I'm thinking about smoking Marijuana

[TheDude]

Assuming that you are going to start smoking there are a few things that you should try to keep in mind.

-No matter what your brain chemistry is, you aren't going to suddenly have cravings like you would within a few months of smoking cigarettes. It is a slowly building psychological dependency. Over a few months you might notice that you are thinking about smoking more and more, and then start smoking a little more frequently. Then, say, six months down the road from then you've bumped it up a little more. You will slowly lose interest in other parts of your life, and start smoking a little more, and so on and so forth. Then, you might make some friends that are doing it all of the time, so you start smoking even more frequently. After awhile of doing this, you will definitely experience cravings, due to building levels of anxiety, although the extent of depression you experience varies widely on your brain chemistry. You should be aware that it is a very slippery slope; if you are going to smoke, try to keep it as small a part of your life, and your thoughts, as possible.

-I would say that twice a week is definitely pushing it, over any long period of time. Smoking that much causes you to have a constant level of THC in your brain, which is something that you have to try to avoid if you don't want to experience negative side effects. If I was going to try to smoke responsibly, I would keep it under once a week, around twice a week or once every three weeks optimally. It isn't the same drug that it was in the seventies; it's much more powerful, and if you want to smoke responsibly you need to adjust the frequency that you smoke accordingly.

-One of the key things to keep in mind is not to accept the status quo of the drug culture. People believe, and will have you believe, that smoking all of the time is acceptable. Not to mention the problems associated with doing this, eventually that kind of thinking can lead you into other, more harmful drugs. It's really a battle of two frontsne against your own inclinations, and one against the people around you.

I also want to give you some information based on new research that might steer you away from marijuana use altogether:

- I have talked to two very reputable psychologists about marijuana, and both of them told me that recent studies showed having any THC in your system greatly affects learning ability. At your age you are putting yourself at risk by smoking at any regular interval; you are still learning basic things that you need to know in order to develop fully. I wouldn't want you to jeopardize this.

-With the rising potency of weed it is an increasingly risky thing to do.There hasn't been very much research done about marijuana, and we aren't even close to being fully aware of how it affects the human brain; all we know is that it stimulates certain receptors, especially located in the hippocampus. Your brain isn't fully developed until you are 25, and there has been recent research that shows smoking marijuana before this point retards brain development.

-Smoking pot, as you have probably seen, will add a whole new element to your social life. You will see a whole new side of life, and people, that you have never experienced before. At first it is a very new an enjoyable thing, but as it becomes a regular part of your life, it can be very sad. There is a possibility, no matter how careful you are, that you will get wrapped up in drug culture and have a very bad experience.

- If you are only planning on smoking a little bit, why not wait until you are older and fully developed, when you know you aren't putting yourself at risk?



Ultimately it's up to you. If you are going to do it, just keep in mind that you don't want it to become too big a part of your interests. It's not a healthy thing to get too involved in, like most activities such as sports or music, where the more interested you are the better off you are. It's really the exact opposite.

I agree with everything you have said.

[BFB]

It sounds like some of the reasons you want to use are for social reasons and because you want to fit in, which is understandable a lot of young people do drugs for the same reason, but that still not does make it the best reason to do it, I would still question if I want to take those risks just to be part of a particular social crowd.

To be honest I really can’t give you the ratios or percentages of how likely you are to experiences any of these problems, I don’t honestly know, from what I can tell it’s a story that’s still unfolding especially with this new high THC low CBD type weed (what you smoke can also make a big difference, for more info on this checkout this post) a lot of the weed people smoke these days has gone this way, it’s still a mass experiment that we have not really seen the full results of yet especially in terms of the long term effects, although I have read numerous articles about reports that say even a very small amount of cannabis can significantly increase your chances of experiencing a mental health problem at some point in your life, especially when used by people who’s brains who have not finished forming yet (i.e. teenagers), when I was in a mental hospital for the mental health problems cannabis caused me I met loads of other young people in there for the same reason, by the way mental health problems are not just about psychosis/schizophrenia, you are probably far more likely to experience other things like anxiety, paranoia and depression which can ruin your life just as much, the attention grabbing headlines about cannabis and schizophrenia are all good and well but are probably missing the real issue which is the other mental health problems cannabis can trigger which are far more likely to happen than schizophrenia, schizophrenia is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cannabis and mental health problems, there are many many people out there for whom cannabis is harming their mental health and this is now starting to become more and more known, like I say the story is still unfolding especially with this new type of weed. I have to say your mental health really isn’t something you want to mess around with if you mess it up it can really screw up your life, people with mental health problems are a group of people when it comes to health problems who can suffer the most, people who have not experienced them have no idea of how bad it can be. So I still have to say considering your age and the increased risk that will bring I really wouldn’t bother.

