I guess I am kind of confused whenever I read
posts on marijuana and people saying it is not a drug. Does saying it isn't a drug, make it okay to use? That's like saying addiction does not exist, therefore, we are
all okay. There are 400 known chemicals in
marijuana. THC-TetraHydraCannibinol, the most
potent and least understood, is what is found
in the urine metabolites when they give you a
urine test. Doctors give Marinol, (the marijuana "pill") to pts.to reduce the side
effects of chemotherapy. It has this chemical
THC in it. There are side effects in the withdrawal from marijuana, granted, they are
not as severe, but they do exist. Psychologically, it is devastating, and it
sure doesn't promote a healthy mental outlook
on life.
I guess, to me, anything that "takes you to
another plane mentally, emotionally, and leaves you euphoric, is a drug". I mean, why
would someone smoke it, if it didn't make
them feel "good"? Maybe all those smokers
are waiting for marijuana to be legalized?
I think they have a pretty long wait. Even
though Marinol is legal, it is only used for
cancer pts. and glaucoma. And it is very
difficult to get a doctor to prescribe it.
He has to justify why he is writing for it,
and the forms that have to go to the Govt.
are unreal! Anytime I have to use a substance
to "escape", it is a drug for me. I am clean
& sober 5 years now, and I don't want to go
back to the way it was. I certainly understand why folks like to smoke it though,
life can really suck sometimes. And it can be
very hard to live life on life's terms. And
it will never be easy for me. I am an alcoholic/addict, and the only way I can hope
to live, is with my program, one day at a time. Just some thoughts from an addict. Peace.

Taffy,
Can't help you out there. Can you believe that I was in trouble with alcohol 9 years ago, drinking almost 3 cases of beer a week. And more recently my problems with prescription pain killers, but I actually have never even touched marijuana. I just had to mention it cause I was thinking about this recently and I think it's kind of ironic. How does marijuana rank up there with pain killers as far as addiction? I mean, I hear people saying that you can't get addicted to marijuana, but even though I've never tried it, I imagine that someone like me who has a problem with narcotics could easily become addicted to marijuana! Am I right? I'm not planning on trying it, just a curious question.

Nighthawk

First off, a little background on me:

I'm 26 years old, have been an alcoholic since my teens, and am addicted to cocaine and crystal meth, although the meth has "cured" me temporarily of my coke problem as coke will do nothing for you if you are used to doing meth. I can also understand first-hand how one could get addicted to pills and feel as though God stepped in last month when I somehow lost, or had stolen, my prescription bottle that contained 20 valiums prescribed to me (5mg yellow ones) as well as 20 Mexican valiums (10mg blue ones) that I had bought from a friend who had just been to Mexico. I could soooo easily get addicted to V's and also love to get my hands on hydrocodone and Xanax when I can. I live within a few hours of Mexico so it is supereasy to get these pills on the black-market and that's a scary thing and like I said before, I also have a prescription for valium. (it works great for my anxiety, but only if I don't abuse them)

That said, you can probably understand my tendencies towards addiction and since I have also smoked pot since I was 15, I feel that I am somewhat qualified to give my opinion, although I'm going to guess it won't be a popular one on this board. (it is an opinion though and I hope others will treat it as such and not insinuate that I am crossing lines and encouraging behavior that could be damaging)

As I said, I have smoked pot on and off for 11 years and enjoy it very much. The key words in the previous sentence are on and off. I have, throughout the past 11 years, had periods of a few months at a time where I will smoke pretty much daily and then have sometimes gone as long as 8 or 9 months without smoking at all. I LOVE to get high, but can take it or leave it as I believe I have proven. I smoke a couple of times a week now with friends, but have not bought any pot for myself in well over a year. I can honestly say that I could, if need be or if the choice was made for myself, go the rest of my life without taking another bong hit, toking another joint or hittin' another pipe, but I see no reason to make that choice. Marijuana has never adversely affected my life. I, personally, do not lose my inhibitions when I smoke pot, unlike when I drink alcohol, and usually prefer not to partake in other drugs when I am high. I know better than to drive a car when I'm high, unlike when I am drinking. I do not get promiscous when I am high unlike with the other drugs. When I am high, I am perfectly content to sit and watch a movie or tv and call it an early night, unlike alcohol and other drugs which make me feel like I need to party the night away. I will admit that smoking makes me lazy and I sometimes fail to do things that need to be done, but the flipside to that is that meth makes me incredibly productive, but has many, many downsides.

