What are your thoughts on smoking pot for recreation?

[604flames]

If any of you have played summer league at 8-Rinks this year, I'd like to, on behalf of my team, take this moment to apologize if your dressing room stunk at all this season.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Dion

Not meant as a lecture. Take the info below for what it's worth......

A single cannabis joint may cause as much damage to the lungs as five chain-smoked cigarettes, research has found. Medical examinations of cannabis and cigarette smokers found the drug increased specific lung problems, including obstructed airways and hyperinflation, a condition where too much air remains in the lungs when a person exhales.

Smoking one cannabis joint caused damage equivalent to smoking 2.5 to five cigarettes in rapid succession, researchers at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand found. Doctors who carried out the study believe the damage is linked to the difference in the way cannabis is usually smoked, with users inhaling hard, holding their breath for longer and failing to use filters.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...dalcohol.drugs

what about those who don't smoke it? most of my friends who do pot use a vaporizer, so they're inhaling THC laced steam instead of smoke (which i've read is actually good for the lungs). or you can just bake up a batch of cookies and not worry about inhaling anything

personally i won't turn down a joint/pipe/vaporizer/whatever if i'm hanging out with friends and it's offered, but i've never gone out and bought it myself, i have better things to spend my money on. it's fun to do with friends occasionally, but i couldn't imagine just sitting at home by myself and smoking. it's like drinking alone, one giant step toward loserdome

[Berger_4_]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

I don't have any philosophical issue with it, I think it smells bad and such, but I'm not going to lecture people about it. It's not for me, but if it's for you, that's for you to decide, but I won't be a part of it.

You're a smart man. My thoughts exactly. Although to be honest, I tried it once. Didn't regret it at the time, but looking back on it now I do a little.

[Russic]

I have a hard time believing any scientific study on pot simply because the results always seem to be so wildly different.

Pot is a drug and like all drugs usage should be accompanied by a certain level of education. Know the limits and be responsible. My general rules are to be respectful of others, don't impose it on anybody who doesn't want to be involved and never endanger anybody while under the influence.

From personal experience I feel alcohol is far more dangerous a drug. From personal health to behavior directed at those around at the time I find weed to be far more tolerable. If I had to choose I would rather my kids smoke weed on the weekends than get drunk. That opinion usually gets me into some interesting conversation.

[Coach]

I do it once every couple months or so with my friends. If its around ill do it, but we dont dont go hunting for it like the OP says (stopping for a bowl before a movie or w./e) I dont see it as a big deal. But i did have a couple friends whop would do it every morning before school, thats a problem

[Ice]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

I don't have any philosophical issue with it, I think it smells bad and such, but I'm not going to lecture people about it. It's not for me, but if it's for you, that's for you to decide, but I won't be a part of it.

I used to feel this way. My biggest problem is that generally pot smokers really feel that they are unaffected by this drug in a similar way as alcohol. My friends sister was killed when she was hit by a car while she was walking on a sidewalk in the afternoon. When we first received the tragic news, we were told she was killed by a drunk driver. However, blood tests confirmed the only thing present in the drivers body was marajuana. I know people who have actually claimed they are better drivers when high because they're more relaxed. So, while I tend to believe to each his own, I have a real problem when someone's decision ends the life of a totally innocent young straight A college student. I wonder how many people who drive high would drive drunk. I'm thinking not that many.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Ice

I used to feel this way. My biggest problem is that generally pot smokers really feel that they are unaffected by this drug in a similar way as alcohol. My friends sister was killed when she was hit by a car while she was walking on a sidewalk in the afternoon. When we first received the tragic news, we were told she was killed by a drunk driver. However, blood tests confirmed the only thing present in the drivers body was marajuana. I know people who have actually claimed they are better drivers when high because they're more relaxed. So, while I tend to believe to each his own, I have a real problem when someone's decision ends the life of a totally innocent young straight A college student. I wonder how many people who drive high would drive drunk. I'm thinking not that many.

Well, statistically speaking, you're less likely to be involved in an accident while high than while sober. Personally, I don't really like the idea of anyone driving under the influence of anything. I'd also don't like the idea of people driving tired.

[Caged Great]

Many of the people I know are recreational users and I don't really care. I don't do any drugs, never have either. I figure I'm already fata'ed up enough that who needs drugs....

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Well, statistically speaking, you're less likely to be involved in an accident while high than while sober. (1) Personally, I don't really like the idea of anyone driving under the influence of anything. I'd also don't like the idea of people driving tired.

(1) According to an online survey of 105 High Times readers.

Precisely the type of pro-weed B.S. I am talking about.

[fredr123]

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=55641

More thoughts on the subject from a few months ago. Suppose this shows that pot does affect a person's memory...

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by Ice

I used to feel this way. My biggest problem is that generally pot smokers really feel that they are unaffected by this drug in a similar way as alcohol.

I'm with you there, I could have added 'as long as you're not hurting anyone'. I agree completely with your point.

To me, another aspect is this: any time you are around someone who has been using a drug too much - pot, alcohol, even caffeine, it's really annoying. The problem is, people who have used too much of those items have no idea how annoying they are being.

[Locke]

I figure to each their own. Different strokes for different folks. Everyone picks their poison of choice.

[Cowboy89]

I can't really say I hate it or would be considered in the "Anti-Pot" camp. I have tried it a few times socially and have had a good time with it. I dont' believe it's a gateway drug whatsoever. I've known many heavy users that have turned out to never have even tried any hard drugs. There's nothing wrong with the odd joint every now and then (Just like to clarify that every now and then in my books is much less than once a week).