Well done for researching it thoroughly though, you are really doing your homework which is really to your credit. Thanks for still considering me young like you say it can depend on the person, although I am afraid the poor mental health I have experienced has probably aged me a fair bit, anyway I am off to listen to the arctic monkeys or whatever it is you hip young people listen to these days, well actually it’s probably more likely to be the rolling stones, the doors or David Bowie, I probably am a bit of an old fart, been into music like that I was probably bound to have problems with drugs, man I so should have been at Woodstock.

Anyway take care and thanks for keeping us posted.

[Unsure person]

My reasons for wanting to smoke probably aren't great, well .. the first reason, wanting to experience it is possibly the best reason, but essentially I have already experienced it.

It's mainly just a social thing now. As I've said, I am going to be smoking a little, but I want to do it as sensibly as possible. I have around 7 weeks of holiday left, would it be so bad to smoke once a week to once every 2 weeks for the rest of the holidays, then once every 1-2 months after that?

The thing is, I could get run over by a big red bus tomorrow - so I believe in living life - however, in moderation. So how would that regularity sound? There is obviously some risk for everything - mental health issues, damaging my developing brain etc. but I still feel the need to live life.

Also, where I'm from, weed is incredibly common. Like I mean, it is VERY common, easy to get, and many people do it. However like when there is large amounts, usually the quality isn't the best (and that is true in this case).

Any stuff I'm going to be smoking from now on, my mate said "isn't that great", and I would imagine has lowish THC levels. Is there anyway of telling this? If there isn't, in your opinion (whoever reads this) : If my mates are saying it isn't great, is that likely to be 'very bad' like a lot of the weed these days? Does that make sense? I mean, like people say, and I knew - weed is much more potent these days, but if I was to smoke weak stuff on today's standards, then how weak is that likely to be?
Note: What I'm saying is, that it is weak compared to other stuff today, so would that mean it's 'not bad' like the stuff in the 70s? (Damn, how many ways can I ask a question .. I don't totally understand what I'm asking lol, so that's why I repeated myself sorry lol).

Also, I seem to be coughing up a bit of flem, is that the smoking do you think?

It may seem I'm not taking in what people say on here .. but I am (otherwise I wouldn't be posting). I'm just weighing everything up.

Also - as for it damaging growing brains, something that makes it hard for me to .. accept that (even though I agree with it), is one person in a lot of my classes, is far more intelligent that me in most things. I got first in class in economics this year, but only just he was close behind, and beats me in everything else. Yet he's smoked since he was 13 (as well as his girlfriend, who is a nice person, and intelligent too). This other person is a real ****, but I think it's likely he was like that before he smoked (I knew him when he was 13, and he was like that then too).
So while I believe that it can 'stuff up young people's brains', it's hard to accept (if that makes sense without being contradictory).

Again - sorry for all these questions! But it does help!

[BFB]

Yeah the coughing up phlegm is probably smoking related, people who smoke weed often cough up a load of shit, which gives you some indication of how it affects your lungs, most people don’t filter their joints which means you inhale even more crap. To be honest I still can’t really give you the percentages as like I say I am not sure they are even known for sure at this stage, it’s still all in the process of been discovered and even then different studies can say very different things, that’s one of the problems with the issue. All I can say is I have read numerous studies that say even a little can increase your chances of experiencing a mental health problem significantly, I think I have read that it can increase your chances of psychosis by about 40 times or something, but like I say I think psychosis is just the tip of the iceberg, you don’t read as much in the press concerning cannabis, anxiety and depression or other mental health problems, which are probably far more likely than experiencing full blown psychosis, but I suppose cannabis makes you depressed or cannabis causes anxiety is not as sexy a headline and probably doesn’t sell as many papers, but like I say if you experience those things bad enough they can be just as bad. I think the press are overlooking the biggest dangers.