Now, I definitely have seen the other side of the coin. My brother is one who feels that he can't make it through the day without smoking. On the flip-side, my brother has tried just about every other kind of drug known to man and has sucessfully evaded addition to those other substances. If given the choice, I would gladly choose an addition to marijuana over cocaine any day for many reasons including health and financial ones. My ex-boyfriend is in jail right now because he violated his probabtion by failing a urine test and coming up positive for pot. Ironically, he doesn't really like pot that much, but loses all of his inhibitions when he drinks and does other drugs, he never started out the night by smoking--it was always after he was wasted on other stuff that he would "forget" that pot would stay in his system for weeks instead of days and that he would get busted and would go ahead and take a puff or two off his neighbor's joint.

I believe that people can get addicted to marijuana, but I don't think it's the norm and I can't see why some people believe that drinking is acceptable behavior, but smoking marijuana is not. (before I get stomped for that last statement, I DO realize that most on this board do not feel that drinking is acceptable behavior either, I'm speaking of the general public when I make that observation)

I fully understand why some people might have a problem with marijuana, but I personally feel that the only stigma that should be associated with smoking it is that it is, indeed, an illegal activity. Some people may have a problem with it just as some people may have a problem with drinking, but there are a good many people out there who can smoke with no adverse affects just as there are people who drink alcohol socially with no adverse affects on their life.

Before people start tapping out their nasty replies, please let me reiterate that this is my opinion as has been such for many, many years. Disagree with me, but please don't try and change my mind because it just isn't going to happen.

I totally AGREE w/ you. It seem's like I & a few other's are getting 'bashed' for speaking our minds. I simply started w/ a curriosity question, stated my oppinions & [reseaerched] legit fact's, they didn't like what I had to say, thought I had some 'attitude', which I didn't, & still don't, I'm just shocked about how I was being 'over-looked" & passed as something that wasn't. I am a good person, married, 2 kids, & only 25. I've smoked pot since I was 14, & the world of coke & speed is a world I once loved, & sometimes, still do. But, like you, I have never had a prob. w/ pot, coke yes, speed---not really, but I just don't get people's view's sometimes, as we all tend to one time or another... Never hurt's to ask, right? WRONG! Seem's that way, anyway's, on some of these forums. Anyway's, I'm glad you spoke up---You are entitled to your oppinion & it should be respected as that. not bashed. Also seem's like, lol, most other fellow - oppinion- maker's like us on this specific topic sem to be from Texas. Maybe something about this state? LOL Kudos to ya! Do prepare yourself for some 'nasty' comment's though. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/redface.gif(

I'm glad that everyone has spoken their own opinion. A lot of people do use marijuana and
don't seem to have the same kind of problems that drugs cause. I was just wondering why the attitudes of society are so set against it that's all. I know plenty of folks who do
indulge, but don't get crazy using it. And they seem to function on their jobs, etc. But
a lot of people are really dead set against it, especially in AA. The only exposure I have had to marijuana was back in the 60's, and I don't think we used anything like they do today. I wonder why we all want to use anything at all? It isn't just addicted people either. Most of humanity seems to have a desire to escape reality, even if it's just for a little while. Oh well, I guess that just makes us human, right? Thanks for your frankness though, it's great to see people share how they really feel.

This message goes to Taffy. I understand your disagreements with marijuana, but I'd have to say that I would recommend anyone to smoke it over ciggaretts. It's the least harmful drug there is, if thats what you want to call it, I think the only reason you Question it is because it's illegal. Now do you drink coffee or tea every once in a while? i bet you do, Caffeinne is much worse for you, it gives your body a false immitation of energy in the end leaving your body feeling more warn out than before, it's speed pretty much. Now I can't see the harm in smoking marijuana occasionally or whatever is good for you, because of the slight fact that it helps you get relaxed or makes you feel good. Yes obviously ther are people who can't live without it, but I can't say that's too much of a big deal, Hech, i mean living in this corrupt country you have to. The only reason it's not legal anyway is because how are all the cops and feds, the CIA going to get all there free drugs, there the biggest drug dealers in world, you can't denie that. More than Half the people the cops bust are drug dealers or in possesion of drugs. I;m not saying that you can not have your own opinion i just think that you should go over all the facts a little more. You may have your text book facts down but have you ever questioned why alcohol is legal and so socially excepted?

