evaluating-drug-d...

What an insightful idea - HELP people instead of just locking them up in timeout only to release them back into the public with the same (or worse) problems that they started with.

Re: Why I Changed My Mind On Weed

#160

Post by justinator »

gregpilling wrote: post #51

I am a medical marijuana user. I have fibromyalgia (a catch all label for constant pain), and it helps some with neuropathic pain. My doctor is kept informed about how much I am using, and I have to get my card renewed each year. MJ works, but at best it dulls the pain, and also helps to make the pain less 'front and center' and instead kind of makes it more something that is in the background. I was never a stoner,…

It is time to grow your own weed, on a $100/week script, my man.
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