I understand the whole you could get run over by a bus tomorrow type philosophy but that does not mean it’s a good idea to play in the road, which I think using drugs is kind of doing.

In terms of knowing what kind of weed you are smoking in terms of it‘s strength, that may be a bit tricky if you don’t know much about or haven’t seen and smoked much weed, you learn from experience, but generally the bigger the crystals and stronger the smell the more potent the gear, but like I say you probably won’t have any standard by which to compare, you could rely on what your mates tell you assuming they know what they are talking about I don’t know, but all I can tell you is that high strength weed has become pretty common these days, it’s a lot stronger than it used to be, read the high THC low CBD post it will give you the low down.

So sorry I can’t be of more help, there are a lot of reports of cannabis causing mental health problems these days but what the exact figures are I don’t think we really know yet. At the end of the day you are rolling the dice and hoping for the best I suppose, especially if your brain has not finished forming yet, what the odds are, are still up for debate.

It’s good that you are asking all these questions though and I am sure it will be of help to others in a similar situation. I was wondering did you talk more to your dad about his experience with weed? Like I said before he is probably the closet person out there in terms of your genetic make up, so much of how you react to cannabis can depend on the biological make up of the individual.

Take care

[Unsure person now sure]

Well, I've been doing/done a lot of research into this, and found what I needed (thanks for everyone who helped here). The way I personally was able to say weed was 'ok' was comparing it to alcohol as where I'm from (not sure if this is an international thing), weed is a class C drug, however I heard that if alcohol was classed as a drug it would be class B. Both being bad, but basically that's saying the government thinks weed is not as bad as alcohol (even though weed is the one illegal).

I haven't done so much research into drinking, but I drink a lot and have always been skeptical on what it does to my body and brain. However I spoke to a holistic doctor (who I've seen a few times before), she told me the amount I drink ('only' up to 6 a week) is fine, but that weed stays in the system for a long time which can cause more implications to the problems I already have (that's complicated, but saying it's bad for everyone how it stays in your system, but potentially worse for me).
So in summery, the amount I drink (her professional opinion) is that it's ok, but it's best to stay away from weed as much as possible.

Also however, I took in everything that everyone said but that was the tipping decision point, so I thought I would share.

I'm still VERY occasionally going to smoke, I have some (only a small tinny) which I wont let go to waste, probably another time also within the next month because I have holidays for the next month and a half+. Then I 'might' have a hit occasionally, but nothing more than that. So I have acctually decided on using it far less (FAR less) than I was originally going to

Oh - also in reply to any bad family history (well .. my dad) with weed, I think he would've only had too much or stuff too strong and basically he was just tripping out badly (so I should only need to be aware of that).

Good luck with all your journeys.

[TheDude]

Unsure, welcome.

I think it all comes down to us as individuals. Be mindful, especially if you choose to do so.

Maybe toss some questions around:

Do I do/use anything obsessively?

Do I do things without moderation to escape reality?

How content am I with who I am?


Only YOU can know the answers to those questions, and make good judgments based on them. Nobody can know better than yourself who you are.


Take care, and have a good New Year.

[Unregistered]

Unsure, welcome.

I think it all comes down to us as individuals. Be mindful, especially if you choose to do so.

Maybe toss some questions around:

Do I do/use anything obsessively?

Do I do things without moderation to escape reality?

How content am I with who I am?


Only YOU can know the answers to those questions, and make good judgments based on them. Nobody can know better than yourself who you are.


Take care, and have a good New Year.

Do I do/use anything obsessively? - Yes, when I was young, I got addicted to a computer game.

Do I do things without moderation to escape reality? - Yes, I drive a lot to get out of things, also sleep when I am stressed, and also when I was younger and got addicted to a computer game.