However, for those who are in good health that claim that it has health benefits as a justification for toking up, you're full of BS as unless you have some sort of condition that renders you with chronic pain (No pun inteneded) it has no benefit healthwise whatsoever and in fact probably has minor negative affects on long term mental health and your lungs (Just because it's not as bad as tobacco doesn't mean it's actually good for your lungs). I get sick and tired of the pro-weed propaganda thrown out there by its cult following of ######s. I think that the US government and our government in the past have done a disservice by overexagerating weed's risks and downsides, because it seems to proponents like that gives them cart blanche to make outragous claims the other way.

[mykalberta]

I have smoked a little in the past, dont any more. If people want to its their personal choice because they have to live with the consequences of their actions. I have friends who smoke and so long as their habbit doenst adversely affect my life then I dont have a problem with it. If it ever does then I will cross that bridge when it comes.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Ice

I used to feel this way. My biggest problem is that generally pot smokers really feel that they are unaffected by this drug in a similar way as alcohol. My friends sister was killed when she was hit by a car while she was walking on a sidewalk in the afternoon. When we first received the tragic news, we were told she was killed by a drunk driver. However, blood tests confirmed the only thing present in the drivers body was marajuana. I know people who have actually claimed they are better drivers when high because they're more relaxed. So, while I tend to believe to each his own, I have a real problem when someone's decision ends the life of a totally innocent young straight A college student. I wonder how many people who drive high would drive drunk. I'm thinking not that many.

That's terrible. I completely agree with you that the "I can get high and function just as normally as everyone else" attitude is very dangerous. It's different than alcohol, but that doesn't mean you are good to drive under the influence of it.

[J pold]

I tried it once or twice back in high school didn’t really like it, I would much prefer a pint of beer or a nice gin and tonic

[Bagor]

Tried it a few times when I was younger. TBQH didn't see the big deal.

Last time ever was with weed and it sent my heart into some serious racing arrythmias, never touched it since, never will.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Nancy

(1) According to an online survey of 105 High Times readers.

Precisely the type of pro-weed B.S. I am talking about.

According to the highway safety boards of Canada, the UK, America and Australia, actually.

DOPE DRIVERS SAFE: STUDY

A study funded by the British government has concluded that regular marijuana users drive more safely under the influence of cannabis.

The study of 15 users, conducted by Britain's Transport Research Laboratory, found that the mellowing effects of marijuana made drivers more cautious and less likely to drive dangerously. While marijuana did effect drivers, it was less dangerous than driving while fatigued or drunk.

Regular cannabis users were supplied with "Grade A" marijuana from the U.S. for the study. They took four weeks of tests on driving simulators to gauge their reaction time.

"MARIJUANA AND ACTUAL DRIVING PERFORMANCE":

U.S. Department of Transportation,
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(DOT HS 808 078), Final Report, November 1993:

"This program of research has shown that marijuana, when taken alone, produces a moderate degree of driving impairment which is related to the consumed THC dose. The impairment manifests itself mainly in the ability to maintain a steady lateral position on the road, but its magnitude is not exceptional in comparison with changes produced by many medicinal drugs and alcohol. Drivers under the influence of marijuana retain insight in their performance and will compensate, where they can, for example, by slowing down or increasing effort. As a consequence, THC's adverse effects on driving performance appear relatively small."

...

More specifically, alcohol impaired both vehicle handling and traffic maneuvers. Marijuana, administered in a dose of 100 g/kg THC, on the other hand, did not significantly change mean driving performance as measured by this approach. Subjects' ratings of driving quality and effort to accomplish the task were strikingly different from the driving instructor's ratings. Both groups rated their driving performance following placebo as somewhat better than 'normal'. Following the active drug, ratings were significantly lower (35%, p.009) in the marijuana, but not (5%, ns) in the alcohol group. Perceived effort to accomplish the driving test was about the same in both groups following placebo. Following the active drug, a significant (p.033) increase in perceived effort was reported by the marijuana, but not the alcohol group. Thus, there is evidence that subjects in the marijuana group were not only aware of their intoxicated condition, but were also attempting to compensate for it. These seem to be important findings. They support both the common belief that drivers become overconfident after drinking alcohol and investigators' suspicions that they become more cautious and self-critical after consuming low doses of THC, as smoked marijuana. Drug plasma concentrations were neither related to absolute driving performance scores nor to the changes that occurred from placebo to drug conditions. With respect to THC, these results confirm the findings in previous studies. They are somewhat surprising for alcohol but may be due to the restricted range of ethanol concentrations in the plasma of different subjects. DISCUSSION The results of the studies corroborate those of previous driving simulator and closed-course tests by indicating that THC in inhaled doses up to 300 g/kg has significant, yet not dramatic, dose-related impairing effects on driving performance (cf. Smiley, 1986).

I'm not suggesting people drive stoned, but it isn't some horrible assured-carnage experience.

Jerks, drunks and sleepy drivers are far more numerous, and dangerous.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Jerks, drunks and sleepy drivers are far more numerous, and dangerous.

Lets not forget all the stupid women I see doing their make-up in the mirror of their car in the mornings while they drive.

[LIP MAN]

You ever seen the back of a 20 dollar bill man?






You ever see the back of a 20 dollar bill, on weeeeed?