[This message has been edited by pogues6 (edited 01-16-2001).]

I think marijuana addiction is dependant on the person. In high school I started smoking pot. At first it was a fun thing, then (because it was so easy to come by) it became a daily ritual. I have very little memory of high school because I was high through most of my classes. It still bewilders me that I did remotely well in my classes. Like any drug it became a problem. I was a complete idiot. I guess I was like the typical teenager dumb kid, but I was smarter than that. In my last year of high school I smartened up and quit. I was offered pot many times and I was quite against it. I knew what it had done to me, and I didn't want that again. About 2 years ago I met my husband, and he had a little bad habit of smoking pot. Occasionally we would smoke together. But after a while it once again became a daily occurance. I have realized it and have limited my amount, but my husband does not realize that he has a problem.

I know most of you think that I am weak or stupid thinking that pot is addictive, but if you were to meet my husband you would know. He smokes at least once a day. I have to beg and plead him to take "just one day off". And for that day he is the grumpiest guy in the world... What is worse is that he gets high at work. Everyone at work are potheads and because they are doing it, so does he. He even smokes a joint then tries to convince me that he is okay to drive. I am firmly for having a designated driver when a group of us goes out drinking, and I have no disagreements. But when everyone is smoking, no one even thinks about who is going to drive. Quite often when it is my husbands turn to drive, he will smoke a bowl with his buddies. I am drunk and cannot drive. I let him know my opinion, but pot (it seems to me) is more important to him. So we usually have to take a cab. I don't let him drive me when he is stoned. I try not to let him drive, but sometimes he smokes then says, I'm off to work (or some crap).

In my opinion anything can be addictive, and if is begins to interfere with your life it becomes a problem. I feel fine with pot now, I have regained my strength, but my husband has a problem, and because of that it is a concern and problem for me. I don't want my children to grow up with a pothead for a dad. He tells me that once we have kids he will quit, but his friends have kids and they smoke. If anyone has read any of Victoria's postings, that was exactly vwhat her husband said (20 years ago). And he is still smoking daily.

This is my story, and even though there are a lot of people who think that pot is harmless for them, it isn't harmless for everyone. Not for me, and not for my husband. Thanks for listening. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/tongue.gif

I agree with Princess and Dammned about pot in general. When people mention the possiblity of legalizing drugs, I have no problem with the legalizing of marijuana - I have VERY strong objections about drugs like cocaine and amphetamines.

I just believe that pot is very similiar to alchohol - and some people are addicted to alchohol too. I think it makes people mellow and not dangerous. You don't hear about people stealing and killing and selling everthing they own including themselves to get that next fix like crack, crystal and heroin. You just don't - there isn't that urgency, anxiety or frantic crash with pot as with the other drugs. i am an alchoholic and an addict and I too went my rounds with Crystal meth - God I loved that stuff - it was the first drug I ever injected - and it scared the **** out of me how powerful the pull is to stay "up". I moved on to coke, but always felt that crystal was more economical!!! Thank God I don't live in Texas anymore like a lot of you because I know that is the speed capital!! I smoked pot, and could probably smoke recreationally for the rest of my life, simply because I wasn't nuts for it like the "up" drugs. I too, could take it or leave it. However, I have committed myself to sobriety and I love my life this way - I wouldn't smoke simply on pricipal right now. It doesn't bother me to be around people who smoke pot, or even alchohol - however, put me anywhere near anyone who I even suspect is doing coke or crystal and I have to leave - fast!!!
That is MY opinion - poor Dammned - I felt so bad for how you were treated on that post about whether or not pot is addictive - I feel the same. You were a tough cookie - I respect your stand and don't feel you have a bad attitude and stated so - you simply wanted to understand the mindframe of someone being "addicted" to something that doesn't necessarily steal your soul like some other drugs. Peace -