How content am I with who I am? - Not very, I'm rather insecure.

All though, I don't want smoking to change any of that.

Since my last post though, a bit has changed. My 'mates' who I thought smoked weed regularly, and who I wanted to smoke with mainly for social reasons I found out are trying to smoke less (weed that is), so, meaning I'll hardly ever have a smoke now because there isn't much 'point'. I've experienced it and it no longer has social advantages. In saying that, I've still got a tiney I'm not going to let go to waste, and I might have a smoke every so often when another group of my mates offer me one.

One question I have though, does weed stunt your growth? (I'm not acctually sure if I've asked this). I'm very short, and physically small, essentially my body doesn't make enough growth hormones, I'm taking supplements (natural ones, quite 'passive' supplements) and I don't want to undo what I'm doing there.

Unfortunately the group of mates I was talking about, even though they don't smoke weed anymore (or much more), they smoke tobacco which I don't want to start (I have before, didn't do anything, so no point in getting hooked) - not that, that is relevant at all, but that's almost double standards (but as I said, not really relevant lol).

[BFB]

Hi again unsure person

The dude makes some good points, you can often tell by your behaviour with other things what kind of relationship or behaviour you are likely to have with another. It sounds like your mates are now wanting to smoke less which in its self may say something about just how good it actually is. Like I say I have tried not to be too “anti” with you and be honest at all times, but I have to say I am pleased you probably won’t be using as much now that that particular social dynamic has changed, I guess it just goes to show just how much other people’s behaviour and the culture we are a part of can affect our behaviour, well I guess it’s no surprise we are pack animals after all and we are all affected in that way to some extent.

I am not sure about the growth thing, I have heard that smoking tobacco can stunt you growth, I don’t really know about weed in regards to skeletal growth, what I do know it that it can affect your hormones, marijuana is proven to lower testosterone in men, which I know is certainly linked to muscle mass, so it may contribute to keeping people on the smaller side in terms of muscle.

Anyway it’s good to hear from you again and like I have said before I think it’s great that you have done the research you have done, it shows real sense of wisdom and independence of thought, it would be great if not just young people but most people in general did that kind of research when it comes to making important decisions.

It’s good to hear from you again and a happy new year!

[gave up]

My friend you are playing with fire.I will honestly tell you that you seem really immature about this. I mean how can you claim that you can fight off addiction? Don't you think that thats how it might have started for all of us here? once a week will very quickly become twice a week and so on. Trust me when I tell you that my attitude was exactly the same as yours and now I'm here to find advise on how to stop smoking. I have been off weed now for about 5 weeks and I'm now going through the feeling of guilt of ever starting to smoke. It changed me, I was no longer the loving husband/father/son/brother/friend. So I take this opportunity to personally plead/beg of you not to even consider starting to smoke. If you still want to smoke nobody can stop you but I'm sure I speak for all of us on this forum when I say do yourself a favour and just say no. I'm 28 and have nothing to show for it due to the fact that I smoked all my money. Don't become a loser like me, you are better than that.

[OrangeCrush]

I agree with gave up, don’t even start, it isn’t worth it. Marijuana is an insidious drug that will take your life away. Take cocaine for example, you use it once and you will know it isn’t good for you, you can feel it in your body and mind. Marijuana on the other hand is very subtle in its negative effects. You will think that it isn’t a big deal to smoke with your friends and the next day you think you feel fine, and then you do it again. The once a month habit with your friends turns into once a week, which turns into daily use over time. Worse yet, you start to become dependent on it to feel normal and you still say to yourself that you are in control and you can quit anytime. I would always say, “I can quit, but I don’t want to because I love it”…. I was in complete denial. Don’t underestimate the power of this menacing drug. Over time the daily use will start to change the way you think and the way you live your life. I know this first hand. I was a die-hard advocate of pot; it was a religion to me and my friends. I thought the only way to watch a movie, to mow the lawn, to go to school, to go shopping, etc. was to be high. I was high all the time, it was my reality. What started as a social thing to do at parties, turned me into anti-social, a recluse vegging in my living room zoning out on the TV.